The HoneyBee and The Bat

Medical Examiner Room

The next day, Honeybee and Batman are with Gordon. They stared down at a body as flaring fluorescent lights flickered. Gordon has to look away. Batman coldly assesses as Honeybee seems disturbed.

Gordon grunts, "He waited for him at the gym. Pete always liked to work out late at night when no one else was around." Honeybee turns away, "There's a needle mark on his neck."

"He injected him with arsenic," Gordon spoke. Batman looks at Gordon, "Rat poison."

"Yeah, that seems to be his theme here. Look at this thing." As Gordon steps angrily away, leaving Savage's body in a morgue drawer, Batman and Honeybee follow Gordon to an evidence table and see the creepy-hinged, cage-like head box; inside is an elaborate network of channels.

Honeybee looks at it closely, "It's a maze." Gordon looks at it in distaste, "What kinda demented sunovabitch does this to a person?" Gordon gazes inside the bloody maze, where a crudely painted cipher ends on a question mark in crosshairs. Batman finds a stack of surveillance photos.

Batman looks at Honeybee and Gordon, "More symbols. It's another cipher." Gordon looks at them, "He blasted these out after his message went viral. Bastard murders you and your reputation." In one of the photos, the Commissioner emerges from the Iceberg Lounge, shakes hands with a shady guy.

"That guy pushes drops on the east end," Batman spoke. Gordon looks on, pained, as Batman stares at another photo: Savage peeking into a cash-stuffed envelope. "I don't get it; why would Pete get involved with something like this?" Gordon mutters.

"Looks like he got greedy," Honeybee spoke. Gordon looks at Honeybee, "You kidding me? After everything we did to take down the Maronis? He busted the entire operation; then he caves to some lowlife dealer?!"

"Maybe he's not who you thought."

"You make it sound like he had it coming."

Batman spoke, looking at Gordon, "He was a cop... That crossed the line." Gordon sighed when Batman noticed something taped to the back of the head box-- an envelope: 'To The Bat and the Bee.'

Gordon watches Batman open it: another greeting card. A cartoon scientist mixes beakers. Honeybee looks over Batman's shoulder, "'I'm mad about you. Wanna know my name? Just look inside and see.'"

Batman opens the card. Inside is a cartoon explosion; over it: "'But, Wait, I Cannot Tell You -- It Might Spoil the Chemistry!'" Batman reads the scribble. "'Follow the maze 'til you find the rat. Bring him into the light, and you'll find where I'm at.'" Gordon looks up at the two vigilantes, "The hell is this? 'Bring him into the light?' 'Find the rat?'"

Unnerved, Batman stares at their names on the envelope, "I don't know." Honeybee takes the card from Batman as Martinez rushes down the stairs leading into the examiner's room, high-strung, "Lieutenant! They're coming back!"

"We gotta get out of here. C'mon." Gordon leads Batman and Honeybee out of the room. Honeybee follows Batman closely as they leave the building. Batman and Honeybee reach the bike and hopped on.

The roar of the motorcycle echoed through the night as Melanie held on tight to Bruce, the wind whipping through her hair. Racing through the city streets, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Batcave. As they entered, Melanie swiftly placed the card on the scanner, activating the printing of critical ciphers. Bruce's fingers danced across the keyboard, unleashing a flurry of searches on the computer, determined to uncover the elusive answer.

Bruce's intense gaze fixates on Melanie as he slowly closes the distance between them. Melanie feels a shiver run down her spine as Bruce's arms envelop her waist and his head finds refuge in her fragrant hair. "What's on your mind?" She asks, producing a cryptic cipher from the printer. Bruce holds her even closer, offering reassurance, "Nothing's troubling me." Melanie lowers the paper and turns to face Bruce. As she encircles his neck with her arms and leans against the table, she whispers in his ear, "Are you absolutely sure?" She can sense his warm breath against her neck as they remain locked in a tender embrace.

Bruce kisses her and smiles, "You know I love you, right?" Melanie smiles at him, "I love you too."