A/N: Hey folks! I know it's been a very long time since I last posted but I've been busy looking for jobs as well as visiting Key West! We loved it there so much we're talking about buying a house there! So we've been visiting and looking for places.

But I finally have something here for you!

Gotham's White Knights

A few hours after confirming my Saturday date with Bruce, Annette informed me that I had two unscheduled visitors.

"They say their names are Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes. They have some questions for you about Mr. Lau." She explained.

I had heard the names before in passing but never paid much attention to the crime fighting district attorneys. "Did you explain to them that they needed an appointment?" I asked, rubbing my forehead.

"I did but he said they were going to sit right there until you agreed to see them." Annette said, her voice tinged with a hint of admiration. "Honestly, Your Highness, I think they might be useful allies on your side. Especially regarding the municipality."

I thought for a moment. Annette's advice had been sound on more than one occasion and I could use some more information on Lau. Plus, I did admire the tenacious. With a smile on my face and with one last massage of my forehead, I looked at Annette. "Please send them in."

Annette left and let them in.

Both the district attorneys stood tall and proud, walking in as if they wore crowns on their heads and carrying a pair of briefcases with as much care as a scepter. Harvey's blond hair and angular face reminded me of an old carving of the proud Knights Templar that Papa had in his library. Rachel was no classic beauty, but the smile on her face was pleasing and her eyes full with a warm light that put me at ease.

To their surprise, I stood up and offered my hand. "Mr. Dent and Ms. Dawes?" I asked. "Or is it Councilmen? I can never get it right."

Harvey's eyebrows arched and Rachel's eyes widened before they each took turns shaking my hand. "Harvey and Rachel will do fine." Rachel said. "I suppose you go by Your Highness?"

"Only on formal occasions. But since you introduced yourselves as friends, I insist on being called Grace." I said, gesturing to the chairs before my desk. "Can I interest you in something to drink? Some water?"

"Water will be fine, thank you." Harvey said, his voice soft as butter. I made the call to Annette and the water prepared.

"I understand you have some questions about my accountant. Questions that warranted you meeting with me without an appointment." I said, not wasting time on niceties.

"Yes, Grace. First off, I want to extend my sympathies about your father and your home. I understand he was a good man." Harvey said as Rachel took something out of her briefcase.

"Thank you." I said, my smile not reaching my eyes. "He was a good man. His passing and the loss of our home has made things…difficult, to say the last."

"Understandable." Harvey said. "Since I believe in getting to the point, we have reason to believe that Mr. Lau is involved with the mob as their personal banker."

"That reason being…?" I asked, Lau's dark eyes flashing in my mind.

"Look at his accounts." Rachel said, passing a spreadsheet to me. "These are his profit report from the past several months."

I compared the reports …and spotted the problems. "Perfect raises and no significant loses." I said, passing the spreadsheets back to Rachel. "It's suspicious for sure. But what makes you think that the Gotham mob is involved? Lau Securities is a Chinese company, out of the United States' jurisdiction."

Harvey leaned forward. "You understand the value of discretion?"

My heart skipped a beat. "I can't answer that until I know what exactly needs discretion, Mr. Dent."

Harvey looked at Rachel. When she nodded in response, they looked at me again. "We've been conducting an investigation into the Falcone Crime Family since the gas attack last year and are preparing to close in."

"And you're telling me this for this because…?" I asked, my heart quickening.

"We think he's been using your mission to create an enclave as a front. All the land you're looking at purchasing? It's owned by Salvatore Maroni, the new head of the Falcone Family." Dent said.

I got the hint. "And I would be the washerwoman." I said, my distrust for Lau turning into disgust. But then I spotted another problem. "If I tell him the deal's off, he'll go back to Hong Kong and you'll be high and dry. What do you want me to do?"

"We need you to keep the deal going but stall him for as long as possible." Rachel said.

"If you do this, we will help you establish that enclave you need for the refugees." Harvey said. "I'll admit it's out of my field but I'm willing to learn the laws and help you."

I bit my lower lip in concentration. The offer was too tempting…but could I really lie and bluff my way through something like this? And what would happen to me if my people found out I was knowingly working with an embezzler?

My eyes landed on the picture of Papa and me on the boat. His smiling eyes hid so much from us, especially in the final days of the war.

I had to be my father's daughter now. The people of Corte Maltese needed me.

I met Harvey and Rachel's eyes. "I'll do what I can to help."

After Harvey and Rachel left, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the silver Pelican Emblem on the wall. The bird was biting its bared breast, revealing a large red ruby.

The pelican was chosen because of a medieval belief that the pelican would feed her own blood to her young in times of famine. So too would the leaders of Corte Maltese.

My father fulfilled this lesson.

Would I be able to do the same?

A chime from my phone distracted me, I looked at it to see a missed message from Bruce.

Is it okay if we change Saturday's date? I had something come up at W.E.

If anyone would know, it'd be him.

Yeah, I'm fine with it. Weird question; what do you know about Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes?