After nightfall, a tall, silent figure arrived outside the Skynet Research Institute. Two minutes later, he knocked on Brad's office door.
The office door opened automatically. The bright light inside made the visitor frown; he clearly disliked overly bright surroundings at night.
"Oh, Batman. You wouldn't be here unless you wanted something, would you?"
Brad sat at his computer desk, rhythmically tapping the keyboard with one hand while holding a steaming cup of hot chocolate in the other.
"What exactly did you trade with Lex Luthor today?"
Batman walked over to Brad, glanced at the jumble of data on the monitor, and asked in a low voice.
Brad set down the cup he had yet to drink from and leaned back, making his executive chair creak.
"Wayne Enterprises holds the controlling stake in the Skynet Research Institute. You do realize you could look up my transaction list with Lex Luthor through more legitimate channels?"
"I want the details of the process. What you discussed."
"Give me a reason. Our relationship isn't so unequal that I'm obliged to report everything to you."
Brad wore a faint smile. He found the bat boy rather amusing. They both knew Batman couldn't exert any meaningful pressure on him, yet ever since walking through the door, Batman had kept using the psychological tricks and cues he employed when interrogating criminals.
It seemed more like a persona the bat boy had constructed for himself. Effective or not, he would stick to it with absolute conviction. Those psychological suggestions targeted not only criminals, but himself as well.
At Brad's question, Batman's piercing gaze shifted aside, as though surveying his surroundings. But Brad knew the prickly older man was trying to persuade himself.
He instinctively trusted no one, but Brad was the benefactor who had healed Barbara. Brad