Evil Business

[birdsofprey657]

The FBI embargo was growing worse, the organized crime and the mob were getting nervous and paranoid. Frequently calling Penguin to use his influence and his contacts do get the FBI away. Easier said then done. It was now law and Homeland Security was funding it. They were funding the weapons, the electronics, the helicopters, the armory, the trackers, everything. Damn the president.

Cobblepot wanted more power, the crime industry was an ever changing one. Gang leaders were killed, members tortured, mob bosses changed. The industry would one day probably lead to Cobblepots grave. Cobblepot wanted to do something in his early stages. He wanted power, and the best way to get that was to be involved in politics. Though that career was a scandalous one. Whoever batman was was rich and well equipped, he would try to ruin it for the public. People knew somewhat about his criminal plans, but his facade and his real intentions drove people to stop asking questions. And his hatred and anger would scare them off. No one wanted a bloody nose.

"Sherry call the ex harpy girl. Shawty Morrison. Tell her that if she ever wants still work with Dr. Stenet then she will come to the Iceberg Lounge." Sherry, the blonde who was sexy, dumb, yet dangerous nodded and called the number. Cobblepot had contacts in the police department, they gave him the records. The Harpies were a dying breed, Cobblepot killed two of them the other day when they wouldn't work on a deal. It was all part of a plan for Shannon to be driven insane and work for him.

Though the Harpies didn't know about it, and they wanted Shannon back from some deal that they made. Cobblepot promised, but he had real intentions with the gang. If she didn't show he would massacre the whole gang, blame someone else, and make her driven with anger and sadness.

Sherry put the phone down, "She'll be comin' Penguin". "Good, very good. Tell Eric and Shawn to let her through the elevator. Make sure she is checked for guns before she gets in." Eric and Shawn were his best security men, ex SWAT men who were sick of the police work. They were on his payroll.

Cobblepot had almost half of the police force on his payroll, the other half were on the mobs and the eight percent were smart.
He took another smoke, taking off his monocle to rest his eyes, and looking at Sherry, "Sherry, do you think I would make a good mayor?". Sherry was one of those people who was unsure of what to say out of fear for her life, though occasionally she would sasy something midly intelligent. "Yeah, boss. You'd make the best mayor, fix Gotham. Get more money, more influence, be able to cover your tracks more. Though you'd have to double your security team."

Hmm. Oswald Cobblepot for Mayor. Have an issue? Go to Cobblepot. This would also fix his status with the Rogues. Too long Riddler and Joker played the market and made things happen. Freeze froze people and was depressing, everyone else was interesting, Though the FBI was taking them down one by one. First Ventriloquist, then who next? Cobblepot? Freeze? Riddler?

Imagine a nice gray and black sticker, "Vote for Cobblepot" "Yes, yes Sherry. Once this whole thing blows over, I'll be able to run for Mayor" He got up from the chair and walked around, sometimes spinning, using his flubber hands. "But boss, what do you have that Mayor Garcia doesn't at the moment?" Hmm a good question. If he was the question he would have snapped her neck, but he was in a good mood today. Taking his umbrella, he walked closer to Sherry, "Garcia doesn't have the funds, I do. Garcia doesn't have contacts almost in every continent. Garcia doesn't control the crime in Gotham, I do! I'll set up advertisements attacking him."

Cobblepot then walked away now spouting his strategy "He is corrupt, we've all seen it. He hired two detectives to investigate his wife, then "beating her". The Public doesn't like gossip, I am the Elite, I will craft their fears and extinguish them by telling them the truth and the facts about the Cobblepot administration." Cobblepot waved his closed umbrella around. "Then when the Mayor is vulnerable... I'll slash him!!" Clicking the buton an extremely sharp spear point rose up. Penguin waved the thing in the air, then slashed imaginary.

Sherry was smiling, she walked over to Cobblepot standing behind him and touching his sides, then his face. Penguin held her. "That's why I love you boss, your ingenious." She kissed him on the cheek. He smiled, he knew that his plan would work.

[shawty]

Shannon had no idea how they'd gotten her contact number, nor was she pleased to hear the words the woman spoke, but why would the Penguin care what she did and who she worked for? She didn't have time to really think about that, no Dr. Stenet had been brought into it. It was her job to protect the woman, even if it was from the grubby little flippers of Oswald Cobblepot.

An hour later, she stood at the entrance of the club, dressed in slacks, a pristine white, button-up, and a dark vest. She refused to wear dresses. They were no use when it came to fighting, and there was no way she was allowing anyone to see parts of her that were her business and hers alone while she kicked their tush into next week. She had hardly knocked once when the door opened and the two men Oswald had assigned to her let her in and began to lead her up to where she would meet the owner of the club. She didn't even glance around, she knew the layout well enough from her past; she simply followed the men and then waited to speak Mr. Cobblepot, tapping her black, boot clad feet.

[birdsofprey657]

Cobblepot walked out of his room, delighted to see Ms. Shannon Morrison sitting at the board table, though he was glad she wasn't sitting in his seat. He was wearing a black tuxedo, a beig vest, and his trademark hat which he took off. Putting it on the hangar. Sherry looked and lightly smiled, then paying attention to Shannon. Eric and another guard were waiting. Oswald turned to them after putting his umbrella back in it's case with the others. He annoying stared at them, " Thank you gentleman, but it would be better if you left the room. You too Sherry." She looked down, but then walked downstairs along with the other man. "Sometimes, I feel like everyone is staring at me, gives me goosebumps." He laughed, sort of like a penguin "Aharahahrah.." Then looking down at the very short girl, who probably no more than twenty years old. Staring at her with his monocle.

Cobblepot sat down in his seat, "Now Shawty, I called you hear for a reason, I'm not going to hold you captive or degrade you. The Harpies want you back, apparently you made a deal with them some time ago about leaving. Well they didn't buy into that sort of thing, and are now threatening me if I don't persuade you to hear them out, and pay the debt that you supposedly have or had at one time." He wanted to get straight to the point, but he wanted to play her out make her squirm in that chair. He did love manipulating people. He stood up, his big body almost knocking over the table. Walking around her with his owl on his shoulder. "Now like all deals you have options, you can agree and talk to your old gang and make a deal or settle lose ends. Or you can refuse, in which case the gang will kill as many people as they find. Along with that will be me getting rid of the Harpies. As a businessman you make decisions to go in, or go out. Though usually the consequences and impacts outweigh the whole deal." He got extremely close to the girl, his black eyes staring at her, his face mere inches away from her eyes. "Your friends aren't making it easy on you, in fact they probably will hurt you regardless of the past. Then their faces turn red, their eyes gloating out from a burning fire. That's the worst feeling you can feel. To lose the people that helped make you who you are. The people that now despise and don't want anything to do with you." He stepped away, now on the other side of the table looking at the people below.

"Business has problems, your an outlier. They want you and need you. Though if their causing you problems.." He walked over to his desk, narrowly inches away from pressing a button that would send his men after them. "I can always help you" Ultimatums were the best and worst part of Oswald. He used them, but was prone to them by other rogues. He knew that she worked from a Dr. Stenet. Though he was still trying to connect the dots from her to the Riddler. Something special, something that would give him leverage against Edward. He looked at Shawty with a cold instinct, his flubber hand close to pressing the button. "It's your choice" It wasn't always her choice, it was up to Cobblepot. But he put Shawty in the spotlight she would make the decision.

[shawty]

Shannon listened to him, eyes giving him attention, but she made no move to seem anymore interested than she really as, which was little. The only reason she had come was because her current employer's name had come up and so there was. She honestly looked a little more than disinterested at first. Her face didn't change as he spoke, and she only watched him move. She didn't even flinch back when he got in her face. She simply crossed on of her legs over the other after he was finished and leaned forward.

Her face gave away nothing, but she spoke her voice was a little sharp, not because of the information he'd said, but because there was two things the man, businessman and Rogue or not, that no one ever did if they wanted her respect from the get go. “Before I even address what you said, you need to know two things,” she placed her hands, folded on the board table. “First, it's Shannon if you're going to call me anything other than Ms. Morrison. I only let people I trust or my old gang call me Shawty. You're not in either of those categories.” Her mouth fell into a firm line, her stare even daring him to address her as 'Shawty' again. She let a moment pass before she again spoke. “Second, it's the Sirens. Maybe with your love of birds, it's an affectionate title for us. I won't deny we can't be harpies, but we go by the name Sirens.”

At that she smirked coldly, two could play at this game. She knew he wanted something, but like hell she was going to help him get it, and nothing of what he'd said affected her. She just leaned back and stared up at the ceiling a moment. “With you getting our name wrong, I'm really wondering if you're even telling me the truth, but let's assume I give you the benefit of the doubt. My old gang wants to talk to me do they?” She brought her gaze back to him. “Well if they want to talk to him, then they can contact me themselves. And if you know as much as you claim about me, then you'd know that. I require assistance when it comes to dealing with them, and if they think disrespecting me is a good idea,”' she chuckled at that very thought, “well aren't they just peons.”

[birdsofprey657]

Cobblepot wasn't happy, he wanted to make her squirm. Why was it so damn hard for people to squirm these days. They pretended that they weren't afraid of anything. Complete bull, they were afraid of things. But people change, as do Villians. It's been some time since a lady was here, and this is how she reacts. He walked away from the button, frowning, and annoyed at the woman who didn't know who she was dealing with and what he was capable of. She was being ignorant and barely listening. "I don't think you understand the situation at all. Your gang is in a rage about you, they couldn't contact you because they lost your number." He didn't care about the name of some dumb and idiotic gang that he was going to get rid of soon.

Penguin needed leverage, he had it all the time, this time he would make new ones. He took out two photographs from a suitcase, laying them down on the ground. Both of them were dead bodies, one of them was very close with Shannon the other the dead person's friend. "Police found these bodies last week, in the same area that the sirens called their home. I'm sure that you recognize one of them. Does an Alex " Ariel" Shiplet come across your mind. Oh I also believe that I forgot to mention that your gang has grown slim, many of the members imprisoned. They are either dead, imprisoned, or starving."

Cobblepot seemingly paced to her position eyeing her very close and touching the pictures. "They need you know more than ever. They are panicked, their leader is dead, and they don't have any places to live anymore. They will die without you, you need to go back to your roots." Oswald looked at her with intentions that would be deemed worthy even to someone like the incompetant, idiotic, and bafoon man who claimed to be the smartest person in the world yet can't find out who batman is. He leaned in even closer, his breath leaving the smoke residue.

He could smell the lipgloss from her mouth. "Just because you put on makeup, eyeliner, and lip gloss, that doesn't cover up your past. It doesn't mean that you are perfect or imperfect, it means that you haven't accepted youself, your past, and what that meant for you. Sure mommy let me take a cookie, doesn't mean you are absolved of the consequences. It's time to face the facts, Shannon. " Penguin hoped his message, like a rocket, hit it's target. "Be the bigger person ". No wonder Penguin was a criminal mastermind, finanical genius, and business extravanganza super man. He knew the words that would help people view things in their way. Her stubborn and childish demeanor would fade. If not then he would show her more pictures of the gang. In fact, he would do that now.

He printed more pictures now lining them up, the deaths were even worse this time. And the color was quite clear. If the girl wasn't hear, Oswald would be grinning. Though some of this was his personal handywork, the other was gang revivalries. Each of them had names, he also used a projector showing her the news reports on their deaths. "You leaving them, hurt them. It left them vulnerable, and it certainly stayed with them during their final hours." This girl, as stubborn as she was, was slowly unraveling. Take a theory, use it, then put the evidence. Works everytime, only this time she thought she had put the gang behind here. "The fact is, is that the gang never left you Shannon. You will say, it was a different time. Sure, but they never let go of you." With that Oswald stopped talking. Letting her feelings and emotions play out in her mind. A few stubborn answers were to be expected, but he knew she wasn't going to deny it.

[shawty]

She viewed the pictures in their graphic detail, with their familiar faces stonily. Her face doesn't change. She doesn't cry or give any indication that she was going to. It didn't matter how much she wanted to, she wasn't showing Oswald any emotion other than annoyance and perhaps anger. That's how she reacted, was in anger, but not a hot, spitting one. No it was cold and frigid.

To focus she thought about how much she'd wanted to hit him when he gotten so close and exhaled his smoky breath in her face. She removed one hand from the table, looking down at the photographs. “So tell me which story are you going with? Are they mad at me or do they want me back? Because they seem like conflicting accounts to me,” she raised her eyes to his eyes. Her expression became dark.

“Penguin, Mr. Cobblepot, stop yanking my chain, stop trying to run me around in circles. I may be young, but I not stupid and I'm not the type of girl who will grovel at your feet for help. I know what's been going on with my team, because,” she tilted her head and produced her cell phone, “the Sirens haven't forgotten my number and in fact, they've contacted me.” She stood up and removed some of the photographs from the others.

“These,” she pointed at them. “You did that my little birdie says. You're threatening my girls...You see, Mr. Cobblepot from the age of seventeen until I was imprisoned at nineteen, I ran this group. I was the leader, and I know exactly what I'm doing. I know who you are and what power you have. Question is, what do you really want from me? Because I'll tell you this now, Murderer, you're not getting it because I never forgot my roots, I never let the Siren in me die. I never said I left that girl, you said that.” She waved her hand. “How about you be the bigger man and instead of showing me dead girls and assuming things about me, which by the way, neither are helping you, they just makes me want to hurt you more, why don't you tell me what it is, your bird heart really desires. Because you have no idea, how generous I'm being. Normally, my type, by that I mean Sirens...we don't ask questions, we just well...you know.” She smirked.

[birdsofprey657]

Cobblepot was getting sick with the girl. It showed too well too. This didn't make sense, she was supposed to break down. In fact her stubborness was getting annoyingly worse. If he wasn't being friendly he would have imprisoned her. "Your pointing the finger at the wrong man. I had nothing to do with this. Call anyone you want. Your friends died because you are too stubborn to realize that there is a problem. I want you to do yourself a favor. You think I'm lying, I'm not." Cobbelpot walked to his computer and printed out the email sent to him, and the interview via webcam. Handing her the paper. "For as someone as such as yourself, Stenet must hold you in high esteem, when your not pissed off you work fine. I see no reason for you or me to be angry about this. The sirens are all facing charges by the DA office. As you can see in that email they have requested that you help them get the money. The amount for bail is six thousand dollars. Of Course I could help you out, but then you would have to do something for me."

Penguin peered at her, like a raven watching people. He loved for birds, and he hated when people called him bird brain. This wasn't school, he wouldn't be bullied or taunted. How dare she think that she can twirl him in her fingers, someone needs to teach this woman manners, manners indeed. She was trigger happy and dim witted. She used another facade. She wasn't on the same level as Penguin or anyone else for that matter. She was far below him, even belower than the riddler, which was saying alot. She should learn to shut her mouth when responding, and take in what has been said. Instead she denies everything and tries flipping it. "This will never be about me, if you want to accuse me you can leave and I'll be able to pay my respects to the D.A. office after they convict your friends." No one had seen penguin angry, you wouldn't want to see him angry. He say down the umbrella under the table and not noticeable from her view. He wanted her to squirm, and she would do what would be necessary. Or so he would hold her in imprisonement and without mercy.

It is an unwavering thought to have to do or say anything like that. But Cobblepot easily masks it. Maybe she'll reconsider something.

[shawty]

Shannon raised an eyebrow, “I'm not pointing a finger, that would entail I'm just jumping to conclusions, but I'm not. I keep up to date on my gang's business, I still have an ear there. And again, there you go telling me I'm ignoring something. I'm not and there is a problem, and that problem would be that the Sirens need a new leader, but as you can see I'm not that position I have another job.” She watched him retrieve the e-mail and transcriptions and took them. She was silent as she looked over them.

She once again merely gave a look to Penguin. She knew he was not pleased with her lack of reaction, but obviously he had never witnessed a gang. She crossed her legs again. “Did you say they needed six thousand dollars? All they have to do is ask, I can provide that, my job pays very well. Six thousand is hardly a dent in my funds.” She shrugged and matched his stare until he again spoke. She pushed away from the table and stood up.

“Mr. Cobblepot, you don't understand. I've lived in Gotham my whole, I know how you work and I know your kind. This has everything to do with you. You're trying to use my girls as leverage against me. You don't need to waste your time with circumlocution. Just come out and say it and you'll not be wasting your time which I'm sure is precious, nor mine. I'm also aware my lack of emotion disturbs you. I have come from a gang background and we don't easily allow our emotions to be known, it gives someone leverage over us and I've kept that up. It's not out of disrespect, but survival. I hope you understand. I can pay my girls' bail, I can give them advice, and do what I can. I thank you for telling me this, but it was unnecessary and I'm sorry you had to waste your time. If that's it, I'll humbly take my leave.”

[birdsofprey657]

Her words were still annoying to him, this girl was going to be hard to crack. Maybe not this time, but eventually she would crack. "I'm sorry for wasting your time then. You may leave." Penguin looked down still very much annoyed yet somhow anxious to keep her in the room. But what good would a stubborn little woman do for him. That would give the feds more of a reason to arrest him. "Shannon, be sure to keep an eye out for the riddler, he's more of a danger than you think" Cobblepot knew that the riddler was somehow involved with Stenet and Morrison.

Though if he had asked her to track him, what good would that do, she would refuse. Instead he had already made his move, she just was too unappreciative to realize it. He watched and saw her leave through the elevator. Sherry looked at Oswald, "I'm sorry Boss, that you didn't make her squirm. Want me to kill her?" Cobblepot had already thought of that. "No Sherry, she isn't worth it, she has more to play in the game. Though I did gain a small victory." Sherry looked confused, "What boss?". Cobblepot walked over to his crows and owls. Taking out two of each, " These birds can hear and see very well. Every person has a frequency, they heard her frequency. Like a scent they know where she is from blocks away. My owls and crows will keep an eye on her." Cobblepot walked over al four of them on his shoulder or hand. He walked to the roof with sherry in his jacket. "Don't be seen, but see everything." The birds immediately flew off, turning their heads once then flying away likely towards where Shannon was.

Oswald evily smiled, he was happy. This would allow him to track the riddler as well. Who knows, he could always use information learned and give it to the threads. After all riddler is one of their top priorities. Cobblepot breathed in the air and sighed. "She is just one of the many pieces that is necessary in this game of survival. Though the next time we meet." He turned to Sherry, "I won't be helping her".