AN: Solitary's not too bad, really. There's no incessant giggling. I get the feeling that Kitty's not telling me something, though...what did she tell you last time? Anything I should worry about? As for the following event...there was no other way. And it amused me. Smug little son of a bitch!
SwordStitcher-I wonder about those clowns from the beginning of episode two... Go away. You wanted me to do the notes, so you can go...somewhere. Ah, character development!
Jasmine Scarthing-Kitty's not here, but they do put me in Arkham for a reason. We're all mad here! Basically, yes.
That idiot.
That absolute moron!
Jonathan hadn't felt this homicidal since his senior year in high school.
"Kitty!"
She popped out, still fastening her bra.
How can she do that without looking?
Never mind the bra!
"That idiot is about to destroy the entire operation."
"What?"
He thrust the paper at her with a snap. She took it and wandered back into the bedroom.
That ass.
Stop it! This is a serious problem, you idiot!
What? I'm just looking.
Stop it.
"That fucking moron!"
The headline this morning had been: Carmine Falcone attacked by a giant bat?
Dawes wasn't dead and now Falcone was in custody. Something would have to be done. And was the shipment all right? Falcone's goons weren't the brightest of people, after all.
"That imbecile! I suppose he'll be looking for the insanity plea?" Oh, he hoped so. That would open all new possibilities. "Don't you give it to him, Jonathan. I'm not touching him with a ten-foot syringe."
He shrugged and glanced at the grainy picture of Falcone again. That had to be humiliating. Jonathan considered framing it.
"Giant bat, indeed…sounds like someone we need to see."
"Mm."
She appeared again, wearing the purple shirt that Scarecrow liked so much.
"Come along, we'll be late."
Jonathan did not like his phone. If he could have burned it, he would have.
"Crane."
"Hey, Doc, we're working on gettin' those rabbits for ya." One of Falcone's goons. Well, his now, seeing as Falcone was in prison. "We'll get 'em out by tomorrow night."
"You'd better."
"We will. We've got someone on it right now."
"Good."
Delays, delays. He hated Falcone for getting himself caught. If that imbecile tried to get the insanity plea out of him…
Then we'll give it to him. And we won't even be lying.
Damn that phone! He was going to break it into little pieces if it didn't stop ringing!
"Crane."
"Doctor Crane, could you come down to the holding cells?"
"What happened?"
"Carmine Falcone slit his wrists. He won't eat. Won't stop crying. I don't believe him, but…"
"Of course." He took a deep breath, hung up, and pressed the buzzer. Falcone had just caught Jonathan Crane on a bad day. "Miss Richardson, I have to pay Mr. Falcone a visit. You're in charge until I get back."
"Sure thing, Doctor."
He picked up his case and went to the car.
Let me handle this at first, then you can have him. Maybe he really is insane.
He's not. You know he's not.
Still. I have to be careful.
He buckled his case into the passenger's seat and gave himself a once-over in the rearview mirror. This was going to be interesting.
"Doctor Crane, thanks for coming."
"Not at all. He cut his wrists?"
"Probably looking for the insanity plea." The woman snorted and rolled her eyes. "But if anything should happen..."
"Of course." He could feel a headache coming on. He'd have to make this quick.
Falcone was sitting in a white room, handcuffed to the table. Good.
Sitting duck!
Patience.
"Yeah, Doctor Crane, I can't take it anymore. The walls are closin' in. Blah, blah, blah." The smug little bastard had the audacity to snort and shake his head. "Couple more days of this food, it'll be true."
The chair was uncomfortable. Cheapskates.
"What do you want?"
"I wanna know how you're gonna convince me to keep my mouth shut."
Well. That escalated quickly.
Keep calm! He knows nothing.
"About what? You don't know anything."
That would teach him to bluff! He was probably lousy at poker.
"I know you don't want the cops to take a closer look at the drugs they seized." That was being taken care of. Strike one. "And I know about your experiments with the inmates of your nuthouse." That was bad. He would have to be silenced. "See? I don't go to business with a guy without finding out his dirty secrets." He chuckled, looking very pleased with himself. "And those goons you used-I own the muscle in this town." Big mouths. They'd have to be silenced, too. What a mess…oh, well. "Now, I've been bringin' your stuff in for months. Whatever it is he's plannin', it's big. And I want in."
Oh, how cute! He could keep dreaming…for a few more minutes, anyway. Then he wouldn't be thinking anything at all.
"Well, I already know what he'll say-that we should kill you."
Last chance. Not that it mattered at this point, but…
"Nah, even he can't get me in here. Not in my town."
Oh, no?
Have at him. But be subtle, that woman can't suspect anything.
Scarecrow sighed and took off those annoying glasses. Shame Jon needed them. They didn't help in the intimidation department.
"Would you like to see my mask?"
That's my line!
But it works so well! You said to be subtle.
"I use it in my experiments." He opened the case and displayed the burlap face. It felt so nice and warm in his hands. It had been too long since he'd had his own face on. "It's probably not very frightening to a guy like you, but these crazies…they can't stand it."
Not bad.
Oh, I'm not done.
Falcone was looking a little unnerved. Good. He'd be looking a lot unnerved by the time Scarecrow was through with his smug ass.
"So when did the nut take over the nuthouse?"
What an accurate observation. His very first! His last, too.
He put his face on-ah, just like coming home-and pressed the little button in the case.
"They scream, and they cry." He stood up and leaned close to the now-wailing idiot across from him. "Much as you are doing now."
What's he seeing?
Who cares!
Karma was indeed a bitch. She just needed a little help sometimes.
Jonathan replaced the mask when the toxin had dissipated and combed his hair back into place. He was a little out of breath from all the excitement, but it had been worth it. The operation was safe. Ra's al Ghul would not have any reason to get rid of him. And that had been absolutely beautiful. It was a shame he hadn't filmed it.
"Well, he's not faking." he said regretfully, shaking his head. "Not that one. I'll have him moved to the secure wing at Arkham. I can't treat him here."
"What caused the screaming?"
He looked at her sadly, making full eye contact. That had never failed him before.
"I don't know. I wonder if maybe he thought I was someone else. Poor man."
She believed him and he went on his way, feeling very pleased with himself. Oh, Mr. Falcone would be his prized plaything. And to think, he hadn't even lied to get him!
Yay you, told the truth!
Yes.
That was fun. Let's do it again.
