Ch 4- Gone
The sound of dripping water was enough to wake Max from her chloroformed induced sleep. As she sat up she put her hand on the back of her head and batted her eyes a few times to get her eyesight adjusted to the semi dark room. As she looked around she saw that the walls ware covered with Joker graffiti.
" Great. I'm in the Jokerz club house," she whispered to herself.
" Lookie here. You're awake. " She looked around the room as the voice spoke to her but didn't see anyone around. She became scared at the sound of footsteps got louder. "Don't be scared. I'm not gonna hurt you I just want to make you laugh." The sound of the other laughing was enough to annoy her. She tried to stand up but was forced back down because her wrists and ankles were tied to the chair." Escape is useless. Your gonna be here for a while." She didn't notice the joker leader making his way towards her until he was in the light. The sound of her heart racing in her ears downed out the sound of the dripping water as the joker walked around her." Somebody paid a lot of money to have you snatched." Hearing that her kidnapping was planned was enough to make Max forget about her pounding heart. She wanted to say something but for the first time in her life found that she was speechless " Maybe its because you're Batman's friend." How much did they know about? She prayed that they only knew she was friends with Batman and not who he was or where to find him.
*****
" You're quiet tonight." Terry heard Bruce say over the com link.
" I'm thinking." Terry had been in a slightly depressed mood since he left Max's apartment. The more he thought about Max missing the more he got depressed. Especially since the last time he saw her she told him that Dana was seeing other guys. No matter how much Terry tried to deny it he knew what Max told him was true. He just didn't want to believe it.
" You're not getting any where flying around. Come back here to regroup." Terry made a sharp u-turn in the air as he headed back to the cave. After changing out of the bat suit Terry stood next to Bruce who was sitting at the computer.
" Max didn't have any enemies did she?" Terry thought for a moment before responding.
" No."
" So maybe her disappearance has nothing to do with her but someone she knows." A light bulb went off in Terry's head.
" Me."
" You're getting good at this job McGinnis." Wayne said smiling. Terry looked at the time on his watch.
" I gotta go. I told my mom I'd be home in time to baby-sit Matt." The image of Max playing with Matt popped in to Terry's head as he left the batcave. When Terry walked through the door he saw his mother hanging up the phone.
" You're home. I was just about to call Max. I wasn't sure if you'd be here or not." She could by the look in his eyes that something was troubling him. " What's the matter?" she asked as she looked into his eyes.
" Nothing. Just a long day at the office." He forced a smile hoping it would make Mary feel better.
" Very funny. Dinners in the oven I'll be home late." She kissed him on the cheek as she left the apartment. Matt came out of his room and stood next to Terry who was looking in the oven at dinner.
" What is it?" He asked Terry.
" I don't know. I think its meatloaf."
" Please don't make me eat it." Terry smiled at his little brother who seemed to be very sincere and in fear for his life.
" Go put your coat on. Ill take you to Cheesy Dan's." Terry watched as Matt grabbed his caot off the couch.
" Can we stop by Max's? Maybe she wants to go." For a moment Terry had forgotten that Max was missing.
" She's out of town. She's visiting her mom. She told me to tell you that she'll miss you." Matt looked almost as depressed as Terry felt. " How about we order a pizza and play a vid game?"
Matt ran to his room and got his games.
****
The ringing cell phone in Nelson's room was enough to wake him up. With his head still under his pillow he answers his phone.
" What."
" We've got some really bad news."
He sat up in bed " Who is this?"
" One of the jokers…"
" How' d you get this number?"
" She's gone."
" Who?"
" The girl. She took out three of me guys. Broke their noses."
With his jaw to the floor Nelson sat up in the bed " How did that happen?" The joker on the other line sounded as if he might cry.
" I don't know I came to check on her and she was gone."
" Okay. I'll be there in an hour. Where are you?"
" The old Gotham Warehouse downtown." Nelson hung up the phone made a call and got dressed.
A/N: Sorry for such a long wait but my classes and homework( and writers block) are taking up any free time I have.
I will try to update this story every two weeks or so. ( It probably won't happen but its nice to have a goal.)
Hope you like this chapter and as always reviews are always appreciated
