CHAPTER 3

ROOFTOP RIDDLE

Batman spread his cape and glided down to the dark rooftop. He tucked and rolled into a somersault. He sprang to his feet and glanced around, making sure he was alone.

The Dark Knight tapped his mask just behind his right ear. “Robin, Batgirl, come in,” he said. For the fourth time, there was still no reply.

“This isn’t like them,” he said to himself. “Something must be wrong.”

Suddenly, a bright light appeared across the city. A large spotlight shone onto the clouds above. It was the Bat-Signal!

Batman pulled out his grapnel and prepared to leap off the rooftop. He skidded to a stop before he reached the edge.

“That’s not the Bat-Signal,” he growled.

Normally, the spotlight had a symbol of a bat in the center. This signal had a large question mark instead.

“Edward Nygma.” Batman tightened his lips as he dove from the rooftop. He shot his grapnel, and its hook flew toward a nearby skyscraper. It latched onto the building, and Batman used the attached Batrope to swing toward the next rooftop. Soon he landed atop the police station, next to a large spotlight.

Batman was about to switch off the light when he noticed a small green box on the roof. As he stepped closer, the box’s lid blew off with a shower of sparks and confetti.

POOF!

Batman shielded himself with his cape, but it turned out to be a harmless explosion. When the sparks had died away, a life-size, 3-D hologram of the Riddler appeared.

“Hello, Batman,” the image said.

“What do you want, Nygma?” asked the crime fighter.

“Oh, I won’t answer, Batman. This is just a recording,” the Riddler’s image said. “But I think it’s one you’ll find most rewarding.”

Batman crossed his arms. It sounded as if he was in for another one of Nygma’s riddles.

“Now, give this puzzle a whirl,” the image continued. “If you wish to save Batgirl.”

Batman stiffened. So she and Robin were in trouble.

The image of the Riddler twirled his cane. “Her fate will be decided if or whether you’re clever enough to piece this together.” He tipped his hat. “No more taunts. No more teases. Soon she may just fall to pieces.”

Batman didn’t like the sound of that at all.

The Riddler’s recording continued. “Now Robin’s riddle is a little half-baked. A few clever words … give or take.” The Riddler shrugged. “The boy’s fortune will simply be undone, if you don’t find him before the morning sun.”

The Riddler spread his arms wide. “Solve these riddles or I can save you the trouble. Just get to 433 Thunderbrook on the double.” He gave a sly grin. “If you want them safe, you have but to ask. As long as you first take off your mask.”

The image of the Riddler disappeared, and the rooftop was dark once again.

“It sounds as if Robin and Batgirl didn’t listen to my warning,” Batman said. “They took on the Riddler without any backup.” He shook his head. “And the Riddler will only let them go if I reveal my secret identity.”

Batman ran toward the edge of the roof. “I think I may need some backup of my own.” He spread his cape wide and dove into the night.

* * *

The Riddler paced back and forth atop the large shipping container. He glanced around the abandoned warehouse and checked his watch.

“The time has come,” the Riddler said to himself. “The stage is set.”

The full moon shone through the windows above, creating large shafts of light. The Riddler’s twenty henchmen milled in and out of the light as they all waited for the main attraction—the unmasking of Batman.

Suddenly, the warehouse door rolled open and a familiar shape appeared in the doorway.

“Welcome, welcome my old friend,” the Riddler said. “You arrived in the nick of time.” He held up his cane, pointing out a red button on the handle. “Any longer and I would’ve pushed this button, sending your little bat friends to their terrible fate.”

The Dark Knight didn’t reply. He slowly marched through the empty warehouse, moving in and out of the shafts of light. The surrounding henchmen picked up pipes and chains and prepared for a fight.

The Riddler raised his cane, thumb hovering over the button. “That is far enough, Batman.”

The Dark Knight froze. His black silhouette was completely motionless.

“I used to think the ultimate riddle was how to defeat you,” the Riddler said. “But I did that when I captured your puny sidekicks.” A wide grin stretched across his face.

“Now I think the ultimate riddle is: Who is Batman?” The Riddler pointed down at the Dark Knight. “So take off your mask!”

At first, Batman didn’t move. Then he reached up and pulled back his mask.

The henchmen held their breath with anticipation. The Riddler let out a small chuckle.

Batman let his mask and cape fall to the ground. However, he was still in the shadows, so only the dark outline of a man could be seen.

“Now, step into the light,” Riddler ordered.

There was another pause before the dark figure stepped forward. He moved into a shaft of light and his identity was revealed.

The Riddler gasped. “Nightwing?!!”

Nightwing grinned and took a fighting stance. He reached up and pulled his fighting batons from his back.

“I couldn’t let Batman have all the fun,” Nightwing said.

The Riddler snarled and pressed the button on his cane.