Jervis knew Jonathan well enough by now to understand that he required space after any show of friendship, affection or even gratitude. So he spent the next few days finding a new hideout, hiring help, and generally arranging those few essentials he needed in his life. But after a couple of days of industrious activity, he had a respectable retreat and nobody to show it to. He decided it was time to invite the March Hare to tea. A grin spread across his face as it always did when he mentally compared Jonathan to the mad rabbit.
Of course, locating Scarecrow might prove difficult. The Rogues were hardly listed in the phone book. However there were some generally accepted rules. Naturally, they didn't favour suburbia… they all had too much zest for life for that… and each Rogue liked to stick with their own theme. Joker would always be in some comedic venue… Pamela would be somewhere green… and Jonathan would be someplace the timid dared not go.
This all meant that someone with a good understanding of the criminal in question stood a good chance of tracking them down… and that person was usually the Bat. Jervis wondered why then they stuck with this rather obvious routine, though he instinctively knew the answer. Because it was in fact a game, and games always had rules. It was like not using another's modus operandi. It simply wasn't sporting for Riddler say, to hide in a haunted house… though, Jervis frowned, some villains needed reminding of this rule occasionally.
But it also gave an added element of both risk and cunning. Risk because it limited the possible choice of hiding places… cunning because it was all the more thrilling for that when you managed to choose a location that was the last place the Bat would look.
Jervis considered Jonathan's possible choices of hide away. The haunted house in the fairground would be a favourite, along with the supposedly haunted house on the edges of the upper class residential district. However he could also settle for any number of warehouses, or similar derelict sites, simply for convenience. Jervis could take his pick and check them all, but far quicker would be to head into goon territory.
The henchmen were a mystery to most of the Rogues. Ordinary types who, for whatever reason, hired themselves to the criminally insane to take part in schemes they couldn't comprehend. Jervis didn't understand what they hoped to achieve. In the ordinary criminal gangs they might gain prestige, respect and eventually rise to leadership themselves… but what did any of them hope for from the Joker? He wouldn't share any wealth and could just as easily kill them for his own amusement. The only benefit Jervis could see was that if you worked for one Rogue, the others generally left you alone.
To Jervis' mind, they must have been in a miserable existence for that to seem an attractive option and he generally avoided them. For his own help he simply chose from the endless supply of individuals encountered in the streets of Gotham, generally choosing those least likely to be missed. This had the added benefit that he could pick his help according to whatever criteria he currently required. He never advertised and his help were never consciously aware of him at all.
However, he was aware that the others advertised their positions… though how this was done, he had no idea. But when you needed to find someone, you went either to the Penguin, or amongst the goons at the Stacked Deck with your ears open. Since Oswald was currently in Blackgate, that left Jervis with only the goons.
He was somewhat hesitant on entering the sleezy bar… it was hardly his usual type of establishment… but he garnered barely a glance. In fact, he felt almost as though he were invisible. It was an unfamiliar sensation to him now though he had previously been well acquainted with it. As he sat down in a seat by the pool table, he reflected that the sensation was different now. Liberating rather than inhibiting.
He smiled contentedly and watched three of Joker's ruffians as they relaxed. More importantly he listened to them.
"So, who'd win between Ivy and Harley?"
"Ooh, there's a match up I'd like to see," smirked another.
"Ivy. No question."
"Don't underestimate Harley," the second speaker grinned. "I heard the boss say she has quite a bite." They all laughed
"Alright," the first guy grinned again. "What about Ventriloquist and Hat?" Jervis' ears perked up.
"You mean Wesker or Scarface?"
"Or both?"
"Both," clarified the first.
"Then Ventriloquist. If it were just Arnie then Tetch could take him but with Scarface…"
"What about if 'Crow were there?" the third suggested.
"Nah!" the second waved this aside. "Ain't you heard? 'Crow's changing tactics."
"Yeah," the first echoed. "He's moving on up. Heard tell he's mingling with some upper class business guy. Staying in a penthouse suite and everything. Up in Gotham Heights." He gave a sing-song tune to this last bit.
Jervis got up with a frown and stalked out.
Well, really! If he'd ever thought about hiring henchmen, this little insight would have changed his mind. He stormed out of the dock area and headed towards Gotham Heights. They'd really been quite rude.
As he walked, he began to calm down. What could one really expect from a mere pack of cards after all? They knew nothing about him, or Jonathan… though they had at least provided him with a location. Albeit not a very precise one but he was confident a few well placed questions would narrow down his search. A new resident in such a desirable residency always caused talk.
His mind turned to this new development. What would Jonathan be doing in such a public location? It didn't fit his usual profile at all. Though Jervis had no doubt Jonathan would fit in well… he was quite excellently educated… yet in all their conversations Jonathan had always expressed disdain for the pampered rich socialites. They had no drive, no interest in learning.
Still, he thought with a smile, Jonathan could tell him all about it. Preferably over a nice cup of tea.