Author's note: Chapter 2 revamped and reposted! A few things edited here and there. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to leave a review! :)
Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1...
The Commissioner
Chapter Two
Quickly Jenna pulled her hand away from his grasp, letting her gaze dart sharply to the side as she murmured softly, "The more people do that, the more my stomach wants to jump out of my mouth…"
Her eyes snapped back to the Wayne heir as she heard the velvety rumbling of his soft chuckle. Was he laughing at what she had said or was he just laughing at her? Jenna's eyes narrowed venomously and she glared at him. "I don't see what you find so funny, Mr. Wayne."
Cocking a dark eyebrow, he let that ridiculous smirk paint its way across his lips once more. "Bruce."
Her glare deepened and she bit back the urge to spit out a 'yeah, whatever.' She wasn't in high school anymore and knew that if she let such comments just fly freely she would make an immature fool of herself. Wrapping her arms slowly around herself, she proceeded to cross them over her chest finding that the night's air was a bit nippier than it had been when she had arrived. It was darker too. For a moment she wondered just how late it was or how long had she even been there. It couldn't have been more than an hour, though, she felt like it had been centuries since she walked through the entrance doors.
Relaxing her gaze, the young woman let her eyes wander to the side her attention lost to the entrancing night sky. Staring for a while, she found it interesting that the moon seemed to be morphing from one shape to another. Watching closer, she was amused to find that it was the dreary clouds that made the moon change shapes. They would linger a little ways away from the illuminated sphere before curiously inching forwards to plant a small kiss upon its surface before retreating once more. It was like a tiny ritual between the two; or maybe even a game. The clouds would teasingly tag the moon with their moist lips before scurrying away so as to not get tagged back. It was like watching children on a playground.
Jenna shivered involuntarily as the night's air blew softly against her just as a person may blow towards a flame to extinguish it. Her amusement vanished as she noticed that she hadn't moved, Bruce Wayne still standing in front of her, though, his smirk had lessened quite a bit.
"You're not very talkative." Emerald eyes snapped to the wealthy man, the young woman's frown becoming more evident as her eyebrows began to tilt upwards in anger. What was it about Bruce that made her furious? Maybe it was what he said or could it possibly just be the sound of his voice? No – she concluded that it was the fact that he had money. Anyone who had enough money to flaunt in the face of other's less fortunate automatically made it onto her bad side.
"I don't think we have much to talk about, really." Hugging her arms around herself tighter, she tilted her head to the side, a smirk finding its way to her lips. "You'd probably bring up something like the stock market or how many businesses you've managed to buy in the last week with your nonstop income that you barely have to even work for. And I, thinking both topics are a waste of oxygen to talk about, would then excuse myself and go back inside to hide behind the refreshment table or something."
Jenna had to bite her lip so that her smirk wouldn't grow out of control. True, that comment had been a bit harsh but she felt it was somewhat called for. Bruce had been rude to her earlier and so she was just dishing out what he had already served. Silence encompassed the pair and the young woman watched with curiosity as the billionaire's face seemed to fall, the amusement that had once occupied his features now completely gone.
"And you're guessing I would converse about those things just because I have a lot of money?" Crossing his arms in front of himself, Jenna watched as he grasped one hand in the other, waiting for her answer patiently. She wondered what was really going on inside that brain of his.
"Precisely." Her lips twitched a bit more, her smirk not yet full grown.
"And what about you?" Jenna tilted her head a bit more, her chocolate stained locks falling to caress her shoulder as he spoke. "You wouldn't strike up a conversation by noting how I'm Gotham's most well known bachelor and how your last relationship has coincidently just ended in time for us to start dating?"
The woman could feel her eyes grow in size, surprised that he was taking the offensive just as he had done before. "Are you trying to say something?"
"It was merely a question." His face held that air of amusement again which only further ignited the irritation that was already burning inside the brunette.
"I'm not some bimbo who comes to these banquets to meet young men just so I can start using him for his money. In case you didn't realize, I'm the daughter of the second wealthiest man in Gotham. Money is the last thing I will ever want or need." Her lips pursed as she finished.
Bruce's coy smirk still stayed in place and he quickly reached forwards to grasp her hand, pulling her arms from their crossed position.
"No need to get so defensive, Jenna. Like I said, it was just a question." Patting her hand with one of his while the other held onto hers gently, he continued, "I was just curious as to your motives for coming out here when I'm here and alone."
Her gaze darted to her hand being held by his and she growled inwardly, pulling her digits back to her. "If I had known you were out here, I wouldn't have come out at all."
A spark of a new feeling arose in Jenna as she saw Bruce's eyes flash a new color; shock. She was curious as to why he would feel any sort of astonishment at what she had said, but figured it was because she had so bluntly stated how keen she was on avoiding him. Before coming out onto the balcony she had resisted everyone's offers to meet him feeling that if she was introduced it would just be another pompous billionaire to add to her life's collection and now that she had actually met with him she found that her conclusions about his character had been correct.
Her eyes caught sight of his mouth parting so as to let him speak but she quickly cut him off, wanting him to know the full extent of her feelings. "From the moment I was informed of who you are and your standing while also learning of your reputation I have concluded that you are the last man I would ever be obliged to date, let alone be seen with."
His face held a look of utter shock and humiliation. From what Jenna had stated he could easily infer her feelings of true resentment towards him and he had to say it was a bit irritating to be judged before he had even made his real personality known. Of course, it was only Alfred and Rachel who had the knowledge that Bruce Wayne was just a cover up for who he really was.
"So this is what you think of me, then?" His voice depicted his frustration.
Jenna nodded briskly.
"And you feel that this opinion of me is warranted even though we have not spent more than a half an hour outside conversing with one another?" He pursed his lips for a moment before adding. "And what do you mean 'reputation?'"
The young woman purposefully avoided the first question. "Naivety isn't your best act, Mr. Wayne. It was all over gossip magazines and sometimes even the news. Your relationship with that lady attorney at the local DA's office was no secret."
"Rachel?" His face contorted in confusion.
Again, Jenna nodded.
"We never had a relationship like the one you're hinting at. If you're susceptible enough to believe the lies all those magazines wrote than that is your own fault. I would think you were better than that, believing rumors just because they were printed and sold to the public." He sighed, somewhat. This girl definitely had a sour side. "Rachel and I are childhood friends, nothing more. This reputation you speak of is nonexistent."
"Oh, yeah? Then what do you have to say about all those times you've been spotted with European models? The whole world knows you for the playboy you are, Bruce Wayne, including me." Jenna was stubborn. She would never change her mind about Bruce until there was proof of his innocence.
It was true that Bruce would invite young super models with him to banquets or social gatherings to keep up the ruse, but like everything else it was just an act. He never was attracted to them and there was never any type of real relationship behind any of them. He paid them their dues while also giving them some time in the spotlight. He thought it was fair, though, he could see Jenna was convinced other wise. There was really no use to fight her at the moment and so he let himself be defeated by her accusations.
Taking her hand in his, he shook it gently before using it to pull her closer to him. He could smell the aroma of her breath as it mingled with his, her look of surprise and then pure irritation added yet another blow to his self esteem. He had no idea he was so resented by someone he had never met before in his life. Clearing his throat, he murmured, "I hope to change your opinion of me in the future. For now, I'll leave you with a final good night."
He leaned a bit closer, teasing her almost before letting go of her hand and then strolling back inside the banquet.
Jenna watched the man wander back inside the building, her mind already feeding her flashbacks of the moments that had just passed. She cursed her habit of analyzing a situation. She couldn't help it, though. The more she thought about what had just occurred the harder it was to fight the advancing feelings of regret and shame. She really had no reason to be so judgmental of the Wayne heir but for reasons beyond her, she couldn't control the comments she had let fly his way.
In a way, she did feel as if she had shamed herself and, not that she really cared, her father as well. She could have easily put on the same face she wore while conversing with any other individual of notable standing. She did keep it in her back pocket while attending any of her banquets, metaphorically speaking. The young woman was stubborn, though, and she would stick with her opinion that all wealthy inhabitants of this world – not segregating race or religion – are, in one way or another, selfish and by nature cruel down to the very core. It was a realization she wished she had never found out and yet knew that it was impossible to avoid.
Shivering more frequently now, Jenna decided her time on the balcony was all but spent out. Giving a heaving sigh, she decided to try and make the best of the rest of the night. It seemed, though, that the guilty feelings, which possessed her persona, were relentlessly weighing her down and she was embarrassed to find that she practically had to drag herself inside the edifice.
To Jenna's mortification, it seemed as though she walked in on Mayor Armand Krol's annual speech about the progress and prosperity that Gotham was being graced with. Her eyes were wide and her throat grew dry as the sounds of her heels hitting the tiled floor were personified by the silence of the room. Dark, sullen eyes slithered onto her silhouette and she cringed openly. A brief moment of unimaginable discomfort swept through the length of the room before the mayor finally decided to let his gaze melt away from Jenna. After clearing his throat to bring the attention from the girl and back onto him, he let a tight smile capture his lips as he continued his speech.
"Unfortunately life is short, and the possibility of Gotham's destruction at the hand of our adversaries is growing all the more absolute. That is why I say to any who can contribute, now is the time to give back to Gotham that which Gotham has given to you. Though our reconstruction of the Narrows is going according to plan, financial support is always welcomed by the city's government…" Jenna couldn't stand to listen to the rest.
Unlike everyone else that occupied the room, she knew the truth about the Narrows and the rest of Gotham. Almost no work was being put into action in the Narrows and so the crime rate was considerably high. The area was beginning to rot; the lower levels already victim to utter desolation and despair. The money donations Mayor Krol was insisting upon were absolutely useless considering more than eighty percent of the finances went to the government officials and their families, the other twenty percent barely finding its way to the Narrows. The government's corruptness was only heightened by the anarchist mayor that ruled over the city.
Forgetting about Gotham's corruption and the earlier incident with Bruce Wayne, Jenna hollowly clapped along with the rest of the crowd as the mayor finished his speech. Letting her gaze fly right and left, she let her shoulders fall in relief when she found her father conversing with unfamiliar faces. Hastily, the young brunette woman made her way towards him, smiling briefly as her name was called out through the crowd by someone or other.
Clearing her throat somewhat, she nodded politely to the people her father was talking to before turning towards him. "I know the rules of the agreement were to stay the entire length of the banquet, but I'm afraid I'll have to leave early."
Her father cocked an eyebrow, frowning deeply as the couple he was conversing with left into the wave of entities. "And what may be the reason for your early departure?"
She hated the fact that he made his question sound so sophisticated and yet also so condemning. "I have to leave early tomorrow to meet with the Commissioner in the Narrows. I should probably get at least an hour of sleep so that I can function properly tomorrow while I work with him on our new case."
"Jenna, it's only half an hour past midnight." He seemed to think this was early.
"Well, I know I said one hour of sleep would be nice, but I'm actually hoping for maybe two or three." She crossed her arms, biting her lip. She was considerably anxious about her father's response to her desire to fly the coop early.
He seemed to be contemplating the situation, his thick eyebrows furrowing and then lifting before intertwining downwards once more. Finally, he nodded slowly. His eyes never met hers as he spoke. "If it's because of your job, then I give you permission to go." He went quiet for a moment before murmuring, "Why you would go to the Narrows just for work is beyond me, though."
Jenna rolled her eyes before muttering a 'thanks' and then making her way frantically to the exit. As she brutally mulled her way through the crowd of powdered heiresses and pompous aristocrats, her eyes caught sight of a slightly tanned figure with piercing dark eyes and statuette set cheekbones. Bruce Wayne. For a moment Jenna stopped to stare. She was thankful his attention was turned away from her as she continued to observe him from across the room. He was standing calmly, conversing with a person she could only guess was one of his partners in the rich industry. Shaking her head, she turned away.
The cool wind whipped harshly at her shoulders and arms as she exited the building. Her mind felt no concern for the weather, though. Instead, it could only focus on the last thing Bruce Wayne had said to her on the balcony. 'I hope to change your opinion of me in the future…' What exactly he meant by that was what Jenna was musing on the most. Did he think that they were going to meet again in the future? In Jenna's opinion, she was hoping for the exact opposite. Her avoidance of the man would have to be doubled considering there was now a chance of him trying to pursue her just to change her mind.
It was really pointless of him to try and persuade her to change her judgment of him. She was stubborn, this fact being established before, and she was determined to take her opinion with her to the grave.
Her attentions were drawn elsewhere as she was tapped on the shoulder. Turning sideways, she rose a questioning eyebrow at the butler who stood in front of her. Smiling in that butler sort of way, he held out his arm – her coat dangled loosely over it. Throwing out a careless 'thanks,' she grasped her jacket quickly before shrugging it on. Sighing contently, she hugged her coat more around her loving the warmth that was steadily seeping into her limbs. A flash of lights temporarily blinded her, causing Jenna to raise a dainty hand to her eyes. Blinking a few times, she squinted as her mouth turned down in a discontent frown. Her dampened attitude lightened a bit, though, as she realized it had been her car that had blinded her, the chauffeur already at her side with her keys.
She thanked him nonchalantly before grasping her keys and rushing into the confinements of her car. It was late and she was exhausted. The ride home was smooth and uneventful for the most part, which Jenna was thankful for. Once home, the young woman carelessly tossed her belongings down, slipped off her murderous heels, and plopped into bed.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The young brunette groaned, her hand tiredly searching for the alarm clock. Her efforts were useless, though, and the noise continued to grow louder.
"Damnit," Jenna's eyes flashed open and she sat up before quickly grasping the contraption that was causing all the racket. Six thirty in the morning. "God help me," Jenna muttered to herself as a low yawn passed through her lips. Hitting the 'off' button on her alarm clock, she set the machine back down on her night stand before raising her hands above her head. Arching her back this way and that, she grunted in satisfaction as her spinal cord popped into place.
"Well, time to get ready." Throwing the sheets off of her, Jenna quickly dashed to the bathroom before the cool air could nip at her skin. Her shower was quick and her transition into her work clothes was even quicker. The young woman couldn't afford to waste a minute considering her meeting with the Commissioner was scheduled for eight o'clock sharp. If she was late she knew she would risk the chance of being fired. Jenna looked over herself one last time in the mirror. The glance was only a moment, her concern lying on other things rather than her appearance.
Grasping her keys as she rushed out the door, the young heiress was hurried in her movements as she started her car. It would take her a good half an hour or so to get to the Narrows; that would give her just enough time. Starting her car, Jenna quickly pulled onto the street, her foot barely leaving the gas pedal.
For the first twenty minutes the roads were, for the most part, abandoned which Jenna was pleasantly surprised to see. If this kept up she would be able to reach the Narrows even sooner than she predicted. A smile crept onto her features as her hand flicked the switch to the radio.
The smile that had adorned her pink lips fell within the next five minutes. Anxious molars chewed at the flesh that occupied the inside area of Jenna's cheeks. It was bumper to bumper traffic into the Narrows. "This is just my luck," Jenna muttered to herself, her hand punching the horn to her car as a truck tried to cut in front of her.
For the next thirty minutes Jenna was stuck in the headache inducing traffic with nothing but the radio to keep her company and the thoughts of possibly getting fired to entertain her psyche. As her car neared the end of the bridge, Jenna was thankful to find that the traffic congestion was thinning out. As soon as she was able, the young woman practically floored it as she made her way down the street towards the building where she was to meet the Commissioner. Pulling up to the curb, Jenna quickly parked her car before sliding out and locking the automobile.
Eight forty-five. Jenna was late; considerably late.
The young brunette groaned as she made her way down the street towards the police station.
"Look! Over there!"
"What happened? Is that man dead?"
"Move it! I need to get a better view; I'm a reporter!"
Jenna looked up, her eyes meeting the site of a mob of civilians all crowded around some sort of scene. The commotion, Jenna found, was located just past the police station. Her curiosity sparked and eventually got the best of her as the young heiress made her way towards the crowd. Searching the crowd as she neared, keen eyes found the site of a few police men trying to evade the crowd.
"Excuse me!" Jenna strolled up to the officers, a small smile adorning her lips. She had learned at an early age that flattery was always the best way to get what you want. "Could either of you tell me where I might find Commissioner Gordon?"
Her eyes searched the policeman who spoke up first. He was shorter than the other, middle aged with many wrinkles forming around his face and sliding their way around his deep set eyes. "He's over there," His stubby finger pointed towards the center of the crowd. "Who are you?"
"I'm Jenna Van der Pol and I work for the Gotham City Drug Control and Investigations Office. I have a meeting with the Commissioner." Jenna stood a bit straighter fixing the folders in her arms, which she had managed to grab from her car before she had exited the vehicle.
The policeman squinted his eyes, looking her over as if trying to find out if she was telling him the truth or not. Jenna's gaze did not falter, though, and he finally nodded before saying, "Alright, come with me. I'll lead you through this mess."
Grabbing her arm, the man quickly made his way through the crowd, pulling the young girl with him. The journey through the crowd was brutal as Jenna felt her body run and bump into person after person and she was thankful when she finally broke through the mob. Her eyes caught sight of a few more policemen standing around in a circle. Jenna eyed each one, her gaze staying on a middle-aged man wearing thick-rimmed glasses with a moustache adorning his top lip. His face was grim and his eyes downcast. His face showed experience and Jenna quickly assumed he was Commissioner Gordon.
"Commissioner," The mustached man glanced towards the police officer who had addressed him. "This girl says she has a meeting with you. She's from the G.C.D.C.I."
Jenna watched as the Commissioner's eyes found their way to her. He glanced over her features for a moment before nodding. "Thank you for delivering her to me, Officer."
Pulling her arm from the policeman's grasp, Jenna thanked the man before making her way towards the Commissioner. "Good morning, sir." Her tone was pleasant as she offered the man a small smile and an outstretched hand.
Her smile faltered, though, as she noticed that Gordon's eyes weren't focused on her any longer. Her hand fell back to her side as stared at the troubled man.
"Is it a good morning?" Her eyebrows furrowed and she followed the Commissioner's stare towards the site of a male body sprawled across the sidewalk.
Jenna's hand quickly flew to her mouth, her eyes scanning over the pale blue corpse. The man was obviously dead. "Who did this?" The young woman asked, her voice almost completely muffled by her hand.
She saw Gordon shrug out of the corner of her eye, his expression turning to her. "You're here about the Falcone gang, right?" She nodded briskly. "Come with me."
She pursed her lips as she watched the man make his way towards the police station; she quickly followed behind him. Shocked eyes widened, though, as Jenna watched the Commissioner suddenly turn into an alley that occupied the space between the police station and an abandoned building. Shrugging, she decided to follow him into the dark alley; she had orders after all.
Once inside the shadows of the alley, Gordon turned towards the young heiress. The grim look that had occupied his features before had not left its residence.
"I have reason to believe this murder is linked to the Falcone gang." Jenna's eyebrows furrowed and she shuffled the folders in her arms.
"Why do you believe that, sir?" She wanted to know the details before agreeing with the man, Commissioner or not.
"He's been in prison a few times for small felonies. A couple of those times he shared cells with the main Falcone family. We never suspected him of ever converting to their gang, but there's no other explanation to his murder. He must have joined and then realized it was too much and when he wanted out, they killed him." He shrugged. "It is what most gangs do after all."
Jenna kept silent for a moment. "The Falcone family is known for their drug enterprise, correct?"
The Commissioner nodded, his arms crossing over his chest. "Well, then maybe he did join the gang, but I don't think he wanted out. What do all mob members want? Money, right? He must have realized how much money he could make selling the Falcone drugs and so he probably snatched a stash from the family and tried to sell it for his own profit."
"That sounds reasonable," The Commission nodded, wrinkles of thought slowly appearing on his forehead.
"I have some folders here that pertain to the Falcone gang's drug dealings. They could be of some assistance," Jenna shuffled the folders that occupied her arms once more.
"We won't need folders to prove it was the Falcone family," Jenna went rigid. It was a new voice that had spoken the statement; a deep, raspy voice that made the young woman's spine tingle in fear. Her eyes watched as Gordon's gaze flew past her. The stranger was behind her. Jenna was frozen for a moment, afraid to turn around and reveal the identity of the stranger. Finally, curiosity got the best of her and the young woman slowly turned on her heels.
Her eyes widened at the sight she was met with. Standing just beyond the shadows was a tall man dressed as a bat.
Author's Note: Constructive criticism is welcome!
