Chapter 4

A few days later, Bruce Wayne was in his office high up in Wayne Tower in a meeting with Lucius Fox.

"Now Bruce," the broad shouldered black man started. "This business with Star Labs in Metropolis is bad news. Not to question their credibility or anything but why would they want our company to forge an alliance with Lex Luthor? We've dealt with him before. His power trip almost cost Wayne Enterprises two million dollars in the last fiscal year alone."

"Lucius, Star Labs knows that their budget is nowhere close to either Lex-Corp's or Wayne Enterprises'. The point is they need additional funding for their projects. I have faith in Star Labs. They know what they are doing as far as ideas for business are concerned. The only thing they lack is the financial strength and finesse to get the job done. Simply put Mr. Fox, they need better financial advisement. And I hope they won't have you anytime soon," Bruce chuckled. "But don't worry regardless of what the good people at Star Labs want; Wayne Enterprises won't touch Lex Luthor or his crooked company. I terminated our temporary partnership for a reason"

"Sir, he is the most powerful man in Metropolis. Even though I agree that we shouldn't do business with Luthor, it could be good to at least throw a little funding towards Star Labs for Lex-Corp to play with. That would give them something to work with plus it would look good to the public."

"You might have a point Lucius," Bruce continued as his secretary beeped in. "What is it Margaret?" Bruce enquired.

"Sir, Mr. Pennyworth is on Line One," she announced then signed off as Lucius Fox stood from his leather bound chair and retreated to the door.

"We'll talk later Bruce," Lucius said as he quietly exited the large office.

Bruce waved a steady hand and attended to Alfred's business over the phone. "Yes Alfred what is it? I was in a meeting."

"Terribly sorry to bother you sir, but I have some rather distressing news. There has been a robbery at the First National Bank in Gotham Square. Witnesses reported seeing a group of men in trench coats walking into the bank, then moments later loading several bags of money into an armored van and speeding away -."

"Hired henchmen no doubt," Bruce interrupted as he started getting uneasy.

"Quite so Sir, but might there be a connection between the burglary and the inmates from Arkham?"

"You have a point Alfred, it would make since that the thugs be working for the Joker and Clayface. I wonder if they plan working with Two-Face? If so, then my original hunch is correct." Bruce said sure of himself. "If the three of them are to work together, they will no doubt need the cash. That would explain the robbery. Alfred, how long ago did the robbery occur?

"The news broadcast said about 2:30 pm; the time now being near three Sir," he supplied, checking his watch.

"Did anyone see where they were headed?" Bruce asked.

"No sir."

"Thank you Alfred, I'll be right home. It looks as if I might have a busy night ahead."

"Indeed Sir," Alfred said hanging up the phone.

Hours had past, with Bruce brooding in the dank Batcave. He sat working over the central computer in deep concentration. "Alfred, I must tell you, I'm not quite sure what my next move will be," he said as he turned toward his butler. "The only way to bring them down is to find their hideout. And it won't be easy. Two-Face no doubt has their place crawling with guards, the Joker, has probably made sure that the hideout is a place Batman wouldn't look. And on top of it all there is still Clayface to deal with," he listed off. "I encountered him the other night and it wasn't very easy. He seemed stronger than usual. He tossed me like a bag of sugar onto the Batmobile."

"Sugar? I thought that was mud I cleaned off the Batmobile?" Alfred teased genially. "Perhaps I should load your utility belt heavier tonight Sir," he continued with a chuckle.

"Don't bother Alfred, I won't be out for a while," Bruce said as he finally caught on Alfred's remark.

"I thought you were planning on going out tonight Sir. What about your nightly patrol?" the confused butler said.

"Trying to get rid of me Alfred?"

"Sir?" Alfred wondered what his master was talking about.

"I too can joke Alfred," he laughed, focusing back on the computer. "I'll be out there soon; for now, I'm going over these files that Commissioner Gordon sent to me about the Arkham security breach."

"Very good Sir, and what of your finding from the road last night?"

"Ah that," Bruce stated, surprised at Alfred for mentioning. "Not much, just a simple protoplasmic compound. It would seem our friend Matthew Hagen is becoming less human as time goes by. I've been researching both his genetic and chemical make up. It also turns out that a cure for his reaction to the substance that made him this way had been found. But the cure was lost in a chemical fire at Daggett Industries about a year ago. About six months after the fire, they filed for bankruptcy and it's a good thing if you ask me. That company gave both Batman and Wayne Enterprises problems. No one has seen or heard from its founder, Roland Daggett since -."

"Master Bruce, Alfred hastily interrupted."

"What is it Alfred?"

"Someone is here, at the door upstairs," he responded, turning to leave, taking the stairs as Bruce checked out the surveillance cameras on the central computer, seeing Commissioner Gordon waiting on the outside.

Quickly shutting down the cave, he hurried behind Alfred, up the menacing gothic stairway.

Alfred hastily answered the door as Bruce sealed up the cave. In walked Commissioner Gordon. He stood tall with his long black overcoat surrounding him as his black, thick rimmed glasses protruded slightly over his nose. Knowing Jim personally since the night of his parents' murder, he had grown close to the former lieutenant and over the years, considered him one of fondest friends, as both Bruce and Batman.

"Sorry to bother you at such a late hour Bruce. Do you have a minute?"

Bruce nodded at the Commissioner's question and invited him into the spacious living area just beyond the front entrance as the two men took a seat on the dark leather Sofa directly in front of a large fireplace.

"How are things Commissioner?" Bruce wondered.

"Bruce I am afraid I have some bad news," the Commissioner said trying to sound as serious as possible. "There has been a kidnapping. I'm afraid it's your advisor, Lucius Fox. The captors also sent a ransom note," he added quickly, handing Bruce the envelope. Worriedly opening the message, Bruce read silently to himself:

"BRUCE, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS NABBED BY THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT. PLEASE MEET ME AND TWO-FACE AT GOTHAM PEER TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT. BRING $10 MILLION DOLLARS To GUARANTEE MY SAFETY. COME ALONE."

- LUCIUS

Bruce read the letter and handed it back to Gordon. "Well Commissioner?" he calmly stated. "It looks like I have no choice. I can't have Wayne Enterprises chief advisor out there getting involved in who knows what. I will have to meet their demands. I will stop by my office to get a secret stash that I keep for emergencies just like this one. You can never be to careful Commissioner."

"Thank you for your time Bruce. Let me know if there is anything that the police can do on our end. If your money falls into the wrong hands, we will do everything in our power to return it to you. And good luck to you."

"Thanks a lot Commissioner. I will call you if I need anything," the young playboy announced, knowing full well that Batman would do just fine on his own.

As the Commissioner walked out the door, Bruce prepared to go to Wayne Tower. He grabbed his overcoat hanging from the antique coat hanger to the far right of the door and headed for his garage. As he opened the garage door, he walked past a row of old exotic cars and entered his 1977 S-Class Bentley. As the automobile started up, he knew his meeting with Two-Face would be a considerable break in the case. He smiled to himself as the car drifted out of the garage, for Bruce had a plan.