"HIGH NOON IN GOTHAM CITY

A CITY UNDER SIEGE"

Whitey leaned against the grimy alley wall and eyed the blonde woman pacing along the opposite side of the street. She was commanding his complete attention. This could be due to the fact that she: A) accounted for the only activity on the street; B) was stunningly gorgeous; and C) was clad in only a two-piece white bikini. Whitey wholeheartedly approved of her choice in colors and her minimalist sense in fashion.

"BESET BY PERSONS OF SUSPECT CHARACTER"

He watched her stroll back and forth in front of the Gotham Apiculture Museum. Each time she passed a window, she slowed to peer inside. As Whitey had been expecting (drawing from some personal knowledge of criminal behavior) she now came to a stop at the museum's entrance.

"AWASH IN A WAVE OF CRIME"

When he saw her bend over the front door, he figured it wasn't to get a closer look at the Closed For Lunch' sign. The blonde, known in criminal circles by the nom de guerre Undine, applied a skeleton key to the lock. She had the door open in three seconds flat. Whitey emitted a low whistle of admiration.

"ONLY AN ELITE TEAM OF STALWART FIGURES STAND
BETWEEN THE CITY AND BLATANT LAWLESSNESS"

No sooner had Undine crossed the threshold into the museum's interior than Whitey saw two masked figures come swinging down on ropes, seemingly from out of nowhere. The larger of the two wore a charcoal-gray bodysuit, black trunks and a blue cloak. The more youthful figure was clad in a red tunic, green trunks, and a bright yellow cape.

"DENIZENS OF THE UNDERWORLD COWER IN FEAR AT
THE APPROACH OF BATMAN AND ROBIN!"

Spying some unlawful behavior, the two hit the ground running. With the speed of a gazelle, Batman raced over to where Whitey stood and seized him in an iron headlock.

Robin sprang to join them. "So! Thought you'd practice your lousy loitering habit right here, eh?"

Batman's grip tightened. "Well, well, if it isn't our old friend Whitey. Where's the rest of your River Rat gang?"

Unbeknownst to the Caped Crusaders, as they were interrogating the hapless bystander, Undine was merrily doing as she pleased inside the Apiculture Museum.

"Come on! I'm just minding my own business!" Whitey croaked in complaint. "Why are you rousting me?"

Batman loosened his grip to gaze grimly into the distance. "Twenty five years ago," he intoned, "in an alley not far from this one, a man and his wife were brutally gunned down while their child watched in horror. The murderer? A loiterer; one assumed to be merely whiling away the hours to no end. But, as history has shown us time and again, today's idler is tomorrow's murderer! Diligent enforcement of our loitering laws would have saved that couple."

"Maybe 72 hours in a cell will give you enough time to think of a more productive hobby!" added Robin, poking Whitey in the ribs for extra emphasis.

"72 hours?!"

"Assuming good behavior allows you to avoid the full 90 day sentence," Batman replied as he yanked Whitey's wrists behind him and bat-cuffed him.

Robin glanced at his watch. "Holy Fractured Obligations! The last prosecution witness is set to testify in just a few minutes!"

"Let's go!"

Each grabbing an arm, the two quickly hustled Whitey down the block towards the courthouse. Just as they disappeared from view, Undine crept out from the Apiculture Museum, her goal apparently accomplished. Clutching a huge glass-encased bee hive to her sizable bust, she made a beeline for the nearest back alley.

"AND, AS ONE SCOFFLAW IS HAULED OFF THE FACE THE MUSIC,
ANOTHER WAITS RESLESSLY FOR THE SCALES OF JUSTICE TO
WEIGH HER FATE."

Courtroom B of the Gotham City Courthouse thronged with noisy onlookers. All eyes were fixed upon petulant expression of the defendant - The Siren! - tantalizing temptress of tune! The Siren's short toga-like costume stood out in contrast to the official blue uniforms of Officers Shannon and Tara, flanking her on either side. Their dual feminine presence served to ensure the Siren could not escape simply by bewitching all the men with her sinister song.

"And isn't it true," said the prosecutor, addressing the witness on the stand, "that you have witnessed the defendant attempting to take human life on previous occasions?"

"That's correct. This marks the second time in as many years that the Siren has attempted not only mind control, but murder."

"TESTIFYING AGAINST THE DEFENDANT: BATMAN'S NEWEST
COLLEAGUE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME – THE LOVELY AND
MYSTERIOUS BATGIRL!"

"And isn't it true, Batgirl, that the defendant previously vowed in your presence that her days of lawlessness were behind her?" the prosecutor asked.

"She did. When we captured her last year, she said her voice was ruined and she would never again pursue a criminal career."

"I have no further questions. Thank you for your testimony."

"My pleasure, Batman."

"YES, NOT ONLY DOES HE POLICE THE CITY STREETS, BUT
BATMAN IS GLAD TO LEND A HAND IN PROSECUTING CRIMINAL
MISDEEDS AS WELL!"

As Batman took his seat at the prosecution table, the Siren leaned over to whisper to her attorney. "Do you think that exchange cast me in a bad light?"

"Batgirl's testimony was pretty damaging. You may have to testify on your own behalf, after all."