"We really appreciate your help with this situation, Mr. Wayne," said Commissioner Gordon. "And your willingness to come in, of course."
"Anything I can do to help in this regrettable matter, Commissioner," said Bruce, his face a mask of stone.
"I mean, I understand he's your brother, but that doesn't give him the right to run rampant…" began Gordon.
"There's no love lost between us, Commissioner," murmured Bruce. "Not anymore."
Gordon nodded slowly. "I warned your father long ago that giving people special treatment and making them think that they're above the law is going to lead to trouble. It hasn't surprised me that your brother has turned out the way he has. He was a criminal at fifteen, and never had to face any consequences for his crime. It's only natural he'd grow up to think unlawful behavior is acceptable."
"Yes…I imagine my father regrets indulging him," murmured Bruce. "Jack was always rotten to the core."
"Well, the location of his latest hideout will be very helpful in tracking him down and bringing him to justice," said Gordon. "Thank you, Mr. Wayne."
"If I can be of any more help in catching him, please let me know," said Bruce. "I'd feel better knowing he was off the streets. And I hate to just sit around waiting for it to happen. I'd like to be involved in his capture."
"If you'll excuse me for saying this, Mr. Wayne, it's the job of the police to catch bad guys, not regular citizens," replied Gordon. "There's nothing else you can do unless you'd like to join the police force. We could use all the help we can get."
Bruce smiled. "I'm actually in the middle of studying for my medical degree, but I might consider it if the whole doctor thing doesn't work out."
"You could always be a police surgeon," suggested Gordon.
"Actually, I'm planning on going into psychiatry," replied Bruce. "At least, I was before…"
He trailed off, and then stood up. "Excuse me, Commissioner, I have some business to attend to."
"Of course, Mr. Wayne," said Gordon. "Thanks once again for the information. We'll let you know as soon as we've got your brother in custody in case you want to see him…"
"I don't," interrupted Bruce. "Not ever again, if I can help it. He's betrayed me, and he's no longer any brother of mine. Family's meant to be there for you, Commissioner – they're meant to have your back. They're not meant to stab you in it."
"It's very possible that…after we catch him, he could be locked away for…a very long time," said Gordon, slowly.
"Good," retorted Bruce. "It's no less than a criminal like Jack deserves. Nobody should be above the law, Commissioner. Not even a Wayne."
Bruce left the police station and headed straight for the university. After a brief discussion with the administration officer, he headed to the office of his psychology teacher, Professor Jonathan Crane.
"Mr. Wayne, this is an unexpected surprise," said Crane, looking up from his book. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
"I'm actually here to say goodbye, Professor," replied Bruce. "I'm switching my major back to surgery."
Crane frowned. "I hate to lose such a bright spark from my class, Mr. Wayne. Is there any particular reason for this change of heart?"
"Yes," replied Bruce. "But it's the fault of my heart, not you."
"Ah," said Crane. "Miss Quinzel and you have had a falling out, I assume. Well, I would advise not letting a lover's tiff alter your entire plans for the future…"
"She slept with my brother behind my back," interrupted Bruce. "It's more than a lover's tiff. And it's pretty unforgivable."
"I...see," said Crane, slowly. "Well, obviously I'm biased, but I'd still advise persevering in psychology, Mr. Wayne. It's by far the most useful branch of medicine."
"I think my father disagrees," retorted Bruce.
"He's certainly allowed to," said Crane, nodding. "But in my view, a broken body can usually be cured. A broken mind, less so. Which is why the study of the mind is still of such vital importance. For what is human existence without it? A diseased frame may still live peaceably and comfortably. A diseased mind will always cause pain, whether to the patient himself or those closest to him."
"I was recommended a career in law enforcement earlier," said Bruce. "I think a police surgeon would probably be useful. I don't see much use of psychology in catching criminals."
"Don't you?" replied Crane, smiling. "All right, let me give you an example, Mr. Wayne. My own specialty is the study of fear and its effect on human beings. Now imagine the applications such psychology could have in the apprehension of criminals. They're a superstitious and cowardly lot, for the most part. If applied properly, I can see a psychological trick being far more effective than more direct methods like brute force."
"What kind of psychological trick?" asked Bruce.
Crane shrugged. "What are superstitious and cowardly people generally afraid of?"
"I don't know," replied Bruce.
"You would if you studied psychology," said Crane. "Believe me, Mr. Wayne, there is nothing like fear for controlling the criminal element. After all, almost everyone is afraid of something."
"Almost everyone?" repeated Bruce "Who isn't?"
"The insane," replied Crane. "The incurably deranged. What would work on regular criminals won't work on them, because they don't know fear. They know only their own sense of reality. That's why the best criminals are psychopaths, because they cannot be understood. They cannot be intimidated. And they cannot be stopped."
"I don't think any type of criminal is invincible," retorted Bruce. "Or beyond comprehension. They're scum. They do what they do because they're bad people. I don't need to understand them any more than that."
"You would in order to stop them," replied Crane. "Even when dealing with the insane, you would need to understand their motivation. You might not be able to prevent their crimes, but you might be able to predict them. Of course in the case of insanity, that might be exactly what the madman wants. For you to discover his crime, to see and appreciate his work."
"I don't think I want to deal with people like that, Professor Crane," retorted Bruce. "So I guess it's good I'm switching my major. At least I won't have to deal with psychopaths ever again."