"So you think that Proctor is mixed up in our puzzle?" Bruce finally asked.
Terry took a slip of water with his pain killers.
"I think she made the puzzle: Animal fertility company. Bank statements from rich guys putting money in her account. The ninja cheerleaders."
"I noticed that Walker and Wilson's names were written in one of these somewhere as 'next.'"
"I think they were the targets. Both of them are rich, even saw a few familiar names of guys with money like yours. No women."
"Ah."
Wayne sat back down, Ace laid near his feet, the fact that he was a potential target didn't strike him as hard, but curiously.
"Now I think I see. If I was on the list, then that means they were targeting men with money. They're using a very sophisticated way to steal money from the wealthy."
"I still don't know how it all works but Proctor has to be deep in this."
Terry then hit his fist into his hand. "But this still doesn't place Max in the puzzle anywhere."
Bruce leaned back in thought. "And that's the part that still means trouble for us."
A perfect symmetrical garden laid before her eyes, the bushes designed like a large chess board, clumped together in alternating squares of black and red flowers.
The scenery began to soak in–the tall roses brushes, the beaten paths in between, birds singing happy melodies. There was a castle in the background. A fountain marked the center of the place she was in, splashes of cool water dropping on her face.
Pulling herself up, the woman looked into the fountain:
A cascade of pink hair fell around her shoulders. A floor length princess gown of creamy silk adorned her tall frame with blood-red roses streaming her hair. Dirt kisses her toes.
The pearl necklace wink light back at her.
"Where am I?"
A rush of air went by. Someone pass by.
"Who was that?"
Leaves rustled around a bush behind her. Footsteps crunched in the dirt.
"Hello? Hello! Someone!"
She had never been so grateful to be barefooted, running through the neat green rows, calling out to the unseen figure. "Where am I? Who's there?"
More steps. Birds flew over head excited.
A man in medieval clothing sat on the edge of the fountain. His smooth goatee and scheming eyes regarding her. Standing up placed him a inches above her, she felt his hand slip into hers.
"Who-who are you?"
"A Jack milady. A Jack of all trades, skilled in all things-"
He kissed her hand delicately, then held both her hands looking deep into her eyes.
"Run away with me, disappear with me, my Queen of Hearts."
"You won't be leaving with her." A new voice warned with venom in the tone.
"So your Knight has come for you eh?" He said to her then yelled to the air, "Show yourself!"
"Rogue!" The dark-haired Knight appeared into view from the mist.
"Unhand her!" His sword caught the Jack near his throat.
Within an eye's blink, the Jack grabbed her by the waist, a dagger pressed under her chin.
"The Lady made her choice." The Jack hisses to the Knight. "Harm comes to her life if you hurt me."
"And you think you are that?" Another sword was drawn from behind the two men.
"Jester!" The Knight spat the name out turning, the Jack simply sneered.
A brown haired man with blue eyes appeared in a harlequin's garb. "I prefer Joker."
The Joker stepped closer, eying the woman like meat. "My love, how do we get ourselves in these situations?"
"She's mine." The Jack gripped her waist tight, pressing her closer to him. He stepped back a few paces, taking the girl with him.
"I'll spare you both if you leave her be." The Knight warned with his stormy eyes.
Tension clung like drew in the air when a woman dressed in a dark gown walked toward them–floating almost in her long gown, red hair flowing in the wind.
"The game is mine to control."
A specter pointed at the girl: "Your little Queen has been checkmated."
When Max woke up, she was still in her apartment still in her baggy t-shirt and gym shorts.
She ran fingers through her pink lemon-colored locks. "What was that about?"
A persistent ring from her vid-phone caught her attention. Her hands groped for the headset in the dark before her hand rested on it. She managed to answer after the fourth ring. Maybe it was the undercover cop Mr. Wayne posted in front of her place (to watch for any abnormal activity) checking up on her.
"Hello?" Her voice felt groggy.
"Sorry if I woke you up."
"Terry?" She perked up, "What's up?"
"My bruised backside."
"What?" She flipped the light on. "How?"
"Angel Proctor's apartment."
"The woman who hosts the' Luv Doctor'? The one selling that-that perfume?"
"She's just not selling perfume. She's either embezzling large amounts of money or her sales lackeys are. I just got my butt kicked by a bunch of girls for finding that out."
The Bat recapped his night with her over the secure line after Bruce finished wrapping his back up in bandages. He left the part out about the bill for the chemical company, he didn't want her to be worried.
At least not yet.
"I would've have come over but I know you needed your medical skills in biology tomorrow. "
"Thanks." She felt herself smile. "I . . . "
She wanted to related her dream to him but decided against it.
"Yeah?" He asked in the silence.
"I mean . . . It's so-so weird but so dangerous at the same time."
Her voice got very small. "Terry, I'm scared."
A pause over the phone made her wonder if he was still listening.
"I promise you, we'll get to the bottom of this." She heard his tone get brighter over the line.
"Smile. Things will be ok."
"Yeah, I hope so . . ." The line went dead.
"Terry? Terry? Answer me-!"
Max heard her voice trail off when she saw three shadows moving toward her in the bedroom. The headset fell from her hands.
"Tell your boyfriend to call you back." A brunette taunted.
"You won't be seeing him again." A blonde joined in with her.
A red hair woman pointed at the pink haired girl. "You've just been checkmated."
"Max?"
His heart beat a little faster.
"Max?" Now the panic truly began to seep through.
Terry yelled into the phone, "Max!"
He slammed the reciever down back on the hook.
Hurry clicks from a cane indicated that Bruce Wayne was coming back into the cave.
"Is there something wrong with your secure line here-?"
"How does your back feel?" The sudden question threw Terry off.
"Better." He ventured, then his eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"Because you better get to Maxine's place right now. The undercover's not responding."
His blue orbs lingered with Bruce's own before he ran to grab his suit.