Sunday July 10, Shower Day.

Yet again Edward took the only shower stall that had a hot water tap and Joker took the other. While Edward was undressing, he heard another stall door closed. Was there another patient in isolation with Joker and himself? He didn't see anyone else on the list, but he assumed that maybe one of the unknown patients here in Arkham did something to get shifted, until Joker started singing.

"OH HARVEY, how good it is to have you back in the ranks. We missed you down here."

"Shut up clown! It's Two-Face to you! I'm not in isolation with you and Nigma. I'm just having a God damn shower." He said irritably. He obviously had only been brought back by the Bat recently and he was still harbouring ill will to everyone around him.

Edward turned on the taps and let the warm water cleanse him body, getting all the dirt and grime off his skin. Harvey might be a useful player in Edward's plan. But he knew this wasn't the place or the time to start discussing work with guards standing guard.

"Oh did the big bad Bat hurt you the last time he saw you, did he? Did he not let you be on top, or did he force, himself, on you and you didn't have time to flip your coin in agreement?"

Harvey banged the wooden wall of the stall and yelled out "You leave my coin out of this you demented clown, unless you wish for me to feed you each of your teeth." He paused and then added "rectally."

Joker let out a giggle at the idea of Harvey punching his face in, but then one of the guards' that was duty called out "OK, break it up you two. You've got about five minutes left, so hurry it up."

When the guard had finished calling out to stop the fight, Edward was already dressed and opened the door on his stall. He looked over at the guard that had been there last Sunday and signalled for a razor. Again he was given a very blunt razor to shave off his stubble.

"Time's up ladies. If you aren't done by now Joker..." but Joker was standing out the front of his stall already today. And Harvey was being taken back to his cell. His right arm was broken, clearly done by the Bat.

Edward finished with the razor and handed it back. He managed to do it this time without cutting his face. It wasn't the greatest shave he had ever done, but it was certainly better than having a week's worth of growth on his face and making him look more insane than he already was. He wasn't insane; others without his genius just saw him that way. Asocial and he had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but he was far from insane.

"But I was finished before you called and you can take back that lady remark." The Joker paused and his tone changed to that of a deep one. "Unless you want to end up wrapped in plastic and left in the gutter. K." Joker just smiled at the guard as his face went from red to a very pale white.

Edward managed to suppress the need to laugh. It wasn't a funny joker, but the idea of see the guard dead it a gutter wrapped up in a plastic sheet did make Edward think. When the useless police department discovers the body, and it would have a Glasgow smile, Joker's calling card. Now that was a funny sight.

"That's it back to your cell's you two." Pushing Joker out the door and Edward following not that far behind.

"Care for a riddle Jackson?" Edward honestly didn't need to wait for a reply he was going to ask it anyway. 'Riddle me this, I'm not a hill, more of a lump. This riddle is sure to stump.' Do you know the answer?"

Jackson looked at the other guard on duty. He came up with an answer, but it wasn't really thought through.

"Is it boobs?"

Edward just looked at him and then looked over at the Joker who clearly wanted to give his answer to the subject.

"Is it 'CANCER'?"

"No Joker, the answer to my riddle is not 'cancer'. Close though."

"Just get moving. We've got the next lot coming in here and we don't want you in the way." Jackson pushed both Edward and Joker back to their cells.

As both Edward and Joker were placed in their corresponding cells, Joker sat down next to the hole that he used to communicate with Edward.

"Oh Edward, you're back to your old tricks again." The Joker then let out a girlish squeal. "It's good to have you back Riddler. I missed you so much. Maybe you should have a coming out party. You're coming out right? Everyone has been right all along?"

Edward sighed. It was nice having the Joker called him 'Riddler' for a change, but no way was he going to come out. It's not that he was, he surely wasn't and he knew Joker was just teasing as usual.

"Oh Riddler, don't ignore me! I enjoy the pleasure of your company. It's been so long and what you want to do is just genius."

Edward raised his left eyebrow. He hadn't said anything to Joker about anything. All he was planning was to get out of isolation, then set his plan into action.

"Oh Edward, I will be your partner at the Arkham Ball this year." Joker let out a deafening laugh. Edward sighed in relief. He hadn't started talking in his sleep again and revealed anything to Joker. He was please that he still had his secret.

"These are the private notes of Doctor Jeremiah Arkham. Edward Nigma, also known as the Riddler has been back at Arkham Asylum for almost two months, spending all that time in isolation after earning himself another month for his obscene riddles. At first during our sessions it would have seemed that Edward had given up on his compulsion to tell and leave riddles at the scenes of his crimes, but it was apparent that this was either a facade or part of a charade. He after his third session with me told me a rather disgusting riddle about a mutilated baby and I ask how he could possible joke about something as sinister as that, to which he replied, 'Easily doctor it's not my baby.' This is evident that he has begun to slip into his old ways and has no intention in actively working towards rehabilitation. So, with less than a month to serve in mandatory isolation, I have arranged for him to be release back into the general population away from the likes of the Joker, hoping that maybe a change in scenery might change his disposition." Dr Arkham said into the tape recorder. It was a pre session statement he made every so often in relation to his 'long term' patients.

Dr Arkham waited as for Edward to be brought up to him for their latest session. He hadn't seen Edward for a few days and in his last session, Edward did nothing except write messages in code and pass them to Dr Arkham, he was hoping that today Edward would be more inclined to talk.

The door opened and security guard Jackson walked in with Edward. Today he wasn't restrained and he looked slightly angry. He was obviously in another of his moods. His hair was messy and his top button was undone.

Dr Arkham pressed play on the tape recorder. He didn't start the session the same as he had done the last few times, but because he had made some brief notes, he just jumped into the conversation.

"So how are you feeling today Edward?" He asked as politely as he could.

Edward rolled his eyes and crossed his right leg over his left. "Do you always have to start the sessions this way Doctor? Is it a formality or do you really think you need to break the ice every time we start?" Edward looked back, clearly irritated by the question.

"Well I tend to like to know," he coughed and tried to hurry the conversation onto something more positive rather than focusing on the negative. "Well, I do have some good news for you Edward. After this session you'll be placed back in general population and not be returned to the isolation cell. Unless you're behaviour warrants it, you shouldn't have to go back." Dr Arkham said with a smile, hoping this news might change Edward's attitude. But it didn't.

Edward just looked back at the doctor and nodded. Sure he was pleased about being moved out of isolation, but a cell is still a cell and he wasn't going to be getting another parole hearing for a very long time. Even though it was good news, it wasn't that good.

"Is there anything you'd like to say Edward?"

"I'd like to know why I'm getting out of isolation a full two weeks ahead of schedule. I haven't been on my best behaviour."

"You have proved that you're not going to be a hazard to yourself and/or others. You haven't attempted anything while in these sessions, or when being taken to and from here. No problems with your shower time, not even having an argument with Joker. Not easy."

"But, what about the few times you've had me dragged out of here because of what I've" Dr Arkham cut him off there.

"Those are different Edward. Telling me a disturbing riddle is different to attacking a guard or having a fist fight." Dr Arkham pretended to shuffle through papers and pretended that Edward had earned the time off, rather than tell him that he thought Edward had slipped into his old ways and was beyond help.

"That would be all for today. Jackson." Jackson entered the room. "Please take Mr Nigma to his cell in intensive treatment please. We're done for the day." Dr Arkham pressed stop on the tape machine and packet up his notes on Edward Nigma.

Edward left the room to be taken to a cell that he had occupied before his escape in April.

Dr Arkham sighed a sigh of relief and reached into his desk draw for a bottle of whisky and a glass. It was only nine thirty in the morning, but he had become more and more dependent on his morning drink.

To be continued...