The birthday party was still going, and everyone's eyes kept drifting toward the entrance-
Bruce Wayne, their host for the evening, had yet to make an appearance.
Oswald and Sofia had stopped sparring in a corner of the venue. Each held a wineglass as they scanned the crowd for Ririko.
The stage performances were more than halfway through, and the host was already guiding everyone toward the cake-cutting ceremony.
Bruce came in through the garden's side corridor, the shoulders of his suit jacket slightly rumpled, as though he had hurried back from somewhere.
His gaze swept quickly over the crowd, but he saw no sign of Ririko in her dark green gown.
He walked over to Alfred and asked anxiously, "Have you seen Ririko?"
Alfred was checking the cake knife for safety. He set it down at the question and said, "She came into the hall. She should still be here."
Bruce scanned the room again. Still nothing.
Someone in the crowd noticed his arrival and started clapping. Someone else called out, "Happy birthday!" Everyone began gathering around the cake table, urging him to come cut the cake.
Surrounded by their attention and voices, Bruce had no choice but to pick up the knife. He cut a small slice from the edge of the cake, placed it on a white porcelain plate, and handed it to a guest applauding beside him.
Then he put down the knife, stepped out of the center of the crowd, and headed toward Dick.
Dick was holding a plate, about to help himself to some birthday cake. When he saw Bruce's expression, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Bruce pulled a letter from his pocket. Its words were also pieced together from cutout letters.
He handed it to Dick. "I found this at the Clock Tower."
Dick