Chapter 12: Encrypted number
Screen turns black flashing into that horrible night in the Crime Alley.
"Have you ever danced with the devil by a pale moonlight?" Nappier's voice echoed.
The gun fires waking Bruce up from a nightmare of that night Chase who spent the night sat up in concern.
"Bruce? Are you alright?" Chase asked.
"Yeah...just...ugh..." Bruce said.
"I'll call that a nightmare. Think you might reconsider the dream warden?" Chase asked.
"Does it really work?" Bruce asked.
Chase giggles and kisses Bruce.
Later after Breakfast Chase left for the hospital she waved at Bruce while driving away Bruce waved back and walked back in the Manor where in the kitchen Dick was eating footloose.
He smirked seeing Bruce walk in.
So you and your therapist are rolling in the hay huh?
"Lead to another." Bruce said.
"I can see why you didn't tell her about Catwoman. How did you react when you found out?" Dick asked.
"I'm sure you can imagine." Bruce said.
"Don't mean to push just...my parents met in Gotham and I was born in Metropolis. My dad use to be a marine before he joined the circus. But they hated coming here...but as a kid...I looked up to...the Batman." Dick said.
Bruce grew a grin from that.
"Batman, huh?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah. I hear he saved the city from clowns and penguins. The Penguin thing I didn't get. How do you tie rockets to hundreds of penguin's?" Dick asked.
"You and me both." Bruce said.
"But it's why my parents signed me up for karate. I'm still a brown belt but they were cautious around Gotham. Now I know why." Dick said.
"Yeah, Gotham was once a dangerous place. Still is in a way. But at least someone is making a stand." Bruce said.
"I want to make a difference one day. Maybe start by talking about Two-Face." Dick said.
Learning Dick still wants to kill Two-Face he fears the worst of what will drive him the same way the Joker drove him.
"Dick I understand how you feel. But I know your parents wouldn't want that for you." Bruce said.
Dick slams his spoon angrily as he stands up.
"DON'T PUT THAT ON ME! TWO-FACE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! AND I'M GONNA KILL HIM LIKE IT OR NOT!" Dick called.
Dick storms out of the room leaving Bruce to sign with Alfred standing beside him.
"I don't know how to help him." Bruce said.
"I knew a boy like him. They all need guidance." Alfred said.
"It's bad enough you told him about Selina. That's one step in figuring out who I am." Bruce said.
"He saw the cat. But I never mentioned Ms. Kyle by name." Alfred said.
"Sooner we get Harvey help the better. But I still need to find the Riddler. And this is my only lead." Bruce said.
Bruce pulls out the cell phone he took from Riddler's handler from the Midnight Hour and he and Alfred make way for the study but unaware...
...Dick followed them and after Alfred shut the door he forgot to lock it Dick opened it Bruce and Alfred were gone.
"How are-" Dick said.
We cut to the Daily Globe where Knox was on a computer and on the last news reports he had nothing to record given Batman broke his recorder.
"Batman better be richer than Bruce Wayne. He owes me a new tape recorder." Knox said.
"Mr. Knox, sir boss man wants to see you." The woman said.
"Thanks Summers." Knox said.
Knox stands up from his desk and walks to the editors office to see his boss, the new editor: Jack Ryder.
"You wanted something Chief?" Knox asked.
"I want Intel to talk about these Riddles. Did the GCPD give you anything last night?" Ryder asked.
"Besides the train riddle and Batman breaking my recorder nota." Knox said.
"I'll hire you a photographer. You might need it with Vicki Vale out of town." Ryder said.
"Probably right. Have you ever heard from her?" Knox asked.
"Sadly, no. I hear she transferred to the Daily Planet but that's it." Ryder said.
"Wouldn't kill her to pick up the phone. Or a letter to answer my letters." Knox said.
"Were you and Vicki Vale a thing?" Ryder asked.
"Nah. I mean I wish we were. But she was dating Bruce Wayne back then? But anyway...I'll look in with my sources." Knox said.
Back at the Batcave, Bruce was on the Batcomputer wearing glasses tracing every number on it in hopes one will track the Riddler.
The list seems endless but I found three private numbers. It could be any one of them.
"I'll give Riddler credit he's more slippery than Copplepot was." Bruce said.
"You could learn a thing or two about him. He makes a complete Enigma." Alfred said.
Bruce pauses at that last word making him think of Edward Nygma both names...seem very similar especially how he reacted when Lucius introduced them.
"It's something wrong, sir?" Alfred asked.
"Alfred, what'd you know about Lucius's Examiner Edward Nygma?" Bruce asked.
"I have no knowledge, I'm afraid. Why do you ask?" Alfred asked.
"Riddler's voice one the speaker seems similar to Nygma's. The way he reacted to the riddle trophy or described it...he sounded to know more than what he was letting on." Bruce said.
"You don't think this Mr. Nygma man is this Riddler we're looking for, aren't you?" Alfred asked.
"If he is, I can't prove it yet. I'll have to ID these private messages to know for sure. It'll take all day but meantime get ahold of Lucius. Tell him to keep an eye on Nygma." Bruce said.
To Be Continued…