The Penguin And His Dove

Another Day Another Dollar

I looked once again in the mirror. Is my hair ok? Oh god why has my mascara got to smudge today. Of all days. I wiped under my eyelid and took a step back to ogle myself once again. I turned to my side. Bum is ok to. Good! I wore small heeled shoes that were black, black tights, black pencil skirt complete with a white blouse. I thought I looked very professional for my first day. Not meaning to blow my own trumpet but I'm looking fine! I winked at my reflection.

"Knock em dead!". I picked up my handbag off of the side cabinet next to the door and proceeded to leave the apartment building. I stepped on to the sidewalk, breathed in that thick polluted air and began to walk to the station. The sun was beaming down. It was 8:30am. I started at 9 and the station was about 2 blocks away. Plenty of time before I started my shift. I smiled to myself as I passed smiling people rushing their way to work. I was excited to start! I couldn't wait to start earning some money. Maybe I can actually buy myself something nice rather than spending it all on take out meals. I found myself near the newspaper stand and the headlines stood out to me. I stopped walking and picked up the closest paper from the stand.

"King of Gotham helped GCPD" it read. Underneath the bold headline was a picture. My heart skipped quickly. I knew that face. Where have I seen them before. Wait! That was the same guy stood on the opposite side of the street yesterday! With the fancy car and sunglasses, I looked straight at him. HE is the King of Gotham! The short little penguin guy. I was expecting someone who looked part of the mafia or something. Guns blazing, muscles and maybe a fedora or something. I shook my head and rested the paper back down on the stand. And helping the GCPD? Well that is good right? At least I'll be safe. Starting to work for the GCPD and all. I began to walk quickly to the station.

I walked through the doors and in to an open room of cops rushing around and checking cells, well dressed ladies running around handing out files and paperwork and telephones all ringing left,right and centre. I walked in a little more, slowly, and looked around, Where the hell do I go? Who do I speak to? I was so engrossed in looking around and taking in everything that I jumped out of my skin when someone put their hand on my shoulder.

"My god!" I shouted turning around quickly. I was now face to face with a tall man with black hair and thick rimmed glasses. He wore a white lab coat and had a very big smile on his face. He held a clipboard in his arms.

"Greetings! Are you lost?" He said in a cheery voice. I stepped back and tucked my hair behind my ear.

" Uh no it's my first day here and I am not sure where I go." I said shyly as he looked me up and down. His smile. My god it was big!

"The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?"He smiled again baring all his gleaming white teeth. Why was he staring at me and what the hell was he on about? Is this a test?

"I'm sorry sir. I have no idea" I fake smiled. What a weirdo. Better be polite. 

"The more you take , the more you leave behind, What am I!" He said again and took a step forward towards me. Oh god is he a criminal that's escaped the cell or something? Should I scream?

"Footsteps! Would you like to hear another one. What is-_"

"Edward, please! She doesn't want her head filled with your puzzles.". I turned to my side to see a well dressed man in a suit and tie with mousy brown hair. He placed a hand on my shoulder. Edward's smile fell and he looked at the floor.

"Please tell me your (Y/N Y/S)" He said looking at you with a stern look.

"Um yes sir I am". He sighed and wiped his brow.

"Thank god! I am Jim Gordon." He stretched his hand out presumably to shake mine. I took it. His hands were hot and sweaty. He shook quickly still with a stern look upon his face.

" We are swamped with everything today. You can speak on the phone right? And you have organised paperwork and files before?" He said. I nodded politely as he began walking towards a wooden desk with a phone and a pile of papers and files. I had sorted paperwork and files before back at home but not in a place anything like this.

"This is where you will be most of your days. You got any questions or are stuck you ask someone around you. Any questions?" He asked again sternly.

"Uh no sir but -_"

"Good. Good luck and I will see you around. Martha on the desk next to you is fairly new. Ask her if you find yourself stuck with anything" He smiled quickly and turned around. He headed up the steps next to the desks and in to an office. He then pulled the blinds down on all the windows. Great ! What the hell am I doing. I sat down on the wooden chair and started to go through the paperwork. Pictures of criminals, statements from witnesses and files and files of well known crimes and criminals. Where do I start. The lady sat next to me. Who I am assuming was Martha, had earphones in and was flicking through the files chewing gum with her mouth open.

"Excuse me?" I said quietly. She didn't even look at me. She stayed looking down at the paperwork spread out everywhere in front of her.

"Excuse me !" I said again . Loudly. No answer. I grunted. Don't answer me then. I haven't got time to waste.

I flicked through some of the paper work and put my head in to my hands. I had worked in a school just before I moved here as a receptionist. There were thousands of pupils and I could list you the pupils who would be off certain days, who would deliberately miss a certain lesson and who were the trouble makers. But this?

"John Oswald, Michael Hicks, Danny grey " I mumbled to myself as I looked down at the mugshots. Its going to be a long day. I looked back up only to be eye to eye with that Edward guy. He waved as he was stood next to the pillar opposite my desk. I put my hand up slowly and waved back with a scared look on my face. He then smiled and walked off in to one of the side rooms. I wonder if I just made my first friend.