It wasn't fair! Josie thought as she lay in bed.

She wanted to go to the Iceberg lounge too; she could help his business.

She was one of the best girl scout cookie sellers in her school.

What does The Joker sell?

What do bad guys sell?

Well, he's a bad guy, so clearly, he must sell terrible stuff.

That guy who sold grandpa that bad car he called a lemon (even though it was orange) was a bad guy.

She even heard grandpa call him a schmuck once.

And schmuck is not a word used to describe a friend.

Did Joker sell a bunch of awful cars?

She made a mental note to ask Gabby; she didn't think Ivy would tell her.

She played with the phone; Gabby or Joker already y had all of her information programmed in it.

She wondered how they knew so much about her, another question to ask Gabby.

'So, you say that they sent you on patrol?' Growled a familiar voice.

'Yes, he called in his favorites and sent me away.' A kid's voice replied sharply.

There was no mistake about it; that was Robin's voice.

It was Robin and that other guy.

Was Joker right?

Did they somehow track her down?

Crap, this was getting spooky.

'Well, The Joker is a dangerous man; maybe this is just an I want to keep you safe thing, and not a Robin is an outsider thing.'

Outsider? Josie thought as she rushed to the closet.

Why were they talking about Robin being an outsider?

Joker mentioned that he was a late model; is he new to Gotham too?

Is that why he feels like an outsider?

But didn't he say that Batman was a new model too?

Shouldn't he feel like an outsider as well?

When she picked off a decent outfit, she dragged the bed close to the window.
She jumped on the bed until she reached the window. The flower in the corner began to cry as she pulled herself up to the glass.

'Don't cry; I'm coming back.' She proclaimed as she whirled around to face it.

But she lost balance and tumbled out of the window and landed on a cardboard box on top of some trash bags.

When she was upright, she searched for Robin and the other man.

Where could they have gone so fast?

She looked frantically down the alley when she was seized roughly and flung onto the ground.
The move knocked the wind out of her lungs, or may the knee on her chest did...

'Why are you following us?!'

'Josie?'

She looked up to discover Robin pointing a sword at her throat.

'Bruce?'

Bruce looked up to see Dick, Barbara, Tim, Jason, and Alfred staring at him.

Great. Bruce thought as he turned to them.

You might as well get this over with.

'You're all here.' He sighed.

'Dick and Babs insisted that you had something to tell us.' Jason yawned.

'Where's the prince?' Asked Tim.

'I don't think we should include him just yet.'

'Well,' asked Alfred, 'what is it?'

'The Joker,' he half mumbled, 'I-'

'He has a kid!' Barbara shrieked. 'She's here, in Gotham!'

So much for breaking the news gently.

Thanks, Barbara.

'A kid?' Tim gasped. 'I didn't know he and Harley-'

'Harley's not her mother.' Bruce announced.

'Wait, so he has another woman crazy enough to-you know what? It's not important. Where is her mother?'

'Dead, died during childbirth.'

'Damn,' Jason muttered, 'The Clown gets around. Does he know?'

'I believe so.'

'What are you going to do?' Asked Tim.

'We have to find him.' Bruce proclaimed.

'We should tell my father!'

'I know, but...'

'There is no but!' Barbara hissed. 'We can put out an Amber Alert to find her.'

'And how exactly are we going to do that without putting a giant bullseye on her forehead?!' Bruce turned back to the computer. 'The instant his enemies learn of her existence, she's dead! When her mother died, her grandparents swore never to set foot in Gotham! If I'd known it was them... We have to find him.'

'The public doesn't need to know she's Joker's daughter, but my dad does.'

'What's her name?'

'Josephine Kerr.'

'The kid who Damien claims bested him in combat?!' Tim laughed. 'I like her already.'

'I bet Gabby knows something...' Jason muttered.

'Yeah, probably... Oh, could you stay behind, Jason? I have some info on that case you asked me to look over.'

'We should tell my father.' Barbara said quietly. 'We don't have to tell the public who she is, but he has to know.'

'I know.' Groaned Dick as Barbara led him away.

'You should go to him now!'

'I'll head to the orphanage,' Tim said as he poured himself a cup of coffee, 'maybe she has friends there.'

The three of them exited the cave. Jason turned to him, eyeing him suspiciously but said nothing until they were alone.

'Okay, let's hear it.'

'The last time the little girl was seen, it was with your friend.'

Jason looked like he was going to explode. 'Do you have an idea of what he's planning to do with her?'

Was he asking the little girl or Gabby?

'No, but I don't want to find out.'

The girl stared up at Robin and Abuse; she looked unsure of what to do.

She wore a pastel yellow romper and white sneakers

'I can't breathe.' She coughed.

'Robin.'

Robin got off her but still kept his sword at her throat.

'What are you doing out here?' Asked Abuse.

'Oh, you know, lying around.'

'Get up.' Ordered Robin. She eased up, carefully avoiding the sword. 'What are you doing lurking around at night?'

'Why are you?' She countered.

'We're asking the questions here!'

'The streets of Gotham are dangerous,' said Abuse, 'especially at night.'

'I was trying to get to the Iceberg Lounge.'

'Why?'

The girl peeked at them sheepishly; Robin glared at her distrustfully.
Abuse, however, looked anxious, like he was worried about something.

'I was looking for my friend...' She declared.

'What friend?' Demanded Robin.

'Cathy.'

'Does Cathy have a last name?'

She looked at her shoes and turned away from them; Robin held his sword under her chin.

'Don't make me ask you twice.' He growled.

'We can help you find her.' Abuse said gently.

She eyed him, then glared at Robin. 'Dollenganger.'

'And you think she's at the Iceberg Lounge?' Robin doubted.

'She went with the bad man!'

'What bad man?' they stressed.

'The one from the other day...'

'A little boy I spoke to the other day said he saw you with a criminal known as The Joker.' Robin let out quietly as he lowered his sword. 'A boy called Colin.'

'He's my friend!' She declared.

'Your friend?' Abuse choked.

'Who is?!' Asked Robin

'Colin!' Abuse looked like he was stunned by what she said. 'Is he alright?'

'He's fine.' Abuse whispered.

'Are you sure?'

'His head hurts.'

Uneasily, she glanced at Robin as Abuse shifted uncomfortably, seemingly embarrassed by her concerns.

'What about you?' She asked stiffly.

'What about me?!' He asked defensively as he turned to her.

'Ah, are you alright?' The girl asked while wincing. 'I saw him hit Colin, but I didn't see what he did to you.' He gripped his sword tightly. 'He said Dr. Strange got you.'

'Hugo Strange.'

'How does your head feel?'

She started to touch his head when he jerked away.

'Did I hurt you?'

'No, I'm fine.'

Robin felt cheeks heat up as he looked away from her.

It's an act; she's a liar. He told himself.

'That's good. I told him that he shouldn't have done that to you guys.'

Robin eyed the girl for the first time; she had long unkempt blonde hair, her too-large gray eyes and full lips didn't pair up with her child-like face.
She was too thin, and her arms seemed too long, but she had nice legs, dancers' legs.

Conclusion: she was just an ordinary run-of-the-mill child.

Except she wasn't, there was something about her that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

'Why were you with him?'

She looked confused. 'Why was I with who?'

'The Joker. He's a dangerous criminal.'

'I wasn't with him. I just ran into him that night.'

'And he just let you go?'

'Yes...'

'Why? What makes you so special?'

'I'm pretty?'

Robin scowled at her response. 'And just what were you out that night?'

'I was trying to get to the hospital.'

'What? Why?'

'To see my grandparents.'

'What? Why?'

'Isn't that where they keep the dead people? In the hospital?' They exchange a glance. 'I just wanted to say goodbye.'

She's lying; I know it! I just know it.

'I still don't trust you!'

'And I still haven't forgotten about you stabbing me and slamming my head on the ground.' She wailed.

Something in her eyes, Robin found himself thinking about the joker.

Who is she?!

'Okay, we'll help you find your friend-'

'What?!' Cried Robin.

'But you have to go back to the orphanage!'

'What?!' She cried.

'Those are the terms; take it or leave it!'

'Fine!' She pouted as she scowled at Robin.

Robin returned her scowl with one of his own. 'Fine by me.'