The Dark Knight was once again on patrol over Gotham. This was his city. It had been roughly a year since the Joker had last appeared. He felt guilty he couldn't save him. First the fall into the vat of acid, then the fall off of Gotham cathedral. He may have been a deranged psychopath, but he was still a human being in need of saving. At least Gotham no longer would be menaced by his deviltry. Or would it? There were rumors circulating through the underworld that the Clown Prince of Crime had returned, and was ready to strike again. Tonight was the night he would know for sure. At an abandoned warehouse, crime boss Sal Maroni and his men were stealing contraband.

"OK boys," Sal said, "We're gonna loot this place! The cops won't even know what hit them!"

"But I will!" came an almost ethereal voice. Perched above the mobsters was the dark figure of the Batman.

"Batman!" Maroni shouted, "Get him, men!" The thugs started shooting as Batman swooped down onto them. He knocked the guns out of their hands with batarangs. Maroni started to run, but Batman whipped out a bat bola and tied him up before he could escape. Later on, Batman met Commissioner Gordon up on the roof of Police Headquarters.

"Thank you for netting Maroni for us, Batman," Gordon said, "Thanks to you, Gotham is a bit safer tonight."

"Glad I could be of service, Commissioner," Batman said.

"But it's still not entirely safe," Gordon said.

"What do you mean?" Batman asked.

"These are photos the forensic scientists took earlier," Gordon said, handing him an envelope. Inside with pictures of people with hideous grins and deathly complexions. "Detectives Bullock and Montoya found them earlier this evening. According to the coroner's report, they've been dead for nearly 3 weeks."

"And you think the Joker's back?" Batman asked.

"Near as we can figure," Gordon said, "But we all saw that grinning ghoul fall from the cathedral. It's impossible. How could he have survived that?"

"I don't know, Commissioner," Batman said, "But I'm gonna get to the bottom of it."

"Batman, one more thing," Gordon said, "Detective Bullock tells me that all of these victims were employees of Shreck industries. That might tell us something."

"I'll look into it," Batman said, "Thank you, Commissioner." He swung away on his grappling hook. Later on Shreck industries, Max Shreck was in his office filing his taxes.

"Miss Kyle," Max said, "Please get me some coffee."

"Right away, sir," his timid secretary, Selina Kyle, said. She left the room. Within in moments, Max heard a gust of wind.

"Selina!" he snapped, "I thought I told you to shut the window!"

"Evening, Max!" came a gruff voice. The tycoon looked up to see the Guardian of Gotham standing before him.

"You!" Max exclaimed, "What do you want?" Batman took out the photographs and showed them to Max.

"Five former employees of Shreck industries went missing three weeks ago and all of them were discovered like this! Know anything about it?" Batman asked, as he held up the photos of the grinning dead employees.

"Why should I know anything?" Max asked, "Gotham is a dangerous city, Batman. There's no telling what could happen. True, you helped reduce the crime rate, but if my employees don't show up for work, that's no skin off my nose. I just hire replacements."

Well, if you end up being next, don't say I didn't warn you." Batman says.

"Did you just threaten me, freak?" Max asked.

"Not yet," Batman said, grabbing him by the collar, "But if I find out you're behind this in any way, I'm coming after you. Good night, Mr. Shreck." Batman fired his grappling hook, and swooped out the window.

"Listen, freak!" Max shouted, "I have lawyers! I won't stand for this!"

"Your coffee, Mr. Shreck." Selina said.

"Thank you, Miss Kyle," Shreck said, "You may go now."

Later, Batman arrived back in the Batcave.

"How goes the nightly patrol, sir?" Alfred asked as Batman got out of the Batmobile.

"Troubling, Alfred," Bruce said, "We have reason to believe the Joker has returned. Gordon and the GCPD detectives found bodies that were exposed to smilex gas."

"Ah yes, Joker's lethal poison," Alfred said. "How might the fiend have returned, sir?"

"I don't know," Bruce said, "But I have a hunch Max Shreck may have been involved. "I went to see him, but he claimed he didn't know anything. By the way, how are our guests doing?"

"Mrs. Fletcher and Dr. Hazlitt are getting a well-deserved rest, as should you." Alfred said.

"There's still work to be done," Bruce said.

"I am aware, Master Bruce," Alfred said, "But I am also aware that you must get a proper amount of sleep in order to perform your necessary duties as Bruce Wayne and maintain your energy for crime-fighting.

"I'll be fine, Alfred," Bruce said. "After all, it shouldn't be that difficult showing Jessica and Seth around Gotham."

"I should hope so, sir," Alfred said, "And you shouldn't underestimate Mrs. Fletcher. She is a remarkable woman."

"Alfred, I know how to read people, and you seem to be infatuated with Jessica," Bruce said.

"Nonsense, sir," Alfred said, "It's merely a…professional curiosity, nothing more. If you must know, while you've been going out on patrol, I've been amusing myself reading Mrs. Fletcher's latest mystery novels, to serve perhaps as inspiration for my own novel."

"Keep telling yourself that, Alfred," Bruce said, as they headed upstairs.

Later back at Shreck Industries, Max was getting ready to leave. Selina stepped in.

"Selina, I thought I told you to leave." Max said.

"I was just about to, sir," she said, "but you have an…unexpected visitor."

"If it's any more men dressed up as flying rodents, tell them to fly away home. I've had my fill of nocturnal pests for one night." Max said.

"So have I, Max." came an eerie voice from the shadows.

"Who are you?" Max asked, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Oh, I think you should know me by now, Maxie," he said, "Although we've never been properly introduced. Friends call me, the Joker! Well, they would if I had any!" Joker burst into maniacal laughter.

"What do you want?" Max asked, "What did you do to my employees?"

"Oh, it's simple, Max," Joker said, "I merely helped them see the funny side of life, er, rather, death!" Selina looked terrified of the Clown Prince of Crime.

"You have such a lovely assistant, Max," Joker said, grabbing the timid secretary. "Though my last seduction of women didn't go over so well. I needed to use you to draw the bat out, and it looks like it worked."

"How are you alive?" Shreck asked.

"That's for me to know and you to find out, Maxie-boy," Joker said. "How about you work with me? Your hands will be totally clean in the public eye, I promise. All I want you to do is help me bring down Batman."

"No deal, smiley!" Max said, "I've got a business to run, and it wouldn't look good if someone found out I was collaborating with a resurrected psychopath, no offense."

"None taken, Maxie," Joker said, "Just don't be surprised when you find more happy employees. See ya round!" Max and Selina exchanged terrified looks as the Clown Prince of Crime skipped merrily away. The next morning, Jessica and Seth woke up and ate breakfast served by Alfred in the Wayne dining room.

"Alfred, will Bruce be in today?" Jessica asked, as he poured her some milk, "After all, he promised to show us around town today."

"Master Wayne sends his regards," Alfred said, "Alas, he will not, I'm afraid. He got…tied up with work and will be unable to accompany you and Dr. Hazlitt. Although, I'd be happy to give you the guided tour, madam. I am Mr. Wayne's valet after all."

"Alright, Jeeves," Seth said, "No need to get cocky."

"Forgive my forwardness, Dr. Hazlitt," Alfred said, "I meant no disrespect to you or Mrs. Fletcher."

"Of course not," Seth said.

"Dr. Hazlitt, you aren't by chance related to a Reverend Hazlitt, are you?" Alfred asked, "He just so happens to be the minister of my church."

"That's not the cathedral Joker fell off, is it?" Seth asked, "And no, no relation."

"I thought as much," Alfred said, "I was just curious. You and the Reverend have a lot in common, you know. Whereas you are a doctor for the body, the reverend is a doctor for the soul. He tells us to think of the church as a hospital for the sick and broken, instead of a museum for saints. And it's not the same building as where the unfortunate business with Joker happened."

"Alfred," Jessica said, "Speaking of Joker, it says here in the paper that victims of the deadly smilex gas were discovered recently, all ex-employees of Shreck Industries. And another sighting of the Batman, seen near Shreck Industries last night."

"You don't suppose this bat-freak has anything to do with these murders, do you Jess?" Seth asked.

"Well, I should think not," Jessica said, "However, one can never be too careful, especially in Gotham City."

"Sounds like we have another murder to solve." Seth said. Later, Alfred drove Jessica and Seth downtown.

"We need to stop at Shreck Industries," Jessica said.

"Please be careful, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said, "Distinguished as he may be, Mr. Shreck is known to be quite the ruffian."

"We'll be fine, Alfred," Jessica said, "C'mon, Seth." They got out of the car. They walked up to the front of the building, but were stopped by security.

"Hold on!" the guard said, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm Mrs. Jessica Fletcher, and this Dr. Seth Hazlitt," Jessica said, "We need to speak with Mr. Shreck. We met the other night at the opening of the Wayne library."

"Mr. Shreck isn't seeing any visitors today," the guard said, "You'll have to make an appointment."

"Well, I'm sure I wouldn't need an appointment if I was a winged vigilante, now would I?" Seth asked in frustration.

"No intruders are permitted on the premises, sir, costumed or not," the guard said.

"They're not intruders, they're with me," came a voice. A young woman walked up to them. It was none other than Vicki Vale. "Vicki Vale, Gotham Globe. Please let us through. The public has a right to know about this."

"No press, lady," the guard said.

"Well, then, I'll just have to run a story about Max Shreck's corrupt business dealings," Vicki said, "And when he comes asking who plunged his company into bankruptcy, I'll point him to you." The guard hesitated a moment, and then stepped aside.

"Alright, you can pass," he said, "but only for one hour."

"My goodness, Vicki," Jessica whispered, "However do you manage it?"

"A reporter has to know all the sneaky, underhanded tricks, Mrs. Fletcher," Vicki said, "How do you think we make it so big?"

They stopped by the front desk, where Selina Kyle was filing papers.

"Excuse me," Vicki said, "We're here to see Mr. Shreck."

"Do you have an appointment?" Selina asked.

"No, but it's kind of urgent," Vicki said.

"I'm sorry, but you need an appointment," Selina said.

"Well, you can tell your boss that if I don't see him now, I'd be happy to print up a rather scathing exposé on him featuring scandalous photos of his romantic liaison with his previous secretary." Vicki said.

"Alright, I'll go ask him." Selina said. "Your names, please?"

"Vicki Vale and Jessica Fletcher," Vicki said.

"Oh, and this is my friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt," Jessica said. Selina walked into Max's office.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Shreck," Selina said, "but Vicki Vale, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, and Jessica Fletcher are here, and they threaten to publish an incriminating article on you if you don't see them now."

"Alright, Miss Kyle, send them in." Max said.

"Mr. Shreck will see you now." Selina said, coming back out into the hallway.

"Doctor, ladies, what can I do for you?" Max asked, as they walked into his office.

"Mr. Shreck," Jessica said, "I'm Jessica Fletcher. I'm sure you remember me. We met at the party the other night when that Bookworm character attacked."

"Ah, the esteemed JB Fletcher," Max said, "And the lovely Ms. Vale. Not to mention the brilliant Dr. Hazlitt. What can I do for you?"

"Well, Mr. Shreck," Jessica said, "to put it bluntly, I hear you've been having bat problems lately."

"Oh, nothing that a little pesticide won't fix," Max said.

"Then you admit a certain bat-eared vigilante payed you a visit recently?" Jessica asked.

"No, Mrs. Fletcher," Max said, "Nothing of the kind. Can I help it if my work attracts Gotham's more…colorful reprobates?"

"Speaking of which," Seth said, "We noticed that several of your employees have turned up dead recently, all sporting the signature grin of the smilex drug, used by the Joker."

"Perhaps you should leave the detective work to the police, doctor," Max said. "That maniac is long dead!"

"All we want to know is if there's any connection between these murders and the Batman," Jessica said.

"Maybe you should ask your ace reporter friend," Max said, "After all, she tangled with Batman and Joker personally, from what I understand."

"Mr. Shreck—" Vicki stammered.

"Please, call me Max." Max said.

"Max," Vicki said, "I don't any more than you know. But I know Batman's not behind these murders. Either the Joker's back, or someone's trying to make it look like he's back."

"As a mystery novelist and budding detective, I am going to help solve this case," Jessica said.

"You do that, Mrs. Fletcher," Max said, "And then maybe the GCPD will give you an honorary badge."

She gave him a have-hearted smile.

"So long, Max," Vicki said. The blustering billionaire waved as they walked out the door of his office.

"That was a waste of time!" Jessica said.

"So what now?" Vicki asked, as they exited the building, "Max gave us little to no information."

"I might know of another place we could try," Seth said, "but I should warn you girls, it could be dangerous."

"Seth, have I ever been one to shy away from danger?" Jessica asked with a glimmer in her eye.

"No, you haven't, Jess," Seth said, "That's what I love about you."

Meanwhile, Alfred was talking to Bruce on the two-way bat-radio in car parked in the alley nearby.

"Sir, I must inform you, Mrs. Fletcher was very disappointed you couldn't join us this morning." Alfred said.

"I know, Alfred," Bruce said, "Tell her I'm sorry, but Wayne Enterprises business has to come first. Plus, I'm running down some leads in my spare time to see if there's been sightings of our green-haired friend. Lucius is gathering some intel."

"I could contact my friend Michael Haggerty as well, Master Bruce," Alfred said, "He really is quite resourceful."

"No need to get anyone else involved, Alfred," Bruce said, "I'll talk to you later." Bruce put the device back in his coat pocket.

"Mr. Wayne?" Lucius Fox asked, as he walked in. "Your 3:00 is here."

"Very good, Lucius," Bruce said, "Send him in." A bald man with glasses walked in the office.

"So glad you could meet me on such short notice, Mr. Wayne," the man said, "Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Dr. Hugo Strange."

Meanwhile, outside of Shreck Industries, Jessica, Seth, and Vicki make their way to the Wayne limo.

"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said, "As well as Dr. Hazlitt and the lovely Ms. Vale."

"Pleased to see you again too, Alfred," Vicki said.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Jessica said.

"Oh, no trouble at all, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said, "Where to now?"

"To the place formerly known as Park Row, now called Crime Alley." Jessica said.

"Crime Alley?" Vicki asked, "But that's where Bruce's parents were murdered!"

"You don't want to go there, do you?" Alfred asked in shock.

"I know, Vicki," Jessica said, "and yes, I do, Alfred." A short drive later, they arrived in Crime Alley.

"Please be careful, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said, as the passengers exited the car.

"Don't worry, lover boy," Seth said, "Jess can take care of herself."

"Very good, then," Alfred said, as he drove off. Jessica, Seth, and Vicki walked the forlorn streets, seeing the poverty and crime that resulted because of it.

"So sad," Jessica said, "To think this is where Bruce Wayne's life changed forever."

"You don't know the half of it," Vicki muttered. "Look, that's where Bruce marked the spot where they died." She pointed to the alley where Jack Napier had gunned down Bruce's parents before his eyes. There were two roses placed on the ground.

"What clues could we find here, Seth?" Jessica asked, "Surely you're not sending us on a wild goose-chase through this hellish town?"

"Seth?" came a voice from behind them, "Is it really you?"

"It's me, Leslie," Seth said.

"Seth, what's going on?" Jessica asked, in bewilderment as her friend hugged an elderly woman in a doctor's coat.

"Jess, I'm afraid I wasn't entirely honest with you when we came here," Seth said, "I may have had ulterior motives for wanting to join you. This is Dr. Leslie Thompkins. She and I went to med school together along with Bruce's father, Thomas Wayne."