Chapter 4: Bruce and Harvey
"If you want to go sleuthing and get yourself into trouble Rachel, go ahead. But I'm late for a meeting at Wayne Towers with the head honcho himself," Harvey Dent told Rachel Dawes as he collected his things and headed out to the elevator.
"Alright, I get it Harvey. And Bruce isn't exactly what you'd call a 'head honcho' at least the way he runs Wayne Enterprises. He's more of a laid back boss really, and he never does any of the firing; lets others do it."
"Rachel," Harvey sighed, "with all of your knowledge and connections and perseverance, its an amazement you're not a more prominent attorney."
Rachel smiled, "Thanks, but I do just fine for myself." She finished just as the elevator door closed.
Harvey's attempt to not be late turned out better than he could have anticipated. He had arrived early to the meeting and only Bruce was in there. He sat at the top of the long, oval table with his elbows resting neatly on it and his hands clenched together softly touching his lips.
He looked up at hearing Harvey enter, "Ah, the famous Harvey Dent!" Bruce stood up.
Harvey said hello with a slight nod and shook Bruce's hand. It was a firmer grip then he had expected.
"How are things at the D.A's office?" Bruce asked, starting up a conversation.
Harvey shrugged his shoulders, "Well same as always I guess. So how are things running Wayne Enterprises?"
"I wouldn't know," Bruce admitted, "I'm only here for the board meetings. Lucius is the one that runs the company. I gave him that job."
"Oh," was all Harvey could answer. He made a mental note to ask Rachel why she hadn't told him this. Most likely, he thought, so she could embarrass me in front of her best friend. It wouldn't have been the first time that Harvey was the butt of a seemingly harmless joke between Bruce and Rachel.
"Listen," Bruce said, grabbing Harvey's attention, "we have about five minutes before the meeting starts. Do you want to go get a drink by any chance?"
Harvey smiled, "Sure Bruce." They walked out of the room, leaving their coats to mark that they had been there, and Harvey was talking the whole way out, "You know Rachel is so obsessed with this 'Joker' character. It's almost as if she thinks she's saving Gotham. Weird huh?"
I wonder what new info she has that I don't, Bruce thought to himself. He held his interest in check, "H-has she gotten any new info?"
Harvey sighed, "Well she says she does, but with Rachel, new info could mean even the smallest bit."
"Yeah, I know," Bruce admitted, "but she didn't get anything new?"
Harvey shot Bruce a quizzical look, "Why're you so interested?"
Rather than argue that he didn't, he reasoned with Harvey, "The guy has been shooting people left and right and well you know how I feel about murderers." He gave Harvey a look that pretty much meant 'let's keep it at that.'
They went down to the lobby and into the café there. "So how's business?" Harvey asked, "I mean from your perspective."
Bruce shrugged, "Ah well just as good as its always been I guess. Well how about your business?"
"Rachel is really the one bringing in the cash, I'm just there to help. But let me tell you, I will do anything to help bring down that Joker fellow. Anything." Bruce looked at him, "I know, I know, it doesn't seem like it, but I have just been in a rut lately. But I will stop at nothing to bring this crazed psycho behind bars."
Bruce smiled, "Right. So then what'd you think about Batman?"
Harvey seemed surprised by the question, "That guy's just trying to help in my opinion. Leave him alone. I don't know how many judges have actually agreed with me on this, but the commissioner still wants to pursue him. It's insane!"
"Tell me about it," Bruce agreed, "but like I've always said, the guy most likely has issues. But his heart's in the right place. No doubt."
Harvey smirked, "Yeah… no doubt."