In local news, criminal Ira Billings, a.k.a. Spellbinder, was released from Arkham Asylum today. His doctor, Marcus Crowley, has stated he has a clean bill of mental health. Here he is with more.  Terry groaned and turned up the vidlink as the Doctor came on.

            "He has proved himself to be willing to adhere to the daily rules of our society. He has talked about his anger and his distrust of anyone but himself, and he was the perfect candidate for my research and operation. It was a success, and I know he'll fit in with the rest of Gotham. Just give him a chance." Dr. Crowley smiled into the camera.

            There you have it folks. Billings isn't the first to undergo the Crowley procedure. Six others have tried it, and all have successfully reentered normal life. The procedure is surgical, and removes the part of the brain that has malfunctions, which has been proven in almost all criminal minds. That's the news, have a nice day.

            "Oh great. Mom, I'm going out!" Terry grabbed his jacket. He looked up as his mother came out of the kitchen.

            "That's fine dear, try to be home for dinner. Tell Mr. Wayne I said hello." She smiled and went to check on some food. Terry nodded absently and walked out the door.

                                                                        *

            "You weren't watching?"

            "I had better things to do. They seriously let him go?" Maxine Gibson, known as Max, asked as she put down her computer programming book.

            "Yes. They said he had this operation done that's worked on other people. They're doing good, so why shouldn't they give him a chance?"

            "I don't know, maybe because he's a psycho? He tried to kill kids with VR, he made people see things that weren't there? Stop me when we get to a redeeming quality." She stood up and started to pace.

            "Look, you don't have to convince me. I know it's a bad idea. I wonder what he'll do now." Terry wondered, closing his eyes slightly. Max shrugged.

            "Who knows, he'll probably get his old job back." She looked at him while he drowsed. "Long night?"

            "Long week. Why doesn't crime sleep?" Terry mumbled, yawning.

            "Is this a riddle?"

            "No. Purely rhetorical." He checked his watch and groaned.

            "What's up?"

            "I've got to meet Wayne in about half an hour." Terry stood and stretched. Max raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

            "You could use a partner. Someone who could ease the work load a little."

            "No Max."

            "Terry! Even the original Batman had help. Three people!" Terry shook his head.

            "No. It's too dangerous."

            "It's just as dangerous for you as it is for me! Tell me it isn't." Max looked at him expectantly and he started to say something but gave up.

            "I don't' want to get into this right now. Let's not fight."

            "Fine. But remember, you can't be everywhere at once." That was the last thing he heard as he closed the door.

                                                                        *

            "I'm sure you know who's been released."

            "It was on the news. Any hunches you want me to check out?"

            "No, I'm waiting for a sign from him." Wayne sighed and rubbed Ace's head gently. "I wonder about this procedure though. I'm a little weary about a medical fix to what seems to be a moral problem."

            "So you're saying that a malfunction of the brain couldn't cause someone to become unbalanced enough to say…become someone like Two Face?" Terry watched Bruce's face tighten.

            "He was different. Getting acid poured on you will corrupt your mind."

            "So a genetic defect is out of the question."

            "I'm skeptical." Bruce looked at Terry with amusement.

            "What?"

            "You're sticking up for him. Do you think he deserves another chance?"

            "I think he got off lucky alive. But hey, I'm just a teenager, what do I know?"

            "At any rate, I want you to research this operation and the person who does it. Dr. Crowley. Something may be up."

            "Is paranoia normal during the onset of old age?" Terry smiled as Wayne glared at him. "I'm going I'm going. Anywhere you want me to start?"

            "You've got to learn how to gather information yourself. Start where you think it is most logical to start. And be careful, you might find something you never expected. And start tomorrow."

            "Will do boss." Terry pulled the mask over his head and melted into the shadows.

                                                                        *

            "Hmmm…."

            "Any ideas?"

            "Plenty, but you have to figure this out don't you?"

            "Max."

            "Alright alright. So unappreciative. So I guess we could start with the source. Dr. Crowley."

            "Should I try the asylum?" Terry asked as he steered the plane towards the outskirts of the industrial town.

            "No, I wouldn't. He's a guy, and a doctor. Both of those species have big egos."

            "I'd resent that if you weren't helping me."

            "I know. But if you just show up as a curious high schooler, then he would most likely talk his head off, glad that someone is so impressed with his genius." Max yawned.

            "High schooler…" He abruptly turned the plane around.

            "So what's your plan?"

            "Be ready. I'm coming to pick you up."

            "Me? Really?" Max stood up, already excited.

            "Yes you. But don't think this will be a habit."

            "Of course not."

            "I'll be on the roof."

            "So will I."

                                                                        *

            Dr. Marcus Crowley frowned at the small device on the corner of his desk. "I thought I gave orders that I wasn't to be disturbed."

            "I know sir, but it's a young woman here who is interested in your work, and wondered did you have time in your busy schedule to see her and talk about some of it?" The secretary looked at Max and smiled coldly. "Don't get your hopes up. When Dr. Crowley doesn't want to see anyone, then he doesn't see anyone." The door to their right opened and A tall man with brown hair and blue eyes stepped into the reception area.

            "Now Deborah, there is no reason why we should be so rude to our public, for you know, I work for them. Come this way…"

            "Maxine…Gilbert." Max said quickly, uneasy as a slow smile spread itself across his very handsome face.

            "Maxine. I'm sure you have plenty of questions." Dr. Crowley ushered her into his office, closing the door behind him. "So, what is it you want to talk about? What type of education is needed for this type of work? How I became interested in this avenue of medicine, or how about what college I'm an alumnus of?" He motioned for her to sit in a large plush chair in front of his desk.

            "Actually, I wanted to know how you thought up your operational procedure. It's sheer genius, and I knew I had to meet the man who designed it." She laid it on thick, her face enraptured as Crowley leaned back and smiled.

            "Of course. At a young age I knew I wanted to be a public servant. But where would my talents best be used? Trust me, it was a dilemma for a child of ten. There I was, with all of that genius, but no vehicle to produce what was needed to make the world better…" Max settled in for a long talk.

                                                                        *

            "So what do you find?" Terry asked as Max walked out of the private clinic of Dr. Crowley.

            "You so owe me."

            "Yeah, I know. What did you find out." She sighed as they walked further away from the imposing building.

            "Ugh. He loves himself more than life, and exaggerates his contribution to society."

            "That's it?"

            "No. He's definitely hiding something. When I asked about the actual procedure, he sort of hedged around it, not giving me hard facts, just going into how it is to perform it. He gave me no details, and I think he meant to do it." Terry frowned and shrugged.

            "Well thanks. I know it took a long time."

            "I felt as if I could have watched both of the Star Wars Trilogies twice.  But there was something else. You know how we thought he created the procedure himself?" She asked as they found a bench to sit on.

            "Yeah. He even said he made it." Terry said as the wind picked up slightly. Max shivered slightly, having left her jacket at home because she felt warm earlier. With the sun down a chill was in the air, and she now wished she had brought it. "Cold?" He asked, bringing her closer and putting his arm around her.

            "Thanks. Yeah, I was. " Max rested her head against his shoulder and thought. "What was I saying?"

            "Something about Crowley not creating the operation or something."

            "Oh yeah. I have a feeling he stole it from someone." Terry's eyebrow rose.

            "Why do you think that?"

            "Vibes I guess."          

            "Max, I've got to have better proof than just "vibes"."          

            "I know. So where are we checking out now?"

            "There is no we. I'm dropping you off back at your house, where you're safe."

            "Boy you're a load of fun."

            "I'm serious Max. I want you to go home and stay home. I'll handle it from here."

                                                                        *

            "She thinks he's just taking the credit for someone else's idea."

            "So the question is, who." Bruce sat back, pondering the possible answers. "Any ideas?"

            "Well I should start with anyone in his life who would have knowledge of the human mind and surgery…perhaps a professor of his." Terry said as he tilted the plane, breezing through two buildings.

            "Sounds like a start. Don't rule anything out, and remember, sometimes the most obvious is what is right."

            "Yeah, yeah."