Thanks a lot for all the reviews! And again MANY THANKS to Trepidatious . Mus ings for help))))
I translated only the first part of chapter 2, but decided to post it anyway. Unfortunately some little parts of phrases and the atmosphere was lost while my translation - I'm not good in it(((
"Sorry for disturbing you in the middle of the night." - Harvey truly regretted having to ask Ray for a ride at almost midnight, but a forty-minute wait for a cab, unashamedly estimated by the taxi controller wasn't acceptable. Holidays always tweaked the needs of citizens in such services, and reluctantly, Harvey had to dial the number of his driver.
"It's okay, Harvey. I couldn't fall asleep anyway" –Ray changed the lane on the busy road, and two minutes later pulled over at the twinkling neon sign of the new, but already popular nightclub. Two doormen were at duty by the door, the windows flashed in various colorful lights, following a mind-blowing rhythm.
"This place is foreign territory to you, Harvey." – Ray smiled with mix of surprise and curiosity.
"I decided to revive the habits of the good old days." Harvey smirked before looking out of the window to assess the situation.
A few glasses of scotch did their work – among other reasons; common sense and the opposite, almost maniac impulse to find her. Only this last one was left. He shrugged off his jacket; Harvey dressed up in tuxedos on special occasions. This time it was no exception. He grabbed it from his wardrobe, in the firm, and skillfully changed his traditional tie with a bow tie.
The two doormen only let people in costumes with masks, and as far as Harvey knew, finding a costume in the middle of Halloween night was almost impossible. He suddenly recalled Mike's words in that memorable evening when Harvey turned up at his place before going to Atlantic City.
"Wait for me, Ray. Just in case. I promise I won't keep you waiting long."
***
After getting out of the car, Harvey walked with a firm step to the tenebrous entrance that matched the name of the club. He had no idea whether or not he would be requested to have an invitation. How would he manage to get inside and what would he do after that? Nevertheless Harvey had a reckless, unbelievable, and illogical need to see Donna once again; covered in that black leather.
Her alluring curves outweighed all his thoughts. One of the doormen blocked his way to the entrance.
"Excuse me, sir, but you're not allowed to go inside without a costume."
Harvey smirked.
"Who told you I'm not wearing it? Bruce Wayne, nice to meet you."
The guy opened his mouth surprised. He paused, to finally give up.
"Enjoy your evening, Mr. Wayne. But you should take a mask to wear in the lobby.
"Certainly"
The nightclub turned out to be so huge that at first, Harvey doubted he would be able to find her. Sinking on the barstool, he ordered a glass of scotch and, while he sat half-turned, he started trying to catch sight of her vibrant red hair and feminine figure dressed in black. The place reminded him of the dark halls seen in the castles of Scotland, where he once had been with Scottie after finishing their common case in London. Here and there, arcs descended to the floor so low that they made all look like an ominous cave. The dim lights, placed in the apertures of the stone ceiling, created a fuzzy glow effect. A few rays from the light show reflectors were directed at the dancing crowd, highlighting the dark silhouettes of Count Dracula or Zombie-bride, Freddy Krueger, or some unrecognizable monster.
Taking a slow gulp of surprisingly good scotch, he kept on squinting, trying to find Catwoman and her date in the crazy crowd. Finally, when he started to lose his patience, and was already intending to blend into the crowd and walk round the dance floor, that's when he finally saw the familiar silhouette –Donna's hair flashed in fiery-red, drawing his attention. There he was; freezing on the spot at her sight, not being able take his eyes off her. Donna was sitting at the end of the long bar counter escorted by Batman, who was standing behind her.
Harvey swallowed in the act and having no strength to move, he watched a scene -the last one he wanted to see in his life. Slightly tossing her head back, Donna was drinking from a straw some unknown, greenish liquor. In the distance, her eyes seemed to be closed -it looked like she was hovering somewhere in a parallel world, giving into the crazy rhythm of the nameless music and at the same time offering her neck to Batman's lips. Harvey involuntary clenched his teeth, trying not to give into the strong emotional state the scene caused in him.
Her date's hands were confidently holding her waist, his head dipped in the crook of her neck and a few seconds later she put her glass on the bar counter and leaning her head to a side, giving him a better access; letting his hands come higher to squeeze her breast.
A wave of anger mixed with defeat swept Harvey over. A bitter smile registered the fact that, as always before, his alter-ego took the upper hand: Batman won over Bruce Wayne. But Harvey's brain was clouded with scotch and guided by the wild desires of his body; they refused to give up and persistently pushed him to get his way. Maybe Bruce Wayne lost to Batman in success and common adoration, but not him. He just couldn't give her to that clad in black idiot. Desperate, his glance flickered to a side while pondering the right move, but quickly returned to the woman he refused to give to anyone, but whom, at that very moment, clung with all her body to the unknown man in the mask; allowing his hands to touch her unceremoniously, offering her lips and neck to his lips with such resolution, as if trying to forget and become oblivious among the maddening crowd. A crowd that looked like a Witches' Sabbath. In a minute Donna seemed to blend into the collective madness, brushing her doubts and shyness away, and Harvey yearned for the same.
He shot a glance at the hugging couple, sitting next to him– a guy dressed up as a cop, his date as a call girl. The guy's hand was half under the girl's extremely short skirt –it looked like the sexual excitement was in the air. A mix of desire and danger sneaked into Harvey, triggering his primal instinct to act quickly, precisely and efficiently. His eyes focused on the fake gun and the policeman's badge, which were on the bar's counter and without evaluating his actions, he grabbed them from under the nose of the guy, who was fully engrossed with his girlfriend. Harvey walked into the crowd, through the dense mass of embracing and dancing silhouettes, keeping his attention on the redhead that was covered in black leather.
He lost track of time –Harvey was just waiting. He was on his fourth glass of scotch, when the fake Batman went to visit the restroom. All the pieces of the puzzle fell on the right place and the picture appeared in Harvey's mind –he admitted the plan was not the best, but after four shots of scotch on an almost empty stomach, any plan seemed to be quite achievable.
That's why when Donna's date whispered something in her ear and then made his way towards the restrooms, Harvey left first, trying to arrange it all. His heart was racing –he was aware that everything was in his hands, so when the man in black cape showed up in fortunately empty restroom, Harvey closed his eyes for a moment and braced himself.
Batman was drunk enough – Harvey watched his unsteady steps and felt the strong smell of alcohol. Letting him in, Harvey locked the door behind, causing Donna's date to stop dead in his tracks.
"Hey, buddy, what's up?"
"NYPD Police, Detective Ross." He showed the policemen's badge under Batman's nose. Harvey moved to a side the flap of his tux jacket to let him see the gun under the belt.
"Hey, I just want to take a leak."
"We have a situation over there, so you'll take a leak and get lost, get it? I will have to confiscate your costume for the needs of the operation.
"But I have a girl over there!" He objected more actively.
"Phone her later and she will get a taxi. Move on!"
"Lucius, you can leave." Harvey kidded. "Take the tux to your place. Nobody should know that you saw me here."
Ray couldn't lift his eyes from Batman, who was leaning on the car window, and broke into a rapt smile.
"Whatever you say, Mr. Wayne"