Orange-red flames shot out. With a sizzle, the starfish curled into a ball, fell off Alfred's face, and landed on the floor. The old butler was dazed for a moment, then suddenly realized he was lying on top of a man, with one hand still gripping his throat.
He looked up in confusion. "Sheriff?"
Then he turned to look beside him. "Miss Quizzle?"
"You've met me?" Harleen asked, puzzled. Alfred immediately realized he had let something slip.
"Oh, yes. I've heard the Sheriff mention you. Clever and beautiful-you certainly live up to your reputation."
???
"When did I... cough, cough... cough, cough!"
Li Jie was about to deny it when the hand still around his throat suddenly tightened. His breath caught, sending him into a fit of coughing.
"Right, right, whatever you say." Li Jie patted the butler's arm. "Could you get off me now? This really isn't a good look."
"Oh, my deepest apologies, Sheriff."
Alfred released him and got up. "How terribly rude of me."
He glanced at Li Jie's hand, where a few sparse silver hairs were still caught between his fingers.
Their eyes met. Alfred nodded and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your assistance. You've also reminded me that I ought to insure my hair."
"Uh... well..."
Li Jie gave an awkward smile. "How is young Master Wayne?"
"Master Bruce..." As though remembering something, Alfred's expression abruptly changed. "He's in... in the... workshop downstairs. He went down before dawn and never came back up. Master Dick was with him, and then I... don't remember."
The cold lights of the Batcave cast twisted shadows over the jagged rock walls. Dick Grayson sprinted through the familiar network of tunnels. Sweat soaked his red-and-green uniform, and his breathing beneath the mask came fast and hot.
*Well, cooling off