"Let's not forget to be polite. I don't expect anyone to be anything less than civil while we are here, understood?" Edward asked as the group gathered in the hall.

"Sure thing, boss. So long as he watches his manners, we'll watch ours," Trigger said.

"I've already said it to Query: No unnecessary risks, understood?"

The three nodded. As one, Nigma's group turned and headed for the dining hall. Candles and dim electric lights to fill in the gaps where the candles did not reach lighted the long, gothic room. The vault of the ceiling was still a dark shadow, almost as if the light feared to penetrate too far. Along the walls hung shields with coats of arms, weapons of various sorts, and the trophy heads of many animals. Query was disgusted to see the vicious grimace and lifeless glass eyes of a tiger among the heads. Tangram stuck close to her legs as they walked to their seats at the table.

Edward Nigma's group was not the only one in attendance. The hall was filled with people all with a cold and aloof look that made him look as approachable as Santa Claus in comparison. Most of the guests were over dressed, or, if he looked at it from their point of view, his group was underdressed for the evening. He wore a plain green suit with a black shirt and green tie, his cane being his only accessory. Query wore a pair of green pants and a plum button up top, her only jewelry being her ring, and the question mark necklace he had given her. Benny and Trigger both wore grey slacks and jackets with blue shirts. He looked around at the obvious display of opulence by the other guests and shrugged to himself. He wasn't here to prove anything. He was here to sell that damn clock and get the hell out of there!

"Ah, Herr Riddler, so nice of you to come," said a man at the head of the table. He stood as they approached. Dee recognized him on-sight though she had never seen a picture of him. She had to admit that the man was attractive in a way. He was tall with dark hair and hazel eyes with a well-muscled body. This had to be Graf Stromel. His mouth curled into a grin when he saw her. "This must be the delicious Query I've heard and read so much about."

"Graf Stromel, this is my bodyguard and assistant, Query. Query, Graf Stromel," Eddie said, making introductions. He gave Dee's arm a warning squeeze to keep her from saying too much.

Keeping a tight rein on her urge to slap Stromel, Dee graciously inclined her head to him. "Pleased to meet you," she said. Her stance was somewhat relaxed, however she was on full alert. Her skin crawled as the man stepped around his own seat and took her arm.

"Come, sit by me tonight, my dear," the man said, still with that greasy smile on his face. She managed not to flinch when the man put an arm around her, cupping her bottom as he led her to her seat.

Edward followed behind, restraining himself from decking the man with his cane. He felt an overwhelming urge to jump in and protect Dee from this unwelcome touch. Stromel pushed Dee's seat in for her as she sat down and took his seat again at the head of the table. Pulling out his own seat on the opposite side of her, Edward sat down as the servants began to pour in, carrying in platters of food.

"So, my dear," began Stromel placing a hand on Dee's. "You are his bodyguard? You are but a slip of a girl. Far to young and beautiful to be employed in such a demanding position."

"Eddie hired me as a bodyguard, not for my looks, Graf Stromel, but for my abilities," she replied in an unemotional voice.

If it were possible, the man's grin grew greasier and he chuckled, nodding as if understanding something that was not said. "I'm sure you possess many 'abilities' worth the price of your employ."

Throughout the meal, both Dee and Edward found themselves forcing the food down. Dee was nauseated at the leers, and so-called "compliments" that Stromel continued to shower her with. Each new compliment was a thinly veiled lewd reference about her. It had taken her long enough to accept Edward saying she was beautiful, knowing he meant it because he had feelings for her. This, now, was exactly what had disgusted and turned her off on the idea of trying to date any guy she had met.

Edward, on the other hand, was doing his best to restrain the need to pull his gun and shoot Stromel. Never before had the man irritated him so! Of course, there had never been a time before when he had shown up with a female companion. He hated himself for feeling so territorial and primitive when it came to thoughts of Dee.

Why not just rip your shirt open and pound your chest, Eddie. Pound your chest and grunt a challenge to Stromel over the girl you know would rather be with you. Once you win, you can grab Dee by the hair and drag her back up to the room, or simply toss her over your shoulder like a bag of flour.

As soon as they had eaten the last bite of dessert, Eddie excused his group. When Stromel asked if he might borrow Dee for a few more hours, Eddie quickly shook his head.

"We have all had a long day, Graf. My crew needs their rest. I can't have them nodding off in the middle of tomorrow's meeting, can I?"

Graf Stromel merely waved them off with a dissatisfied grunt. Once the group had disappeared, he quipped to the rest of his guests how Americans had no class and even less experience in staying up late. The remaining guests all quietly laughed, adding in agreements on the subject.

~ ~ ~

"We have a problem, boys," Eddie said, after giving another sweep of the room with the device. "Stromel obviously liked what he saw tonight. You both know how he is: What Stromel wants, Stromel gets. He will not, under any circumstance get her, understood?"

"Yes, Mr. Nigma," the men nodded.

Shooting a glance at Dee who sat on the foot of the bed, he added, "You all know that if you should wish to leave my employ, that is your choice. But I would not like to see any of you forced to do so against your will. Now, Query will need to take Tangram out for walks. I want one of you with her at all times should I not be around. No one in this group is to go wandering around alone. It's far too dangerous this time. I'll do my best to hurry negotiations along and get us out of here quickly." He paused, looking over at the clock he had brought. "Get some rest. I'll need all of you at your absolute best tomorrow."

Watching the men leave, Dee then turned her eyes to the man she had learned to trust. He was holding something back from her. Something important. From what he wasn't saying, Dee understood a hint of what Stromel's real interest in her was. Instead of asking Eddie to verify her thoughts, she asked, "How can you deal with someone so... Slimy?" She shuddered openly as she kicked her boots off.

"Being a guy, I've never had to worry about him." A frown creased his face. "This is why I wanted you to stay on the plane. But now I see that if you had, he would have sent someone to make you come here. The men don't like him much either. Unfortunately, he's the best one to sell this damn clock to. I wish it had never been in Gotham."

Dee stood and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Tiger. I understand. The man just gives me the creeps. And if he lays a hand on me again, he might just find himself with a nasty cat scratch!" she spat, turning to unbutton her shirt.

Wagging a finger at her, he said, "Now, Q, I've warned you about that. You're better off remaining as you are. If he knew what you could do, there would be no hesitation on his part to 'employ' you."

"My luck." Again she shuddered as she kicked her pants off. "I feel like I've been dipped in raw sewage and rolled in sticky marsh mud! I need a shower."

It took her over a half hour of scrubbing before she once more felt clean. Even the man's eyes on her had made her feel as if she were being coated in rotting garbage. Clad in pajamas, she crawled into bed next to Edward, bringing Tangram along with her. For once he didn't protest the tiger sleeping with them, welcoming the extra set of ears for the night. Though he doubted Stromel would actually make a move at night, he wouldn't put it past the man. Placing an arm across Dee, he felt her press his hand between her breasts before she committed herself to sleep.

Twice that night Tangram and his mistress were awoken by strange sounds. Each time it was a false alarm.
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