?, March 7; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gotham Office; ?
"We have something. This was recorded Tuesday, reviewed yesterday, and verified and transcribed this morning."
A series of knocks on a metal surface.
Loudly: "Just a moment!" Softly: "Wasn't expecting anyone. Who would be coming by this early? Better not be Mr. Nivens. He gave me until the fifteenth."
The sound of metal sliding on metal.
Excited: "Mr. Penguin! Hi! Hello! Come in! Sorry about the mess, I'm trying to get things organized for um... well, you see I'm moving..."
Cordially: "Yes, I'd heard. It's why I'm here, actually. Mr. Wesker informed me that you asked Wren about storage units..."
"Oh. Yes! Yes, I did." Worried: "Is there a problem? Should I not have?"
Reassuring: "Oh, no, no. Not at all. No problem. But no one said anything about how big the space should be or if it needed to be indoors or climate controlled. Or how long it would be. Normally, of course, I'd have Mr. Penn worry about such details."
"Of course."
"But... as it concerned you and you hadn't mentioned moving when we last spoke, I thought I might take the time to see to it myself and catch up with you."
"Oh." A soft laugh. "I didn't mean to... what I mean is, I didn't think it would interest you, Mr. Penguin. It's just a move."
"Well, in that case, we should most certainly talk about it. This is a... it certainly seems to suit you. I'd have a hard time imagining you somewhere else now that I've seen it."
Nervously at first, then more relaxed: "Well, yes, it's been... really great... but well, the rent is just becoming too much and while I feel Mr. Nivens is being wholly unfair, it is his decision on when and how to raise it. Would you like something to drink?"
A shuffle-thump repeated slowly five times, followed by the rustling of some items.
"Oh, ah, I haven't really gotten to sorting through all that... If you could just..."
Some more rustling, then the shuffle-thump again, twice.
"You have an interesting collection..." A pregnant pause and then an odd cough that could be a laugh. "This... this is a very difficult album to find."
"Mmm? Yes. I managed to acquire it last year at a music store that was clearing out it's record and 8-track stock to replace it entirely with cassette and CD. I think they must have changed management recently because they didn't know what kind of gems they had. I got that one and-" A slapping sound, like cards being shuffled, but louder: "-this one. The first was great, because it's the full album. But the single of 'My Mother's Love' is even rarer. It's the extended version that used to play on the radio in the mid-40's, around Christmas. It stopped getting played in the late 50's when stations decided it was too long for the changing format. My only disappointment is that the record wasn't well cared for, so the B-Side skips a minute and twenty-two seconds in. It completely destroys the instrumental version. I keep my eyes out whenever I find a record shop, in case they have a copy that works, but so far I haven't been very lucky."
"Yes. Of course. It-"
"Pause it. Please tell me there's more to this than just them discussing music."
"There is. They talk about the record collection and Mr. Nygma's piano and that sort of stuff for another half hour or so, but, then they get back to the storage lot."
"Skip to that."
"-be going. Oh. Yes. Your move. When will it be finalized?"
"I have to be out by the fifteenth. I was planning on staying here as long as I could since my... my new place... is so much smaller. It's going to take some getting used to."
"Will you be doing all the moving yourself? If you haven't found a company to do the packing and heavy lifting, I could arrange for that. Along with the storage unit. Considering the larger items you have, I think I know one that would be suitable."
"I hadn't considered a moving company. But you shouldn't have to trouble yourself. I can-"
"Edwa- Ed. Please. It's no trouble. I own thirty. Just let Mr. Wesker know what day you need them here and they'll take care of everything. I suggest having whatever you're taking to your new place already out. Then you can leave them to do the rest while you're off at work or doing what you need to get done that day."
"That's... Mr. Penguin, I-"
"Oswald."
"I'm sorry?"
"Oswald, please."
"Okay. Oswald."
"Shall I be seeing you at the Lounge tonight?"
"I... Yes. Absolutely."
"Wonderful. And why don't you bring a record or two? We can listen while we eat."
The sound of metal sliding on metal. Then a loud thump.
"That's it?"
"That's what we have right now."
"That doesn't give us much. But we'll have to clear the bugs out before the movers come. Nygma might not have noticed them yet, but anyone Cobblepot sends in to pack that place up will. Get a message to our agent. We need to know what day he's going to have them over."
"Assuming he does, sure."
"Cobblepot was insistent and Nygma is clearly receptive to him. He didn't sound like he understood the sort of danger he's in. They were talking almost like... friends. That could be a problem. If he thinks Cobblepot is his friend, he might resist our efforts."
"We could put more pressure on him. We still don't know what his money is going to, but we know he's struggling and he's not taking out loans. We could use that. Force his finances to bottom out, imply it's more of Cobblepot's doing, then offer relief in return for whatever information he can give us."
"That'll only work if it's actually Cobblepot taking his money. We don't have anything proving for certain it is."
"We don't have anything pointing to anything else, though. And from what we just heard, I'd say Cobblepot's doing it to indebt him not just financially, but emotionally. Drain him of his own resources, but let him have favors to 'help him out', make him reliant on whatever he gets from Cobblepot just to survive."
"...I can't say I disagree with that assessment. But what use does Cobblepot have for him that he'd go to such effort?"
"Maybe the Leob thing has more weight than we first gave it. Guy's new to Flass' group, hasn't really cemented himself as one of them yet. Still able to be influenced. Get to him before Leob starts offering him protections and payoffs so he looks to Cobblepot first."
"Maybe. It just doesn't fit Cobblepot's M.O. Nothing about this does."
"I know you prefer a longer game on this, but I think we need to move fast. Decide how and if we're going to approach Nygma and do it soon. I think pressuring him financially is the best bet. Even if it isn't, by some chance, Cobblepot taking his money... getting him to his lowest point and offering relief for spying and turning state's evidence will still get us somewhere. We don't even have to implicate Cobblepot if you don't think it's a good play. I think it's our best shot on short notice."
"...I don't like it."
"But you're not saying no."
"No, I'm not. Okay. Do what you have to. Monitor his move, get bugs into his new place once he's there, find some obscure bills or manufacture ones to lay the pressure on. Make him desperate enough he'll sign right up when we offer, or desperate enough he'll do something stupid. Either way I want an opening."
"Yes, Ma'am."