I love to hate being a cop, the rush isn't quite there compared to leaping off rooftops and the gun on your hip is just unnecessary for me, but chief Montoya won't let me into the field without it. Then there's the paperwork. That endless paperwork, I'd take a fight with Superman over another worksheet any day. He doesn't even have to lose, but today's special. I can't stop thinking about her, her eyes, or the look in them. That disappointment in her own frustration. Then I hear the phone ring. Not my office phone, my work cell. My heart skips a beat. I know who it is before I even reach for it. Why am I even nervous? I've seen her a million times and exchanged banter a million more times. I clear my throat and throw on a grin

"Go for Dick"

"Nice one, you think of that all by yourself?" she asks, sarcasm dripping from every word

"Is this the clown delivery service?" I ask pretending not to recognize her distinctly New York accent

"huh must be a wrong number," she says dismissively

"Dammit" I scream in my head and assume the best formal cop voice I can muster "wait, sorry, I was notified that you would reach out through our mutual friend. If you're available I'd like to sit down with you and ask you a few questions"

"Yeah, our mutual little bird," She Snickers to herself and in a mock formal voice asks "and what pray tell would we be discussing mister Dickhead sir?"

"I understand you were seen at the scene of a crime linked to an ongoing investigation, I was wondering if you might know anything that we don't, please. There are hostages involved"

She sighs and with a hint of guilt in her voice says "I let them go, last night after my night with wing nut, I freed them."

"But there are still dozens of cold cases also connected." I pressed on "You could help with a few of those. Spanning from Gotham to bludhaven, Please I'm just asking for a few minutes."

She regains her usual demeanor and after a few seconds pause

"Fine but I'm picking the place."

"Of course" I assure her

"An' if I see any other cops anything that looks even a little bit like a bat the meetings off!"

CLICK

I stare at my phone thinking to myself.

"You didn't even tell me where!"

A few moments later I get to eat those thoughts with a text to my personal cell phone with the address of a toy store and time. I breathe a sigh, somewhere between relief and excitement. I'll give her credit. She's smarter when she's single.