Bruce reached for the remote to turn the volume back up Then suddenly outside the frosted window a spotlight shined through the darkened sky In the bright beam of light was the symbol of a bat Both men knew exactly what the Bat-Signal meant What did I tell you Alfred said Bruce quickly rising from his chair These reporters never get anything right He turned and exited the room heading toward the Batcave The underground cavern contained the equipment he used as Batman Gotham’s greatest crime fighter VROOOOOM Moments later Alfred felt the loud rumble of an engine thunder beneath his feet He looked outside the window Through the falling snow he watched the Batmobile speed away 6
When the car’s taillights had faded Alfred returned to his duties He stoked the fire and tidied up the room Then as he reached to turn off the television Alfred saw a familiar face on the screen Penguin he said cringing at the sight of the fowl-faced crook What’s he up to this time Alfred turned up the volume to hear the news report And finally tonight O’Hara began WGBS Channel 12 has just been purchased by Oswald Cobblepot wealthy owner of the Iceberg Lounge nightclub The multi-million-dollar deal also includes the Gotham Gazette and WKGC radio station Alfred clicked off the television and stood for a moment in the darkened room Unlike the weather forecast he suspected this change would be anything but welcomed 8
CHAPTER 2 ICE THIEF Speeding toward Gotham City Batman switched on the Batmobile’s wireless system He punched a button and speed-dialed Commissioner James Gordon Although some members of the police force didn’t trust the Caped Crusader the commissioner always welcomed Batman’s help Where’s the crime asked Batman speaking into the car’s wireless transmitter Take your pick Commissioner Gordon replied I’ve received silent alarms from more than a dozen jewelry stores 9
