It had been three years since Edward Nigma was released from Arkham Asylum. He had realized that he had a problem after his last battle of wits with Batman. Despite his best efforts he was unable to refrain from leaving a riddle at the crime scene. It was time for him to change. He wanted to become whole again.

It had been a long and difficult road to recovery but Edward Nashton, he had returned to his original surname, was determined to rid himself of his obsession with puzzles. Every day for two years in Arkham he worked with psychologists and actively took their advice. The final piece of his recovery happened when he returned to his home from the asylum. He rid his home of all the puzzle books and his question mark attire. It was time for him to start a new chapter of his life.

He had decided to once again become a Private Investigator. Despite his puzzle compulsion being cured his narcissism was still intact and he wouldn't lower himself to do physical labor. The biggest problem with his new transformation was that most of Gotham was well aware of his criminal past and there were few people who were willing to forget the antics of this once notorious villain. As a result the work was tedious and dull. But at least it was an exercise in his reasoning skills and proving that he was smarter than the people that needed his aid was always a treat.

Edward sighed as he eyed the clock. It was nearly seven in the evening. If someone was going to come to his office they would have come much earlier than this. Edward began to put his things away in his desk when there was a knock at the door.

"Please come in," he said as the door slowly opened.

"Mr. Nigma?" said a soft-female voice.

"It's Mr. Nashton now dear. I've left that persona long behind me," he said as he gave a small smile to the young woman. Edward had to admit that she was quite lovely. She wore a conservative white dress which was accented by her jet black hair. Her sweet blue eyes looked innocent and pure.

"Please take a seat," he said gesturing towards one of the wooden chairs opposite his desk.

She sat down and clasped her hands. Edward noted that her breathing was slow and methodical, not natural. She was clearly trying to keep herself calm. He wished that she would just spit it out. The way she looked it was clear it was a lost puppy or wayward lover. Nothing that would be worth his full-attention anyway.

"My name is Emily Terry. My sister Jess committed suicide two days ago," she said, "She wasn't depressed. I would have known."

"You believe someone wanted her dead?" Edward asked. It was most likely nothing more than it appeared, Ocham's Razor and all. Though it was the most interesting case he'd had in the past three years and so he'd indulge her obvious denial.

"I do," she said. Edward could see the tears welling up in her eyes. He hoped she didn't cry. He never really cared much for women when they cried. It was always an uncomfortable position to be in and Edward hoped that Emily would have the courtesy to refrain from crying at the moment.

"You realize that she most likely did kill herself correct?" Edward said as he took a pencil from the desk.

"I knew my sister. She wouldn't do something like that," Emily insisted.

"My dear. This is a dark city and everyone has their secrets. The heart of Gotham's citizens is a riddle vast and mysterious," Edward said as he twirled the pencil around in his fingers.

"I can pay you. I just can't accept that she'd do something like this," she said.

"You don't believe that Gotham's finest were able to suitably handle this?" Edward asked.

"To be frank Mr. Nashton, no. And well, you're one of the smartest men, if not the smartest, in Gotham. I figured if you can't find anything amiss then it must have been just a suicide," she said her face dropping towards her hands.

"Well then. We shouldn't waste any more time," he said taking a notepad and pencil from the desk. It was certainly refreshing to have someone that understood his brilliance. This young woman would soon be able to rest easy knowing that Edward Nashton was looking into her case.

"How much are you able to pay?" Edward asked. It was a business first and foremost after all.