Terror In Gotham City

Chapter 9

*Accalia*

Jerome and I are about to leave when we hear an all too familiar voice. "Excuse me," Mr. Cicero calls. "Am I speaking to Detective James Gordon?"

Jim turns away from Barbara and Dr. Thompkins, and gives the blind man a once over. "Yes."

"Then this must be Dr. Thompkins, the medical examiner, and Miss Barbara Kean, your fiancé."

"I'm sorry, how did you know who we were?"

"My name is Paul Cicero. I'm a psychic with the sideshow. Lila Valeska was an old friend of mine."

"A psychic. I see. How could I help you, Mr. Cicero?"

"I sense that you don't think Owen or Alphonse are guilty"

"You must be psychic."

"In which case, perhaps you'd like to hear the message Lila sent me from the other side."

"Thanks, Mr. Cicero, we're not quite looking at the other side just yet."

"As you wish. I'm merely a messenger."

"What's the message?" Dr. Thompkins asks, butting into the conversation rudely.

"Thank you, Doctor." Mr. Cicero straightens up. "Lila told me that the servant of the Devil lies in the garden of the Iron Sisters."

"The Iron Sisters? What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

"We'll get right on it," Jim informs, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

"I don't think sarcasm is your métier, James. Make of the message what you will. Good day to you both."

"Well, that wasn't very open-minded of you," Barbara teases.

"Oh, come on, Barbara," Jim sighs, looking over at both Dr. Thompkins and Barbara. "He's a fraud. He's gonna go straight to the press and say he's consulting on the case. He's looking for publicity."

"Maybe."

"If you were gonna send a message from beyond the grave, don't you think priority number one would be the killer's name and not a riddle?"

"Who knows how it works?"

"Alright. I'm not gonna argue with you."

"Good."

***

Hours later, Jerome and I are lounging on his bed, strangely wide awake. We haven't slept in over twelve hours, but there's no trace of exhaustion in my bones. Jerome's eyes are alive with a strange light and ferocity that I've never seen before. He's finally free of his tormentor, and there's nothing that can stop him now - not even being caught and thrown into Arkham. The ginger is free, and he's not going to be climbing back into the cage of abuse anytime soon. "You seem different, ginger," I say, rolling onto my stomach and propping my head up on one hand. "Is it because you finally killed that bitch who called herself your mother?"

Jerome laughs. "I feel free, Cali. It's like there's nothing holding me back any longer."

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but you deserve to know."

"What is it?"

"I have a nagging feeling that something is going to happen; something bad. I feel like they're going to find out we both played a part in killing her and we're going to be locked away at Blackgate or Arkham. Ginger, I don't want that to happen."

"I won't let that happen to you. Alright? You're not getting locked away for something I've done. If it was anyone else, I'd throw them under the bus in a heartbeat - both literally and figuratively. You're different. I care too much about you to do that." His eyes meet mine and they're utterly sincere. "You're the one thing in this fucked up world that makes sense to me." I shake my head and smile, allowing myself to be swallowed by his warmth. Our contentment doesn't last long. It is broken by the shrill ringing of my phone. Answering it, my expression drops almost instantly as Jim explains that new evidence has turned up on the case, and that he wants Jerome and I to come down to the precinct as soon as we possibly can. Hanging up, I jump up off the bed and pull on Jerome's jacket, all the while explaining to him what's going on. Jerome's eyes darken, and he follows my actions. We rush out to the road, me being on the phone to the taxi company as we weave our way through the tents and attractions, and our pounding hearts don't cease even when we climb into the taxi and tell them to get to the GCPD precinct as quickly as they can. A dark cloud of threat and promise of discovery looms over us as we pull up outside the GCPD only minutes later, and it only worsens as Alvarez takes Jerome away from me. Harvey leads me to an interrogation room without a word and my heart leaps into my throat as I look over my shoulder at the ginger. His eyes meet my petrified ones and they begin to burn with anger, hating seeing me in such a state. He doesn't care about anyone else, only me - he'd kill anyone who got between him and I, as well as anyone who meant me harm. Entering the interrogation room, I find four people already seated and waiting for me. Jim, Barbara, Mr. Cicero and Dr. Thompkins are waiting patiently for me, and I have a sickening feeling about the events about to unfold. I lean against the wall and swallow my fear as best I can, not even bothering to hide the fact that I am nervous about this new 'evidence' that has shown itself.