Chapter Text
Oswald is smart enough to not pick a fight over the attitude Ed throws at him when he gets home. He’s seen the news. He knows what’s happened. He takes Ed’s hand and leads him to the sitting room.
“Run me through how tonight is going to go. Just so we can run a few scenarios. I want us both prepared.”
“All right, Zsasz is meeting me at the Riddle Factory at ten. Jim has a team there now wiring the place with listening devices. Speaking of I’m going to need to find a new location so I’m going to need a backstory for why.”
“I’ll make note and start scouting for you. Go on.”
“I’ve got the usual questions, why, and who is he working for. His answers to those are going to determine where I go from there.”
“You don’t have any back up? Jim is having you put your life on the line and not offering back up?”
“That’s why you’re going to be there. You’re going to be my back up. You’re the only one I trust to have my back anyway. Jim’s going to be few blocks away… but close enough to move in when we get the goods.”
“You don’t think Zsasz knows much, do you?”
“I don’t. And if he’d only been at one of the crime scenes I’d chock it up to coincidence. But he’s been at everyone. That’s the definition of he knows something.”
“Have you given any thought, given what you’ve seen of the crime scenes, to who it might be?”
“There’s one person who hasn’t been seen in years. Since the end of No Man’s Land who it could be. But the question then becomes the motive. If it were just money, why take the reporters? If it’s clearing their name, why take the socialites?”
“You think it’s Strange.”
“I think we can’t rule him out. But I can’t figure out why Zsasz would work for him. If it’s not Strange, then I have no idea. Which worries me. I don’t know how much time those women have. I may be cold blooded at times Oswald, but this is extreme. The fact that no demands have been made is concerning as well. Damn it. I should be able to figure this out.” Ed says starting to pace.
“Ed, I don’t think anyone wants this figured out yet.”
“I know. Rationally, I can understand that. But it took me two weeks just to find Zsasz in the crime scene photos.”
“You’re not a cop. You haven’t been a forensic tech in years. None of this is your fault. And I know you want to solve this because you think you can use it to stay out of Arkham.”
“It’s more than that. When you were Mayor, we’d get requests daily for interviews from the press. Most of them all wanted to trip you up. There were three reporters who would call me and say we want to hear his platform. We want to hear what he has to say, and we aren’t going to judge him for his past. Care to guess who they were?”
“And you’re thinking somehow that’s a clue?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t run any of this by Jim. I should.”
“Anything else that might give you a clue?”
“No. Which is worrying. Like I said. If it’s not Strange, I’m back at square one. Unless… but they’ve not been seen in years either. Damn it.”
“Ed, I know who you’re thinking. Why would they rear their ugly head now?”
“Batman.”
“Oh. Yes. The boy would put a bit of a crimp in their operation now wouldn’t he.”
“Yeah.”
Ed resumes pacing the room. Oswald says nothing just stands in front of him at one point and wraps his arms around him. Again, he knows not to push. Not to point out that Ed is starting to spiral which is never a good thing. He just runs soothing circles in his back and gets him to lean down for a kiss.
“Why don’t you go shower. I’ll throw us something together for dinner. You should eat something before we head out.”
“Sounds like a plan. Love you.”
“You better.”
Ed comes down half an hour later changed into one of his more serious suits. It reminds Oswald of something he’d wear when they first met. Oswald knows Zsasz will be put off by it. He’ll be expecting Ed’s usual flash.
“You look amazing. Come eat. I’m going to run up and just make myself look a bit more menacing then we can head out. And before you ask, I’ve got it. You just eat something.”
When Oswald gets back downstairs Jim is sitting with Ed in the living room finalizing everything for tonight. He opts to head for the kitchen, where he finds Bullock routing through the fridge.
“I think there’s left over pizza on the bottom shelf. Feel free to help yourself.”
“Shit.”
“Don’t worry about it Bullock, I was being serious. But in exchange for me letting you raid my fridge you have to answer me one question.”
“All right” Harvey says spinning around in flourish, pizza box in hand.
“Did Jim ask Ed to assist on the case so he could make a fool of him?”
“No. Look Cobblepot, we keep hitting dead ends. Hell, none of us saw Zsasz in the pictures. And none of us would have thought to go to a café to see if we could catch the bastard, or bastards in the act. I may not have been on board at first, given our history. And I may give him attitude, but having Ed work the case was a good idea on Jim’s part. And if Ed can get Zsasz to give us anything it’ll be big. You ask me, Nygma could probably have a successful career as a detective if he ever decided he wanted to give up being a criminal. Not that he will.”
“Are you giving Harvey the rest of my pizza I was planning on having tonight when I came home.”
“He did. I’d say sorry, but well I’d be lying. Come on Jim let’s get out of here”
“Ed, you can still back out. Just say the word.”
“Not a chance, Jimbo.”
Zsasz saunters in at ten fifteen. Oswald is ready to scream. Ed, on the other hand is the picture of calm. Oswald is a bit envious of this ability of his. Ed makes pleasantries. Zsasz declines the drink. He gets right to the point.
“You and I both know why I’m here. You want information. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were working for the cops. But there’s no way you’d get back into bed with them given your history.”
“Whoever this is has taken Barbara. And while I usually have no use for Miss Kean, I’m rather fond of her little girl. So, you can understand why I’d want her safe return.”
“I don’t know anything. The texts come to a burner phone. I get a new one a few days before each kidnapping. They usually show up on my doorstep in an unmarked box. I’ve tried to figure it out. But I can’t ever seem to catch them making the drop. I seriously have no idea who it is. Sorry, Nygma.”
“Victor, surely there’s something you can give us.” Oswald says making his presence known finally.
“Cobblepot. Should have known you’d be here. Look, I’d tell you if I knew anything. I don’t.”
“Then why do you keep showing up at the scenes?”
“They wire me money after each one if I keep the cops off their tail. You almost cost me five hundred thousand.”
“It’s five hundred thousand each woman?”
“No that was the total after the last one.”
“How much is it going to cost me to get you to bring me the burner phone next time you get one?”
“Don’t think there’s going to be another one. From the sound of the last text, they’re done.”
“Do you still have the phone?”
“Nope it’s in the bottom of the Gotham River with all the others.”
Oswald notices the flex of Ed’s hand and the way his jaw sets. He’s silently fuming and trying to keep his cool. Penguin has a choice to make. Let the Riddler come out to play or get Zsasz out of there before Ed gets violent.
“Zsasz get out. But don’t bother leaving town. I’ll just hunt you down. And if I find out you’ve lied, the Bat will be the least of your worries.” Oswald says making sure he sounds as menacing as he would back when Zsasz worked for him.
“Get in line Mr. Penguin. If he’s lying the son of a bitch is mine. I can’t tell if what he told us was the truth or a line of bullshit.”
“Definitely bullshit. But he didn’t seem scared. Which means it was choice. He knows exactly who it is. He’s actively choosing not to tell you. Which means there’s more money in it for him.”
“I’ve got to go call Jim. You can go if you want. I’ll meet you at home.” When Ed comes back into the main room a few minutes later he’s surprised to find Oswald spinning the big wheel in the center of the stage.
“I didn’t want to leave you stranded in the Narrows. Plus, I’m not sure Zsasz isn’t lurking outside waiting to off you.”
“I’m glad you stayed. I’ve got another meeting in about five minutes.”
“With who?”
“Hello Oswald.”
“Selina.”
“You want me to offer myself up to this guy don’t you?”
“No. I want you to steal something for me.”