Back in the office…

The rest of the day, dragged on. She hoped that everything would work out for Jim. By the evening, her hand had started to cramp from all of the highlighting and underling she did.

Taking a moment, she remembered that she wanted to check the food situation at the suite. On the off chance, she could whip something up for him there. After two and half rings, she picked up.

“ello.”

“Hi, Harley.”

“Hi, Brownie.”

“I was wondering how well stocked our fridge is?”

“Well, umm, we could use some milk, and that’s it.” She could hear the refrigerator door close.

“Ok, I’ll pick those up on my way home.”

“Is there any particular reason?” Rachel could imagine the playful expression on the girl’s face.

“Nope. Just curious.”

“Sure you are.” She paused, chuckling. “Well, you have a good evening and I’ll be home sometime tomorrow evening.”

“You too.”

They then both hung up. The rest of the day crawled on.

“Rachel,” Carl said as he came over to her a few hours later, while she was sorting their papers according to witness’s and their testimonies.

“Yes, Carl.” She answered, not looking up.

“You’ve been a real trooper…I mean you’ve been really great these past few weeks.” He stumbled. “Why don’t you go home? We’re mostly done here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, why not. I can finish up here.” He smiled.

            “Thanks, Carl.” She smiled at him.

            She put what papers she had left in her hands into their respective piles. Then going over to her desk she took her purse out of her bottom drawer, she slipped on her coat and made her quickly to the elevator before Finch randomly found something he couldn’t do without her. She took it to the first floor; I hope I can manage to find a taxi at this time she mused. Rachel quickly went down to the curb and hailed one. Surprisingly one stopped not long afterward.

            “Where to ma’m?” said the cabbie.

            “Gotham’s Newsstand, please on the corner of 27^th and 3^rd.” She told him.

            She watched the lights glitter from the offices and buildings. She decided to check her voice mail sadly, there were no messages, from Gordon, Rachel hoped if went after The Chechen that he was alright. There was a bright and cheery message from Harley that dimly cheered her up. Before putting her phone back into her purse, her eye caught a glimpse of the white card Gordon gave her the other day. She took it out and looked at it, instead of putting it back in her purse; she slipped it into her pants pocket. Oddly, enough it made her feel safe.

            “Something wicked this way comes.” Rachel looked into his rearview mirror and saw a rotten smile spread across the man’s oily face.

             “Um, excuse me what did you say?” A chill coursed down her spine, maybe, my imagination is getting the better of me. He couldn’t have just said that, she reasoned with herself. Reaching in her purse, flipping her phone open again she dialed Gordon’s number. The seconds started to tick by as if in slow motion.

            His yellowish green eyes stared back at her in the mirror. “Something wicked this way comes, or should I say something wicked comes your way.” He sneered.

            Fear gripped her stomach, without thinking, she realized she ended the call. Looking out of the window she saw where she was, she had to get out of there. She noticed he was staring straight ahead. Slowly she looped her purse strap over her head. Then holding onto her briefcase as tightly as possible, she opened her door with the other hand and she jumped out.

            She ended up falling to the ground; it hurt her knees something awful. Her blood pounded in her ears; distantly she could have sworn she heard two pairs of tires screeching to a halt. Without further thought, she blindly ran down a street. The chill in the air caused her eyes to well up. She heard the thudding of footfalls behind her. With all of her strength, she tried to run harder and faster.

             When a pair of vice like hands encircled her upper arms, as if she was a mere doll, someone was picking her. Closing her eyes, she tried to wiggle and kick free. Right about to put her energy into a scream, a gloved hand closed over her mouth. Looking around wildly, she realized that someone was taking her to an alleyway. 

            Then with no warning, dropped her on the ground, it knocked the wind out of her. Coughing, pain blossomed on the left side of her body. The stench of the ally, made her sick to her stomach.

Then someone grabbed her, by her upper arms again. “Something wicked has arrived girly.” Someone snarled in her face.

“Wha? Huh..” Was all she was able to mumble, before the person who was holding her by her upper arms banged her against the brick wall, she was too stunned to struggle, much less scream. Or say anything further. 

“Did we say you could speak?” That voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

She didn’t say a word. The person holding let her go, all she could do was slide down to the ground. It wasn’t long before two sets of hands from either side held her up, she didn’t think she could stand, she felt like she was about to collapse like an over stuffed sack of potatoes. She felt the breeze of it before a rainbow of color and pain, made her eyes well up. Anxious she tried to look around before the second, third she closed her eyes by the time the forth visited her, each time the pain intensifying.

“Now you listen good,” She wearily opened her eyes, the person in front of her wore a black ski mask. “Are you listening?”

She attempted to nod but her head felt as if water was sloshing around; nausea struck her hard in the stomach. She hoped that her brief would be enough of a yes.

The person if front of her squeezed her bottom lip forcefully; she couldn’t restrain the wince that welled out of her. The ones who hands were holding her against the wall and the man in front of her appeared to enjoy that because shortly afterward she heard them cackle.

“Drop the case against Maroni. And we won’t have to have you visit ever again.”

The person banged her against the wall again, things began to feel velvety and warm, let her drop a moment later. She allowed her head to lull forward, her chin drooping on her chest. Footfalls then stumped away. Viscous acid welled up from her stomach, turning her head; she didn’t hinder its flow. 

“I have to get home,” She mumbled to herself, trembling she pulled herself up on the wall till she could stand. 

She almost tripped making her way to the sidewalk. Groggily she looked up and saw a street sign, squinting she made out what it said. “Just two blocks, two.” She said to herself.

Somehow, she didn’t know how but then she was in front of Gotham’s Nightstand. The bright light from the store forced her to close her eyes as she leaned heavily on the door. The metal of the handle and glass felt good, it gave her the strength she need to open the door, she weaved in.

“Ms. Dawes is that you?” Rachel with heavy lids looked in the direction of the voice. After some deliberation, she realized it was the son of the owner.

“Yup,” She managed.

Staggering she made it to the counter, several candy bars rained down on her feet as she held herself up by putting both hands on the counter. It upset her when she saw how filthy she was.