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GCPD: Mysterious Happenings
January 12th, 2000
<...Chris wrote...>
Just then, the crowd turns to see a disgustingly drunk Officer Wayne
Hotu, accompanied by a sober Helena Bertinelli, come through the door.
Chris moves to the side, watching from a distance.
Chris: Odd... It's unlike Wayne to appear drunk -before- the party...
and I thought he stopped seeing Helena...
As the host's butler, Alfred, approaches Hotu, trying to find a polite
way to ask him to leave, Chris notices a dark figure slide through the
door, missed by all other eyes by the distraction Wayne had created.
The figure slips up behind the pillar, and speaks to Loren.
Chris: Now what is he up to...?
Lennon: What's who up to?
Chris turns to see ADA Johnson standing behind him.
Chris: uhm... Nothing, just thinking out loud...
Lennon: Oh... Who's the drunk fellow? Is he one of your co-workers?
Chris: Yeah... supposedly... He rarely seems to show up anymore.
I think he's on special assignment.
Lennon: Oh, well the doorman is showing him out...
As Alfred leads a suddenly sober officer out the door, Wayne gives
Chris a sly wink.
Lennon: What was that about?
Chris glances over to where Loren and the intruder were standing,
but discovers that they are gone.
Chris: I wish I knew...
As Lennon slips off into the crowd, Loren startles Chris from behind.
Chris: Yikes! I wish you people would stop sneaking up on me!
Loren: Jeez, Chris, if *I* can sneak up on you, how are you ever gonna
catch that snapshot of Batman?
Chris: He's real, I'm telling you!
Loren: Never mind that... I'd like you to meet a friend of mine: Owen,
Chris. Chris, Owen.
Owen: A pleasure to meet you, sir.
Chris (distracted): Indeed.
Owen is wearing the same style tux as most of the men in the ballroom,
but there's no mistaking his mannerisms, nor his voice. Chris recognizes
him as JC007 instantly.
Chris: Loren, did you know that Helena is here?
Loren (pretending to be shocked, doing a poor job at it): Really...? Where?
Chris looks around the room, but Ms. Bertinelli is nowhere to be seen...
Chris: Uhm...
Loren: You'd better not be pulling my leg -again-, Chris. You know
the trouble that happened last --
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the lights go out. The entire hall goes
black, save the balcony, which is illuminated by an open door. Slowly,
a silhouetted figure appears at the door...
<...Loren wrote...>
All eyes shoot toward the balcony, as the man removes a large,
kite-like apparatus from his back.
Bullock: Don't tell me...
Renee: It better not be who I think it is.
A spotlight shines down upon the recent arrival.
Renee: Thank god!
Dev: Sorry I'm late, everyone. I'd've come in sooner, but hanggliding's
quite fun, especially at night.
It's J. Devlin Davenport, owner of the Davenport Tower, and one of
Bruce Wayne's neighbours.
Dev: I'd just like to say thanks for coming tonight, and I hope you
all gave generously for the fundraiser, as you came in. Now, if
you'll all excuse me, I think I see a few drinks with my name on
them. :)
All the upper-class people present laugh politely, the lights come
back on, and the chatter resumes. The band begins to play a moody,
romantic number...
Helena: Excuse me, Lieutenant, but I believe my name's all over your
dance card.
Chris, Owen, and Loren all turn to see Helena Bertinelli in a revealing
midnight blue dress (with matching scarf), holding up her similarly
coloured mask. She lowers it, and with one finger, seductively motions for
Loren to come toward her, grabbing him by the hand and leading him onto
the dance floor.
Loren: I thought I told you to wear something less...noticeable.
Helena: Hi to you, too.
Loren: Everything's ready...?
Helena: Mm-hmm.
As they glide to the music, additional eyes watch their every slide
step, not the least of which are those of Renee Montoya.
Bullock: Boy, I'd really like to kick the crap outta that guy, y'know,
Montoya?
Renee: I'd rather not talk about it, Harv.
She watches on, glued to the dark couple's cryptic chemistry.
On the opposite side of the room, Gotham's new ADA glares at the
same scene.
Lennon: Maybe I should cut in...
<...Lennon wrote...>
???: What was that?
Lennon turns abruptly to face Sarah Essen, just behind her.
Lennon: Huh? Oh, your Lt. Di Iorio seems to have cheered up all of a
sudden.
Sarah: Yes, so he has. I have this funny feeling that he's up to
something.
Lennon: Who is that he's dancing with?
Sarah: One Ms. Bertinelli, I believe. He's been seeing a lot of her
lately. Tell you what...why don't you cut in and see
if you can
get any info from Loren as to what's going on?
Lennon: Sure. Sounds like fun! But you better watch out. If you keep
having me do your dirty work, you may have to
put me on police
payroll. ;)
Sarah laughs.
Sarah: Come on...you make more as an ADA, anyway. :)
Lennon makes her way through the crowd to the dance floor. Loren and
Helena try ignoring her, but she firmly taps the Lieutenant on the
shoulder. The couple stop dancing and face her.
Lennon: May I cut in?
Loren hesitates to respond.
Helena: Sure. [to Loren] I need to be going anyways. [to Lennon, with a
wink] He's all yours.
Loren seems slightly distraught...still he's never one to be rude.
The Lieutenant and the ADA start dancing.
Loren: So, the new ADA, huh? How do you like Gotham so far?
Lennon: It's unique. Like no place I've ever been before. But I think
I can call it home.
Loren: Yeah, it has that effect on people.
Lennon: Tell me...why do you seem so distracted one minute and then
become the life of the party the next?
Loren notices a blinking light out of the corner of his eye. He has
to leave, though he wants to get to know the mysterious ADA better.
Loren: Sorry again, Miss Johnson...
Lennon: Please, call me Lennon.
Loren: Lennon. I really have to go. It's...uh, police business.
He leaves without another word. Lennon, suddenly alone, gracefully
makes her way back toward Sarah Essen.
Across the room, Montoya has been observing Loren's every move. "First
it's that Italian chick," she thought, "and now the new girl in town. See
if I ever talk to that jerk again!" She strolls defiantly across the
ballroom up to Chris.
Renee: Hello, Detective. Would you like to dance...?
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