Criminal Minds: Joker

Chapter 4

Just outside the parking garage, Reid was sitting inside an ambulance with an ice pack on his head. Morgan went up to him to see if he was okay. Reid could tell by the look on his face that he felt guilty about what happened.

"Reid, I am so sorry," he said. "I should have stayed with you."

"Don't blame yourself, Morgan," Reid reassured. "You did the right thing. You had to take Chad to safety."

Hotch then walked up to the two.

"We need to figure out where Brandon has taken Mills," he said.

That's when Reid remembered that Brandon placed something in his pocket before he left him. He placed his hand in the pocket and pulled out the item, a small folded piece of paper. Reid unfolded it and saw the words, "I VOTED FOR DEATH" written on it. Reid then quickly went up to one officer at the scene.

"Do you know if there are any abandoned warehouses in this area?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, there's one just a few blocks from here," the officer said, pointing in the direction. "It used to be a toy factory that got shut down in 90s."

"What do you got, Reid?" asked Morgan.

"I think I know where Brandon is." said Reid.

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The team were driving towards the old factory while Reid explained what he found out.

"Brandon is recreating one of the biggest Joker stories of all time. It was in the comic story "Death in the Family." In it, the Joker kidnaps the second Robin, Jason Todd, and takes him to an abandoned warehouse where he beats Jason with a crowbar before leaving him to die."

"How does the note Brandon leave you have to do with it?" asked Rossi.

"Before the comic even came out, the creators made up a contest where fans got to vote wither Jason lives or dies. They all voted that he died. Also what Brandon said to me before he left, 'Please tell the big man I said 'Hello,' is what the Joker said to Jason before leaving."

The team drove up to the old warehouse. It was covered in broken windows with a large faded jack-in-the-box sign. As the team exited the vehicles they tried to think of a way to get in there without Mills getting hurt.

"This won't be easy," said Hotch. "Brandon won't listen to reason. He actually believes that he's the Joker."

"Wait, that's it," exclaimed Reid as he came up with an idea.

He quickly went to one of the vans and popped open the trunk revealing his Bat Box. He then took the lid of it and removed his rubber Batman mask.

"I think I know how to talk to him," he said as he showed the mask to the others.

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Inside the warehouse, Mills was lying on his side with his hands handcuffed behind his back as he eyed Brandon walking towards him, welding a large crowbar.

"Brandon, please," Mills pleaded, trying to reason with but it was futile. "You don't have to do this."

Brandon didn't say anything. He just looked down at Mills with a huge smile on his face before whacking him with in the side with the crowbar. They were both unaware that the door to the warehouse was opened and a shadowy figure stepped through.

"Oh, that looks like it hurt," he said before whacking Mills a second time. "Oh, wait, that looked like it hurt more."

Brandon then dropped the crow bar onto the ground and pulled out a small knife from his pocket. He then bent down towards Mills and placed the blade in his mouth while using his other hand to point at the sides of his lips. "Want to know how I got these scars?"

"No. But I know how you got this."

At the gruff voice that spoke up behind him, Brandon stood up and turned around only to get a fist to his face, causing the deranged killer to stumble backwards. Taking a moment to recover, Brandon was shocked see the image of a man with pointy ears. So much so that he dropped the knife.

"It's over, Joker." 'Batman' declared.

"Batman! I was wondering you would show up."

While the confrontation was taking place, Reid and JJ snuck behind and went to quick un handcuffed Mills

"What do you say Batsy? Ready to go for an another round." Brandon taunted.

"No." 'Batman' said, taking him off guard while remaining in the shadows. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to stall you."

Eyes went wide in realisation of why the caped crusader didn't step out of the shadows, He turned around and saw Reid, JJ and Chief exiting through the door in a hurry.

"No fair!" Brandon whined. "You suckered me!"

"I could've gotten Chief Mills out by myself anytime." Batman stated. "But I thought my appearance would be enough to keep you occupied, clown."

'Batman' blocked a right hand from an infuriated Brandon and struck him in the stomach with a right hook before knocking him down with a left. In severe pain, Brandon could only groan in agony while glaring at the Dark Knight hovering over him.

"You're despicable."

Brandon slumped to the ground out cold as 'Batman' removed his mask, revealing that he was actually Hotch who bore a smirk on his lips. Out of all the scenarios he's been in over the years, this was for sure the most outlandish. His son Jack is not going to believe him when he hears about this.

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Back outside the old toy factory, the team watched as Brandon was being strapped on a stretcher by the paramedics, when Mills was walking up him.

"I'm sorry, Brandon." he apologised. "I know you wouldn't have been like this if I had just helped you."

Unfortunately the apology didn't seem to register with him. "Well, maybe I am a bit batty." muttered Brandon. "Blame it on the bats in my belfry."

Brandon then let out another insane cackle as the paramedics placed him in the ambulance and drove off. Mills just looked at the ground in shame knowing full well that Brandon Price was long gone.

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