Batman and Spider-man

Chapter 8

There was the crackling of static and a familiar jovial voice ringed through the hallways of Claridge's mansion.

"Is this thing on?" Joker said, poking a mic attached to his collar. "Tell me... um... Hal. Is this thing on?"

There was a nervous whimper as the camera shook up and down.

"Robin trace that broadcast," Batman growled. "Quickly."

On the TV screen was a sharp powdered face with a blood red grin and vivid green hair. The Joker wore a purple trench coat, green waistcoat, a bright red tie and a blue shirt. Next to him, with a bullet in the centre of her head was a woman dressed in bright red, the Joker's eager footsteps causing droplets of her blood to splash on the camera.

The camera shook like an earthquake until a revolver was pointed at it.

"Steady now," Joker said. "You've got to capture all this goodness. You've got to get a good shot."

The Joker pulled the hammer of his revolver with a grin. The camera steadied itself, focusing on the wide grin of the Joker.

"Good evening," Joker said. "Or should I say morning? Good mevening people of Gotham City. In a few hours Henry Claridge will be declared dead." The Joker sighed. "I ruined the surprise, didn't I?"

"Amusement Mile," Robin said.

Batman stormed off, Robin trailing behind, Gordon calling after both of them.

"Now..."

The cameraman burst into tears. The camera was limp on the floor showing the wide-open eyes of the reporter and the bloody hole in her forehead.

"Now, now Hal," the Joker said in an almost soothing, mother like voice. "You can't just leave the camera hanging like that. What type of cameraman are you?" He grabbed the man's hands causing him to let out a whimper. "Steady now, the people of Gotham need to know who's up next. Their anxiety is supposed to be eased. Isn't that what news reporters do best?"

The Batmobile blazed through the streets of Gotham, its tires screeching against the asphalt road as it made its way to Amusement Mile.

The camera focused on the Joker's ghoulish grin. "The next on my list is..." The Joker pulled out a wad of paper that he unwound, rolls of paper spilled on the floor and snaked across the floor.

"Hmm," Joker said, running his purple gloved fingers across the list. "We have the president, Wilson, Brock... Aha."

The Joker tapped the middle of the paper. "Jay Wilde. Tomorrow at 12 P.M, Jay Wilde is going to bite the bullet. This time it's going to be a little up close and personal so stay tuned Gotham. Till next time, over and out!"

There was a gunshot. The camera swirled like a vortex resting on a limp hand, the crack lens trained on a pair of shiny shoes clumping on the food.

The Batmobile screeched to a halt in front of a Gotham News Truck. Batman ejected out of the Batmobile, the extra mobility from the boost, eyes darting around for any sign of the Joker. He rolled as he landed on the pavement. The Joker was nowhere to be seen. Batman stood in front of the GCPD news truck and began his investigation. The driver had been shot first, his body leaning against the door, the blood from the bullet hole in his skull staining the blue surface of the truck. The reporter, a Ms. Ritchie an up and comer Batman ran into a few times went out to investigate but was shot right before she could even open the door. The camera man was left alive to film the Joker's sick broadcast. After it was done, he was promptly dealt with.

The Joker knew there would be a news broadcast down at Amusement Mile, no way he could have intercepted this truck by chance. That suggested a familiarity with the area or at least access to information. Robin was soon by Batman's side.