In the hall of the building people were bustling. All the walls were absolutely glass, but nothing like "a room flooded with light" was not observed, because the weather in Gotham behaved just mockingly. There was no rain, but it became overcast and somehow sad, as if the sky had descended a few tens of meters down.

I decided to try out the Gotham subway and went to the station with a very loud and obvious name "Wayne Interpraises". It is obvious that you immediately come across the tower of the Wayne family. All my knowledge about this was limited only by the fact that the owner of the company is a billionaire. Going to the Galavans office from the Waynes company was very close. In general, a good job (if you omit the story of psychos). And you are engaged in affairs, and you look around the city.

I managed to count three elevators and four staircases, while sticking out at the administration desk at the entrance, waiting for at least someone. A slender brunette in a strict trouser suit said that she "for a moment" and ran away. Do you know what I understood? Pantsuit is very sexy. Seriously. I should also start wearing costumes.

Frankly bored, I put my head on my hand and showed a different box the size of a small cup, which stood as a table mediator. This piece of something insanely bright, did not fit into the absolutely minimalistic design of the table. I wonder what could be inside? A gift from a boyfriend? Women's stuff? Food? I definitely liked the latter the most.

— Do you miss?

The owner of the voice so unexpectedly came up from the back and stood beside the table, leaning on the rack, that I almost jumped on the spot.

— Oh, I beg your pardon, — for some reason he does not feel sorry at all, and the stranger answered quite funny.

It turned out to be a guy, probably not older than me. I run to glance around, trying to keep it from looking as if I love him. Although there was generally to stare at. He was tall, certainly taller than me, and probably would have been taller than his uncle (I don't know why I remembered him now) and pretty, so I also saw red hair under a trilby hat. I am one of those people who are convinced that ginger people are not only shameless, but also something like the suns of our world. Especially if their face is in addition and in freckles. So, in short, I just froze, forgetting that looking at people is indecent.

— Looking for someone?

— Uh... Yeah — I finally woke up and quickly looked away, looking in the crowd for the girl in a pantsuit, — Actually, yes. I need Mr. Theo Galavan. Тhe secretary shamelessly left me in the dark about the possibility of visiting.

— What a coincidence! — with theatrical surprise, the guy declared, clapping his palm on the tabletop, — Аnd I also need.

I suddenly noticed that all the short time of our conversation, he behaves as if we are on stage and after each of his words we should applaud him. He leaned closer, lowering his voice, as if we were discussing the mystery of a galactic scale.

— I think we can help each other, — the guy straightened, pulling his jacket over a plaid shirt, — Jamie, at your service.

He nodded to me, as if he was about to bow out now, but decided not to go up to that level of posturing. Honestly, I generally fell somewhere into oblivion. Well, I must admit that my new acquaintance turned out to be damn charming, and I just instantly became a victim of this charm.

— Kim, — I said shortly, just still trying to figure out how to behave.

— So, Kim, — he pointed with his hand to the elevator, — Ladies first.

I slipped into the elevator first. At that moment, when the glass doors of the elevator closed, suddenly there was a scream. I abruptly turned around and saw how the secretary in a fright shied away from the table. From that box on her desk stuck the ugly head of a clown, swinging on a spring. The guy laughed shortly and for some reason I felt uncomfortable. Maybe he was an incredible handsome boy, but his laugh turned out to be just awful. But earlier than I had time to think about the option "not to go anywhere with this strange, but, charismatic boy", the elevator car started off and went up.

As we flew through the floors one by one, a simple thought came to my head suddenly. Today I managed to get acquainted with the two inhabitants of this city and such a clear difference between them suddenly struck my eyes. Regular appearance in contrast to the ginger hair of my new friend. Nice, soft look as opposed to impudent and some damnable attractive.

Yeah, Gotham is a city of contrasts.

From the thoughts of this, only Jamie's voice could pull me out.

— These guys seem to be serious about making themselves stand out. Just think and scarу to go out, — He didn't speak at all as a person who is seriously afraid of this, but as if all this was some sort of a planned production - not at all scary and not real.

I looked up and realized that he was talking about a recurring news release that was broadcast on a small screen in an elevator. There again showed an inscription on the bodies.

— When it is shown on TV it don't seems really. Yes, it happens, but you always thinks that it can't happen to you. With everyone, but not with you, — I honestly voiced thoughts about this. — And in general, I am one of those bores who believe that almost everyone whom society has called the "bastard" was once a favorite kid for his mother. I don't justify them, it just annoys me that people put a stigma, not knowing a person.

— Is killing an inadequate characterization? — he smiled, because it was said as if he himself didn't believe in what he was saying.

— Well, — I nodded, — But we don't know what was inside of the same Miss Keen when she did what caused her to enter Arkham. Why did she actually do it? I agree, there are real moral monsters, but there are just those who are confused.

As soon as I said this, I immediately felt awkward. Few people understand this, because they believe that you are shouting: "No, let them out of mental hospitals and prisons. Let them continue to kill and rape, all everything is okay." It's just that for society you are always too fat, too ugly, too stupid, too gay or too crazy. And I said that we know nothing for sure. The human brain is such a complicated thing. Hitler was a vegetarian at all. Not only that, he used to close his eyes to the film during animal abuse scenes. But this didn't prevent him from making history as one of the most cruel rulers.

The elevator doors finally opened on the right floor, and I looked up from my reasoning, returning to reality. From the elevator went a long corridor in different directions. A double door was visible a little distance away. Apparently, this is the office of Mr. Galavan.

— Thanks for helping. Otherwise, if I had waited even a little bit there, there would have been a murder, — In a joke, I blurted out to dispel the deathly silence in the corridor.

— Glad to help such a beauty.

What? I'm sorry, WHAT? If he now does not cease to be so charming, I just spread out here in a puddle. Lord, when did I get to this? I had already turned to leave, but then Mr. Hattings's spirit seemed to infused at me, and for some reason I turned and said loudly enough:

— Jamie.

He did not even have time to budge. I walked back again.

— I was thinking here...well, I've only been in Gotham for two days and I don't know anything here at all. Maybe if you're not busy on the weekend, help me?

— I have a very busy schedule, — the guy stretched out and, well, he squinted very slyly, and I had a feeling that he was trying to deceive me. Why did I start this? — But, I think, I will find time for a small sightseeing tour.

— Fine, — but I nevertheless, with perseverance worthy of admiration, took a notebook with a pen out of my bag and quickly wrote my phone. — Here. If plans are not formed, then you can call me.

Damn it. Did I just leave him my number? Stunned. Well, okay, but I didn't call him on a date, after all! I just need to get to know the city better - that's all. I did not even try to ask my uncle, for obvious reasons, of his constant employment. Although it might be worth asking for Stuart? At least he does not instill in me such a stoic feeling of some fear with all these smiles and laughter. But Jamie is handsome and ginger.

I, fortunately, very quickly got the papers to Galavan's personal assistant and with calm soul went back to the station. Only on the ground floor the mobile phone rang. It was Commissioner Essen. I had a question: where did she get my number from? I didn't call her for a walk around the city.

On the other hand, it's good that she called right now while I was not on the subway. Because it formed a very important thing, which I had to do. And it consisted in going to the other end of the city and taking some samples for the laboratory. Damn it. How many time will it take? Anyway, this is a great idea - to send a person who is in a city without a year a week by courier and knows only how to get from home to work.

I put my high hopes on the GPS and, following my little guidebook, set off the devil knows where. Even now, when logically, it is too late to go to work, and it's still too early to go home, the subway was worse than in Washington. At least it was good that Gotham decided to show off and break the system, making the subway overhead. So all the time of the trip, I looked at the city.

And yet, there was something mysterious here. Especially in this kind of weather. The whole city was stuck with skyscrapers.Out of boredom, I began counting gargoyles on buildings and, you know, I counted 15 pieces. As for me, these terrible, but at the same time mysterious monsters perfectly fit the atmosphere of Gotham.

At the exit of the subway I was waiting for another surprise. Well, not the day, but just a gift! The battery and so lived on the last legs, and after the active use of the navigator, completely died. So I had to look for a large brick building, as I described it myself. And whatever they say, the people in Gotham are not such insensitive bastards. I asked the road three times and all three times I was successfully told where to go.

The samples were sealed in some small box, but it was just unrealistically heavy. I wonder what samples are stored there? Titanium alloys? Nevertheless, I, as an exemplary worker, still dragged them to the office.

I don't know if they happen so that they don't bother at least a second. It seemed to me that all this bustle only intensified. I thumped the box at the first table and tried to find among the whole crowd commissioner Essen who were distracted by the work, in order to report on the work done. But I could not see a single familiar face.

And I would have stood like that for how long, if suddenly my uncle's voice was heard. I immediately felt that I had time to miss the whole day and I was clearly glad that he was at the office, and not again somewhere at the crime scene.

— Kim!

Instead of happy hugs he ran at me with questions. His hands clenched my forearms, and he looked at me so worriedly that I was even scared for myself.

— Is everything okay? I've called you more than twenty times!

— Uh...just the battery sat down. And what happens at all? - Falling into final bewilderment, I squinted.

Uncle finally opened his hands and somehow exhaustedly ran his hand over his face, exhaling. Was it a sigh of relief I did not understand. He paused, and then quietly said:

— The attack in the building of Galavans offise.

Probably, I could only vaguely imagine what it was, find out about what had happened, knowing that the person close to you is there now and not be able to clarify that he is in order. My heart beat fast. I could have been there. I had to clench my fists so as not to show that my hands trembled.

— "Maniacs"?

My uncle nodded, but I suddenly felt so bad that I could not help him. He looked even worse than yesterday. And no matter how much he tried to deny and hide it, it was still evident how exhausted and tired he was. Although...perhaps something I can do.

— We don't know who leads them. We don't know who pulled them out. Day of work and nothing to brag about.

— You can't work so much, — I rebelled.

— You're just like your mom.

— So, we need to brainstorm — I began to actively massage the temples, frantically wondering how I could fix the situation. — I have an idea!

— Bachelorette party and pigtails? — Uncle chuckled, but somehow not particularly approving.

— Nearly. Mexican food and wrestling on TV in the evening. What do you think? Take Dr. Tompkins with you.

He looked at me for a long time, not knowing whether to approve my idea. Well, I tried as best I could, making a pretty face. In the end, I still won. Uncle waved his hand.

— Okay, maybe you're right.

I smiled and immediately hugged him. Apparently, it was a bit unexpected, but he still did the same. And it was the best feeling for the whole day.

— You know, — he suddenly said, — You can just call her Leslie.

Or rather, "Aunt Leslie," — I grinned, putting my nose to his shoulder and feeling the same cologne as two years ago.