Chapter 6
"What the hell do you want?" Harvey asked, his face serious as he stared at Sal Maroni who maintained calm and collected, staring back at Harvey Dent, the district attorney and candidate for Mayor as if nothing was wrong.
"Is that anyway to talk to a stranger Mr. Dent?" Sal Maroni asked with a smirk. He tapped on the window, signaling the driver to begin driving, which he did.
"I know who you are Maroni. You're one of the biggest crime bosses in the city. I don't care though. I'm not going to be intimidated by you." Harvey said, his anger clearly showing, his face contorted as he leaned forward in his seat.
"Woah woah woah. Now is not the time to be throwing around accusations. Calling me one of the biggest crime bosses in Gotham… that's a very big accusation. Do you have the proof to back up that statement? If so, I'd like to see it." Sal said, putting one leg over the other as he leaned back on the seat.
"Just tell me what you want then leave me the hell alone." Harvey said, clearly frustrated that he was trumped by Maroni at the time. Everyone knew Sal Maroni was a crime boss, but no one ever caught him at the right time. He seemed to have a knack for avoiding every time he could be incriminated. His nickname was "The Boss" and he truly did earn it, but Harvey despised him since it was one of the few men he could never put behind bars.
"Look Harvey, I'm gonna make this nice and simple since you clearly have some sorta problem with me. There are things that go on in this city that you may not be able to handle. Those things might involve you winning the job of Mayor. I'm only asking that you reconsider your campaign. Just for your own good. Wouldn't want you to work yourself to death." Sal said with a smirk, knocking on the window again, signaling the driver to stop.
"I don't take too kindly to threats Maroni. You better leave me the hell alone after this. Or else it won't end up good for you." Harvey said as Sal got out of the small limo, outside of one of the many nightclubs that he owned.
"Everything ends up good for me Harvey. Everything." Sal said, closing the door on a furious Harvey Dent. When Harvey was alone, he clenched the fists, trying his best to remain calm, the stress of the press and political figures starting to get to him.
Roman Sionis entered the Sionis family crypt in the Gotham cemetery, holding the Black Mask mask in his hand. His remaining men were already there, waiting for him, but they were all staring at the ground. No one would look at him when his mask was off, since that wasn't apart of their customs. They always wore masks when at meetings or taking part in their heinous acts.
"God dammit!" Roman shouted, slamming his fist against the wall of the crypt. He put his mask and turned around, watching as his few dozen men looked up at him.
"We knew Batman wasn't go to be there. We knew he would show up. But what the hell was that?! We could've taken out Falcone and Batman right in the same night! Did you all fall into the fear trap that was laid out for you?!"
"No Black Mask." they said in unison. Black Mask just laughed, his ebony mask already having a large sinister smile permanently there.
"You are all going to makeup for tonight's mistake. But! We will make up for it in a different way. Falcone will be expecting us. Batman will wait for us to slip up. So we go after someone who won't see it coming, someone Batman won't expect." Black Mask said, smiling under the mask now. "Dismissed." he simply said, watching his False Face Society disperse from the crypt.
Carmine Falcone stepped into the office of his penthouse, putting a cigar in his mouth as he sat down behind his desk. Waiting for him in his office was one of the other crime bosses in Gotham, Rupert Thorne. Throne was a small chubby man who was bald, but always managed to dress in a suit. Falcone had started an alliance with Thorne, knowing it would help him expand his territory in Gotham.
"Glad to see you're alive Falcone." Rupert Thorne said. Falcone nodded his head, taking a puff of the cigar.
"Glad to be alive Thorne. What do you need?" he asked, clearly not in the mood to be bothered after recently escaping a shootout.
"Just wanted to make sure about a few things." Thorne said. "Like what we are gonna do about the Mayor situation."
"The Mayor situation. What situation?" Falcone asked, looking up at what is basically his right hand man. "Is Hill acting out? Does he want out?"
"No no. But it's looking less and less likely that he'll win. With Dent as the new mayor, we won't have a hand in the city." Thorne said, causing Falcone to chuckle. "What?"
"First off, everybody has their price. Dent can be bought, we just need to be there first before Maroni or this Black Mask." Falcone said, leaning forward, putting his arms on the desk. "But if Hill does lose, we need to be ready to make accidents happen." Thorne looked nervous, clearly not okay with killing the current mayor.
"Are you sure?" Thorne asked.
"He won't be useful to us. Dead weight on the team." Falcone said, waving his hand as he leaned back and turned around in his chair, looking into the fireplace behind him. Thorne stood up, walking to the door about to leave. "Thorne, don't ever question me again." Falcone said as Throne left.
James Gordon walked through the GCPD with a cup of coffee in his hand and a serious look on his face, which was nothing new. No one has ever really seen him smile while on the job or even outside of work. He walked by the desk of one of his coworkers who stuck their arm out and grabbed his, causing him to stop walking. She had bright red hair and bright green eyes, and a smile that could light up anyone's day.
"Miss Essen." Gordon said, taking a sip of his coffee. Sarah Essen flashed a smile at the police Lieutenant.
"Jim, call me Sarah." she said with a small laugh. "Are we still on for dinner tonight?"
"Of course." Gordon said, a small smirk on his face. He nodded his head and continued walking as Sarah smiled to herself.
"Hey look at you go Jimbo." Arnold Flass said, sitting at a desk a good distance away from Sarah so that she wouldn't he hear. Arnold also had red hair that was darker than Sarah's and slicked back. He had red stubble and was known as the jerk of the department.
"Shut your mouth Flass." Gordon said, sitting across from one of his partners. Arnold just smirked and leaned forward.
"Sorry Jimmy. I'm just happy to see you getting into the game after the divorce. You deserve to have a woman to put your arm around. All guys do. I was worried you had quit on the romantic life. I mean how old are ya? 28?" Arnold said.
"26." Gordon said quietly, clearly annoyed by Arnold. Arnold shrugged and smirked again.
"Close enough right?" he said with an obnoxious laugh. Gordon just sighed, looking through the files on his desk when one of his other partners, Renee Montoya came up behind him and tapped his shoulder.
"Hey Montoya, what do you need?" Gordon said.
"Commissioner wanted to see you." Montoya said. Gordon nodded his head and stood up, walking into the Commissioner's office. Commissioner Gillian Leob was sitting at his desk, brush his gray hair back. He picked up his glasses and put them on, looking up at Gordon.
"Ah Jim. Sit. Sit." he said, standing and sticking his hand out at a chair. Gordon took a seat in front of the Commissioner who sat back down behind his desk. "Look Jim we need to talk."
"About what sir?" Gordon asked gruffly. He was never a fan of his boss, since he seemed to have no backbone. He clearly went after the smaller cases instead of going after the bigger names that had a hand in causing no good in the city.
"I've been hearing that you are looking into the Falcone family? Don't get messed up with them Jim, it can be dangerous for you." the Commissioner said.
"How did you hear that?" Gordon asked.
"It doesn't matter. But you listen to me Jim, stay off their case. It's for your own good. I want you to focus on these masked freaks in the city instead. Batman and the Black Mask." the Commissioner said.
"But Leob, the Falcone family has been harming this city for years!" Gordon said, angered but his idiotic boss.
"Jim, you will obey my orders or find yourself off the force. Am I clear?" Leob said standing up. Gordon stood up too, staring down the Commissioner before sighing.
"Clear." he quietly said, turning and walking out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Everyone in the department had heard Gordon raise his voice and was staring at him. "What the hell is everyone doing?! Back to work!" he ordered.
"That didn't sound too good." Renee Montoya said walking by him. Gordon shook his head and looked over at his desk where he had the files about the Falcone family. He knew that it was either Montoya or Flass that gave him up, and he was going to find a way to dig the information out of either one.
Gotham had gone quiet for the next few days following the big shoot out. Police had stopped a few robbery attempts, with Batman adding in a few muggers to the mix. Other than that it seemed the crime families were licking their wounds until they were ready to strike again.
Bruce was sitting in his home office with Thomas and Oswald. The three were discussing a way to help raise the votes for Harvey. Oswald had been out on the streets, talking to anyone he could about how Harvey would be an upgrade for Mayor. Thomas had been talking with all of the higher class voters, most of them staying on Hill's side but he was able to persuade a few.
"Maybe Brucie here can throw a banquet or something for the soon to be Mayor." Oswald said, leaning back on the couch that he was sitting on. Alfred walked through the door carrying a tray of drinks.
"A banquet is a good idea Master Cobblepot." Alfred said setting the tray down on a coffee table. "Pardon me for interrupting Master Bruce. I was only bring some refreshers."
"It's no problem Alfred. Why do you think a banquet would be a good idea?" Bruce asked, taking one of the drinks and taking a sip.
"The publicity it would get would be good exposure for him. Bruce Wayne backing Harvey Dent. The starpower is there." Alfred said before bowing. "That's all I have to say Master Bruce." he said before walking out of the office.
"He's got a good point Brucie. Get all those stuck up rich snobs in this place and tell them why Harvey would be good for the city." Oswald said. Bruce and Thomas both looked at Oswald.
"Stuck up?" Thomas asked.
"Rich snobs?" Bruce followed.
"Sorry boys. Didn't mean you two. All the other rich people in the city though, they're those things." Oswald said with a smirk.
"Right." Bruce said, smirking himself and rolling his eyes.
"I could endorse the banquet." Thomas said loud enough for both to hear, but Oswald talked over him.
"Trust me Brucie, you want this Dent guy to win right? Host a banquet for him." Oswald said. Thomas looked at Oswald.
"I'll look into it." Bruce said as the phone in his office rang. He picked it up and said, "Yeah Alfred?"
"There is a Miss Vale here to see you and your friends." Alfred said over the phone. Bruce looked over at the two who were just standing up. He stood up with them and the three made their way out of the office and downstairs to the Wayne Manor front door. There they saw Alfred standing at the door, holding it open as Vicki Vale stood in the doorway.
"Bruce Wayne, Thomas Elliot, and Oswald Cobblepot. You three were Gotham's star children back in the day." Vicki said with a smile. The three smiled upon hearing that but then she continued. "Now you're caught slumming it in bars Cobblepot, Elliot's businesses are down, and well… Wayne is the last left standing." Vicki Vale said.
Oswald grew serious and Thomas looked seriously hurt. Bruce looked over at the other two and saw how they reacted.
"I think I'll let you speak to the last star child by himself then." Oswald said, walking out the front door and brushing by Vicki.
"I'll catch you later too Bruce." Thomas said, walking by her as well. Vicki looked back at the two as they walked away, then looked back at Bruce. She shrugged and gave a nervous smile.
"Something I said?" she asked. Bruce just sighed and nodded at Alfred. He began to walk away as Vicki took a step inside Wayne Manor and looked around.
"How can I help you Miss Vale?" Bruce asked, not moving, which was a clear sign that he wasn't going to let Vicki farther into his home. However, she began to walk around while looking all over.
"Call me Vicki." she said. "I just wanted to ask you about Harvey Dent. Rumor has it you are backing him and not Mayor Hill."
"Well-" Bruce was about to explain before Alfred came back into the main room of the Manor and whispered into Bruce's ear.
"Lucius called and reported masked men at Wayne Enterprises." he whispered. Bruce looked at Vicki and sighed.
"Miss V- Vicki. I'm sorry but something has come up. But, I will be having a banquet soon for Harvey, so you are invited to that. Expect your invitation in the mall. Alfred here will walk you out.
Vicki was baffled as Alfred escorted her to the door and Bruce made his way towards his office and then down into the batcave.