After insisting that Eve take a day off after her 'ordeal' for recuperative purposes, Mortimer was now working her harder than ever, probably in hopes that she would clinch some sort of prize in the coming months. The extra hours weren't entirely without choice, though; Eve was putting in more and more time after work each day to finish her new pet project. In between, she had been scouring the newspapers and online articles even more frequently than usual – sometimes during work hours too, sneakily using the lab computers to research Ivy's background – in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the elusive object of her fascination. In over a week, nothing new had turned up. It seemed Ivy was lying low for the time being.
Down in her lab once again, Eve stood back from the workbench and stretched her arms above her head, cracking her knuckles. Splayed on the table in front of her was a forlorn-looking cutting of nepenthes attenboroughii, a carnivorous plant – the rest of it was growing under controlled conditions in Eve's special indoor greenhouse. It didn't look particularly happy to be sliced and diced, but then who would?
She glanced at the clock absently, and its cheerily painted hands informed her that she had been working for three long hours after everyone else had left. It would be dark outside, a welcome change from the buzzing fluorescent lights that made her squint up her eyes after a while. She yawned and got up, slowly and methodically clearing everything away and cleaning up the workbench. A long, hot bath was definitely in order – and maybe she'd order some takeout to treat herself. It felt like a pizza kind of night.
When she had changed and said goodnight to Russell, the friendly security guard who always had a smile for her, she stepped out into the cool night air and breathed deeply. Staying cooped up in her lab might help her work progress and earn Mortimer's approval, but she was more like her plants than he realised – she needed air, space to breathe and stretch and move. The extra hours were necessary, but if he'd had his way she would have been working flat out through the night, which wouldn't do anybody any favours.
She had just turned onto her street when she felt a chill run down her spine, like someone was watching her. Instinctively, she clenched her fists and took on a defensive stance, tensing her limbs, ready to bolt or defend herself as the situation called for it. "Come out," she called into the darkness. She didn't like not being able to see people. "I know you're there."
"You shouldn't say things like that," said a deep growling voice from somewhere in the shadows above her head. "You never know who might take you up on it; especially in Gotham."
Eve gave a start, and another chill ran through her as she realised who was speaking. "I'm…new in town. Ish. And I can look after myself."
"Evidently." There was a sound like a rush of wings and Eve automatically stepped back as a huge dark shadow of a man appeared on the street in front of her. He glared down at her, his eyes only just visible under the instantly recognisable cowl. The Batman (in her mind, he always required the use of the definite article) stood before her, tall and intimidating and blocking her path. She didn't know what to do. She weighed up the options in her mind – false bravado prevailed. "Have you been following me?" She looked up into his face and forced herself to make eye contact.
If he was surprised at her stoicism, he didn't show it. He didn't show anything, in fact, but she supposed that was all part of the ensemble. "I haven't been following you, Miss Carter," he replied gruffly. She didn't question how he knew her name – there were several ways he could have found it out, and they didn't call him the World's Greatest Detective for nothing. "I've been following someone else; you got yourself involved. And I would advise you," he continued, his scowl deepening (if that was even possible), "to stay away from this. It's not a good place for anyone."
"Not even you?" Eve knew exactly what he was talking about – she wasn't stupid – and she felt a certain amount of chagrin at his belief that she was nothing but a silly little girl who had wandered into the lion's den and wanted to pet the kitties.
He grunted. "I can handle Ivy." He stepped forward suddenly, backing Eve against a wall and leaning in so his eyes burned into hers. "I saw you – the way you screamed for her. I've been keeping track of your…reading material too. You're a smart woman, Miss Carter. You didn't come to Gotham for the labs at the Science Institute, I know that. It's obvious that you have an ulterior motive, but it's not going to lead you down a good path. I'm telling you; stay away from Ivy."
Eve stared at him, trying to think of something to say – a denial, a protest, an objection to the fact that he had apparently been checking up on her internet history – then she blinked and the Batman was gone in a ripple of black fabric. She searched the shadows for a trace of movement, of anything, but he had completely disappeared. Scowling at the darkness, she wrapped her arms across her chest and carried on for home.
Her apartment was cold when she opened the door, and she immediately saw why – the living room window was wide open, the curtains billowing in the wind. She hurried over and closed it quickly, then span around and looked over the room. She had closed the window that morning when she'd left for work, which meant somebody else had opened it since. Nothing was noticeably out of place, but she knew from unfortunate experience that that didn't necessarily mean nothing had been stolen.
Cautiously, she walked into the kitchen and switched on the light. Nothing. Her cup and bowl from breakfast were still in the sink, her pot plants untouched. The microwave, stereo, and small television set were all there too. She pulled out a knife from the block next to the stove and continued into the bathroom. Still nothing, except a moth that flapped around erratically when she pulled on the light cord. She checked behind the door and behind the shower curtain, but nobody was there and nothing was different. That left her bedroom.
Nervously, she gripped the door handle and slowly pushed the door open. Nobody jumped out at her, which was a plus. She crept in and across the carpet, checking behind the door again, then under the bed and in her wardrobe. The bed was made, the wardrobe was tidy. None of her jewellery was gone either, although that wasn't such a surprise as it wasn't really worth that much, and all the research notes she had left in a folder in a locked drawer of the dressing table were present and correct. If someone had been in her home, then they had either taken something she wouldn't notice until weeks or months into the future when she went looking for it, or they had just taken a casual stroll around the rooms before leaving again. She frowned and turned away to go back into the kitchen and start dinner, and that was when she saw it.
There was an ivy leaf next to the mimosa pudica on her bedside table.