Hi everybody! Thank you all so much for reading this story. I know some of you are getting impatient about Cat learning his true identity. It will happen soon, for better or worse... (Not giving anything away.) One thing that fascinated me personally about this story is the dynamic of her not knowing that he's Batman. A little bit like Louis Lane and Superman in that regard. I love playing with that secret. Either way - here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

"What a lovely, lovely couple." The Joker said. "The prince and the princess of Gotham. How adorable. They lived happily ever after. Only, how many fairy tales end that way? Huh? Someone always dies, even in a fairytale. See beauty doesn't exist without evil. And I am your necessary evil. Without me, you couldn't appreciate the beauty in life because you'd never see the horror. You can lock me up but I will always be there. You can even kill me, but my legacy will live on. So, on this joyous occasion, I want to be part of the party. Catherine Hunter is going to do a live interview with me, broadcasted nationwide. Or else people will die."
After a loud, high-pitched laughter, the speakers went silent.

"Well, we don't know where this came from but we are going to look into this." Anne said. "We are going to interrupt this interview at this point to look further into the matter. Thank you all for watching."
"We're clear." The floor director said. Bruce jumped up first, angrily buttoning up his blazer.
I felt like in trance, still unable to process what had just happened.

We walked out of the studio down the hallway.
"Tell me you're not seriously considering this none sense?" He asked me, holding my hand firmly.
"I'm not." I said as I pressed the elevator button.
"Good."
"I've already decided that I'm doing it."
"Cat." He stared at me in determination.
"You heard him. People will die."
"It's the Joker. People will always die because of him. To him this is a game and killing is the goal. It doesn't matter whether you show up or not."
"I know. But at least I don't have blood on my hands. At least I did everything I could. What does it hurt for me to go there? He's locked up. That's safer than I was the last time around."
"It's never safe around the Joker."

"Cat." I heard Peter's voice behind me and turned around. Peter looked stressed, his sleeves rolled up, his hands on his hips. "Mr Wayne nice to meet you in person." He said and shook Bruce's hand. "What is your plan? I'm going with your gut feeling on this one." He continued to ask me.
"I need a camera crew. Have you called Baxter?"
"So you're doing the interview?" He asked.
"Of course." I said, checking my phone for the time.
"I know this is your decision, but may I interject that giving the Joker a nationwide platform to speak his non sense on isn't the best idea." Bruce said his eyes staring at me dangerously.
"I thought about that." Peter responded. "The other side of the coin, if we don't do it, we are being blamed for the death of God knows how many people. Catherine is good, she can actually ask him questions that might give us a better understanding of who he is."
"Hello! I'm right here. You don't need to talk about me in front of me." I said annoyed. "Either way, it's a done deal. I'm going. You can help me or you can stand here and talk all day. Your choice. I'm going to head over there."
"I'm getting a camera crew ready. They can meet you there. Baxter called already and said they're fine with us doing the interview. Have you talked to Gordon?" Peter asked.
"That was my next call."

Bruce and I stepped into the elevator. The doors closed and I looked on my phone for news on the Joker online when Bruce pressed the emergency stop button on the elevator.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He pulled me towards him, his lips covering mine, his arms locked tightly around me. I could feel his desperation, anger and fear in the kiss.
He slowly let me go, looking me directly in the eyes. "I can't lose you." He said just above a whisper. "You won't. I'm going to be safe."
"Promise you won't do anything stupid."
"Of course."
He didn't look convinced and I couldn't exactly blame him for that.
"You mean everything to me." He said, still looking at me worried.
I was terrible at responding to emotional revelations like that. What do you say to that?
"I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to you." He continued.
"Nothing will happen to me. The Joker likes toying with me too much. I don't think he actually wants to kill me. He doesn't want to kill Batman either."
"Maybe you're right. What if not?"
"I know I'm right."
"How?"
"I just do. The look on his face when Batman came to rescue me… He looked like a bloodhound sniffing blood." His features hardened.
"Just be careful."
"I will. I promise."
He sighed and nodded before leaning in to kiss me again. He let go off me, releasing the emergency stop button and we continued our descent to the bottom floor. He pulled me into his embrace again, holding me tightly before the doors opened.
"I'll drive you." He said.
"It's fine, I'll wait for the camera crew."
"I didn't ask." He said as he opened the door to his Lamborghini.
I got in, a million thoughts racing through my brain. What was the Joker going to talk about? What message did he want to bring across this time?
Bruce started the engine and we were making our way towards Arkham, the sun setting over Gotham turning the city dark red. Like blood.

The entire drive Bruce didn't say a word. He looked deep in thoughts, his eyes fixed on the road, his hands holding onto the steering wheel tightly.
I didn't say anything else either, trying not to allow the panic in my gut to spread through my entire system. I wasn't really worried about him killing me, although I knew I couldn't be certain of that, I was worried about going into the unknown. What horrific plan did he have this time?

I called Gordon. "Are you going to Arkham?" He asked immediately when he picked up.
"Yes." I answered. "Anything I should know?"
"We have no idea how he did it. He never left Arkham. Be careful I don't know what he has planned this time."

We reached the black gates of Arkham and Bruce parked the car.
"I'm going to walk you in." He said while getting out of the car.
"It's not necessary."
"I just need to see that you're safe."

The receptionist had us sign in and handed us visitor passes. "Dr. Baxter is expecting you." She said to me.
We walked down the light green hallway to her office. "Mr Wayne," she said surprised. "Good to meet you."
Her icy features warmed up around Bruce a little.
"Likewise. Now, I'm sure you have talked to the police about this plenty, but how was the Joker able to do this?"
She sighed, taking off her glasses and leaning against her desk, her pretty blue eyes turning a shade colder.
"Honestly Mr Wayne, I don't know. He was here the entire time. We have a surveillance camera on him 24/7 and we looked at the footage. He was here the entire time."
"A recording maybe?" Bruce asked.
"Maybe. But who got the recording out? I don't know who I can't and can trust in here anymore. I have taken over his surveillance myself now but obviously I can't be here 24/7." She shook her head in despair. "Someone is obviously working with him but I have no idea who."
"Do you have the logs of who was working with him?" I asked.
"Yes, I already handed that over to the police. I'm sure you talked to the commissioner already."
I nodded.
"You know as much as I do then." She said. "It's a mystery to me how he did it or how he wants to carry out all the things he announced. I'm more than concerned. I have dealt with a lot of criminals in my career so far and I've never seen anything like this."
"Would it be possible for me to meet him now? I think it would be better if I saw him one on one before the camera crew gets here."
"Certainly."
"What are your safety precautions if you don't mind me asking?" Bruce asked.
"He is held behind bullet proof glass in a high-security room separate from anyone else, two stories below us."
Bruce nodded, concerned frown lines forming on his forehead.

"Follow me." She said as she walked down the hall in big, confident strides.
Aside from the clicking of her heels on the floor, there was an eerie silence.
We reached a door where she swiped her electronic key card and opened it.
"I think I should probably go alone." I said to Bruce. "I don't know how he reacts if we show up there together."
"I know." Bruce agreed. He looked at me concerned for a second before he leaned in to kiss me again. "Be careful."
I nodded and followed Dr. Baxter through the door.
I turned around to see Bruce still looking at me, his hands in his pockets, as the door shut closed with a loud noise.
I took a deep breath as we were walking down a long hallway. We went through another door, down some stairs, through another door and each time the security measures increased.
The last door had a whole security team around it.
"This is it." She said.
"I'm going to let you through on your own. You open another door and then you follow the hallway all the way down. You'll see a chair in front of the glass wall for you. We can hear everything, so if you need our help or want out, just let us now. We're right here."
I nodded.
"Good luck." She said.

I took another deep breath as she unlocked the door. I walked into a small room and she closed the door behind me. Another unlocking noise and the door in front of me opened up.
This was it. I slowly pushed the door open and saw a long, dark hallway in front of me. Old neon lamps were dangling from the ceiling, giving just enough light to see where you were going. The dark walls seemed to be closing in on me as I was taking one step after another. I knew the Joker was behind a glass wall, but suddenly I was worried he could be lurking for me from the darkness. My heart was beating in my chest. I saw a cheap office chair in front of a glass wall, slowly closing in on it step by step.
I still felt traumatized from my last experience with the Joker, I wasn't sure I was ready to face him again. At the same time, that's why I needed to do it. Face my fears.
My eyes were scanning the glass wall. No sign of the Joker. The cell was dimly lit and I couldn't see much. Slowly, I sat down on the chair, crossing my legs, folding my hands.

Hello, hello, hello." I heard his voice, but still couldn't see him. The high-pitched sound of his words made me freeze. "I'm so glad you made it."
Like a nightmarish vision, his face slowly emerged from the darkness.
His make-up was almost all but gone. It made him look not any less terrifying. It was his eyes, his black, emotionless eyes that were radiating insanity. He was slowly getting up from the bed he was sitting on, wearing an orange jumpsuit.
"Where is the camera guy?" He asked taking a seat in a chair across from me, itching his face.
"He's on his way." I replied coldly.
"Good, good. So you couldn't wait to see me. Could you?" He grinned at me.
I tried to remind myself that he couldn't harm me from behind the glass but panic was flushing though my entire system, urging me to get up and run. Instead, I tried to appear calm and in control.
I smiled at him coldly. "Yes, there was nothing else I wanted to do with my day than sit in a dark cell with a pathetic excuse for a human being. You know me so well." His eyes flickered with anger. "Even so. I ask and you appear. I'm sure your boyfriend wasn't too pleased with that. Given his record, he must have been quite jealous."
"Jealous? You think Bruce Wayne could ever be jealous of you? You're not only insane you're also delusional."
Another flicker in his eyes, then he started laughing. "See, this is why I like you. I'm so glad I didn't get a chance to kill you. You're too much fun."
I heard steps down the hallway. It was Bill who looked less than thrilled to be assigned this task.
"Finally." The Joker said. "Let's get this party started."

The cameras were set up. One on the Joker's face, one on mine.
"How do I know you're really broadcasting it live?" The Joker asked.
I showed him my phone. "I'm going to hold it up for you to see in the beginning. This is our live stream."
I listened to the director in my ear. "Hey it's Peter."
"Hi." I responded.
"You ok?" "Yeah."
"Ok, we can break into programming whenever you want to. You say the word."
I bit my lips together nervously, avoiding the Joker's face until I had to look at him.
"I'm ready when you are. Let's get this over with." I said.
"Roger that." I heard the mic click out as he was talking to his team.
"30 back." He said.
I took a deep breath, fighting the fear that was ringing in my every fiber.
"Ten. Your mic. Cue."
"Good evening Gotham, I'm Catherine Hunter. I'm live at Arkham Asylum with the man only known as the Joker."
He grinned at me triumphantly.
"You asked for this interview, threatening to kill more innocent lives. When is there finally an end to your madness?"
"I should have explained the rules to you earlier."
"Rules?"
"This isn't going to be a regular interview. I am going to answer a question of yours and then I get to ask you one. Quid pro quo."
"That is not how this works."
"Oh it will now. If not, people will die."
"Fine. Answer my first question then."
"Happy to. When will the madness end? Lets dissect that question, shall we? Just because you don't understand it, you call it madness. It's not madness, it's simply not playing by the rules of society. Free yourselves of the shackles of bureaucracy and order. That's what it's about. Sending a message." "Sending a message by killing people?" "Ah ta-ta… Quit pro quo - it is my turn."
I sighed in angry frustration.
"Do you love him?" He asked.
"Who?" "Who. Silly. You know who. Bruce Wayne."
"I don't see how that's any of your business." "It is the question I have for you."
"Fine. Yes, I do love him." I realized that that was the first time I had admitted that out loud. I had never even said those words to Bruce directly.
"My turn. What's your plan here tonight?" "To shake Gotham out of apathy. People are not changing their behavior unless you give them reason to. My turn. I'm sure thousands of women in Gotham want to know: how is Bruce - the prince of Gotham -Wayne in bed?"
"What?"
I knew what he was doing. He wanted to make me as uncomfortable as possible, get a reaction from me.
"It's a simple question."
"I can't complain about my sex life."
"That is all? Gotham's most eligible bachelor and all you can say is…"
"My turn." I interrupted him."
I could hear Peter over the IFB in my ear: "You can stop whenever this is getting too much."
Stop and have people die because I can't answer some silly questions about my relationship? I don't think so.

"How are you going to shake people out of apathy tonight? I need a concrete answer this time."
"Oh look at you all bossy." He laughed. "Well, I'm glad you asked. It is game we are all playing tonight and people will die. It is up to you to decide how many."
I swallowed hard at that statement.
"My turn." He grinned at me. "Since it's all about concrete answers, tell me...how hard does he make you come?"
I took a sharp inhale, sitting up straighter in my chair, feeling the Joker's eyes closely on me. Bill was clearing his throat, nervously shifting. I knew where this was going and I was pondering if I had it in me to go down that road.
I saw the excitement in the clown's eyes. Think this through, what does he want? He will keep asking you questions if you seem uncomfortable. You're giving him what you want if you seem uncomfortable. If I seem totally fine with it, he might back off.

"Very." I said with a confident smile on my lips. I was over this game. "You wanna know a secret?" I leaned in close to the window. "He's the best I've ever had. So what else do you want to hear? Huh? How rough he is taking me? How he makes me beg for release? I really thought of you as a little higher minded psychopath. This is something I'd expect from a regular thug of the streets."
The grin vanished from his face and he looked angry. "I'm not a thug."
"Good. Then maybe we can get on with the next question."
That had worked better than I had expected it to. "What is the game?" I asked.
His lips were twitching, his feet nervously tapping the floor.
"We are already in the game, doll face."
"That's not answering my question."
"Your part is to answer questions and my part is to enjoy the horror on your face."
"Horror on my face from what?"
"That's another question. My turn again."

He met with Gordon on the roof of the GPD.
"What do you know?" He asked in a husky voice.
"We looked into the log of who had access to him. There are seven people. We are screening them all as we speak." "Give me the list."
Gordon handed the folder over to him. He scanned the pages with a device.
"Do you think he is planning on killing her?" Gordon asked nervously.
"No. He likes playing with her too much. I'm more concerned with what he is planning to do with her mentally."
"What about Wayne?" "He's safe. I'll keep an eye on him."
Gordon nodded.
"Have your men ready for my signal." He continued in a deep voice as he handed Gordon the file back.
Gordon looked on the file. "What is your signal….?"
But Batman was gone already.

He was looking at the names on the screens, running them through all databases he knew. He was still wearing the bat suit but had taken off the mask. "Do you need my assistance with anything sir?" Alfred asked walking in.
"Keep an eye on the screen for me." He answered pointing at the TV screen that was tuned into WCX 8. Most names didn't produce any real hints. Parking tickets, DUIIs but nothing in the criminal databases.
"Good evening…"
He heard her voice on the TV immediately wishing he didn't have to leave her by herself with that freak. His eyes shot to the screen. She looked confident and not the slightest bit scared. How did she do that? Anyone else would be terrified to interview the man who kidnapped and almost killed them.
He brought his eyes back to the computer screens, continuing the search.
"Keep an eye on anything out of the usual on the screen." He said to Alfred.
"Well, sir, I feel nothing with the Joker is ever usual but I'll do my best."
He knew there had to be a connection to the mob, so why couldn't he find it?

"Do you love him?"
The Joker's question pulled him out of concentration.
He stared at the screen, seeing her reaction. Her facial expression remained composed.
"Who?"
"Who. Silly. You know who. Bruce Wayne."
The clown's face lit up with excitement. Don't give him the satisfaction of showing that he can rattle you.
"I don't see how that's any of your business."
"It is the question I have for you."
"Fine. Yes, I do love him."

Alfred raised his eyebrows, looking at Bruce out of the corner of his eyes.
Good, she remained in control. At the same time he was wondering if she meant it, she had never said that to him.
He forced himself to concentrate on the search again and suddenly it made click just like that.
"The mob!" He exclaimed. "It's Medved."
"The Russian billionaire you met at the Christmas Gala?" Alfred asked.
"Yes, back then I arranged a meeting so I could get a closer look into his files and to install spy software on his cell phone. I listened in for a while but couldn't find anything. But the guy is corrupt."
"Well, I'm glad you asked. It is a game we are all playing tonight and people will die. It is up to you to decide how many."
He heard the Joker say on the TV. That's exactly what he was worried about, that he is using her in one of sick games, tormenting her emotionally. He had to act fast. He plugged all suspects' phone numbers into the back-end of Medved's phone. The first one…nothing. The second one…nothing. He kept typing and then he heard the Joker laugh hysterically. Worried, his eyes went to the screen again.
"Since it's all about concrete answers, tell me…"
Bruce got up slowly, his eyes fixed on the face of the Joker.
"…how hard does he make you come?"
Anger pumped through his body like venom. He was breathing heavy, his teeth clenched, his hands balled into fists.
He saw her sitting up straighter in her chair and he hated that he couldn't be there for her.
"Sir?" Alfred interrupted his train of thought. "Don't let the theatrics of the clown get in your way."
Alfred was right, he had to concentrate. He sat back down, typing in more numbers. Finally a match!
"Amanda Wilson."
He put his mask back on as Alfred was searching for her address.
"I sent the information to the tumbler's computer." The old butler said as he pressed a button.
"That's not her real name though. Her fingerprints match Danielle Davis, she has quite the record. Aggravated assault, attempted murder, espionage…"
As Bruce rushed to the tumbler, he tried not to think about Cat talking to that maniac. He needed to stay focused.

I knew whatever sick game the clown was playing, it was about to begin. His eyes flickered with excitement again. "Who do you love most?"
"I don't know if I have a straight answer to that."
"I'd figured you'd say that. Let's find out. Let's begin the game, shall we?"
I didn't like where this was going. At all.
"Oh and of course our friend in the bat costume is part of this as well. We all know he's somewhere out there in Gotham… trying frantically to figure out what I have in store. So, here is the game. I give you two names, one is someone you love another one is someone Gotham loves and Batman gets to decide who lives or who dies."
I took another sharp inhale, panic piercing through me like a thousand icicles. People I love? Who was he talking about?
"Let's begin." He said, an evil grin spreading over his face. "Who will it be? Judge Garcia? Or your good friend and colleague, Jacob Thomson?"
"No…" I said just above a whisper, tears of fear forming in my eyes.
"Ahhhh! There it is. The look of horror and despair." I grabbed my phone, frantically dialing Jacob's number but it went to voicemail. "Oh it's too late now, doll face. You can't save him now. The Batman still can save one of them but it's up to him to decide who he picks."
"Why me? Why my friends?"
I said jumping up and pounding against the glass.
He laughed at me. "You took something from me, I intend to take something from you. Quit pro quo."
I was shaking from the amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins.
"Should we stop?" Peter asked me.
"Not yet." I said, sitting back down again, trying to focus again.

He walked into the dimly lit apartment, searching for Danielle or any clues she could have left behind. Why was she working for the mob? What did they have on her? And more importantly - how much did she know about the Joker's plan?
He was looking at a notepad on the kitchen table when he noticed something move in the shadows behind him. He heard the finger on the trigger and he quickly duck from the gunshots, hiding behind the wall. He heard her move closer and when she was close enough he threw a batarang at her hand.
She yelped in pain, dropping the gun, which he quickly kicked away before grabbing her and pinning her against the wall with his hand. "You look even sexier in real life." She said smiling.
Her blonde hair was perfectly straightened. She was tall and slim. He had no problem holding her with one arm.

"What is the Joker's plan?" He demanded angrily.
"Come on. Aren't you supposed to be Gotham's finest detective? And your best technique is asking 'what is the plan'?"
"I have never hurt a woman. I don't plan on changing that tonight. What is his plan?" He growled at her angrily.
"Fine." She responded, her eyes suddenly filled with fear. "Let me down first."
He obliged slowly releasing his firm grip on her.
"Here is the problem in all of this." She said. "Never underestimate a woman."
He saw her hand grab something and immediately reached for her arm but it was too late and she sprayed pepper spray into his eyes. What a foolish mistake. He had indeed underestimated her because she was a woman.
As the spray was burning in his eyes he tried to listen to what she was doing. He heard her slid across the floor. She is reaching for the gun again. His eyes still not able to see anything and throbbing in pain, he threw himself over her, grabbing her hands.
"Really? This is so cliche." She mumbled under her breath.
He was still not able to see, his eyes stinging with pain.
In that moment he heard Alfred over his bluetooth in his ear. "I found something. She has family in Gotham General. Her little sister is suffering from a rare form of cancer. The treatment has cost the family millions. I'm guessing that's how they've got her on the hook. Her name is Isabel."
"So what? Are we going to do it or are you just an endless tease?" She said while smiling at him, her voice sounding cold and calculated.
"Tell me about Isabel." He said.
Her body tensed up underneath his and she spit at him.
"Go fuck yourself."
"Danielle, I can help you. You don't want to be in the fangs of Medved. I can help you pay for her medical costs."
"You don't know anything. You think it's the medical costs that have me hooked in this mess? No, I could find money other ways. They threatened to kill her if I don't work with them and we all know that the police can do very little to help her."
"But I can."
"Really? Because no offense, but right now you're not making a good case for yourself. You have no idea what the Joker wants and you let me spray you with pepper spray."
He smirked, his eyes still swollen shut from the spray. "Touché. But with your help, I can bring the Joker down and free you from them once and for all."
She took a deep breath, sighing. "Ok. Here it is. He has six people on his list tonight. Three of Gotham's finest and three people who our precious Catherine Hunter loves most."
He knew there was a sick twist to all of this.
"Who are the people?"
"Before I tell you, can you promise me to protect me from them?" "I promise. Who are they?" "The first one is coming up in ten minutes. Judge Garcia or someone named Jacob Thomson."
Jacob… He knew how terrible Cat must feel.
"And he lets you choose."
Proving how unjust the system is… The plan was cruel and brilliant as always.
He slowly released her, getting up. He grabbed a spray from his utility belt, spraying it in his eyes.
"What's that?" She asked.
"It's taking away the effect of the pepper spray." He said.
"Why didn't you take it earlier?"
"Because I was a little busy keeping you from killing me with a gun."
"You've got a point." She responded.
"Where are they?"
"I only know the location of one person." "Who knows the other one?"
"I don't know, they kept me out of the loop for that."
"Who do you have?"
"Judge Garcia. This is the address." She said as she took down the address.
"Write everything you know on there." He said as he was able to see again.
"This is all I know." She said as she handed him the note.
"You're not safe here. Is there anywhere you can hide?"
"I'll be fine for tonight. I'm good in hiding. What about Isabel?"
"Don't worry. I'll keep her safe. I'll be in touch." He said as he left.
He didn't have much time to safe the judge and he still had no clue where Jacob was.

"How much time do they have?" I asked quietly.
"What time is it?" "8:45"
"Batman has five minutes. Two people in five minutes. My turn. How did it make you feel when he cheated on you? When you knew he had kissed another woman?"
"It was devastating but I have moved on since then. Where are they located?" "That's two questions! I can give you one at the time. Which one would you like first."
"Jacob's." I said without thinking about it.
"He's at 257th 7th Street. My turn." I texted Gordon. Did you hear that?
He responded: Yes, we're on our way.
They are on their way… Meaning Batman chose to save the judge, which was logical but I was terrified for Jacob.
"I'm just guessing who is next on my list - Sam Miller and Bruce." I texted Gordon.
"Are you safe?" Is what I texted Sam and Bruce.
"Who will your hero save? It is all up to him. He is playing God, deciding over life and death."
"You're the one who has the finger on the trigger."
"Me? I'm sitting in a cell in Arkham. I'm not doing anything."
"I forgot, you're either the most brilliant criminal mastermind or you're a nobody that couldn't do a thing. It's hard to keep up. Where is the judge?"

He was racing up the stairs to the house of the judge. He walked into the room and saw her sitting in the middle of the living room, tied to a chair with a ticking bomb on her chest. Her eyes were wide in horror and fear.
Slowly he walked up to her looking around for any possible triggers that could have been installed.
"I'm going to get you out of here." He said as he crouched down to look at the bomb.
It was a sophisticated looking device, whoever did this knew what they were doing. It could take him hours to deactivate this. He was about to take it off when he saw a note on the site saying: Take me off and set me free.
That wasn't going to work.
"We have the second address." Alfred said over the bluetooth. "The commissioner is headed there now."
"How long until detonation?"
"The Joker said five minutes."
Five minutes - for a bomb that would take hours to diffuse… Something must be hooked from the vest to the bomb - a motion sensor of some sort. He found a thin, red wire, trailing it back to the device.
He took pictures of the device, transmitting the images to Fox. "I need to speak to Fox." He whispered to Alfred.
"I'll get him on the line sir."
"The device is military grade." Fox replied. "How do I diffuse it?" "There is a blue and white wire. You have to cut that at the same time of the red wire, combine the two so you can cut the white wire. Make sure you do it at the exact same time or otherwise it will go off."
He did exactly that and the time clock on the bomb stopped. Slowly, he took the vest off the judge, untying her.
"Thank you." She said shaking on her entire body.
"Let's get you out of here." He helped her up and quickly ran to the tumbler with her. He needed to know she was safe but he had no time to wait for the police to get here. He needed to get to Jacob as soon as possible.
"Gordon just forwarded a text from Miss Hunter. She suspects you and Sam Miller are next on the list. Miss Hunter also texted you asking if you're safe."
"Respond to her. I'm at the apartment."
"Certainly sir." He was speeding through Gotham, hoping it wasn't too late to save Jacob.

"My turn." The Joker exclaimed. I checked my phone nervously but hadn't heard from Sam or Bruce. I felt sick to my stomach.
"How does it feel, knowing your good friend is about to die."
"He is not going to die." I said determined. He laughed at me. "And you call me delusional."
"Who is helping you? I need a name."
"One name per question, I can give you that. Let's start with the lovely Amanda Wilson. She works here at Arkham. You see, people can always be bought and corrupted. This city is rotten to its core and your knight in shining armor does not change anything. He thinks he does, he thinks he's making a difference and he has to some extent. But he cannot change the human spirit. My turn."
In that moment I got a text from Bruce - I'm safe. I'm at my apartment talking to Gordon on the phone. He's on the way to save Jacob.
I breathed a sigh of relief. But still no word from Sam.

He reached the address for Jacob's location. "Stay here." He told the judge as he left the tumbler.
His stop watch noted 10 seconds. He was too late. The horror of that realization spread through his body as he ran towards the building, not sure what he could still do.
In that moment, the entire ground floor of the building exploded. The power of the explosion threw him back.
His ears were ringing as he slowly stood back up again. He bowed his head in pain and frustration. This was going to be devastating to Cat. He heard the police sirens. Ten cars pulling up behind him.
"What happened?" Gordon said out of breath as he ran up to him.
"We are too late." He responded in anger as he realized what he needed to do to save the remaining people on the list.

"Time is up." The Joker noted in gleeful excitement.
"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could. We didn't make it in time." Gordon's text read.
It couldn't be.

"Peter? What's happening?" I demanded.
I heard Peter clear his throat and taking a deep breath. "We can just talk afterwards."
"Tell me now." I demanded.
"The judge is safe."
"What about Jake?" I asked.
Silence for a few seconds. Another deep sigh.
"I'm sorry Cat. He was a great guy."
The clown was grinning at me from ear to ear.
I felt numb. Like this wasn't really happening. Anger, fear, frustration, loss… It all washed over me at once. I stood up in anger not even being able to cry. I was in shock.
"I think we're done here." I exclaimed.
"Not so fast. If you leave, they all die. Immediately."
"You're lying."
"You're more than welcome to try it out." He grinned at me.
"What do you want from me?"
"This. The horror on your face for the entire nation to see. Every little emotion is played out on your perfect face like a painting on a canvass. And by the way, if you interrupt the broadcast, they will all die as well."
"Whatever you need from me, I'll do it. Just let them go. They are innocent."
He laughed hysterically again. "I'm already meeting you half way. 50/50. Half of them will die half of them will live. We can't always get everything we want in life, Miss Hunter." Images of Jacob rushed through my brain and I still didn't believe he was dead. It couldn't be.
"Give me another name then. Who else is working with you?"
"With me? No, no, no… They are working for me. This is my town."
"Semantics. I need a name. Not a story."
"And a name you get. Sergeant Sebastian Murphy."

"I located Sam Miller." Alfred said. "She's in Gotham. I'm sending you the address."
"Who else is on his list?" Gordon asked staring at the ruins of the warehouse. "I can handle her portion of the list. I need you and your man to look out for higher ups in the administration." "I have already sent units to the DA and mayor."
"Sir…" Alfred interrupted him. "Sergeant Sebastian Miller was working with the Joker."
"Sergeant Sebastian Miller. Ring a bell?" He asked Gordon.
"Miller… Yes, why?" "He's working with the Joker. We need to find him now."
"He's with the unit at the DAs office."
"Can you handle it?"
"Yes. I'm on it."
"Go to the mayors office."
"What?" Gordon asked confused. "It's a trap. The Joker would never give you a name if it meant you still had time to save that person. It's not the DA - it's the mayor."
Gordon sighed. "Alright, I'll trust your judgement." "Judge Garcia is in my car. Someone should bring her somewhere safe."
"Don't worry." Gordon said as he was running towards some of his men yelling instructions.
He was rushing to the tumbler. He didn't have much time to save them all but he couldn't allow anyone else to die tonight.

My head was spinning and I felt like I was in a bubble outside of my body, looking at myself from afar. As if this was a bad movie that I was watching.
"My turn again. Do you want to know how hie died? Your friend?"
I felt like someone had stabbed me.
"From the looks of it, Batman saved the judge. Because she is holding an office of power, right? The powerful are saved…" "Enough of your bullshit. You like to hear yourself talk way too much."
He looked at me surprised and then smiled. "You're just so much fun. I could do this all day."
"Well, the feeling is not mutual. To answer your question. No, I don't want to hear how he died. I need another name."
I heard myself talk but was not even able to really form thoughts right now. My body felt numb. All I could think about was Jacob but I had to focus in order to at least help save Sam and Bruce. I couldn't lose them too.
"Well played Miss Hunter. Detective Jim Martinez. But it's also time to tell you even more than that. You get three for one. The next one on the lists are Gotham's newest mayor and Catherine Hunter's best friend Sam Miller."
I knew she'd be next but hearing her name was still more than I could handle.
Was I about to throw up? I wasn't sure.
"What was the last thing you said to her? I hope it was good because it might be the last thing you'll ever say to her."

"We've got another name." Alfred said as Bruce was driving through Gotham. "Send the information to Gordon."
"Will do sir."
He had heard Cat mention Sam before. He wanted to make sure she wouldn't lose two of her best friends in one day. If his plan worked, no one else would have to die tonight.
He arrived at the address Alfred had given him. It looked like another abandoned warehouse.
He ran inside only to find Sam, bound by her hands, hanging from the ceiling. "Thank God you're here." She said, tears streaming down her face.
Her legs were bound as well and she was hanging above a bucket of acid. "It's a…it's a time release." She said out of breath. "Every minute I'm dropping down deeper."
"Is there another mechanism?" He asked in a husky voice. "I don't know."
"How do you know it's a time release?"
"It…it makes a noise like a kitchen timer every minute."
"Where's the noise coming from?" She pointed with her head to her right.
He didn't just want to run over to her. Too dangerous. "I'm going to get you out of there." She screamed as the kitchen timer clicked again and she fell a little further down, her feet almost touching the acid.
"Please, hurry."
He grabbed a clicker from his belt, which showed him the motion sensor shield around her, as he had suspected. What else could the Joker have installed? Quickly he ran through the options in his head. What did he expect him to do? He had to do the opposite and he had less than a minute to do it.
He ran out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Sam screamed.
He had no time to explain and he hoped he was right. He ran into the room next door. The room was empty. Was he wrong? The wall looked too new - it didn't match the rest of the house. He knocked against it and heard a hallow sound. He slammed into the wall and saw what he was looking for - the counter weight with which she was pulled up. In that moment he heard the kitchen timer and grabbed onto the line as fast as he could as it was starting to spin through the machine. "What happened? Did you make it stop?" Sam asked frantically.
"Momentarily." He said putting his body weight into the line. "I need you to start swinging."
"What?"
"Can you do that for me?"
"Ok." She said and he felt the line in his hands vibrating as she was swinging from side to side. "Ok, good. Now I need you to tell me when you're directly over the bucket."
"Ok…" She said nervously.
"Just say: now."
"What are you doing? I'm scared?" "Trust me." He said in a deep voice.
"Ok… Ready?"
"Yes." He said, not sure how much longer he could hold onto the line that slowly started to slip through his hands.
"Now."
He let the line go and heard her body crash on the floor.
Quickly he ran over to the other room. The shield had been disabled with the last kitchen timer noise. He ran over to her, helping her out of the lines.
"You ok?" He asked her.
"I….I think so." "Let's get you out of here." He said as he was helping her up but she wasn't very steady on her legs.
"The mayor is safe." Alfred said. "And Miller is in custody."
One more to save - he thought to himself as he put an arm under Sam's shoulders to support her.
"Let Gordon and Miss Hunter know she's safe." He said to Alfred.
"Who are you talking to?" Sam asked confused.
"The police." He responded as he helped her into the tumbler.
"What in the world is this? Is it a tank?"
"Something like that." He said as he was pressing the start button.
"Is…is Catherine…is she safe?"
"Yes, she's safe."
If he is correct in his assumption what the Joker had planned, he was able to save the DA, who he presumed was last on the list. What if he was wrong?
"Gordon," he said over the speaker phone. "Where are you?"
"We're just leaving the mayor's office. I'm headed to the DA now."
"Good. I will handle Wayne."
"You think Bruce Wayne is next on the list?" Sam asked.
"I know he is." He responded.
"Can you save him?" She asked nervously.
"I'm planning on it." He responded, his eyes fixed on the road.
"Please do. I'm not sure Cat could survive losing him."
He tried to hide his emotions from her and at this point, also from himself. He had no time to waste and needed to stay focused on the Joker.

My hands were shaking from the adrenaline, my mouth was dry. I kept checking my phone frantically.
"It is time. No word from your friend yet, Miss Hunter? Did you lose two of the most important people in your life in a few minutes? Life is a strange thing. It changes so quickly. One moment you're whole, the next you're shattered into a million pieces. You see what separates you from me is nothing but a few minutes of horror. That it all it takes to bring even the strongest of us down."
"Sam and the mayor are safe." The text read and I felt relief rush through my body.
"They are both alive, clown."
The Joker looked angry, his mouth twitching.
"Your game ends here. Batman beat you to it. Tell me, how does it feel to know that you don't own this city? To know that you're a nobody, a freak, rotting away in a dark cell?"
His eyes zeroed in on me.
"Well lucky you, we have arrived at the finale of this game and you'll be able to sit front and center for this one. Gotham's district attorney, who has been cleaning up the streets, or the man who holds your heart, Bruce Wayne? Who will it be? The stakes are so much higher this time. Will Batman save the man responsible for fighting crime or will he save a man who might be a symbol in the city, but is nothing more than a shallow playboy?"
"You don't know anything about Bruce Wayne." I hissed at him.
"Did he convince you of how he has changed before or after he cheated on you?"
"Is that a question or is it just you loving to hear yourself talk again? I'm simply checking."
"Ha ha. Good one. It is a question."
"I know who he truly is. He didn't need to convince me of anything. I need another name in return."
"Alright, the final name I give you tonight..."
"Final, so you're out of questions for me then?" I interrupted him.
"Oh no, I'm never out of questions for you. But for tonight I will leave it at that. So, the final name I'm going to give you is Peter Murphy at the district attorney's office."
"Final name. So I can leave?"
"Oh no, you have to stay until the end. You don't want to miss this."
He grinned at me.
I looked at my phone.
"Tell me you're surrounded by security." I texted Bruce.
"Don't worry about me.". He responded.
"How much longer? And don't tell me that's another question. Just answer."
He grinned. "It will all be over in two minutes my dear."
I felt my heart beat in my throat, pounding so hard, it was almost deafening.

He stopped the car next to the ER.
"I don't need to go to the ER." Sam responded.
"I need you safe. I have no time to discuss this."
She nodded and got out, doctors rushing to her site. "Thanks again." She said to him.
"You don't have to thank me." He responded in a raspy voice as he darted off.
He didn't have much time for this to work. He needed to change back into Bruce Wayne persona - otherwise it would be strange that Bruce Wayne wouldn't be seen at all. He had to act quickly. Time was running out.
What would be the way the Joker would want to kill Bruce Wayne? It had come to him earlier. Getting shot by a thug - just like his parents. The Joker would love the bitter irony.
"Alfred?" He asked over the speaker phone.
"Yes sir? "Cross reference the numbers in Medved's phone with the three names we have so far. Whoever is supposed to kill me…the Joker would not give that name up so easily."
His guess was that Martinez was supposed to kill the DA.
"Found something sir. A Richard Wright. He had military training as a sniper but then dropped out early. He has received calls in the past from both Medved and Peter Murphy."
"I'll take care of the DA. Let Gordon know. He won't be thrilled."
"Certainly sir."

The plan was risky and he didn't have much time but it was the only way he could protect both, the DA and his identity. He rushed to the interim office of the new DA. He was on the rooftop of the building across, looking right at the DA. He was standing there, surrounded by cops and Gordon.
Sometimes the cops made it just way too easy for him. He stood on the edge of the building, opening his arms as if he really had wings. Then he jumped off the roof, free falling for a second until the wind pushed the fabric into the shape of wings, allowing him to glide silently towards the window. In the last second before impact, he rolled into a ball, shielding himself from the glass.
The cops were freaking out pulling their guns, but he already held the DA like a shield in front of him.
"What the hell are you doing?" Gordon asked exasperated.
"Saving this man." He responded before he shot a hook at the rooftop and zipped into the darkness with the DA.
"They had it under control." The DA said out of breath as they reached the rooftop. "I'm sure they did." He responded, giving him sedative.
"What is that…?" The DA asked as he already fell asleep.
Quickly he put him in the bat, before flying away.

"When you said you were taking care of the DA… I assumed you didn't mean kidnapping." Alfred said as Bruce walked in with the DA in the bat.
"Could you help me get him out?" He asked after taking off the mask. Reluctantly, Alfred did, putting one arm of the DA around his neck, Bruce took the other one.
"What are all those bloody pus-ups for if you can't even lift a sedated district attorney up?"
Bruce laughed as they laid him down in the storage unit.
"I can't wait until the Cave is ready." He said.
"Yes, it will be so much more convenient for kidnappings in the future, sir."
"I have to change and get back to the apartment. You stay here with him. I gave him a double dose. He should be out for hours."
"Lovely."

"Batman kidnapped the DA." Gordon's text read.
That meant the DA was safe. That also meant Batman decided to save the DA.
I swallowed hard, looking at my phone as if it could give me the answers to all my questions. I need him to be safe.
"Did he save the DA? Huh?" The clown asked.
"We still have time." I hissed at him, feeling empty.
"Maybe so, but for Mr. Wayne, I have a special surprise. He is the grande prize of the night. I already knew Batman would save Gotham's finest. Didn't you? It's obvious. That's why I wanted you here. To show Gotham what kind of horror Batman is inflicting on citizens. To show how cruel justice really is."
"What is the surprise?" I asked quietly. Forming words seemed harder and harder to do.
"Q&A time is over I'm afraid." He said, an evil grin spreading slowly on his face.

"Any idea where Wright is?" Bruce asked, dressed in a suit, speeding through Gotham in his Lamborghini.
"I'm trying to track his mobile phone, sir. But he must block the signal."
"Ask Fox to track him through sonar."
"Sonar sir?" "He'll know what I mean."

He took the back entrance to his apartment. After all he had said he was in his apartment this whole time. He needed to know where Wright was for this plan to work.
Suddenly he saw a news helicopter hovering above his apartment as he noticed a sea of journalists downstairs. Perfect! He had banked on them being here.
"Any news on Wright's whereabouts?" He asked Alfred on the phone as he looked out the giant glass windows, searching for the man that was assigned to assassinate him.
"Got something, sir. But we're still analyzing the data." Alfred responded.
In that moment he felt he impact of the gunshot ripping through him. He looked ahead and saw a tiny red light in the distance. Alfred's information came too late.

His hands were still covering his chest, where the bullet had hit him. Blood gushing from the wound, spreading over his white shirt.
"Sir?" Alfred asked on the phone.
It was hard to breathe. In that moment another bullet whipped through him, hitting him in the abdomen.
"Master Wayne?" The old butler's voice rang in concern.
He felt his knees give in underneath him as he fell to the ground, the phone next to him.
"Master Wayne? Sir?"