Nico Kramer looked behind him but found only dark empty alley. He walked as silent as possible to the door which only opened from the inside. He knocked, three short raps, and the door swung open. An incredibly large man stared down at Nico, "He's waiting." were the only words he uttered and they were a monotone that chilled Nico. He let Nico pass, and Nico moved quickly down the hall. The office at the end of the corridor was sumptuous. Red silk cloth covered the walls, and the desk was pure rich mahogany. There was a black leather couch in the corner, and two women clad only in underwear were lying on it. They looked to have passed out, but were incredibly still. Nico found himself facing the person sitting at the desk smoking an expensive cigar.

"Sit Nico." The voice was as soft as velvet, but Nico knew that was a deception. "I understand there was a small snag in our agreement."

Nico could only nod. He didn't know what to say, and he knew if he said the wrong thing it would be the last thing he said. He noticed the large man from the door had followed him into the room.

"Billy, my play things have outlived their use." the voice chuckled as Billy picked the women put around their waists, one under each arm, and carried them from the room. "I just can't seem to stop breaking my toys. Now, where were we." The figure inhaled the sweet smoke from the cigar and blew it out. Nico was mesmerized by the smoke curling into the air above his head. "Our agreement. The arrangement that I agreed to Nico, was that Bruce Wayne would be dead now. According to the news today though, Mr. Wayne is very much alive. Can you tell me why that is Nico?"

"Greco, hmmm, Greco messed up. Somehow he walked into something bad."

"Yes, so the papers said. But not Batman. Isn't it bad enough we have to deal with that circus freak, now we get to add another name to the hat." The voice didn't change, but Nico could tell the person was extremely angry, and he shifted nervously in his chair. "Now, Nico. No worries. It would be foolish of me to kill you at this point. Not when you can still be so useful to me. So useful with the Hughes situation. So useful with Wayne. You aren't the only one who's let me down."

Nico relaxed, but only slightly. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet Nico. I want Wayne dead. I want Wayne dead before the next forty eight hours are up. Make it happen." the voice whispered with menace.

Nico left the office quickly, practically sprinting down the corridor and back out into the alley. He heard the velvety whisper of laughter following him until he was back in his car, and on his way to his warehouse. He got into the warehouse and screamed in frustration. Rage boiled over and he hurled his keys against the wall.

"Ain't no use beatin up the wall boss." the raspy voice came from the darkened corner.

"When did you get out?" Nico asked the figure angrily.

"They had nothing on me. The cops had to let me go." The man known by the name of Norman Greco came out of the dark. His swollen eye was just starting to heal, and the cut on his lip was just a scab.

"What the hell happened to you Greco? You're supposed to be the best there is?"

"I AM the best there is. I don't know what the hell hit me. One minute I'm setting up to take my shot at Wayne when he comes out, the next something dark drops in front of me. Cept it ain't Batman, not unless Batman has lots of curves."

"A woman?" Nico said turning to look at the man through narrowed eyes.

"Oh yeah, it was a woman. Told me she knew why I was there, and she couldn't let me continue with what I'd been charged to do. Then she leans in close, like she's gonna kiss me or sometin, and I get this terrible pain in my head. Then she kicks me in the head, some type of martial arts or sometin, Hits me on the back of the neck, and as I'm going under she handcuffs my wrists. The last think I hear was her say the seer, or sometin like that. Next thing I know, I wake up on the friggin street and there are cops surroundin me."

"well, you'd better do something." Nico hissed. "Your job is to kill Bruce Wayne, and now we only have forty eight hours to get it done."

"Yeah, keep yer panties on. I'll get him killed. Tomorrow. By tomorrow night, he'll be dead, and I'll be paid." The man cracked his knuckles and left the way he'd come in.

Nico dropped down onto the faded chintz couch and looked at the coffee table that was overflowing with used coffee cups, and cigarette butts. "God Damn It!" he screamed and lifting the table hurled it across the room.