The End Always Ends

Ah! The joys of modern convenience,

Alfred Pennyworth is unpacking the assorted delivered foodstuffs that have been shipped in this afternoon. He shakes his head as he once again hides the coffee Master Bruce insists on using instead of sleep.

Instead of his bill, however, he sees a missive folded inelegantly and stuffed into the invoice envelope.

Alfred,

Thanks for being nice to me. There've been three bright, unmarred spots in my lives and you're one of the three. Unfortunately, no one else in the big house qualifies, so I'm gonna have to give you this message to give to old Brucie. Tell him it ends tonight.

- J

PS: My replacement's not half bad.

As if on queue, the public radio station which had been playing "A Prairie Home Companion" switches to an urgent news flash.

...According to Gotham city police, Arkham Asylum is under some kind of persistent electronic quarantine. So far, there has been no ransom or reported escape attempts...

"Master Bruce," he says into an intercom. "You may wish to come upstairs and check the news..."