AN: Sorry for the long wait, it was a very long and brutal week in all of my classes. And just as a heads up, I added a new ending to chapter six so go back and read that so what happens makes a little more sense. Without further ado, here is chapter seven!
Chapter Seven
I woke up to my phone blaring "Wasn't Me" by Shaggy which was Alieze's ringtone. I groaned and looked at the clock on my bedside table and saw it was only six thirty in the morning. Meaning I didn't have to be up for work for another half hour. Still half asleep I answered my phone.
"Yes, yes I'm fine, no you don't need to come over unless you really want to, and yes Uncle Harvey is still tiptoeing around me after the 'incident'." I said into the phone before she said a word. It was about two weeks since the bank robbery and a week since I found a Joker card in my purse, of course worrying my uncle immensely.
"Okay, Mi, I just wanted to check and make sure. It isn't like everyone gets a Joker card after already escaping him once." She said and I felt slightly guilty.
"I know Ali, and I thank you for your concern, but, I am fine. Who knows how long that card has been in that purse since I haven't used it since our freshman year in college. I only even brought it out to start cleaning out my closet to donate." I said getting up.
"Damn, I should have said something, I loved that purse." She sighed and I smiled. I could tell she was trying to be optimistic.
"See, no crazy clown is stalking me around my home or the city." I said getting my outfit ready for work.
"No, but, he has been quiet and that in itself is worrying." She pointed out. "I'll let you go since I hear you getting yourself prepared for work. Oh and good luck on your first case today!"
"Thank you Ali, maybe you and Des can come and spend the night this Friday just like the good ol' times." I said walking into the bathroom.
"Sounds great! Are you sure we won't give your uncle a heart attack if we end up in our infamous puppy pile?" I laughed.
"Probably, but, I can't help it if Des is the comfiest pillow ever!" I said turning on the shower. "Hey, I'm going to get ready for work. I'll call you so we can meet up for lunch after my case."
"Okay, don't take too long kicking ass! Love ya!" she answered.
"Love ya too, later." I said hanging up and getting in the shower.
I thought back to finding the Joker card a week prior. It was true that I haven't used the purse in quite a while and just as I was picking it up along with clothes to donate to the Salvation Army, I dropped it. When I dropped it, the purse opened and the card fell out. Needless to say I screamed, alerting my uncle and he barged into the room where he found me staring at the card on the floor.
It wasn't like a normal Joker card where it wore red, no it was in a purple outfit and it had its face painted, just like the Joker's. My uncle's face paled and asked me where it came from, when I said it fell out of my purse he looked like he was going to throw up. He grabbed it in his handkerchief and said he was taking it to the commissioner of the police. So far that was as far as I thought it went, of course I told Destin and Alieze, but, in a very modified way.
I started to wash my hair and shook the thoughts of the Joker away and thought of my case ahead of me today. It would be a very open and close domestic abuse case, where the victim was standing up to her attacker on the witness stand. It was decided there would be no Jury, the defendant decided, and I have enough evidence where he would be put away for a very long time.
I got out of the shower and dried off, wrapping my towel around my chest I took out my blow-dryer and dried my hair. After I was done, I put on my make-up and put on my skirt-suit which was a very nice navy color with a cream colored blouse and cream colored flats. I grabbed my purse and went to the kitchen where I found my uncle making pancakes.
"Good morning, Uncle." I said going and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Morning, sweetheart, did I hear you on the phone?" he asked flipping a pancake.
"Yeah, Alieze called to ask me if I was okay, she's still worried. Especially since the Joker has been quiet for a while." I said going and sitting down. "I'm meeting her for lunch this afternoon after my case."
"Ah yes, I wish you luck today, but, the good thing is you have Judge Hood today and he is very harsh on abusers. I still can't believe the defense turned down a jury though." He said serving me some pancakes.
"Maybe he realized he's doomed anyway and to just get the decision over with, she was in critical care for a very long time." I said as I waited for him to get his own breakfast.
"Maybe, but, this is a good starter case to get your feet wet. Marley would be so proud of you, Mi." he said and we started eating.
I looked at the clock and saw I needed to get to work. I got up and kissed my uncle on the cheek goodbye and thanked him for breakfast and rang to have my car brought around to the front. I got in the elevator and went to the first floor and got in my waiting car and drove to the office.
I got there an hour before my case so I could work out the remaining kinks in the case and walked over to the courtroom. I met with the victim to calm her nerves before we even went it.
"Miss Dent, I'm still worried." The victim, a 32-year-old woman, named Marie said in a meek voice. "What if he gets out, he'll kill me and my kids."
"Marie, I will do everything I can do make sure that doesn't happen. Don't look at him, look at me the entire time and answer honestly." I said putting a hand on her shoulder. "It will be okay."
I saw her visibly relax and her stature became braver and she seemed to stand taller. Just as that started to happen we were called in and she went to the proper area while I went to my table. Not only did this guy abuse his wife, but he also fled from the police, grabbed one and held her at knifepoint until she could get a good enough angle to take him down, and then he head-butted another, breaking his nose, when they tried to get him in the squad car. This guy was going to be in jail for a very long time.
I heard the door open again and saw the defendant and his lawyer coming in with several bailiffs around him. When he got closer I saw that he was in fact handcuffed at his sides so he couldn't even use them. They got to their table and he sat down and leered at me.
"What are you doing here, little girl, shouldn't you be at the salon getting your nails and hair done?" he spat out.
"Oh no, that's happening later when you're sitting in your cell at county." I said turning away from his sputtering face.
"All rise, the honorable Judge Hood preceding." The head bailiff said and we all stood up. I tried not to smirk when the defendant couldn't stand up and had to have his lawyer help him.
"You may be seated. Now this is the case of Palme v. Palme where the main counts are aggravated assault, fleeing from law enforcement, holding an officer hostage, and assault of an officer. How do you plead mister Palme?" Judge Hood said.
"One hundred percent not guilty, your honor." Palme said with a disgusting smirk on his face. This was going to be an interesting day.
By the end of the case, Judge Hood was so sick of this guy that every time he opened his mouth the judge scowled. The most damning evidence was when Marie described her life with this man and how he controlled her to a point where she and her children had to essentially live like criminals. Including just eating bread and water and sleeping on a cot on the floor while he made her cook him fabulous meals and he slept on a memory foam mattress, the Judge had enough.
"This has to be the most disgusting case I have heard in my thirty years. Treating this woman like she and innocent children like they committed some terrible crime is despicable. The only crime they had against them was the love they had for you. My decision is mister Gregory Palme is guilty of all charges and is going to serve fifty-years in the county prison." Judge Hood said hitting his gavel on the pedestal. "Get him out of my courtroom."
It took three strong bailiffs to drag him kicking and screaming out of the room. I looked back to Marie and smiled at her and she started to tear up.
"Missus Palme, I have counselors at the call if you and your children need them after the terrible ordeal you all went through. And don't worry about payment, they are essentially freelance and they are recommended and ranked highly." Judge Hood said coming over to her.
"Thank you, your honor, I think that will be a great idea." Marie said with tears running down her face.
"Excellent, I'll give the information to Miss Dent and she will it to you. And Miss Dent, good job today, your uncle will be very proud when he hears of this." He said clapping my shoulder and walking back to his chambers.
As he walked away I wrapped my arm around Marie and walking her out of the court room. We made it down the hallway to the elevator that would take us up to my office. We got in and she gave me a bone-crushing hug and cried on my shoulder while we waited for the doors to open. We went to my office where she sat down and broke down.
"I can't thank you enough, Miss Dent, you made me and my children safe in our home finally. As soon as I get out of here I'm taking the bank card and buying us all beds and destroying the one he slept on!" she sobbed.
"I'm sure your children will love that. I will give you a call when the Judge gives me the information and mail it to you." I said giving her a handkerchief. "Stay here as long as you need and if you need to freshen up the bathroom is right down the hall and to the right. I'm going to give these files to the interns and I will be right back." I left and handed them to the closest intern to file.
I went back to my office and finished up with Marie, saying good-bye and seeing her walk out the door I saw it was just about lunch time. I texted Alieze and told her I was coming to get her from her workplace, Wayne Enterprises.
I walked the two blocks to her office and went to the desk in the front foyer. I asked to have a visitors pass so I could get to her office to wait until she finished with what she was doing. I pinned it to my lapel and pushed the button to her floor.
I finally got to the right floor and I saw her still typing at her computer. She waved me over and pointed to a chair right across from her. I went over and sat down and played a random game on my phone when I heard a very recognizable male voice.
I looked up and saw Bruce Wayne talking to Alieze, where she looked like she was going to pass out from happiness. He turned around suddenly seeing me and shooting a very charming smile.
"Well hello Miss Dent, what are you doing here? Not that I'm complaining of course to have another beauty gracing my office." He said coming over to me and taking my hand, helping me stand up.
"Well Mister Wayne, Alieze here has been my best friend since we were in preschool and we are going out to lunch to celebrate my first court room win. And please call me Misha." I said blushing.
"Of course, Misha, and if you lovely ladies don't mind I would love to take you two out to lunch to congratulate you and your victory." He said looking at the two of us. "And call me Bruce, both of you."
"That sounds lovely, Bruce," I smiled at him. He stuck out his arms for us to take and he escorted us to a lovely Italian restaurant to eat lunch. We all sat around and ate our meal and talked until it was finally time to go. Against both of our wishes, he paid for all of our meals and left a tip. He walked us both back to his office and he told Alieze that he was going to walk me back to my office.
We both started walking with his arm around my shoulders and I found he was truly an amazing and sweet man. He was just so easy to talk to and he was very funny. All too soon we made it back to my office and we stopped and turned to face each other.
"Thank you for lunch, Bruce, I had an amazing time." I said blushing.
"It was no problem, Misha, it isn't often I can go to lunch with two beautiful women." He smiled. "I do have a question for you though. Will you go to dinner with me this Thursday evening?"
"I would love to Bruce." I blushed even more and gave him a bright smile.
"Excellent, I'll pick you up at eight." He said leaning forward and kissing my cheek. I gave him my number and he started to walk away flashing me another heart stopping smile.
I smiled back and turned to walk in the building. Until I felt a hand wrap around my wrist and a hand go over my mouth.
"Well well well, Miss Dent you have been a very busy girl since we last met." An unfamiliar voice said in my ear. I heard a door open and my captor say something to another person.
I was dragged to the closest alley and was shoved into the backseat of a van. I turned and saw my captor and my face paled, it was the Joker. He smiled an awful smile and I saw all of his yellow teeth.
"Don't worry, princess, we'll take excellent care of you." He cackled. The door was closed and I saw there was no escape. I was officially a captive of the Joker.
AN: Sorry for the second author note but I just wanted to toss this out there, if any of my readers are interested in being my beta just send me a PM! Just tell me some things about yourself and if I choose you I will write you back. Thank you all so much! Yours, MadameSlytherin12