Chapter Three: World's Greatest Detective

Six weeks had passed since Wonder Woman's mysterious disappearance, as well as the mysterious death of The Trickster. Most of the JLA had given up any hopes of finding Wonder Woman alive. Batman sat at his computer twenty four seven, trying to block out thoughts of her. Trying to solve her disappearance. He knew that somehow, her disappearance was connected to The Trickster's death. So he knew that if he could find the murderer, he could probably find Wonder Woman. He had personally examined Trickster's body, but had no clue what had killed the villain. He had third degree burns over most of his body, but it appeared as if all of those burns had appeared within about a quarter of a second, which was by all logic, impossible unless he were standing on the surface of the sun! Nearly every bone in his body was shattered; the damages were similar to what would happen if one was run over by a freight train. And then his flesh and meat had been completely torn and ripped apart in some areas, like powerful fingers had just dug in and shredded. But there were no fingerprints left or anything. Batman had determined that the burns had happened after the bone breaking and the ripping, so it was likely that any traces of fingerprints had been burned off.

The only fingerprints anywhere in the room were from either Wonder Woman or The Trickster; Batman had examined the crime scene himself. Nothing made sense. Batman went through all of his information one more time, before screaming in anger and punching his keyboard, breaking it. His mask was off, and for the first time in weeks, his computer was off too. He could see his reflection in the screen. His thick black hair had grown longer, and he really needed a shave. Also, for the first time in days, he realized that he was hungry. He had not eaten in about four days. He got up from his chair and moved over to his private fridge, fumbling through and finding a frozen pizza. He ate it just like that, not even bothering to cook it at all. "Is everything alright?" A thick voice said from behind. He turned to see the Martian Manhunter staring at him. Batman quickly pulled his cowl on. He didn't like his teammates to see his face.

"Mind using the door once in a while?" Batman said angrily.

"If I had knocked, you would not have let me in." J'onn stated.

"Good point. What do you want?"

"I sensed you were distressed, so I came to check up on you. You have not left this room in quite some time."

"I've been working."

"On Diana's case?"

"Yeah."

"Between you and me, I think you should be investigating Superman."

"Clark? What for?"

"Ever since Diana's disappearance, I have sensed something strange from him, a mixture of pleasure and rage. It is quite a disturbing feeling actually, but he seems to like it. He has not been himself lately. I fear he may have been involved in Diana's disappearance, as well as the death of The Trickster."

"No. Clark's just shaken up. Everyone knows he had feeling for Diana."

"And you do not?" J'onn demanded. This question stopped Batman in his tracks. He honestly did not know how to answer.

"That isn't the point." He finally responded. "I'd be wasting my time investigating Clark, and time is something I can't afford to waste right now. Clark talks tough, but he's all talk. He's harmless. His problem is that he cares too much, about everyone, even the people who don't deserve. Clark couldn't kill a fly if his life depended on it. He's too soft."

"Maybe, but there is something strange about him lately. His general demeanor has been different all in itself. Does he not seem happier? More enthusiastic?"

"Wouldn't know. I don't leave the room anymore, remember?"

"Point taken. I will leave to yourself." J'onn said, and then he turned intangible, and sank back into the floor. A few hours later, Batman decided to finally get some fresh air. Maybe it would help him think; help him make sense of everything that was going on. He stepped outside of headquarters and spotted Superman sitting on top of the building. That irritated Batman, as he had just sent him to stop a drug dealing orchestrated by Tattooed Man. Angrily, Batman went up to the top of the building and walked behind Superman.

"Kent! What the hell are you doing! Didn't I just send you out on a drug bust!"

"It's done." Superman said blankly.

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"The drug bust. It's done. I took care of it already."

"That was a little fast, don't you think?" Batman demanding, knowing that something was wrong.

"It didn't take long. Tattooed Man got away though."

"Kind of like Toyman got away? And Murmur a few weeks ago, and Icecicle after that? And just earlier this week, when Bushmaster supposedly got away?"

"Yeah. I guess I've just been off my game lately."

"And doesn't it seem funny to you, that all these criminals who are suddenly 'getting away' haven't turned up since!"

"Guess they're just scared to show their faces." Superman said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You don't seem too shaken up about Diana either, come to think of it." Batman coaxed, suddenly thinking that maybe J'onn's suspicious had some ground to them.

"I'm sure she'll turn up. Or maybe she won't. Maybe she won't hurt anyone anymore. She hurt me."

"What's going on with you Clark?"

"Maybe none of them will ever come back. Maybe they'll stop hurting people forever… almost like… they're dead." As soon as Superman said this, everything seemed to fall silent.

"Oh my God… you did it didn't you? You killed her didn't you! You son of a bitch! You killed her!" Batman shouted. Superman stood up, turned around, and looked Batman deep in the eyes. A malevolent smile crossed his face, and he cocked his head sideways in a near-unnatural manner.

"What are you talking about Bruce? I'm just shaken up. After all, it's clear that I had feelings for Diana, right? You're just wasting your time talking to me, and time is something you can't afford to waste, right? I talk tough, but I'm all talk, right? I'm harmless. My problem is that I care too much about everyone, even people who don't deserve it, right? I couldn't kill a fly to save my life, right? I'm too soft." He said, nearly reciting Batman's words to J'onn.

"Y- you heard that?" Batman said with surprise. Superman pointed to one of his ears.

"Super hearing, Bruce. I hear everything." He then leaned in a whispered, "Everything." He then pushed past Batman, walking on. But halfway to the entrance into the building, he stopped and turned around. "Shouldn't you have figured that out already? Don't worry, I'm sure you'll figure everything out soon, after all, you are the world's greatest detective." Superman mocked with a sly smile. He then started off again.

"You aren't indestructible, Clark. I'll find the evidence to put you away."

"We'll see detective… we'll see." And then Superman disappeared inside the building.

Batman knew he did it now. He just knew it. But how could he prove it? Superman was a hero to the world; no one would believe anything unless Batman could find solid evidence. But how? Superman knew all his tricks, all his secrets, he had thought of everything. Batman then sighed, and uttered three words that he never thought he would say. Never once in his life. "I need help."