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Somehow-Caught A Ghost

The Undisputed Truth-Smiling Faces Sometimes

The Velvet Underground-Heroin

Chapter 12

Isabelle was at the apartment, Barbara was at work and Jim, wanting to spend more time with his niece had asked her to meet him for lunch.

Isabelle changed out of her pajamas, pulling on a pair of black jeggings, a red flannel shirt over a grey tank top and slid on her flats. She grabbed her jacket on the way out and as she walked down to the street she pulled a hair tie off her wrist and put her hair up in a bun.

When she arrived at the police station the place was in utter chaos. She looked around for Jim but didn't spot him, instead seeing a young man in a grey suit coming down the stairs that looked like he worked there. Since he wasn't wrestling what looked like the city's homeless and prostitutes she maneuvered her way over to him, missing a kick from a heel that belonged to a woman two officers were trying to get under control. She growled at the man in the grey suit just as Isabelle reached him.

"Oh um hello, can I help you?" he asked.

She took in his perfectly styled hair, his glasses and his smile. "Um yeah I'm looking for Detective Gordon? He's my uncle. I'm supposed to be meeting him for lunch but…"

"Yes I think those plans may have to be changed," he said, studying the girl in front of him. He moved to watch the commotion and she stood beside him.

"What is going on?" she asked him, staring in disbelief.

He turned to her smiling, which surprised her. He seemed to be rather enjoying the show. "Follow me," he said.

He led her into an office where her uncle was.

"Isabelle? What are you…ugh," he wiped a hand down his face. "Lunch, I forgot."

"It's okay I can see you've got your hands full."

"Hi, Detective Bullock, your uncle Jim's partner," a man with a greying beard who looked a good bit older than her uncle stuck out his hand.

She shook it, "Nice to meet you."

"You too, I've heard a lot about you."

"Excuse me," a woman said, who was sitting on a desk. "Edward, please tell us what you've found."

"Ugh," he hesitated looking towards Isabelle.

"She's fine. Go on."

"Okay well it's really quite remarkable. Viper somehow activates unused DNA. The body starts to burn calcium from the skeletal system as fuel hence the victim's cravings for milk and cheese. They're desperately trying to replace missing calcium but they can't consume enough. Essentially their bones crumble then they suffocate and die"

Isabelle couldn't help but notice how with every word he seemed to become more enthusiastic about what he was saying.

"You see anything like this before?" Jim asked.

"No, nobody has. Totally new. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be…"

Yup there it was, this guy was excited about a drug that killed people.

After they finished talking the woman turned to Isabelle. "Now citizens aren't usually allowed to hear police conversations but I've made an exception for you today with everything going on. I don't have time, and your Jim's niece and I trust Jim. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Isabelle said.

Just then something crashed through the office window, Isabelle grabbed Edward by his lapels, pulling him out of the way with her. She watched the others as they moved to the door. The woman that had almost kicked her was still being held by cops but suddenly and horrifyingly her skin turned a pale, grayish blue and she started to choke before collapsing onto the ground. She was still standing next to Edward, horrified. She took a deep breath and turned to Edward, watching him curiously as he spoke.

"Fascinating," he said, his shoulders rising he repeated the word again, smiling, "fascinating." He turned to Isabelle "Oh, thank you, for pulling me out of the way. I think it surprised me more than the window."

Isabelle laughed, "You're welcome."

He stuck out his hand. "I'm Edward by the way, Edward Nigma."

She shook his hand.

Jim looked to the two of them and he suddenly had a grin on his face. Walking over to them he started "Hey Edward since I can't take Isabelle to lunch," he pulled his wallet out. "Why don't you take her for me?" he asked, brandishing a fifty dollar bill.

"Oh no sir I couldn't."

"I insist," he smiled.

"What are you doing?" Isabelle asked.

"Well you haven't eaten lunch and you came all this way, besides Edward could use the company right Ed?" Jim looked to him.

"Um, yes yes sir I would rather enjoy her company. I enjoy observing new people."

"Great, you kids have fun," he said. He turned and left, a smile on his face.

"What was that about?" Bullock asked him.

"Isabelle's dating some guy I don't want her to."

"So your solution is to get her interested in another guy? Nigma of all guys?"

"Hey he's a lot better than the guy she's dating now. Trust me."

"Ah Jim, this is interesting, seeing you all protective like this. You'll be a great dad one day."

Jim just tilted his head at Bullock, his brows scrunching together. "What? What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing. I can't state my opinion?"

Jim just shook his head. "Come on we've gotta' figure this out and fast."

~O.o~

"Thank you," she said as Edward opened the door to the restaurant motioning with a big sweep of his arm for her to enter first.

After ordering and receiving their soups and salads they sat a table by the window.

"So you're Jim's niece," Edward observed.

Isabelle nodded.

"What do you do?"

"Well I work at a café but I have my Veterinarian Technician degree."

"Interesting. You're lying about your job."

Isabelle blanched, "What?"

"You have a tell."

"You've known me for not even an hour and you already know my tell?"

"Yes."

"Well what is it then?"

"You run a hand through your hair. Simple. It's very common among women."

"What else?" she asked, curious.

"You play with your bracelet a lot, twisting it around your wrist when you get anxious."

"Huh, I guess I do," she said, staring at her bracelet.

"Did you enjoy school?" he inquired, shifting the conversation.

"Very much. I found it," she paused, "fascinating."

Edward smiled. He reminded her of Oswald, both of them eccentric in their own ways, very intelligent and awkward.

"So where do you really work?" he asked.

"I'd rather not say."

"You don't want your uncle to know. Don't worry he won't hear it from me."

She shook her head. She didn't trust him nearly enough to tell him where she really worked.

"So is this a date?" Edward asked her, shifting the conversation once again.

She blushed. "I'm already seeing someone. In fact I'm pretty sure that's why my uncle insisted you take me to lunch. He doesn't like my boyfriend very much."

"I see," Edward said. "I figured as much. I mean if you were attracted to me your body language would be quite different but from what I'm seeing you aren't."

"I do like you though. I'm enjoying talking to you. You're kind of the first friend I've made since arriving in Gotham," she smiled.

He smiled back. "Well, um, as friends you may notice that I'm a bit odd and don't have much luck with the opposite sex."

"Odd isn't a bad thing Edward," she said, which made him smile.

"Well that makes you the minority in this place. Most people don't pay me much attention unless I have the answers they need." He paused and she could tell he was hesitating. "There is a girl though, a Miss Kristen Kringle who I find myself thinking about every now and then but I don't seem to be attracting her as I'd hoped."

"Well does she know you like her?"

"Well I haven't actually spoken to her yet."

"Then the first thing to do is just that, speak to her, and hint that you like her. Maybe do something nice for her."

Edward nodded, eagerly absorbing the advice Isabelle had just given him.

After lunch she walked back to the station with him. "I had a nice time Edward."

He smiled back. "Well I'm pleased to be your friend Isabelle," he told her genuinely. "I hope to see you again soon."

"Bye Edward," she said, surprising him by pulling him in for a quick hug. "Let me know how it goes with Miss Kringle."

He held onto her longer than she expected and she had to wiggle a little to give Edward a hint. "Um right," he nodded and quickly walked up the steps to the station.

She turned to leave when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Edward?"

"Another thing Miss Gordon, you trust people much too easily for Gotham."

And with that he smiled and hurried back up the steps.