Author's note: Sorry it's so short. I'll get another chapter up as soon as I'm able.

Chapter 3

"Are you sure? He wasn't just some nutter imitating the Joker?" Dick's latest question brought Bruce back from his thoughts to the rooftop overlooking Gotham harbor. This strange girl's last words resonated in his head: "The dead man downstairs was the Joker and I was his captive. I killed him."

As far as Bruce could tell, he and Dick had been standing here for some minutes, listening to a strange girl tell her story. She was about Dick's age and height, and sopping wet. Bruce wasn't quite sure why she was on the roof, but from the way she spoke, he doubted her mind was all there.

"Bailey- is that what you said your name was?" Dick broke the silence again.

"Yes," she said, "That's right. Bailey."

"How did you get up here?"

"I climbed up the outside wall-" Bailey gestured to the side of the building facing the harbor- "after I shot out the window."

"Are you serious? You climbed up that slippery brick wall, in the rain, and hauled yourself up here, and no one saw you?" Bruce almost cringed; he wished that Dick would hide his disbelief. It was not a good way to talk to suspects- or victims.

Bailey's voice was eerily calm. "It didn't really start raining until after I got up here. I don't know if anyone saw me or not, but I doubt it. I chose tonight to carry out my escape because it was overcast, so it was unlikely for anyone to see me."

Dick opened his mouth, but Bruce cut him off. "You said you were his captive. For how long?" His voice was gravelly and rough, but Bailey was unperturbed.

"Three years."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded evenly, never taking her eyes off of him. "I always knew what day it was- he read through the Gotham Times every day, and watched the television news every evening after he came home from-" she paused- "wherever it was he worked."

"Did he ever let you out? Has anyone else seen you with him since he kidnapped you?" Dick once again took the helm.

"No, I've been in that apartment for three years. I'm pretty sure that the neighbors didn't know I lived with him. I can't be sure, though, I never saw any of them, so I could never talk to them. You have to understand, he never let me out. I wasn't even sure what floor I was on until I escaped." Bruce noted that she sounded more eager now than when he himself had questioned her; clearly, she was more comfortable talking to Dick.

There was an awkward silence.

"Do the police know who he was?" Bailey's eyes looked up at Bruce hopefully. "Have they figured it out?"

Bruce nodded. "They found the weapons, and a receipt for one of his suits. Gordon, the police chief, found a business card for a place that makes purple gloves. He'll follow up on his findings as far as he's able. Even so, it will be hard to prove that this man was-" Bruce turned quickly. Footsteps pounded up the stairs to the rooftop. Gordon's men were coming. He could hear Dick grinding his teeth already.

"I told them not to get involved in this!" Dick snarled.

"It's good that they're coming- we can turn Bailey over to them. They'll take her back to her family, and-"

"No!" Bailey's scream tore through the night. Robin jumped.

"What is it?" Batman was facing Bailey again before she shut her mouth.

"I'm not going with them!" She backed away from both of them, her eyes wild with animalistic fear. "I'm not going with the police! Take me anywhere but back with them!" Tears streaked down her face.

"Wait! Don't back, up, you'll fall over the-" The moment Dick said it, he wanted to put his foot in his mouth. Of course she was going to keep backing up now; she wanted to fall.

As Bailey neared the edge, Bruce desperately tried to undo the damage Dick had done. "You'll be safe with them- they'll take you back to your family and never have to come back here. You'll be alright."

She was at the edge now. Tears continued to streak down her face. She looked Bruce mournfully in the eye.

"I have no family."

And before Bruce could stop her, she leapt over the edge.