Little Things Can Mean A Lot

From the diary of Penelope Halwind:

Thanksgiving.

I’m not the sentimental type, but I do have a lot to be grateful for…

Joker really pulled out the stops this time. The girl had been acting dejected since he got back from Arkham and didn’t bother acting all happy to see her. It was time to yank her chain.

First he told her to make a list of what she wanted to eat with the turkey on Turkey Day (after what happened last year she ate this up). Then he actually made a turkey and fixings. Put on his best suit, too; hell, he HAD to. He didn’t know her threshold for pain and he wanted the fun to last a while.

I called Joker for some assistance with The Question’s latest endeavor.

“No deal, Pigey. You’re supposed to be the bird; get rid of the infestation in your office.”

Infestation? I looked at the phone for a moment. Did he mean a bug? My office was tapped? I was about to unscrew the mouthpiece of the phone but stopped myself. It was kind of comforting to think of Nightshade listening, especially if Joker was calling off the truce. I sat down, turned my chair toward the window and looked out. Of course, I couldn’t see him.

“I’ll bet I won’t find anything in the phone. Too old fashioned for you…maybe some wi-fi setup? You know, I am a pretty decent cook…just a thought.”

Nightshade smiled. Penelope didn’t know his butler was an accomplished chef, but he appreciated the thank you. In fact, he wondered if Bruce could ever talk Selina into coming over for one of Alfred’s specialties…

Gemini tossed his two-headed coin into the air. Clean side, he went to get a drink somewhere. Scarred side he planned his next heist.

Stanley watched the news. Well, listened to it. Mostly updates on the Thanksgiving Day football games. He was trying to plan a heist, but nothing was coming together. He started thinking about Penelope. She had been keeping her distance and he didn’t blame her. He could get pretty intense when he was planning; he was a perfectionist and relished the thrill of outmaneuvering someone. Chess had nothing on a life of crime.

So, the problem now was how did he make it up to her? She didn’t always want to make up the way he liked most… After a moment he got his cell phone. “Hey, it’s Stan.”

“What’s up? Hold on, let me go outside.”

Stanley waited for the background noise to die down. “I want to call in that favor.”

“Ok, what did you need?”

“Do you think you could score some reservations to that 5 star place for next weekend?”

“I don’t know…but I can try.”

“Get back to me by Thursday. What about some cash for renting a tux?”

“I know people who will chip in. You’re not looking for a ring, too..are you?”

Stanley laughed at the seriousness in his friend’s voice. “No. At least not right now. Watch how you talk about my girl.”

“Sorry.” He laughed. “Anything else? Flowers? Violin music? Sex toys?”

“Fucker.”

“No, that’s YOUR choice.” Stanley laughed as he hung up.

I was about to leave when Stanley stopped me.

“Where do you think YOU’RE going?”

He had been cold and preoccupied all week and now he gives me attitude? “I. Beg. Your. Pardon?”

He smiled and held his hands up. “That’s one of the things I like most about you. You don’t take guff from anyone.”

I unfolded my arms. “I have an appointment with Lady Panther. She has something she wants to sell.” I wasn’t about to tell him I missed him, unless he wanted me to. “I can use the business. The cafe has been hit twice over the last two weeks and Nightshade busted three of my better regulars.”

“Ok. Shall I wait up?”

Oh, no. You’re not off the hook THAT easy.