Here we are now.
He didn't know how he was able to do it, but somehow, Edward was able to get out of the lab quickly and run our of the GCPD. He really needed to talk to Mist.
He raced through the streets, holding his phone to his ear as he went trying to get in contact with her, but nothing came except the damn voicemail over and over again.
"Oh… Mist!" he seethed as he placed his phone away in defeat before he glared at her apartment building. He knew Bullock and Gordon and this… Agent King would be here soon, he at least needed to warn Mist about-
Wait, why did he? She never told him in the first place so why did he owe her? He didn't.
Edward sighed and shook his head. "You're on your own this time Mist, but I guess you're used to that by now."
He turned and left the outside of the apartment and walked around the corner just as the police arrived and ran inside to Mist's apartment.
Bullock and Gordon couldn't believe they actually trusted Mist, they could only imagine how Edward was feeling since they seemed to be close friends.
They walked up to the front door and were about to knock when they noticed it was open already.
Agent King stepped forward and opened it, his gun poised just like the other Detectives were as they entered.
By the looks of things someone was looking for something. Shelves had been emptied across the floor and cupboards were open with their things thrown to the side.
They heard something smash and they cautiously headed into the living room, each with their gun ready for an attack.
"GCPD, freeze!"
The figure stopped in their search and slowly straightened out, their long brown leather coat flapped at their ankles and there seemed to be two samurai swords sticking out from underneath his leather coat.
The figure slowly turned and glared at them from under his hood of the hoodie he was wearing underneath. As his face caught the light, the Detectives and Agent were both shocked to see how young he was but what shocked them more was the scar leading down his left eye, it looked like a sword had sliced it and it was amazing that the eye hadn't been damaged in the process.
He glared at them before he belted for a window.
"Stop!" yelled Gordon as they open fired on him, but he grabbed his sword and swung it round knocking the bullets off their course.
They all froze in place as the figure sheathed his sword again and jumped out of the window onto the railing on the other side before he began to run down the railing till he reached the floor and he ran, letting the Detectives watch helplessly as he disappeared into an alley.
"Who the hell was that?" Bullock growled.
Gordon shook his head. "I was hoping you would know."
"You got me boy scout, I ain't seen anything like that before. Even in Gotham."
Oswald was not one for unexpected visits, quite frankly, he hated them. It meant he had no time to prepare but there she was standing in the middle of his mother's apartment and he was very happy that his mother had gone out for the day.
"Sphinx," he muttered as the woman sat on the table reading what appeared to be a cookery book of all things.
"I'm deciding what to cook for dinner," she informed him. "What do you think? Lamb or chicken? I quite fancy some nice sausages to be honest, then again pork just reminds me of slaughter houses and… some of the things I've seen done there… it's quite off putting. Don't you find that?"
"I… can't say that I do," Oswald muttered as he stood staring at her.
Sphinx hummed in response. "Ohh… lobster! I haven't had sea food in ages… not since I was in Tokyo. I loved it there, too bad the holiday had to be cut short because of the cops," she flicked a page and smiled. "Oh I've hadn't had that in years! I really need to visit China again sometime, I love their meals."
"What are you doing here?"
"Do you like Chinease food, waddles?"
Oswald narrowed his eyes at her comment and at the fact she didn't answer his question. "Not really. Now what are you doing here?"
"It's such a shame you don't like their food, it's just simply wonderful-."
"Stop talking about food!"
Sphinx slowly lowered the book and raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Just because you're paying me to play around here doesn't mean you get to yell at me, Waddles," she looked back at the book and smirked. "Hmmm smoked penguin, sounds delicious."
"Is there any reason you have seated yourself in my mothers apartment and sit reading one of her cook books?"
"Not really," Sphinx clicked her tongue before she smiled. "I just wanted to make sure my favourite Penguin wasn't dead. Especially since the last time I saw you, you just reviled yourself to be very much alive to the whole GCPD. Quite a clever move. Fish is all shaken up now."
"Good."
"Hmm… you would think so wouldn't you?" Sphinx looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. "Just don't get to comfortable Waddles. There's still a lot of people out there who would kill you."
"Did you hear? Gordon attacked Falcone and the Mayor."
"He really does a good job at getting people to hate him doesn't he?" she chuckled. "Which is why I wonder why you are so intent on using him and no one else."
"James listens to reason and common sense," Oswald explained with a smirk. "Which is a rare thing in Gotham."
"James huh?" Sphinx chuckled. "First name basis? Wow, you must be really close."
"Is there any other reason you came here Sphinx?" Oswald questioned as he limped towards her.
She pulled a sickle out and pointed it in his direction, still looking at the cook book. "That's far enough, Waddles. I know you, you're sneaky. Poor Maronie's man knows that only too well huh?" she giggled as she looked over at him. "Poor Frankie never stood a chance did he? But you were right about one thing he was a cheap skate."
Oswald sighed and hobbled over to a chair sitting down to rest his aching leg. "Sionis has been arrested, only yesterday. You are still on the run am I correct?"
Sphinx wobbled her hand in the air and hummed slightly. "Not exactly, just trying to find a safe place to live. I've had Police there and they are now staying there and then I had such a lovely visit from an… old associate of mine. How lovely for me."
Oswald narrowed his eyes. "Anyone I should be worried about?"
"Heavens no, Waddles-,"
"Please stop calling me that."
"I am merely stating it's going to be dangerous for me. Plus, I heard Copperhead is coming here soon," Sphinx grimaced at the mere thought of that assassin. "I really don't like her. I might stay low for a bit… then again, I could always pay my favourite nerd a visit."
"By that you mean the man you stalk?"
"Oh," Sphinx pouted and let a smirk grace her features. "That's a little harsh. I don't stalk. The only time I ever stalk is if it's my prey."
"Is that not what he is?"
Sphinx smiled. "Now that you mention it… I guess he could be… tell me Waddles, have you ever woken up in handcuffs?"
Oswald blinked before tilting his head to the side. "Only.. only if I've been arrested but.. other then that no… why?"
"Because I have a feeling my darling little nerd hasn't either," she grinned and snapped the book shut, before she slipped off the table. "And you know what they say first time for everything."
"I… actually feel sorry for him," Oswald muttered as Sphinx giggled and placed the book in his hands.
"Oh Penguin," she chuckled. "You have no idea. Thank you for letting me read your book. I think I'll have a stir fry for today."
Oswald blinked and watched as she walked over to the window and opened it, plucking one of the flowers from the nearby vase and smelling it. "Ahh…" she sighed. "So beautiful. I might take this to give a little colour back at where I'm staying. See ya Waddles."
She hoped out of the window and disappeared leaving Oswald sitting with the book in his hand.
He sighed and went to slam it on the table when something slipped out of it.
He picked it up and saw it was a note, from Sphinx since the writing was in gold metallic writing.
The woman really liked gold it seemed.
He opened it and began to read what it said,
Just a thought, Waddles. While it's on my mind. Do watch out for a man at the GCPD called Edward Nygma. He may not look it but… there is something dangerous behind that goofy smile and silly glasses. Something that, in the future, you might just want to watch out for.
-Sphinx.
XXX
Oswald shook his head and scrunched the paper up before he through it in the bin.
That woman was insane. Truly she was.
Now he really felt a little bit sorry for the poor man she was stalking.
"Ed?"
Edward suddenly paused in his work and looked up at Detective Gordon who was standing in the door way watching him.
"Detective?"
"Where is Mist?"
Edward went pale and fumbled with his work. "I… I wouldn't know. She hasn't answered any of my calls."
"You know where she works right?"
Edward gave a slow nod. "She's a reporter, an investigative reporter."
"Do you think you could phone them and see where she is?"
Edward nodded and quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket dialling the number before he placed it on speaker, presumably Gordon would want to hear the conversation too.
"H- Hello?"
"Hello, is this the head of the newspaper company?"
"Y- yes, yes it is… who is this?"
"Umm, my name is Edward Nygma, I'm a friend of Mist's, I was wondering if you knew where she was?"
"I'm sorry… she… she hasn't come into work today. Is that all?"
"Umm, no actually… do you know who Ian Moon is?"
There was a long pause before a trembling voice answered. "It's Mist's alias she sometimes uses to keep her cover if she's investigating," he answered before swallowing. "Now.. is.. is there anything else?"
"Mist's?" Edward repeated. "Are you sure?"
"I.. I'm positive, really I am I- no please don't I- gah!" Edward and Gordon looked at each other and then back at the phone as a gargling noise came from the device, it sounded like someone was trying to breath but couldn't.
"Hello Eddums."
Edward froze in place.
Sphinx.
"I'm so happy you called, I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about little old me," there was a chuckle from the other end of the line and Edward could see her smirk.
"Sphinx," he whispered. "What.. what did you just do? Where's the head of the newspaper?!"
"Oh…" she sighed before chuckled slightly. "I'm afraid he's got a bit of a swore throat and can't talk right now… and never will talk. Sorry."
"You… you killed him."
"Oh, that makes it sound so harsh," she chuckled. "You just like to make me feel so awful don't you?"
"Why did you do it?"
She clicked her tongue in response before she chuckled slightly. "Why not?"
Edward glanced up at Gordon who was quietly phoning Bullock while listening to the conversation at the same time.
"You won't get away with this," Edward informed her.
"Oh," she sighed and laughed. "I already have."
She hung up and Edward was left staring at the phone.
"Bullock and Agent King are on their way there," he informed him.
Edward just stared blankly. "They'll never get there in time. She'll be long gone."
Gordon sighed and looked away because he knew Ed was right
"It's getting late, Ed and we're still looking for Mist. Why don't you go home and have a rest?"
"What about the crime scene?"
"Don't worry about it," Gordon said as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Just… let me handle that and you go home and get some rest, okay?"
Edward nodded dumbly before he left and headed for the locker room to get his things.
Gordon looked back at the phone that lay on the table. He knew why Ed had left it and he didn't blame him.
Sphinx sighed and pulled her jacket around tighter as she stood on the docks staring out to sea.
Why had she agreed to this? What on God's name had possessed her to think this was a good idea?
Another harsh gust of wind blew through her and she shivered.
I repeate what on God's name made her think this was a good idea?
"Sphinx."
She blinked before slowly turning to see a slightly Espanic woman walking towards her.
"Copperhead," she muttered back before clutching her coat tighter to her. "Welcome to Gotham."
"I am surprised they did not phone you to do this."
"I don't kill kids. It's my one golden rule."
Copperhead smirked and pulled out a picture of a young girl wearing a black hoodie with brown curly like hair and green eyes. "It is a shame. She seems to be a very pretty girl."
Sphinx sighed and glared at her slightly. "Anything else?" she snarled.
"You wouldn't happen to know where she is would you?"
"I haven't seen her before, so no."
"You're not lying to me are you, Sphinx?"
"Lie to you? I'm slightly offended."
Copperhead chuckled slightly before she pocketed the photograph and turned fully on Sphinx. "Why are you here?"
"I've been wondering that for the last half an hour as to why I was waiting on this frozen excuse for a shipyard."
"You know what I mean, Sphinx," Copperhead growled. "Why are you here, in Gotham?"
"Professional secret."
"I see."
"Who hired you to even kill that girl in the first place?"
"Professional secret."
Sphinx grimaced slightly. "Touché," she looked over the docks before she clasped her hands together. "Well, not that this hasn't been fun or anything, but I really have to get going. I have a date with my nerd so… see ya."
"Be careful, Mist."
Sphinx froze in place and she visibly stiffened.
"I am not the only one who knows of your love for that man in the GCPD. It would be a wise course of action if you should take caution while advertising your feelings for him."
Sphinx turned and glared at her. "I would prefer it if you didn't use my real name when I'm in public, thank you."
Copperhead smirked. "Then maybe you should of never of told me it in the fist place."
Sphinx smirked back. "Just as a favour, for old times sake, could you answer me something?"
"Depends what it is."
"Oh it's a rather simple question," she chuckled slightly. "And it is rather important if I got the answer."
"Very well, what is it?"
Sphinx folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Do you know if Whisper is in Gotham?"
"Whisper?" Copperhead blinked before she shook her head. "I cannot say. I have not heard from him in a while. What makes you think he's here?"
"Nothing, it's just, my apartment got ransacked and when I went to check on it there were bullet holes in the floor but the bullets had little chips taken out of them not consistent with them hitting the floor."
"You believe it is Whisper?"
"He's the only one I know of that can deflect the bullets with his swords and leave only those little marks in the bullets. Of course it would be a lot easier to know the full detail if I was back at the GCPD."
"I see," Copperhead looked away before sighing. "I shall keep an eye and ear out for him and I shall call you if I find anything out."
"Okay, thank you Copperhead. This means a lot."
"It also means you are in dept to me and I expect to be repaid."
Sphinx waved her off as she turned. "Yeah, yeah. You will."
Then she left the docks jumping from building to building as she let a grin slip onto her face.
She knew exactly were she was going.
Edward sighed and opened his apartment door before he dumped his things on the ground the wondered into the living room were he stopped dead in his tracks.
A pair of black boots were resting on the armrest of his sofa and as he followed the black boots to the black leather clad body he gulped in slight apprehension.
"I walk on four legs in the morning, the two legs at midday then three legs in the evening, what am I?" she purred.
"A man," Edward gulped.
Sphinx grinned as she slowly sat up, holding his book of riddles. "One of my favourites. You understand why, yes?"
Edward nodded.
"Good." she purred as she got up and walked over to him. "So Eddums, let's get down to business."
T.B.C:
Note: Yeah things are getting interesting :) I hope you enjoyed this and if you are enjoying this story then may I suggest you check out my other Gotham story, 'Foreshadowing the Future' :)
Any way I hope you like this one! :D
