It was a cloudy September night and Gotham had just begun to experience the first signs of winter. A cool breeze passed as a large group of formally dressed citizens hurried into the Gotham City Museum to get away from the cold. Tonight was the night that the coordinators of the museum had been planning for nearly a year – tonight they would be showing off a brand new piece to the museum: a fantastically exuberant diamond necklace made for and worn by Queen Elizabeth II herself. She had graciously donated the necklace to the Gotham City Museum and it was supposedly worth $13 million dollars.
Once everyone who had been invited was inside, the party began. Multiple waiters walked around with trays holding only the finest champagne, offering the drink to the guests, who were spread all around the building, chatting amongst friends and colleagues. About twenty people stood around the necklaces case, as close as they could get without being asked to take a step back from one of the two security officers who were guarding it. The owner of the museum - Mr. Clyde Jones – walked around with a wide grin on his face, greeting different people and stopping to chat with someone every couple of minutes or so, but behind his smile masked face lied concern; for he had not seen the one person he had personally invited. It appeared that Bruce Wayne had not shown up. He was always attending parties such as this one, so where could he be?
Nearly on the other side of the city Bruce Wayne sat comfortably in his gigantic plush chair, dressed in his night clothing and silk robe, holding a half-empty glass of red wine while he stared intently at the blazing fireplace in front of him.
"Master Bruce, you do remember that the showing of Queen Elizabeth II's $13 million dollar necklace is taking place at the Gotham City Museum tonight, right?" Alfred asked, standing behind Bruce.
"Yes, I am aware, Alfred." Bruce replied, not taking his eyes away from the blazing fire in front of him.
"So you are not g
oing to attend?" Alfred asked.
"No, Alfred."
"Very well, sir." Alfred replied with a small sigh, then turned around and walked out of the room.
Bruce continued to sit and stare unblinkingly at the fire, moving only to take a sip of his wine, then returned to being as still as stone.