Papers went flying as Alex hurriedly tried to make her living room look presentable. With a curse under her breath, Alex tucked the papers underneath her arm and tossed everything inside the closet. Oswald watched her panic with a look of worry. Mr. Bruce Wayne had indeed gotten her letter, and instead of sending a reply, he had decided to show up the very next day. No doubt he was trying to catch her off-guard.
"I could always ask him to show up another day," Oswald said hesitantly as though worried about her state of mind.
"No! I mean… no. Sorry… if I can get this over with sooner than later… that'd be better," she said quickly, looking around the room to make sure it looked presentable at the very least. "Okay… I'm ready… or at least as ready as I'll ever be."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay in the room? I don't feel right… just leaving you in here with him."
"I'll be fine. I doubt anyone's stupid enough to try to hurt me on Falcone's property."
Oswald looked unsure but answered the door as soon as he heard the knock. Alex tried her best to not look winded as Bruce entered the room. After exchanging a look with Oswald, he reluctantly left the room. Alex watched Bruce as he looked around the room. Anyone else would probably assume that he was admiring the furniture, but she could see the wheels turning in his head. Finally, he turned his attention back to her vgwith a glib smile. His hand briefly paused in his pocket before he greeted her.
"So… shall we continue with our discussion?"
Alex eyed his pocket and asked suspiciously, "Did you just turn on some kind of audio jammer?"
Bruce froze. His calm, cheerful façade turned into a calculating glare, so she quickly continued, "Because that's a relief if you did. I didn't really think of that… not that you gave me much time to think. Not that I'm blaming you or anything… I would probably do something similar if some random woman told me that she knew that I am, or know, a vigilante."
Akex stopped rambling as Bruce's expression shifted to amusement. His body relaxed, and he said, "Which you have no proof that I am."
"No… not really. But… I'm guessing that your company still has a record of a lot of your… 'tools'. If someone looked hard enough at you, then they could figure it out."
"Is that what you did?"
"No… I got my information from someone else… to help me once I got out," Alex explained quickly, silently wishing that she'd had more time to think of a better excuse.
"And what is this person planning on using the information for?"
"Nothing… she's dead," Alex replied sorrowfully. It wasn't exactly a lie… the life she'd lived before the asylum was gone. She couldn't chance telling him the truth and having him believe that she actually was crazy. Alex needed him on her side… She needed the Batman on her side.
"And what gives you the confidence that I won't hurt you right now?" Bruce said, turning to her with a dark look. "That I won't find a way to silence you?"
"Because… you're not fighting criminals just to punish them. You're doing it to protect people. You're fighting mobsters and worse without a gun… Because you don't want them dead. You want them caught. That's why I want you to help me."
Bruce gestured to the apartment around them and replied, "It looks to me like Falcone is helping you. Why do you need me?"
"Because I don't want to live trapped like a bird in a cage. Because something's wrong with Arkham Asylum, but I can't do anything about it. And Falcone… might even be in on it. I know you think I'm suspicious because I'm relying on Falcone, but what else could I do?! I woke up one day trapped in an asylum with no memory of who I was or what had happened. I've been bullied, choked, and even stabbed… Falcone offered me the one thing I haven't had since I woke up: safety. I'm sorry if that seems weak to you, but I'm doing the best I can in a place I don't know… What's the worst that can happen if you listen to me? If nothing's wrong, then I'm just paranoid, and you can just ignore me."
Bruce sighed and walked a little closer. "What makes you think that something is going on there?"
"Laura Thorne."
"The niece of the man who harassed you? Didn't she commit suicide?"
"I don't believe that. Laura was… headstrong. She was intent on making my life hell and getting whatever reward that my brother promised her. It doesn't make any sense for her to kill herself."
Bruce looked at her thoughtfully and seemed to be thinking it over.
"I'll be going there in a few days to visit one of my friends there. I can try to see if anyone there knows anything more about it."
Bruce shook his head slowly and said, "No… I should go there myself. You know Dr. Crane, right?"
Alex couldn't help but freeze at Bruce's question. "I do… Do you need me to distract him while you look around?"
Bruce's eyes widened in surprise, and he answered, "If you could, that would be helpful… I thought that you two were… friendly. He helped you get out of the asylum, so why are you offering to help me?"
"If he hasn't done anything wrong, then he has nothing to fear, right?" Alex asked and gave him a pleading look. "I hope that he's not doing anything… illegal. But… I need Laura's family to know the truth."
"So they'll stop harassing you?"
"I know my motives are sketchy! But… I have a feeling that this might be bigger than just the Thorne family. And if mob bosses are getting attacked, that could be bad for anyone around them."
Bruce shrugged, but Alex could tell that he was thinking along the same lines. If a war between mob bosses broke out, then that could be bad for tons of innocent people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"I don't like the idea of someone who knows my secret hanging out with members of the mob," Bruce said, eyeing the door Oswald had disappeared behind.
"As soon as I know that Mr. Thorne won't send a goon to kill me, then I'll be leaving. I already won the mansion from my brother, so I'll just need to be on guard from him."
"I don't know if I'd worry about your brother."
"He's tried to kill me a couple of times now, so unless you know something I don't…"
"He's in custody. He was caught trying to hire a hitman."
Alex stared at Bruce in horror. Bruce's face softened, and he said, "I thought that you should know… If it's any consolation, I believe you, and I will help you. However, I do have a condition."
"Which is?"
"I need someone who knows what I do and can help me make sure others don't find out. Formally, you'd be my secretary, but your real role would be to help me keep my nightly job a secret."
"I don't know if I have the qualifications to be a secretary… much less your secretary."
"Nonsense. Most of your day-to-day work would be helping me with my schedule and answering calls. No vigilante work required."
A job would look good to the judge. Her check-up with the judge would be coming soon, and if she wanted to make she stayed out of Arkham Asylum, then a job working for one of the most powerful companies in Gotham wouldn't hurt. Besides, she typically felt bad using Elizabeth's money. Technically, it was hers, and she didn't want Jeremy to have it. But there was always a nagging feeling of guilt when she used something that wasn't given to her.
"Okay… I guess we'll have some kind of contract drawn up then," Alex said and fidgeted when Bruce smiled at her.
"Of course. Company policy. I'll have it sent to you as soon as possible. And… I'll send you a cell phone. Make sure to message me before you go to the asylum… and when you're speaking with Dr. Crane."
"Yes, sir," Alex replied with a sigh.
Bruce chuckled and walked to the door. He quickly opened it to see both Oswald Cobblepot and Victor Zsasz waiting outside.
"I'll be seeing you later, Elizabeth," Bruce said and flashed her a smile.
"Goodbye, boss," Alex replied, and Bruce quickly disappeared out the door.
"Boss?" Victor asked as he followed Oswald inside and shut the door behind him.
"Yup. I got a job! Isn't that exciting?!" Alex replied cheerfully, deciding to play naïve.
Oswald blinked quickly and turned to Victor, who shrugged.
"Lizzie… People don't just hand out jobs willy-nilly. I'm afraid Mr. Wayne might be trying to take advantage of you."
"How?" Alex asked, playing dumb.
"Well… um… ah… you're very pretty, and Mr. Wayne has a reputation for… um…"
"Taking women out for a bit of the old horizontal tango?" Victor interjected, and Oswald gave him a dirty look.
Alex couldn't help but giggle and explained, "He just feels bad for me is all it is. He was there when Mr. Thorne tried to corner me. Also I doubt that I could find a safer place to work. Wayne Enterprises doesn't just let anyone into their buildings."
"Oh, that's so true!" Victor said exasperatedly. "This one time Mr. F told me to go have a 'conversation' with one of the board members and it was a real mess. I ended up having to wait for him at a diner. Real piece of work that security guard."
Oswald seemed like he wasn't done yet, so Alex interrupted him, "So… I heard my brother is in jail right now… for trying to hire someone to kill me."
Oswald winced, and Victor shrugged and said, "Guess the cat's out of the bag now. I just wish the little bastard had asked one of my guys. This problem could have been solved real quick."
Victor pantomimed shooting a gun, and Oswald shook his head in frustration before pleading with Alex, "I'm sorry. I just… didn't want to worry you. He's behind bars and can't hurt you now."
"Money can get him out."
Victor laughed and replied, "Oh, that would be a mistake."
Oswald looked like he was a second away from hitting Victor with his cane and said, "Victor… That is Miss Arkham's brother. At least pretend to be sympathetic when talking about him in front of her."
Victor took one of the apples off the table before hopping onto the counter to sit and take a bite out of the apple. With a shrug, he said, "Not much of a brother if you ask me. I could be a better brother. Oh, that's an idea!"
"No, Victor! It's really not! Please forgive him. He means well," Oswald explained quickly as Victor nonchalantly chowed down on the apple.
"He's not exactly wrong. Jeremy is a terrible brother… I don't want him dead though."
"Why not?" Victor asked and tossed the apple core into the trash. "He can't bother you if he can't breathe."
"Because death is quick," Alex said, surprising Oswald and Victor. "Even a slow and painful death would be too good for him. I want him to rot in jail. All of his money and connections gone. I want him to think long and hard about why he's in there, and I want every day to remind him of what he's lost."
"That's dark!" Victor said cheerfully. "And I'm on board 100%. Love it for you. See, Oswald? She's like the little sister I never had."
"That's debatable," Oswald replied irritably before turning to Alex with a look of worry. "I'm still worried about this job. I'm not saying that you aren't capable, but… I hope he's not setting you up with anything that you're not ready to do."
"I promise… if the job's too difficult, I won't do it. I do have money after all. But it will look good to the judge."
"Fair enough," Victor said and hopped down from the counter. "You just let me know if anyone's bothering you. I'll take care of it in a heartbeat."
"I'm sure I'll be fine, but thanks, Victor."
Oswald covered his face with his hands, and Victor started to walk to the door but suddenly stopped and turned back to Alex.
"There is one thing I wanted to ask you."
The back of her throat went dry as she asked, "And what would that be?"
"Can I call you Lizzie too? It's not fair that only Oswald gets to call you by your nickname."
Alex laughed in relief and said, "Of course you can."
Victor's face brightened as Oswald threw him another dirty look. As Victor said his goodbyes, Oswald helped him out the door. Alex covered her mouth to hide her smile. Victor was very entertaining for a sociopath. Oswald breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed on Victor's chattering.
"If you don't force him, he won't leave," Oswald explained before he walked closer. "I am… truly sorry for not telling you about your brother. I didn't want you to worry. I doubt that he'll be stupid enough to try to get out. Especially when he finds out Falcone knows that it was him who hired people to plant the car bomb."
Oswald looked at her to judge her reaction. She sighed and replied, "I figured as much. Especially since he's now openly looking for hitmen."
"Falcone has been watching him carefully since before the charity ball. Your brother was on thin ice, but now… I'm pretty sure that ice has broken. I'll let Mr. Falcone know your wishes, but if your brother tries to hurt you again…"
A shiver went up Alex's spine as she imagined what a mob boss' punishment would be. Oswald looked at her worriedly, so she pat his shoulder.
"I understand. Thank you for being honest with me. I appreciate it. I think… I'm going to take a nap. It's been a busy day."
After Oswald left, Alex walked into her room and collapsed on the bed. There wasn't much she could do about Jeremy at the moment. Besides, there was a more pressing matter. Just how on Earth was she going to distract Dr. Crane?