15 New Job, New Partner

Arranging a meeting between gangs sounds easy on paper, just get the two groups in the same place, Right?

Wrong.

There's always something that complicates it. I just hoped that this something would have been The 100, if they tried making a move on Tusk, then it would have been easy to bring the metahuman onto the table with Cobblepot.

But alas, things don't always go as easy as you wish.

"I'm not going anywhere near that bird," The Elephant Skinned gangster said as he leaned over the bar of the dingy hotel he used as his headquarters.

Of course he wasn't, as was expected. Luckily, I came prepared.

"I've worked hard to keep my crimes down low, Away from the Cops, or heavens forbid the Bat. I'm not risking my hide because Penguin wants to tussle with an Albino from Metropolis," The large gangster said, "If he wants to talk, he better come to me, I'm not walking into any of his traps,"

"How about a neutral meeting place?" I ask as I lean my elbows on the bar, "You don't want to meet in Penguin territory, Your territory is, and excuse my language for I mean no offense, Isn't of a high enough quality for Penguin to agree to meet in," I see Tusk cross his arms as he leans back on his side of the bar.

"None taken,"

"Penguin is willing to host the meeting in the territory of a neutral faction if it would bring you to the table." I linked my fingers together and watched the Elephant-skinned Metahuman think.

Tusk grunted before he nodded, "Alright, Neutral territory I can do, but not Black Mask, I ain't dealing with that psycho."

"That is perfectly acceptable, I'll be sure to notify you of the meeting place once it's decided," I stand up from the seat, "Have a good rest of your day,"

As I'm about to leave, Tusk speaks up "Just a moment," I pause, already halfway to the door, and turn my head to look at the gangster through the shades of my mask.

"You must understand that while I don't doubt your good intentions, I must still make sure nothing funny happens with the meeting place," Tusk starts to tap his large fingers on the wooden bar, "I'm sending one of my boys to go with you, make sure your boss isn't playing any games,"

And here it is, my amazing luck once again making its face known to make an easy job harder than it needs to be.

And what luck it is, as the door to the stairway opens up and reveals the gangster that Tusk wants watching me.

"Waylon Jones," I say as I turn to look at the scale-covered man, sharp teeth extending from his lipless mouth, wearing only a white tank top and a pair of incredibly loose jeans that somehow still seem super skinny on him, ripped at the bottom of the leggings in order for his green clawed feet to fit through, "I didn't know you returned to crime, Especially not after the Riddler Fiasco two years ago,"

The Riddler Fiasco two years ago was a minor event in the grand scale of Gotham City's Crimes, but what made it stand out was that it was the last time Waylon Jones, commonly known as Killer Croc, took part in organized crime, before retreating for the last few years.

"I didn't know The Penguin got a new special stooge," The man said with his deep voice, "But I guess everyone has surprises these days," He extended his scaled hand to me.

I looked at it for a moment before swallowing my worry and extending my hand to him, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jones, Hopefully this little outing of ours will prove itself fruitful, and end without a hitch," I shook the hand of the Killer, knowing that with my luck, the chances of this coming job going smoothly likely already leapt out the window.

"Believe me, Rose, the pleasure is mine," Waylon Jones smiled at me, his sharp teeth glistening menacingly.

-----------------------------------------------

Stepping out of the cop car, A Pair of officers took a look at the collapsed factory where the Tire Painter Gang used to operate.

"Drug lab explosion," The older of the duo said as he looked at the rubble of where the factory used to stand, "That's what they want to write down, I call that bullcrap,"

"A Meth Lab blowing up shouldn't be enough to collapse half a factory, There's obviously something more to this going on," The younger officer pointed out as she took out a camera and snapped a photo of the crime scene.

"Of course something more is going on, Renee, There's always something more going on, it's always a headache with these types of crimes," The older officer took out his cigar and a matchbox.

"So you think this was murder? A Rival gang taking out competition?" Detective Renee Montoya asked her partner.

"Hey, Don't put words in my mouth Renee, This could still be just a simple drug lab blowing up," Detective Harvey Bullock said as he took a puff of his cigar, "But with how this city works, I wouldn't place my bets on it,"

"Let's get to work Renee, This case won't solve itself."