The detective knew it had been a stupid thing to do, even as he was doing it. Approaching the crazed clown in the interrogation room, rolling up his sleeves like he was somebody - if the Batman could take a few shots at him, why couldn’t he? He should have known - perhaps internally he did know - that the Joker would have something else up his ( Read more... )

Stephens wasn't good with words.  He was a simple guy, a cop who wrote witness reports and typed up DD-5s.  He didn't write letters.  When it came to cards for his wife, he let Hallmark do the talking and signed his name at the bottom.

This time-this time was different.  Well, it should have been.  He'd scribbled and crossed out words, ( Read more... )

After the Bat-signal was turned off and most of the other men scattered, Stephens remained on the roof of the Major Crimes Unit.  He walked toward the edge, slowly, as if maybe they were wrong and maybe the Batman really would show up after all.  A couple minutes later, he gave up. 
Hands on his hips, Stephens looked up into the night sky.  It ( Read more... )