Chapter 5 (also written by TouchedbyaMunster)
"Sorry I kept the truth from you, Jess," Seth said, "I wasn't even supposed to come on this trip originally, but I did it to protect you. Then I remembered an old friend was still living and working here."
"But…you went to medical school with Bruce Wayne's father?" Jessica asked.
"That's right, Jess," Seth said. "You were bound to figure out sooner or later, you being a detective and all."
"Does Bruce know?" Vicki asked.
"If he doesn't, he should soon," Seth said, "From what I've heard, nothing stays buried in Gotham."
"I've been like a second mother to Bruce," Leslie said, "After his parents were killed, Alfred called me to help raise him, but lately I've taken to tending patients here in Crime Alley."
"A noble endeavor," Jessica said. "I'm guessing a lot of your patients were victims of the Joker."
"When the Smilex epidemic hit Gotham, there were a lot of causalities," Leslie said, "Batman was able to concoct an antidote and thankfully some lives were saved, including that of reporter Alexander Knox."
"I know Mr. Knox quite well," Jessica said, "In a professional capacity, of course. Tell me, Dr. Thompkins, given your past experience, is there any way Joker can be stopped before he strikes again?"
"That's something you'll have to ask Batman," Leslie said, "As for Joker's methods, we can inoculate people this time."
"That's a relief, at least." Jessica said with a sigh.
"Maybe, maybe not, Jess," Seth said, "If Joker finds out his gas isn't working on Gothamites, he might try something even more monstrous. And given his track record of insanity, we shouldn't put anything past him."
Meanwhile, back at Wayne Enterprises, Hugo Strange was talking with Bruce Wayne
"Tell me, Mr. Wayne, what do you want for your company?" Strange asked.
"I want to honor my parents' legacy," Bruce said. "I want the people of Gotham to know that Wayne Enterprises can be trusted to be there for them in this dark city."
"A worthwhile goal," Strange said, "Do you plan to do anything to stop crime?"
"You think we're bankrolling Batman?" Bruce asked, "From what I know, that nut works alone."
"Batman is a fascinating subject," Strange said, "But I was referring to you, Mr. Wayne."
"Well, my company provides incentives for crooks on parole." Bruce said.
"Is that a fact?" Strange asked. "How intriguing. I spoke with Mr. Shreck earlier. He boasted that his company would do the best to lower crime."
"Dr. Strange, I have a question for you," Bruce said, "Why are you so concerned about the crime rate in Gotham?"
"I'm merely a concerned citizen, Mr. Wayne," Strange said, "Besides that, I am a psychiatrist. The criminal element fascinates me, and I've been approved to serve on the board of directors at Arkham Asylum. Should this Joker be captured this time instead of being killed, as Batman did the previous year, I would find studying his psyche to be an astonishing endeavor. Perhaps even a group session with both him and the Batman."
"That would be interesting," Bruce said, "But you're chasing a lost cause. Neither Batman nor Joker would agree to it."
"Perhaps you don't know them as well as you might think, Mr. Wayne." Strange said.
Meanwhile, at Police Headquarters, Harvey Dent was talking with Commissioner Gordon
"But Jim, it's time to throw the net over Shreck once and for all!" Harvey protested.
"We can't, Harvey!" Gordon said, "He's too powerful! Even if we had enough evidence to convict, he'd be out in less than a week anyway!"
"Maybe your pet bat can handle him," Harvey said.
"That's not how it works, and you know it!" Gordon snapped. "We don't have a personal hotline to him or anything!"
"But you do have a signal!" Harvey said, "And I suggest we use it!"
"Knock yourself out, counselor," Gordon said, "But I won't be part of it!"
Harvey angrily storms out of his office. Suddenly, he bumps into a redheaded woman.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Harvey said.
"That's alright," the woman said, "I was just on my way to have dinner with my father."
"You mean the Commissioner is your father?" Harvey asked.
"Barbara Gordon," she said, extending her hand, "Pleased to meet you."
"Harvey Dent," he replied, shaking her hand.
"I know," Barbara said, "I've heard a lot about you. You seem to be very…lucky. You nailed Boss Grissom and you seem to on your way to taking down Falcone."
"Tell your old man that," Harvey said.
"Dad can be rather stubborn," Barbara said. "Say, if you'd like we can go out for drinks sometime. I know this great dive bar downtown."
"Sounds great," Harvey said, "But first I have a Bat to call."
Meanwhile, at Shreck Industries, Max Shreck was sitting at his desk in his office, when suddenly he heard eerie laughter.
"Oh no…" he groaned. In walked the Joker. Well, he didn't walk, exactly. More like…waltzed.
"Hey there, Maxie," Joker said.
"I told you before, clown, no deal!" Max snapped.
"Well, that's a darn shame," Joker said, "And here I thought you and me were gonna be partners. 'Guess I'll have to take my business someplace else."
"I guess you'll have to," Shreck said. "And I don't want you messing with my business again, you hear me?"
"Oh Max, I play by my own rules!" Joker said, bursting into maniacal laughter.
Meanwhile, at Police Headquarters, Batman meets Harvey Dent on the roof, responding to the Bat-signal.
"Dent," Batman said.
"It's about time you showed up," Harvey said, "Looks like Gordon owes me ten bucks. He said you wouldn't come. I want you to help us take down Shreck and stop the Joker."
"I'll do it, Dent." Batman said, "You can count on it."
He shot a grappling hook from a gun, and soared into the night sky hanging by bat-rope. On the street below, Jessica Fletcher looked up. She pressed a button on walkie-talkie.
"Looks like Batman is headed to stop Joker and Shreck." Jessica said, "I'm going to follow him."
"No, Jess, it's too dangerous!" Seth Hazlitt said on the other end.
"Seth, I have to," Jessica said, "You stay and help Vicki and Leslie concoct the antigen."
"Well, alright," Seth said, "but if anything happens, radio me immediately!"
"You have my word," Jessica said. She got in a taxi and followed him.
Later, at Shreck Industries, Batman was perched on the rooftop, looking for signs of trouble. On the street below, Jessica Fletcher got out of the taxi cab.
"You sure you want to get out here, lady?" the cabby asked, "Looks like the place is closed for the night."
"I know," she said, "but I realized I left my wallet here when I was here earlier today. If a guard could let me in, I shan't be long." She spotted a guard and knocked on the window, gesturing him over with a wave of her hand. He opened the door.
"Sorry ma'am," he said, "but Shreck's is closed for the night."
"I'm aware of that sir," she said, "I just was wondering if I could trouble you for a moment. You see, I was in earlier and I seem to have misplaced my wallet. I was wondering if I could check your lost and found."
"How do I know you're not working with some criminal?" he asked. "Gotham's not a safe city anymore. Ever since that bat guy and the clown showed up, things have gotten worse."
"First of all, it's my understanding that Batman stops criminals, including the Joker, and second, I happen to be an author of note, Mrs. Jessica Fletcher." Jessica said, "I'm in town on business and I happen to be a friend of Mr. Bruce Wayne."
"Wayne?" the guard asked, "That's even worse. You could be sent from Wayne to steal business ideas from Shreck."
"My, you certainly jump to the worst conclusions, don't you?" Jessica asked.
"If you lived in this cesspool every day, so would you." the guard said, "There's even reports of a penguin-man creature that lives below the sewers. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think he's for real."
"Be that as it may, sir, may I just take a look for a moment?" Jessica asked, "I won't trouble you any further."
"Oh, all right," he said, "But be quick about it!" She calmly walked into the store. Suddenly, she heard the eerie sound of laughter rising to a cackle.
"Tell me something Mrs. Fletcher," a voice said, "Did you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" It was the Joker, with the barrel of his gun pointed straight at her. She raised her hands over her head. Suddenly, Batman burst through the skylight.
"You always know how to make an entrance, don't you, Bats?" Joker asked.
"Apparently, so do you." Batman replied, "How are you still alive, Joker?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out, Batsy!" Joker said. "But let's just say I've got a brand new outlook on life! I'm gonna make everybody smile!"
The Clown Prince of Crime burst into a fit of laughter.
"Mrs. Fletcher," Batman said, turning to Jessica, "I suggest you get out of here."
"Right," Jessica said as she hurried out of the building. Batman proceeded to pummel Joker.
"I don't how you came back from the dead," Batman said, "But you're not going to threaten the people of Gotham any longer."
"Oh Bats, ya gonna do me in?" Joker asked, mockingly. "Didn't think you had it in ya. Oh wait, you do. You killed me the first time! Dropped me in that vat of acid, and then pinned a gargoyle to my leg!"
"I'm not going to kill you," Batman said, "But you won't be able to walk for quite a while."
"That's the trouble with you, Batman," Joker said, "You never know when to quit or how to take a good joke!"
"None of your jokes are funny!" Batman said.
"You wound me," Joker said, "But not as much I'll wound you!"
He sprayed him with an acid flower, but fortunately his costume (and cape) were acid-proof. He tried to stab him in the ribs with a knife and zapped him with a lethal electric joy buzzer at the same time. He managed to jab the knife into Batman's ribs. Despite the pain and blood gushing from the wound, the Dark Knight managed to punch Joker and knock him against the wall as he hobbled away.
"My gracious!" Jessica Fletcher exclaimed as she saw Batman slowly making his way out of the building. "What happened?"
Batman ignored her question and pressed a button on his utility belt. This summoned the Batmobile and opened the door to the cockpit. He gestured to her to help him inside.
"Get in," he said. She reluctantly obeyed.
"Can you drive in your condition?" she asked.
Again, he ignored her.
"Take us home," he said, to no one in particular. The car automatically shifted into gear and fired up the afterburners. The sleek, black car traversed through the city streets until it came to the outskirts of Gotham, passing by trees under the cover of the darkness of the night sky. Despite his uneasiness and pain, Batman guessed that Jessica was feeling similarly to how Vicki Vale felt when he first brought her to the Batcave. He could sense her nerves tensing up. He pressed a button on the dashboard which sprayed her with a mist-like substance and she drifted out of consciousness. The Batmobile pulled into the Batcave. Batman shook Mrs. Fletcher awake.
"I shall tend to your wounds, sir," Alfred said, as he spied the bloody gash in the side of the batsuit.
"Alfred, what are you doing here?" Jessica asked, dazed and confused. "Am I dreaming?"
"Alas, you are not, Mrs. Fletcher." Alfred said. "Master Bruce thought it prudent, under the circumstances, to let you in on our little secret."
Bruce sat down in a chair while Alfred stitched up his wound.
"Master Bruce?" she asked in amazement. "Bruce Wayne? You're Batman?"
"You can't tell your pal Seth though," Batman said, as he removed his cowl, revealing the face of Bruce Wayne. Alfred finished bandaging up his wound.
"Your secret is safe with me." Jessica said, "I'm just surprised I didn't figure it out sooner. I'm usually good with mysteries, but I assure you, this is one mystery that will remain between us. You may have given me some inspiration for my next novel though."
"Just as long as it doesn't involved superpowered punks microwaving babies, beating up people at bars and kidnapping and choking people, it's all good." Bruce said.
"My goodness, is that one of your enemies?" Jessica asked, "I've heard you have quite the colorful assortment of rogues."
"No, but he might as well be." Bruce said, "Speaking of enemies, we have to figure out what the Joker is up to."
"I can't say for sure, but I'm almost positive he's working with Max Shreck." Jessica said.
"That much is certain," Bruce said, "The question is, what are they planning? What does Shreck have to gain from working with Joker? The Joker's an unpredictable madman. Hardly an advantageous partnership for a crafty businessman like Shreck."
"Well, we know that the Joker is using a variation of his old Smylex formula," Jessica said, "Perhaps he plans to double-cross Max and he'll use his company to market his old chemicals to unsuspecting citizens."
"You may be onto something, Mrs. Fletcher," Bruce said, "Your detective skills impress me."
"Thanks Bruce," Jessica said, "That's quite a compliment coming from you, the world's greatest detective."
"No problem," Bruce said, "Now let's get nuts!"