Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Batman or any DC comics characters
Chapter 3
Bruce examines the acts that were performing in the comedy clubs up to a month before the incident. Immediately he knew he could cross anyone whom headlined any of these comedy clubs. Most of them were still touring or had retired and were accounted for. It was the same with most of the opening acts as well, although it was much more difficult to locate most of those. Some had made a decent living at stand-up comedy but most faded into obscurity. The only opening act that wasn't accounted for was previously in one of Gotham's local street gangs. Bruce believed most likely he was a victim of some sort of gang retaliation.
With all established comics accounted for he knew there was only one other option. The Joker must have appeared during some sort of open-mike night. Only two of the five clubs offered such entertainment during the month in question, fortunately both clubs kept records of all comics that appeared on their stages. Bruce taps his keyboard again and a new list appears. Fifteen persons participated in these open-mike nights at both the clubs for the month. The list was easy to narrow down. Eight of the people on this list were law-abiding citizens, four were small time crooks and were currently locked up or have reformed their ways, but three were unaccounted for. Bruce mused to himself about the reoccurrence of the number three but knew it was just a coincidence.
He had known some criminals to refer to the Joker as Jack. Two names on the list could suggest a connection, Jackson Brown and Jack Blake. The third name, Ed Rhodes, didn't seem connected but that didn't mean it wasn't. Here was the point that Bruce hits a wall. There are no records on any of these three men, so there is no way to track them. He stares at the computer screen hoping one name would jump off the screen at him. After a moment he realizes that won't happen and simply closes his eyes.
The Batcave became deathly silent. Bruce leans his head back and says. "Dick I know you're there so please don't say dammit."
Nightwing emerges from the shadows and removes his mask. "Well, I could say a lot worse."
Bruce spins his chair and looks at his former partner coldly. "Tim is picking up on your particular speech patterns."
Dick raises his eyebrow. "My speech patterns?" He shakes his head. "Bruce, I was hearing worse stuff at school when I was younger than he is now." He glances at the computer screen. "So how goes the search?"
"The same dead end." Bruce says as he closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
Dick nods. "Well you'll figure it out eventually." Taking care not to dwell on the subject long he continues. "Well, I think I'll head back to Bludhaven. There wasn't anything going on tonight but I do have a lead on a gang smuggling in some illegal weapons."
"When's the deal going down?"
"In about a week, I'm still a little fuzzy on the details. I was hoping to get inside to find out. I may need to borrow your secret identity."
Bruce smiles. "I don't think that being Bruce Wayne will help you get deeper into a weapons smuggling ring."
Dick looks at Bruce. "You know Bruce, when you do make a joke it's not very funny. I was meaning Matches Malone."
Bruce nods. "Yeah I know. Won't you be a little young to be Matches?"
"If they say anything I'll just say I'm Matches' kid or something, that's close enough to the truth anyway."
Bruce shrugs as he often does when Dick or Tim make a reference to any sort of family relationship. "Good luck Dick, I'm going back to work."
Dick smiles a crooked smile. "Yeah well I love you too. I'll show myself out."
Bruce ignores the sentimental comment. "Let me know if you need help. One day you'll have to invent your own stage name."
"Yeah yeah." Dick said as he was leaving the cave.
Bruce stares at his work again looking for the missing piece of the puzzle. Then two words whispered from his lips. "Stage name?" He looks at the name Jack Blake then brings up the three previous missing employees. He stares at the new list in disbelief. How could he have not noticed it before? He puts his hand on his forehead and slides it slowly down his face. He begins rambling the clues to himself. "Stand up comic…chemical plant employee…one bad day…Blake." Could this be the Joker's real name? There was only one way to find out.