To explain the sudden surge of emotions going through my body at that very moment would take an entire damn Poe novel complete with footnotes. However, for the sake of my telling you, I'll try.

At first, the only thing I can say is the immediate over-whelming feeling of bitter cold. The tips of my fingers twitched in a near frost-bitten agony as my brain buzzed back and forth between white noise and screams of revenge. My eyes were trained on something very, very far away despite still being in an over-crowded tiny office with my fellow police officers.

"And what if you couldn't find better cops?"

It was like it was the first riddle The Riddler had ever given me. And it damn near haunted me every day. I'd never been given the chance to go after him, he's mostly been in arkham since my graduation from the academy… But now…

What if you couldn't find better cops?

My mother crying into a hankerchief after a tough day of questioning by the past officers of the GCPD. The news article saying Mr. Nashton was found guilty and put into prison. Then the following one reporting his escape and rename into "The Riddler". His descent to madness and his home-making in Arkham Asylum.

I'd be the better cop.

This was my chance.

"'Ey. Newbie." I hadn't realized how much I'd lost myself in my train of thought as Detective Bullock litterally knocked on my forehead with his knuckles. "You okay in there?"

"What?" I was still in his office. Everyone else had gone… Yet there we were.

"Oh.. Right. Yeah. I'm alright…"

"You're the new girl, right? Cunney?"
"It's Cunnings, actually." I corrected lightly, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "Officer Cunnings."

"Right right. Well you wanna ride with me? My partner is over on the island and well… Better two heads than one, right?"

Ugh.

Thoughts of sweet revenge and trumpets of glory faded from my head immediately as I realized I'd be stuck with none-other that Detective Bullock the rest of the night.

"Uhm… sure." How do you even say no to that? One on hand it's a great chance. A newbie riding with a well established detective? Get the hell out of town! However -this- detective?

Lord, gag me with a spoon.

"Alright. We got Center Street, everyone else has spread out to try and search high'n'low. Maybe we'll get a lead on the bombs near the sewers. I mean, Joker's not very imaginative with the placement of his explosions, in my opinion." He was already walking out the door without another glance my direction. I didn't have a chance to grab my police jacket, not that it mattered, being a warm enough summer night.

Outside, a clear sky loomed above us, unbeknownst to the danger that was below it. I glanced at the very few stars as Bullock lead me to his vehicle and helped himself into the drivers seat.

"Hey kid, we ain't got all day!"

"Right…" I murmured as I clambered into the passenger side. My mind readied myself for a mind-numbing night of listening to the barked orders of the most pompous detective on our team. However readying quickly turned into thoughts of revenge.

I could find him tonight. He was in this city, not behind the safe walls of Arkham. I could be the one that puts him in cuffs and escorts him back to that dreadful island myself. I felt my fingers twitch in anticipation at the thought. Would anyone look the other way if I gave him a few swift knees to the face?

Oh my god.

Blood left my face in the realization that the thoughts I was having… was the exact reason I -didnt- want to be a cop.

I leaned my forehead on the window to my side, feeling my headache already coming back. Why would I think things like that? Well, it's obvious -why-... Seven years of destroying my happy family life and using my mother as a puppet for who the fuck knows what… It's natrual to want to beat him to a bloody pulp - the want is fine. Actually doing it? No. I wouldn't lower myself to that.

Our drive felt like an eon of myself being lost in my own thoughts, untill finally I realize Bullock had not only parked, but had already gotten out of his side, walked over to mine, and startled me out of my brain by opening my own door.

"You get caught up in your own thoughts a lot, dontcha?" He didn't seem amused.

"Oh… sorry." I said immediately as I rushed out of the car. He just nodded at me and walked toward the entrance of the underground train system. I cocked my head to the side.

"I thought we were checking the sewers?"

"Yeah, changed my mind. Think about it, kid, what would Joker wanna destroy the most?" He stopped at the top of the steps, hands in the pockets of his trench coat, and looked back at me. I stopped mid-stride, and put a finger to my lips.

People?

"He'd wanna kill as many people as possible?" I said slowly. He shook his head annoyedly and started down the stairs.

"Yer a quick one." He quipped. I chased behind him, slowing to his pace once at his side.

"Sorry just… never really dealt with rogues before."

"You apologize a lot. Stop that." He didn't bother looking at me.

"Right."

"Look, kid. Gotham's a dog-eat-dog world. You gotta learn to deal with things like The Bat and the rogues… You may have only seen some simple stuff… but tonight - well tonights kinda your initiation-"

He was interrupted by both of our radios crackling to life.

"We have a code 3 going on, repeat a code 3. Gordan was released from Gotham by the Batman but was seen being brought back into the island by what looked like one of our guys. Requesting nearest officers to stay on stand-by in case we need onto the island-"

"That's a negative, operator, Joker said no one leaves or gets on the island tonight or he'll blow the city sky high" Bullock was quick to take charge without Gordan around, it seemed, as he snapped his orders into the radio. "We keep lookin' for the bombs, anyone near the docks, keep an eye for any dispatchers from the island. If they make the first move, then we'll aid. Until then, do what either Gordan or myself have told you to do."

There was a long silence on the line.

"Yes sir, Mr. Bullock." Finally said the woman, a tense tone of agitation in her voice. I blinked a few times at Bullock, curious as to if he was in the right.

"Are you sure you can do that?" I asked as he approached a thin-looking wall and started knocking on his with the tip of his knuckles.

"Do what?" He questioned, putting an ear against the same wall and knocking once more. I stared at him, almost dumbfounded.

We're looking for the bombs like THIS?!

"Can do order around the entire GCPD like that." I questioned. "You aren't the commissioner…"
"Yeah, but the commissioner isn't here. And someone's gotta run things otherwise you all would be running around with yer heads in yer asses." He didn't bother glancing my direction, he just continued inspecting the wall down the way.
I chewed my lip. The audacity of some guys in this force… No wonder many people weren't fond of him.

Still, if the commissioner wanted him around, and gave him the ability to do this then… Who was I to object?

"Don't we have like, bomb squads and dogs that can sniff these out easier?" I asked again as I walked to the other wall and mimicked what he was doing.

"We do, however they just go lookin' for normal bombs. Knowing Joker his are… different."

A cold rush immediately creeped up my spine.

"Laughing gas?!" I sounded more scared than I should have as I glanced his direction again. Bullock's back remained facing me while he worked.

"Or somethin', yeah."

We worked like that for probably an hour. Occasionally a question would pop in my head, I'd ask it, he'd answer. Some questions would earn a quick glance my direction that could only be read as "are you fucking kidding me?" before Bullock would turn back to his work at hand. I wasn't trying to start a conversation - I was just curious.

Finally, our radios once more crackled to life.

"Code 10 - we found a bomb. Requesting bomb squad immediately." It was enough for Bullock to immediately grab hold of his radio as though it were a life-line and demand

"Where?"

"Below Wayne Enterprises, sir." Said the initial voice.

"10-4, bomb squad on route. ETA is 5 minutes, repeat ETA is 5 minutes." Said the operator, calm and collected.

My feet rooted where I stood. This was real. They found a bomb. Was it going to go off? Should someone tell all the people working in the Wayne Enterprise building? Wouldn't that just cause panic?

"Come on rookie, we're heading to that building." He started walking back toward the entrance, probably a good 15 minute walk without inspecting every nook and cranny.

"Going TO it? But the bomb squad will-"

"Get a move on, rook, or yer gettin left behind!" He called. Biting my lip, I chased after him, despite the cold sweat forming on the back of my neck.

We hadn't even made it to the car when the radio crackled to life again.

"We just receive an anonymous phone call on the location of Edward Nygma, a.k.a. The Riddler. Request for closest team to apprehend the suspect. Abandoned apartment complex on Center Street."

The Riddler.

I didn't even realize I was reacting when before I knew it, my sweating fingers were clasped so hard on my radio I thought it'd break and I was saying-

"Detective Bullock and I are on Center Street right now. Apartment complex is the old Cherryville one? If so, it is in site. Will apprehend suspect on command."

I wasn't looking at Bullock, I wasn't even thinking. I was running toward that apartment complex like it was a lifeline of mine. The Riddler was mine.