Disassociation

Chapter two: Mad dog


Bruce found himself driving back to his flat a bit under the speed limit. The Joker kept dancing around in his head like an insane marionette. None of his enemies had ever played games with him before; they had never wanted to lure him out. What kind of villain wanted to see the one person who was capable of capturing him, and locking him up in an asylum? He knew the Joker loved causing chaos and destruction, but there was even more to it than that. The Joker got excitement out of watching Bruce try to stop him. This fact bothered Bruce, more than anything he had encountered during his reign as Gothem’s vigilante protector.

Bruce remained consumed in his thoughts, even as he reached his hideout, and began the tedious process of removing his armor. He couldn’t help but wonder about what Gordon had said. Both the Joker and Dr. Crane had escaped from Arkham a week ago, and vanished into the abysmal underground of Gothem. What would happen when the two of them met? Bruce stood on his balcony looking down at the street; the joker card twirling threw his fingers.

“You’re back early sir.”

Bruce was troubled by the fact that he actually jumped in surprise at his friends words. The older man eyed Bruce with a bit of concern; he hadn’t seen the billionaire startled since he was a small child.

“It is the Joker again sir?”

Bruce smiled grimly, and joined his butler in the doorway, moving to sit in his favorite chair by the fire. He looked up at the old man as Alfred handed him a cup of hot tea, and then leaned back in the chair.

“Yeah Alfred, he sent a letter to Commissioner Gordon today after he blew up that hotel. It was addressed to me. He wants me to meet with him.” Alfred frowned a bit.

“Why the blazes would he want to do that?”

“I don’t know.” Bruce said with a troubled sigh.

“Do you think it’s a trap sir? Surely he doesn’t want you to lock ‘em back up again?”

“It could be a trap, but something keeps telling me it’s not. I think he actually gets enjoyment out of the threat I pose him.”

“He’s a strange one alright, a man with a death wish if you ask me.” Alfred said, gazing into the fire, which seemed to be fascinating the young man. As Bruce watched the fire he found himself muttering, “Like a moth to a flame.”

“Where did he come from Alfred? It’s like, one day he just appeared out of nowhere,” he sighed, “why here, why now?”

“I don’t know sir, but he knows this city a bit too well to just have waltzed in here one day.”

“I just don’t want to believe he’s been here this whole time, right under my nose.” Bruce said darkly.

“Something must have set him off sir.”

“It had to be me.” The younger man practically whispered.

“Now what would make you say that?” Bruce was silent for a few moments before he spoke up.

“When we had him locked up in county, I went to the interrogation room to try and get information from him. He acted like I had given him a challenge he just had to answer.”

“What? The challenge of trying to kill you?” Bruce shook his head and finally looked up at Alfred. He seemed troubled, and Alfred saw a flash of dread creep over those handsome features.

“He leaned over the table with those manic black eyes boring holes in me. You complete me, that’s what he said to me Alfred. He doesn’t want to kill me.” Alfred’s frown returned.

“He’s the worst Gothem’s ever had I do believe, I just wish there was some place you could stick him where he couldn’t escape.”

“Me too Alfred, me too.”

“Drink your tea sir, it might do you some good.” Alfred said with a reassuring smile.

“Thanks Alfred, I will.”

The old man left Bruce to his thoughts, and disappeared just as quickly as he had come. Bruce finished his tea, and then retired to his bed, the joker card still in hand. He wasn’t the least bit tired, and eventually he knew he couldn’t ignore the card any longer. Flipping it over slowly, he read the Jokers rushed scribbling with a frown. Riddles, a bunch of riddles, Bruce sighed. How could he have possibly expected anything else from the Joker? The only thing Bruce knew was that the riddles were going to lead him to a certain place in Gothem, and immediately he began to think of possible streets, hotels, and mafia owned buildings. The best way to go about solving the riddles, Bruce decided, after a minute, was to break them down into smaller parts.

“Where the sun sets.” He read allowed. Well that wasn’t too hard, the sun set in the west, so the location was west of the heart of Gothem.

“The moon shines half over the water birds cavern? What the hell is he talking about?” Bruce muttered to himself. The cavern part made a little bit of sense to him. Many of Gothem’s more respectable individuals referred to the Narrows as a cavern that harbored misfits. The Narrows were west of the cities center.

“Now where the hell does the moon shine half, and water bird?” As far as Bruce knew there was no place in the Narrows called water bird.

“Where the sun sets on two sides?” Bruce sighed. Perhaps Lucius would be able to help him with the riddles tomorrow morning. The man was impossibly smart. Tomorrow night, Bruce would have to go to the Narrows and search the streets to completely solve the riddles.

The Joker wanted to be found, but he wasn’t going to make it too easy. Bruce decided that the best thing for him to do was to get some sleep. He would need his mind to be completely clear for tomorrows more than likely aggravating search. He turned off the light and lay in his bed with a frustrated sigh.

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“So Mr. Wayne, I imagine something rather important has you in my office so early in the morning.” Fox said, with a pleasant smile as Bruce walked towards him.

Bruce gave the older man a quick smile and handed him a copy he had made of the Joker’s riddles. Fox studied them and then glanced up at Bruce from his desk.

“I need to have these riddles solved as quickly as possible.”

“I need a little more information than this Mr. Wayne if I am to be of any use to you.” Fox said calmly. Bruce sighed and took up a seat across from his friend, resting his elbows on the surface and rubbing his eyes wearily.

“These riddles came to me from the Joker. They lead to the place he is currently staying. He wants me to meet with him.”

Fox eyed him again, and then returned his attention to the paper Bruce had handed him. “This is a place in Gothem of course so I should be able to solve it. What is the Joker hoping to gain from meeting with you?”

“I have no idea the man’s a nut case.”

Fox smiled.

“He might be a nut case Mr. Wayne but he’s smart, we both know that.”

“Yes, and that’s the part that bothers me,” he paused, “I’ve already uncovered that the Joker’s hide out is west of Gothem’s center, in the Narrows. Other than that, I’m not quite sure what to make of it.”

“Well, what I can tell you off the bat is that this part, BAD 18 15 15 13 is numerical code.” Fox stated.

“What does it mean?” Bruce asked. Fox scribbled on a piece of paper for a few seconds and then looked up, sliding the paper over to Bruce.

“It is called numeroligy Mr. Wayne. 18 15 15 13 stands for room, and BAD is the number of the room, 214.”

“This is a relief, but I wish he had given us a name.”

“Now that would be too generous Mr. Wayne,” Fox said with a smile, “he’s already been more than accommodating, don’t you think. He is a criminal after all.”

Bruce nodded in understanding. He was relieved to have this much information at such an early point in his investigation. It was only Tuesday morning, and the Joker’s deadline was Thursday. Bruce was confident he’d have the riddles solved by the time the night was over, or by the next morning at the latest.

“Thank you for your help Fox, I really appreciate it.” Bruce said with a smile.

“It’s my job to help you Mr. Wayne, you don’t have to thank me.” Bruce stood.

“Oh Mr. Wayne, before you leave, don’t forget you have meetings booked until seven tonight.” Bruce hung his head and Fox chuckled.

“It’s hard being a billionaire Mr. Wayne.” Bruce gave him a smile.

“You’re telling me. Guess I better get ready huh?”

“That might be a good idea. Your briefings for each meeting are upstairs on your desk.”

“Thank you. I’ll be seeing you shortly then.” Bruce sighed and made his way slowly to the elevator. Today was going to be a long day.