"Of course...", Martha said as she chuckled. "I think it's safe to assume that She-Hulk was the one that saved Bruce and myself that night that Thomas...", as she bit her lip.
"And with those bank robbers that grabbed you.", Gordon added. "Seems like she's a bit of a guardian angel for you.", with a chuckle. "I suppose you could say that...", Martha gave a small, warm smile.
"You know, it was the kidnapping behind Jervis that gave me pause to consider that just maybe She-Hulk was good in the first place. She never laid a hand on those kids...Hell, she was incredibly gentle with all kinds of things crime did to the victims over the past ten years...Hit and runs, muggings, fires, kidnappings, lost kids in parks or such, etc., etc.", Commissioner Gordon complimented.
Kel mentally cheered, "He's treating me like an actual hero!", exhilarated at the fact that she is being finally noticed as a good person.
"A bit strange, I'll admit.", Martha said. "Maybe she just didn't know her own strength early on...", with a slight shrug. "Well, those she's taken care of would strongly disagree...", Gordon chuckled. Certainly, Kel was never too gentle with those trying to hurt her or others. Plenty of concussions, broken bones and all manners of injuries she gave, yet they still remained alive.
Martha sighed softly, "Yet Gotham is stubborn...I hope the line of cell phones and such for your police from my company is helpful?".
"Oh, they have been most helpful. I appreciate it...Your husband would have been pretty proud of the success Wayne Enterprises has...I hear your boy is going to take over after his 21st birthday next year?", Gordon asked.
"Almost hard to believe... It almost still feels like yesterday when Bruce was just a little boy... and Poppy's growing up so quick now too. I swear, I really don't feel like the back half of my 40s now, Gordon.", Martha replied.
"You certainly don't look it, if you mind me saying... You still look almost the same as the day we met; of course, that was probably the worst night of your life...", Gordon said as he had an apologetic look on his face.
Martha nodded sadly, "It was...I suppose I was trying to keep a stiff lip and all for Bruce, and then Poppy came into the picture...I realized I couldn't be sad all the time as she needed me...so hence not so much frown lines or whatever...now it's practically some expensive skin cream and a bit of skin therapy...", with a shrug.
"Certainly is doing wonders for you then.", Gordon chuckled before sighing. "Anyway, we'll try to keep the case going for a bit longer but I'm afraid if we don't make a break soon that we're going to have to deprioritize it.".
"I understand. Hopefully, we'll find out sooner or later...", Martha stood up to shake his hand. "Thank you again for the time, sir... I'll see you around.".
"You too.", Gordon nodded as Martha took her leave and headed outside. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. The police certainly weren't making progress with it, but neither was her family's alter egos as well. If only there was a clue that they were missing.
Martha then decided to settle her nerves by going to a coffee shop, glancing at the short limo car with Alfred at the wheel, and she gestured at the coffee shop as he nodded with a smile.
Martha then headed down the brief walk to the curb of the block, heading inside to stand in a line, glancing at the menu, considering her options when she heard a gasp behind her, "Oh, you're Martha Wayne!".
She looked behind her to see a young woman of Chinese and Arab descent, and nodded softly, "Yes, I am...Can I help you?", and the woman replied, "Oh, I'm being so rude. I am Talisha Aziz. I called Wayne Entreprises for a business appointment a few days ago, hoping to make the friendship of you, perhaps a mentorship for a while as I am looking to start my own company, but your secretary told me that you are on leave, on personal privacy...I thought I was down on my luck as I was to leave within this week as my father needed me, but oh, here you are...Oh, I'm sorry to chat your ear off, you must be starving for some coffee to go.", looking sheepish and apologetic.
"It's alright...", Martha gave a light chuckle. "Sorry; I usually have assistants that take care of a lot. I've just been busy with some personal issues for the past week now. I hope you won't hold that against me if I came off as ignoring you or something.".
Talisha smiled warmly, "Oh, it's all right, Mrs. Wayne. I'm just happy to meet a powerful woman in charge of an entire company by owning it...It's not...very well-received that women get opportunities like that in my homeland...", as in truth, she is hiding something far deeper, but it wouldn't be revealed until much later, just obeying her father's specific orders, and of course, it's not her real name either, but she made sure to cover her tracks by providing a false identity on computers and such in case if Martha looks into her.
Martha blinked as Kel's mental voice asked curiously, "Her accent is really exotic...", as Martha replied, "Your homeland? Does that have to do with your accent? It's beautiful, I say.", with a smile.
Talisha smiled, blushing bashfully, "Thank you, Mrs. Wayne. I am from Saudi Arabia, through my mother came from China.", as they kept walking slowly in the line, getting closer to the front of the checkout desk.
"Oh, ah, I see what you mean by not well-received for women in a man's world...Well, you could have more chances, more opportunities here, Ms. Aziz. Gotham may look rough, but it's certainly a melting pot of cultures and such, and we learn many things.", Martha smiled kindly at the young woman.
Talisha replied, "So, I could have more chances to start a business?", looking pleased yet surprised, and Martha nodded, "Oh, yes. Tell you what, I can spare a few minutes to give you advice about locations and such to start your business before I have to run, that is, after I order my choice of drinks. What are you looking in at, if you don't mind me asking?", delighted to meet a woman who wanted to show that she isn't somebody to be pushed around like her. Of course, she meets and interviews a lot of women for Wayne Entreprises when needed for a promotion or such when referred down the ladder.
"Oh, certainly leadership roles if I can be general about it... I'd rather be a bit more private with the specifics if that's alright with you.", Talisha said as Martha nodded, "Fair enough... oh, you mentioned your father, would I have heard of him?".
Talisha replied, "No, not really. You see, his company is looking to expand within America, and well, I thought I'd get two birds with one stone, not that he knows of my actual plans to be in Gotham instead of looking for this guy who made a rather...suspecting offer that my father would do, but not listening to me if I ever wanted it...", with a huff.
"Oh, may I know the man then?", Martha asked curiously, and Talisha nodded, "Harvey Dent...My father heard the rumors that Dent was going for mayor...His offer was more tantalizing, next to his very prospective looks, than Oswald Cobblepot's offer which fell far behind when his reputation and unfortunate looks was discovered...My father is in the tradition of making a political marriage if you get my point.", with a sneer as Martha mostly listened, making an order of an iced mocha and an herbal tea, for her and Alfred.
"Ah, I see... Well, I've met Dent on a few occasions... Dent's been quite a force at the DA's office as of late; the so-called White Knight that Gotham's been hoping when it comes to criminal justice in this town. It's still going to be a while before the next mayor elections baring another resignation and snap election.", Martha said.
"Yeah, that's kinda why my father is trying to get things set up fairly early.", Talisha explained. "Getting friendly with local politics to 'grease the hinges' for expansion, so to speak.".
Martha nodded, "Oh, that makes sense.", as Talisha had her turn of ordering a coffee, and they turned to a clear spot to wait for their names to be called, "You don't want to be married or something?".
Talisha sighed, "That's the thing...I would want security and such to keep me and my family comfortable, but I don't love him or anything...And besides, I'm practically the only child of my father's legacy...That's why I was looking for business prospects for myself so I wouldn't have to depend on my father's money or being married for politics...But on the other hand, if I am not successful on this, he would cut me off if I was repeating for help which is not ideal with my outlook...".
"I'm sorry to hear that...", Martha sighed. "My folks... I had my problems, but they never pushed that hard on me... then again, I was able to find Thomas and that kinda got them to easily accept things.".
Talisha blinked before nodding, "I apologize if I am bringing up it sensitively like that...I have heard about the late Mr. Wayne, and how he had balanced work life and family life which I am surprised to find out.".
Martha gave a sad smile, "Thomas never wanted to be like his parents, and I the same, and we swore to keep an open mind with our children, giving them the chance to choose whatever they want to do within reasonable opinions and such.".
"No wonder why you are successful, Mrs. Wayne.", Talisha smiled before they heard their names called out by the barista, and got their orders, and Martha replied, "Thank you, Ms. Aziz. If I may suggest something, try the West End, there are quite a few places that would still need a makeover, but they would do for your vision if you wanted to slowly build a company with care. People are concerned if someone cuts corners in business, if you get my meaning.".
Talisha hummed thoughtfully, "I'll keep that close to mind, then. I appreciate this, talking with you. I hope we happen to chat soon next week. I'm going to give Dent a try, to see how I feel him out by his attitude and such as I can't report nothing to my father without going back to him within the next few days overseas.".
Martha smiled warmly, "I'd like to chat too. Same place here, then?", and Talisha nodded, and Martha then replied, "Do not let Dent or your father push you around, Ms. Aziz, there is a place and time to be acknowledged.".
"I appreciate your advice and your time, Mrs. Wayne. I will not keep you up, then...", Talisha smiled, and Martha nodded with a smile, "Have a good day, Ms. Aziz.", before heading out of the coffee shop to Alfred and the short limo car down the street and tapped the window for Alfred's attention.
Martha slipped in, handing the herbal tea Styrofoam cup to Alfred, while sipping her iced mocha, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, Alfred.".
"Not at all.", Alfred said. "So, what happened?", he asked. "Well, Gordon and the GCPD aren't making any headway... they're as lost as we are with this.", Martha sighed.
"Would've been nice they knew something we didn't for once, but alas... and the other thing?", Alfred frowned before inquiring curiously.
"Oh, I was talking with this young woman named Talisha Aziz at the coffee shop... she's a bit of an admirer in a way as she was kinda wanting to talk with me for inspiration and advice in terms of business. She's in a bit of a similar position I was in some ways...", Martha said.
Alfred smiled, "Well, that's nice, having a fan who looks up to you as a role model...It's quite wonderful when that happens...especially when paparazzi and the gossip rags are quite bothersome, making trouble occasionally when they reveal that you are still single or such.", with a huff after sipping some of his herbal tea, and putting the cup in the holder, and set out to drive, checking the traffic next to him.
"Yes, I hear you there...I hope Ms. Azis has some good luck in finding a place to build her company...She certainly seems the type to make some impact on her own.", Martha replied with a smile, and Alfred chuckled, "We need more of those people in this world...especially in this city...It's one thing cleaning up the streets, it's another thing to give light and hope to Gotham.".
Martha nodded, "Indeed...I think the past 10 years and so has quite helped somewhat, but the mission's not over yet...", and Kel's mental voice replied, "Very much agree on that!".
Alfred nodded, "Well, all the same, you and Miss Kel has been doing a great job, and now with extra backup, it would be easier to keep the mission.", and Martha smiled before sipping again of her iced mocha.
Time passed with another week, and unfortunately, much to the family's grief and weary hope, Gordon hadn't found any new leads or anything, so the case became defunct, becoming a cold case.
Martha met Talisha Aziz again at the coffee shop, and made a good friendship with her, advising and supporting her, doing it every weekend through September and October...Then one night soon on a Friday night, another tragedy upstaged the family, a weekend before Halloween which is on the next weekend on Sunday.
It was perhaps sometime past midnight, and Waylon was sleeping peacefully in his big, comfortable, and far softer bed, having gotten used to the almost eternally beautiful music from the chimes through a bit open bit of the window over the balcony next to the doors, occasionally echoing through the family wing for Alfred and the others.
Waylon was having a good dream of snuggling with Poppy on the floor before a fireplace in a companionable silence, with affectionate kisses here and there when he was suddenly awakened by a terrible sound of sad caterwauling music.
Waylon opened his eyes fairly quickly as he slowly stood up, still a bit tired but wide-eyed awake than if he woke up as normal. He glanced around to see the source of the music before he realized that it was coming from the direction of the chimes out on his balcony.
"Wha... what's going on?", he asked as he got up to head for them. "What's with that music, Mama?", he asked as he looked at the chimes. This was certainly something that had never happened before; he had never heard that sort of noise coming from them.
He kept hearing the sound of sad caterwauling music, frowning as something must have terrified Caroline from the heavens, and he closed his eyes, trying to understand, taking a deep breath including his nose, and he smelled the familiar scent of the beloved Louisiana earth around the shack and Caroline's tree, chills down his spine as the scent and the music mixed.
He opened his eyes in horror and realization that something's happening at the old shack, with his mama and baby sister's resting places at the tree! He ran from the balcony, through his bedroom, into the rest of the family wing, with the terribly sad music still going in an echo, knocking frantically on every door, calling out, "Wake up, Poppy, Bruce, wake up, Martha, Kel, this is an emergency!", with Alfred's door as the last one, "Dad, Dad, wake up, wake up, something's happening with Mama and Jane's tree!", opening the door, his heart clenching in frantic terror and worry.
"What, what's wrong?", Alfred was trying to quickly get his mind in order at being very quickly woken up by Waylon. "What happened?".
"I just said it... something's happened to the tree! The chimes, they're making weird noises! Never before!", Waylon insisted urgently.
"Wha... are you sure?", Alfred asked as Waylon rolled his eyes. "Do I need to drag you to my room?! Come on, we need to go!", frantically snapping and such which disturbed Alfred to a concerned extent.
Alfred took off the blankets, "Alright, alright, I'm coming, son.", getting out of bed to follow Waylon, seeing the others up and rubbing their eyes, and Poppy blinked sleepily yet confusedly, "Are the chimes twisted around? Is that why the music is sounding funny?".
Waylon shook his head, "No, they aren't twisted around, they're normal, but the music, it's not beautiful like usual, just changed suddenly into this sad crying music, listen!", leading the way to his room as the others followed in confusion before their eyes became more aware, widening as they heard the music becoming louder.
Kel frowned, sniffing the air, "It's not just the music...I smell the shack, the tree...", as they came into Waylon's room, looking through the door glass of the balcony to see the chimes in pristine shape, no dents or tangles yet the chimes are not playing its usual eternally beautiful music, but rather terribly sad caterwauling music as Martha frowned, "It just happened a few minutes ago, Waylon?".