"Thank you for coming," Commissioner Gordon said to Shade.
She glanced around at the scene. Two paramedics carried a stretcher away. The body was covered. There was police tape everywhere and the street had been blocked off.
"Was there some type of crash?" she asked and looked at the totaled front of one of the patrol vehicles.
"In a manner of speaking," Gordon told her. "The young man rammed the vehicle..with his body."
She frowned and wondered if she was hearing him correctly.
"That's not possible.." she said.
"I saw it with my own two eyes," Gordon informed her. "This drug is...unlike anything any of us have ever seen. These kids...they keep popping up. They're crazed and apparently extremely strong. Have you encountered any of them?"
"No...not yet," she replied. "I've only heard of them after...well, after they've been shot by the police. Is this the fourth one?"
"Yes," Gordon replied.
"Is that why you asked me here?" she asked, disguising her voice well. "To see if I had any interactions with these people using this substance?"
Gordon looked around him making sure no one was close enough to hear what they were saying.
"This one was older," Gordon said. "Not a college kid. This thing could spread like a virus. We need to know what this drug is, how and where it's manufactured, how it's working-"
"I don't understand how anyone is using it if they see how it's ending," she said to him. "It's a death sentence."
"Some users don't care about that," Gordon guessed. "In fact, they may be using it to end their lives."
"You want me to learn about this drug?" she asked. "I've been trying to but I haven't had any leads to a source."
Gordon nodded.
"There is someone else who could be useful," Gordon said. "Someone I can't contact unfortunately."
Shade took a deep breath before saying it quietly.
"The Batman," she said.
Gordon nodded once again.
"The Bat signal can no longer go up in the sky," Gordon said, noticing her turning her head away. "Gotham would revolt if we publicly called on the Batman after what happened to Dent and now with the video being all over the internet... They would revolt. I don't know if the Batman is still active in any way or if he is even still alive."
She knew he was very much alive, and still active on occasion as a vigilante. From the shadows. He made sure he was never seen.
"I..." she said carefully, knowing she could trust Gordon. "I may be able to contact him but on one condition."
"Of course," Gordon said to her.
"You can't tell anyone that I have ties with him or that we are in communication," she said firmly and quietly.
"I can understand why you would not want to be associated with someone who Gotham now perceives as an enemy," Gordon said. "No one will know. You have my word."
She took another breath and nodded. "Okay. I believe you."
Gordon pulled out a small card and handed it to her.
"It may be nothing," Gordon said about the clue he found. "It's a club downtown. It may have nothing to do with the drug, but I have a feeling about it."
"Club Core..." Adriana said. She had been there long ago.
"I could send some of my men in," Gordon said. "Many are well trained to go undercover."
"And you'll send them in?" she asked.
"Of course," he replied.
"But..." she looked at the card again. "You don't think they'll be successful."
"I will take a chance on it," he said. "Although if this keeps happening it's only a matter of time before the FBI gets involved."
"You think the Batman can produce results here," she said.
Gordon looked into her eyes.
"Can you give him this card and tell him of my suspicions of this place being connected to the drug?" Gordon asked. "Or at least make an attempt?"
She could tell that Gordon knew he was taking a chance. He had no idea who she was and that she was married to the Batman. He thought that there was a chance she could contact him but that there was no guarantee.
She tried not to take it personally that Gordon didn't ask her directly to investigate. He clearly had more faith in the Batman than he did in her. The Batman had been gone from the public eye for a long time. His whereabouts and identity were a mystery to everyone. And still, he was Gordon's preference.
"I'll get it to him within the hour," she said, and could see that Gordon was surprised.
"So, your association with him must be close," Gordon gathered from her response. She sounded entirely certain that she would be able to see him almost immediately.
She smiled slightly, knowing he would be able to see clearly what she meant. The only reason she let her guard down at all was because she trusted him even though he didn't know that she was Adriana Wayne. She also knew they were not being overheard by anyone.
"Very," she said, still smiling.
Gordon raised his eyebrows. He understood what she meant. They were romantically involved. It was surprising and unexpected, especially given stories Gordon had heard from a man arrested ages ago who witnessed the two of them fighting. Gordon heard the story of the Batman knocking out one of Shade's teeth before she knocked him to the ground and kicked him repeatedly. Gordon and many others had assumed they were at odds, did not get along, and merely tolerated each other's presence.
"I see," Gordon said. "Thank you."
