The response to Sharp and Nigma's joint appearance was immediate and decidedly mixed. While many newscasters debated the political ramifications of Sharp's hiring of Nigma, the Gotham populace were divided between vague interest, contempt for Sharp or Nigma, or both, or just plain indifference. There were some people however, who were wary of this news.

One of these people was Commissioner Gordon. He'd watched the interview in his office at the GCPD with a mixture of contempt and unease. Afterwards, he'd shut the door and waited. He had a feeling his friend would be by soon to discuss this.

He didn't have to wait that long. About two hours after the interview had concluded, Gordon heard the window blinds rustle and the sound of heavy footsteps entering the room. He looked up and greeted his guest with a brief nod.

"I take it you saw that interview?"

"I did," was Batman's gruff reply.

Gordon removed his glasses briefly to rub the bridge of his nose. "Just what we need. Sharp and Nigma together. Those two never met a camera they didn't like. This benefit on Friday's going to be an absolute media circus."

"I'm more concerned with why Sharp reached out to Nigma."

"Could just be Sharp politically posturing. He's all but taken the credit for what you did back at the asylum. Maybe he thinks he can take credit for Nigma's reform too. As for Nigma well, God knows he likes attention, even if it's from someone he can't stand."

Batman didn't look convinced. "I don't think Nigma would let himself be used by Sharp like that, free publicity or not. There has to be something more than a paycheck for him in this. Has the Sharp campaign reported any threats?"

Gordon shook his head. "None that I've heard. Truth be told though, I don't think Sharp would tell us if there were. He hasn't exactly been friendly towards GCPD ever since last year. Still, I can't see him hiring Nigma to help. Before tonight, he hadn't mentioned Nigma once during his whole campaign."

"Maybe it wasn't Sharp's idea." Batman murmured.

Gordon turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Batman turned towards the window, ignoring Gordon's question. "I'll look into the benefit on Friday. Whatever's going on, I'll find out." And with that he left the office, leaving Gordon with unanswered questions and the beginnings of a headache. Whatever the reasoning behind Nigma and Sharp's partnership, it meant bad things for the GCPD. Gordon could just feel it.

Gotham City

Friday

6:30 pm.

"Are you sure you still want to go?"

Penelope looked impatiently from applying the last touches of her dark mascara to Joan.

"You were the one who said I should get out more."

"That was before we found out Edward Nigma was going to be there."

"And?" Penelope retorted, returning to the mirror. "Didn't you hear him during that self-aggrandizing interview of his? He's a changed man." She couldn't even try to keep the bitterness out of her tone.

"I treated him after he woke up from his coma, remember? I know he's reformed. That doesn't make him any less obnoxious. Or change the history between you two."

Penelope scoffed. "I'm not afraid of Edward Nigma. I never was. I stopped treating him at Arkham because I hit a wall with treating him." And I cared more about perfecting the TITAN formula than anything else. There was that self-loathing again. Penelope took a look at herself in the mirror. Satisfied with her appearance, she put away her mascara bottle and walked to her hallway closet to pull on her coat. "I used to think that he had the most potential out of all the super criminals to reform. I want to see if I was actually right about that." She turned to Joan then. "What was he like after he woke up?"

Joan leaned back against door frame and sighed. "Well first of all, he was in extensive recovery for quite a while. He had to relearn a lot of basic motor skills. I didn't actually meet with him until about a month or so after he woke up." Joan bit her lip. "When I finally did meet with him, he was angry. He was eager to get his treatment over with. But most of all, he was scared. He was always so proud of his intelligence and he woke up almost a complete stranger to himself. He had to relearn how to be his arrogant self again. Once he did, he pretended like he wasn't bothered by his circumstances, of course."

"He says that he doesn't have any memories of his time as the Riddler. Is that true?" Penelope inquired.

"Yes and no," Joan admitted. "When I began our sessions after his physical therapy, he could barely remember his name at first. He had to relearn his childhood, his past actions, the names of most of his associates and what his relationships with them were. He was able to recover quite a lot of information on his own, but there were plenty of gaps." Joan laughed a bit to herself. "I'm convinced though, that he remembers more than he lets on."

"And his compulsive behavior?"

"Not nearly what it was when he was in Arkham but it was still there. I haven't had a session with him in a long time though. Not since he was officially cleared. I have no idea what his mental state is now." She turned to give Penelope a grave look. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? I know I said that you should get out in the world more and I'm glad the idea of seeing him doesn't frighten you, but I don't think a confrontation would do either of you any good."

Penelope considered changing her mind, but shook it off. She hadn't let Nigma intimidate her when he'd been at his lowest point in Arkham and she'd be damned if she let him intimidate her now. "It's not like I'm going to go up and strike a conversation with the man. Besides, if he has as many gaps in his memory as you say he does, then he probably doesn't even remember me. I'll be alright." She took a deep breath and walked towards the door, Joan following close behind her.

It's just Edward Nigma. I'll be alright.

Across town in a maintenance room at Lacey Towers, Edward was waiting for Sharp's security guard to finish installing the final security camera in the main ballroom. He was sitting in front of a main computer terminal mentally going over the list of employees that Sharp had provided him. Most of the people on the list would be at the benefit tonight, including the campaign staff and most of the current Arkham staff. Edward wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing the doctors again, but better here than at Arkham. He just needed to determine for sure who the 'murderer' was and then hopefully, he'd never have to see any of the incompetent fools again.

His musings were interrupted by the sound of Dennis entering the room. "Last camera's up Mr. Nigma. What now?"

Edward learned forward and typed a few commands on the keyboard. Within a few seconds, the monitor came alive with the camera feed for the front entrance to Lacey Towers, the feed from the two cameras in the ballroom and one from the underground parking lot.

"That's it?" Dennis asked.

"Now now," Edward chided him. "A little patience goes a long way." As Dennis watched, Edward typed one final set of commands and a window popped up on the lower left corner of the street.

"I've written a software that links up our camera feed here with the Arkham employee database as well as public arrest records," Edward explained. "Anyone who shows up on camera who isn't an invited guest or is some other kind of gate crasher, and your team will be aware of them instantly."

Dennis let out a low whistle. "You did all that in two days? Damn. You really are smart."

Actually, all Edward had done was update and modify a pre-existing program he'd written years ago, but the compliment was appreciated all the same. "That's why Sharp hired me Dennis. Do you know your schedule for tonight?"

Dennis nodded absently. "Yeah. I'm taking first shift. There'll be three other guys coming in. One will be in the ballroom with the Warden and the other two will be taking shifts here."

Edward got out of the chair then and grabbed his coat where he'd draped it. He put it on and straightened his tie. "Well then, I leave it in your capable hands. I've a public to impress."

Edward left Dennis in the maintenance room and crossed the hall towards the main ballroom of Lacey Towers, where the benefit proper would be taking place. Edward took a brief look at his watch. 6:45. The first guests would be arriving in about 15 minutes, but Sharp had said that some of his staff would arrive early. Edward walked through the open door and surveyed the ballroom for the first time. He'd been here before of course, at least he thought he had, but the usually understated elegance of the room was drowned out by the overbearing and, in Edward's opinion, rather creepy campaign regalia. Sharp and Kocen were standing in the center of the group, next to a small group of staffers. As he drew closer, Edward could pick up Sharp giving them their orders for the night.

"-Whatever your personal feelings towards the man are, I expect you to be professional! I don't want anything to disrupt the fundraiser tonight. Do I make myself clear?" Kocen saw Edward approach and tapped Sharp roughly on the shoulder. Sharp turned as if to snap at his campaign manager, then he saw Edward. "Ah, there's our man of the hour! Is everything ready for tonight?"

"Yes," Nigma answered. "I think we're well covered."

Sharp clapped his hands. "Excellent! Now Edward, I'm sure you'll need no introduction, but these are some of the medical staff from Arkham." He gestured to the group of people he'd been browbeating not five minutes earlier. "These are some of our doctors: Dr. Stephen Kellerman, Dr. Kevin Liew , and Dr. Sarah Cassidy. The rest of my staff had duties to attend to at the asylum, of course."

Edward took a moment now to look at the Arkham staff for the first time in nearly two years. Dr. Liew didn't meet his glance, while Dr. Cassidy politely nodded before looking down at her feet. Dr. Kellerman stared straight at him, almost daring him to make a move on them. Edward felt a rising sense of irritation at them. All those years they'd spent forcing him into group therapy, prescribing him mind-numbing medication that he never took and countless hours of saying 'Oh Edward, wouldn't you be so much happier if you weren't leaving silly riddles all over the place' and now that he actually had reformed? They acted even more afraid of him now than they ever had when he was at the asylum. Hadn't he done everything they'd wanted him to do? Just what did he have to prove to them? Edward took great care not to let any of this show however. Instead, he smugly tipped his hat to Kellerman and smirked. Kellerman's face tightened even more if that was possible and quickly turned away. Good.

Oblivious to this display, Sharp walked off towards the front door to the ballroom, where some of the guests were starting to arrive. Seeing his chance, Edward walked up to Kocen.

"Have you received any more letters since I've seen you last?" he whispered, leaning in close to the campaign manager.

"No," Kocen whispered back. "Not at the campaign office and not at the asylum either. Warden Sharp thinks that your presence has been a deterrent."

Possible. Not likely, but possible. If that was the end of it, Edward would be just a bit disappointed. Patting Kocen on the shoulder, he went to join Sharp in greeting the guests. Time to meet the public.

Two hours later and Edward was beginning to regret ever coming to this event. While he'd amused himself regaling some of Sharp's donors with stories of his exploits both legal and illegal and had managed to drop off some business cards, Sharp had attached himself to him like an unwanted appendage, interjecting himself into the conversation whenever he could. He could barely get away from the Warden long enough to check in on Dennis and the security team, let alone fish for information regarding the doctors. Edward had managed to lose Sharp in the crowd and was now leaning against the wall next to the refreshments table, nursing a small flute of champagne. He had no illusions that he'd be able to be to himself long, but at least from this vantage point, he had a clear view of the room and the guests while collecting his thoughts. The doctors had remained relatively close to each other as the evening had progressed. Edward could see them now standing off to one corner, speaking amongst themselves. Edward still couldn't recall much about them beyond what a preliminary background check and a few scattered memories had told him, but he was convinced that none of the three present were the murderer that the letters had referenced. Kellerman and Liew didn't have the skill set necessary and Cassidy seemed a bit too...nice. There were other doctors that Edward knew of from the employee list Sharp had provided, but none of them seemed to be a good fit either. They were either too low level to be involved in something like the TITAN project, or had started at the asylum after the Joker's break-out. There were two names however that stood out as potential leads: Dr. Gretchen Whistler and Dr. Penelope Young. Both of them had been present at the asylum and had since retired. Edward couldn't recall anything regarding Whistler, but Dr. Young seemed a bit more familiar. Unfortunately, information about the both of them was a bit scarce. Edward took another sip out of his champagne glass and sighed. It seemed as if this question would require more in-depth research to resolve.

"Is this spot taken?"

Edward turned at the voice addressing him. When he saw who was talking to him, his mood shifted. "Well well, if it isn't Bruce Wayne. Never thought I'd see you at a political fundraiser."

The dapper billionaire leaned against the wall next to Edward. "I could say the same for you," he chuckled. "Especially for Quincy Sharp. What brings you out here?"

"Didn't you see our interview the other night?" Edward asked. "Sharp reached out to me to collaborate on security for the event. It's not my usual kind of job, but then I thought what better way to ;let bygones be bygones and help the man out?"

"And help yourself out to his checkbook."

Edward shrugged. "Well, what can I say? Not all of us can inherit our money."

Wayne nodded. "Fair enough. It's just that it's a bit of a surprise seeing you here. You haven't been very active for a while. At least, I haven't seen you on TV."

Edward shuffled a bit. "I've been...a bit preoccupied." Wayne looked at him with a narrowed gaze for a bit, then surveyed the room. Wayne had hired Edward for a number of jobs in the past and seemed to be one of the few people in Gotham who was genuinely interested in his reform, but something about being in close proximity with the man made Edward feel ill at ease. His first instinct in dealing with him was to dismiss him as another one of Gotham's elite dilettantes, but some deeper, more instinctual part of Edward was ever on the defensive regarding the handsome billionaire. He'd known something about Bruce Wayne once. Something important.

What time is it when an elephant sits on your fence?

"What was that?" Wayne asked him, abruptly.

Edward looked up at him. Had he said that last bit out loud?

"Nothing," he said, quickly. "Just wondering about the time."

Wayne checked his watch. "8:50. Do you have somewhere you need to be?"

"I wish," Edward muttered. He turned to refill his champagne flute, fully aware that Wayne was staring at him and the watch he was wearing on his right wrist. Before Wayne could question him any further, Sharp had arrived on the scene. Edward had never been happier to see the pompous idiot.

"There you are Edward! I was wondering where you'd gotten to! Oh, Mr. Wayne! Pleasure to see you again!"

Wayne reached out to shake hands with the Warden. "Pleasure's all mine, Warden Sharp. Edward and I were just catching up. He's worked for me in the past."

Sharp nodded, not really that interested. "Oh yes, I think I remember hearing about that. How nice." Out of the corner of his eye, Edward caught Sharp's face lighting up as he saw something across the room. "Ah good! Dr. Young did come tonight!"

This got Edward's attention. One of the Doctors who resigned? What was she doing here? "Sorry Warden, the name escapes me. Who was Dr. Young again?"

"She used to be one of our doctors at Arkham. Actually, she used to be one of your doctors. You really don't remember her?" Sharp pointed behind Wayne. "She's standing over there, with some of the other guests."

Edward looked over Wayne's shoulder to where Sharp was pointing and saw a dark haired young woman standing next to Joan Leland. At first he could only see the back of her head but then she turned and-oh. Oh. Edward felt like kicking himself. He'd had a doctor who looked like that? Why had he ever escaped Arkham? She hadn't noticed him yet, instead absently listening to what Leland was telling her so Edward took the opportunity to commit every detail of her appearance into his memory. He could vaguely hear Sharp continuing to ramble on about something or other, but for this one moment, she was the only other person in this room.

"Edward? Are you even listening to me Edward?"

"No," he answered. Dr. Leland excused herself and walked through the crowd to where the other Arkham doctors were gathered, leaving Dr. Young unaccompanied. Perfect.

"Would you hold this for me?" He asked Wayne, passing him his half-filled flute. He briefly removed his bowler hat to make sure his hair was as immaculate as possible, before he left Wayne and a now offended Sharp behind as he made his way to Dr. Young. In the back of his mind, he knew that she was one of his best suspects for being the murderer in the letters, but still. Why not have a little fun while he was here?

She still hadn't noticed him as he sauntered his way up to her, even as some of the other guests had and made way for him. When he was next to her, he cleared his throat. I hope she doesn't remember me too badly. "Good evening, Dr. Young."

She turned sharply at the sound and nearly jumped back in shock. Just as quickly, she regained her composure, steeling her face into a cold expression. "Mr. Nigma."

"Oh please, no need to be so formal. Call me Edward," he purred. "It's not as if we don't know each other."

Dr. Young looked unimpressed. "You remember me, Mr. Nigma?"

She could give Jonathan lessons in coldness, Edward thought. "Not as well as I'd like," Edward confessed. "Sharp tells me you were my doctor."

Dr. Young tensed a bit. "What else did he tell you?"

Interesting. "What else is there?"

"Nothing that concerns you," she answered a bit too quickly for Edward's liking. "Why would Sharp even bring you out here? What are you really up to?"

"It's just as the man says. Sharp needed help with security, so naturally, he reached out to me."

"And naturally, you did this out of the kindness of your heart." Dr. Young said acerbically.

Edward frowned. Alright, he may not be the most popular man with certain people, but what had he done to earn such disdain from her?

"I'm detecting a bit of hostility, Dr. Young. Would you care to tell me why?"

Dr. Young glared at him then. "You may not remember me, but I remember you. The very first session we had, you asked me the Riddle of the Sphinx."

"I can't imagine you had much trouble solving that-"

"Oh I didn't." She interrupted. "I said the answer was a man. You told me that the answer was actually a baby. It crawls on all four legs, but cut off its legs and it can wiggle on two limbs. Give it a crutch it can hobble around on three. I asked you how you could joke about something like that and you said easy, Dr: It's not my baby." She gave him one last withering look. "Our sessions didn't improve much from there. Goodnight, Mr. Nigma." And with that she turned her back on him and walked back into the crowd before he could even form a retort.

Edward watched her go with a mixture of irritation and curiosity. Clearly, he needed to do some more research on her. Also, just what kind of medication had the asylum had him on that day? The sounds of raised voices from the direction Dr. Young had walked off in caught his attention. It seemed that Dr. Young hadn't wasted any time alienating her old colleagues. Through the crowd, Edward could see Dr. Kellerman facing off against her. He moved a bit closer, catching snippets of the conversation.

"- You have no right to be here. Not after what you did."

"I never meant to-"

"Oh you never meant to? I'll be sure to tell that to all the staff that died because of your-"

"That's enough Stephen!" Edward heard Leland intervene. He peered over the top of someone's head to get a better look. Leland had placed herself in between Kellerman and Young. Far from the defiant woman Edward had seen and spoken with, Young had seemed to withdraw into herself. Kellerman looked like he wanted to say more, but instead hissed out. "You'd better not show up at the memorial." Kellerman stormed past her then, almost colliding into Edward on his way out of the ballroom. Edward watched him leave, beginning to understand what that exchange had been about. He turned back towards the doctors. Liew and Cassidy remained standoffish, but Leland had drawn in close to Young, no doubt asking if she was alright. Young nearly shoved her away, citing a simple need for fresh air. As she turned towards the doorway, she and Edward made eye contact. For a brief moment, Edward saw something other than cold detachment in those blue eyes. Something like guilt. The moment soon passed though and she quickly walked past him and left the ballroom.

Edward rubbed his chin in thought. He had found the murderer in the letters. He was certain of that. More research on Dr. Penelope Young would definitely be required. He sighed, ruefully. Why do all the most attractive people in this town either hate my guts, engage in criminal activity or both?

A hush fell over the ballroom as Sharp took center stage. Finally, Edward thought. Sharp would address the guests, take credit for stopping the Joker's breakout, spend 20 minutes outlining his grand vision for turning Gotham into a police state and maybe, if Edward was very lucky, name drop him at the very end. Before Sharp could say anything however, there were two loud popping noises from the front of the building. The guests looked puzzled, while Edward cringed. He didn't need to be a genius to recognize gunfire when he heard it. A third shot rang out and then the guests began to panic. The two security guards assigned to the ballroom quickly ushered Sharp out, while Edward and a few other guests, Wayne included ran out towards the sounds.

Just outside the front door to Lacey Towers, a body was lying prone on the ground. Edward and Wayne approached the body, careful not to disturb any evidence. The person's head had been all but destroyed by a gunshot, but from the clothes, Edward recognized Dr. Kellerman. There were two additional gunshots to his chest and a note dropped next to his body. Thankful for his habit of wearing gloves, Edward picked up the note and read it.

I WARNED YOU. REVEAL THE MURDERER OR MORE WILL FOLLOW.