CHAPTER 1 MAGIC AND MAYHEM Santoro is a master of mesmerism said Tim Drake as he followed Bruce Wayne down the aisle of the newly renovated Monarch Theater He can hypnotize and control anyone He does all the classic tricks too For once Tim the secret identity of crime fighter Robin wasn’t talking about a super villain’s nefarious powers He and Bruce were attending a charity performance by the Magnificent Santoro The world-famous magician was part of the celebration for the grand re-opening of the theater Bruce shook hands with local celebrities and
business people he knew as they moved toward their seats The elite of Gotham City would be surprised if they knew that he was actually Batman They only knew Bruce as the billionaire benefactor who had given nearly a million dollars to the Monarch’s renovation Beautiful work fixing this theater Mayor Grange told Bruce as they passed by her It’s truly a fitting memorial to your parents now Thank you Mayor replied Bruce It was unfortunate that it had fallen into disrepair Fixing the theater helps the whole neighborhood added Tim Bruce’s parents had been murdered when he was a little boy right outside this theater The traumatic event had led Bruce to swear revenge on all criminals and ultimately become Batman Enjoy the show Mayor Grange said and she sat down after Bruce and Tim shuffled past her And we couldn’t let this location be a hideout for criminals anymore Tim whispered to Bruce as they sat down in the front row Imagine the
Joker’s nerve setting up his headquarters in here for a while If there’s anything the Joker has replied Bruce it’s nerve They both fell silent as the lights dimmed The audience settled down behind them and everyone applauded as the curtains opened A young woman in a sparkly silver gown pushed a tall fancy cabinet onto the stage She smiled as she opened the wooden cabinet showing that it was empty inside Then she shut the door and began to spin the whole cabinet faster and faster The woman hopped up on the foot of the cabinet and twirled with it her dress glittering as the box spun to a blur Then she put down her foot STOMP The cabinet stopped abruptly The door swung open with an outpouring of dry ice vapor and out stepped the Magnificent Santoro The audience applauded as the thin man in a tuxedo took a deep bow He wore a tall turban with a spinning emerald embedded in a hollow in front
