“They didn’t even look at the plans I passed out to each of them!” Edward grumbled, pacing the floor of Dee’s bedroom. “I had them all ready, and I would have been glad to answer any questions they had if they had just looked at the plans!”

Dee was reclining against some pillows, feeding her son who was now drowsily suckling as he drifted to sleep, despite his father’s tirade. Nuzzling the baby and inhaling the smell of baby powder, milk, and her son’s own scent, she smiled at the child. When she spoke, her voice was calm and a soft murmur.

“My love, they have their ways of handling business. Don’t worry. Shing is not Po Sin. He knows a good idea when he sees or hears one. And your idea is brilliant. He smelled excited. That’s a good sign, you know.” Little Edward had finally fallen asleep, his belly round and firm from guzzling his mother’s milk. Dee put the bottle aside and wiped a small trickle of milk from the baby’s mouth before tucking the blanket more securely around her son. She looked up at Edward, her eyes shining with tranquility as they generally did when she was finished feeding the boy. “I don’t think they’ll say no. Knowing what the students have to do with Batman on the scene now, this might be just the thing they’re looking for.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, settling next to her.

“I mean that ever since Batman showed up, training has become harder. Usually it was scuffles with other Triads if we crossed onto their turf or went after something they wanted. Batman comes after us no matter what, if he catches wind of it. Most of the students aren’t used to dealing with anyone who doesn’t come from a similar background.”

Eddie nodded. “Which is why this would be perfect.”

”And why you shouldn’t worry. Most of what Shing is doing is formality and tradition. They’ll take five days to think about it, hearing arguments from each Elder as to whether or not this would be good for the Triad. They’ll also hear from Manchu, Jiaoshu, and a few other teachers to see if the teachers are interested. After that, they’ll vote.”

“Five days?!” Eddie practically roared before catching himself before he jumped up from the bed. “Five days?”

“Hush. You’ll wake your son,” Dee scolded. “Yes, five days. Which is why Shing told you not to neglect work.”

A sneer started to form on Eddie’s lips, but was quickly replaced with a frustrated sigh. “If I must.”

“You must,” she told him with a smile, giving him a peck on the cheek.

~ ~ ~

The week passed slowly. The Nigmas stayed in Chinatown, leaving Edward to the beck and call of the Elders whenever they needed him. He looked forward to these moments more than he looked forward to the hours the Elders required him to spend at the factory. While there were plenty of business matters for him to look over, the hours felt more and more like some form of torture. His mind refused to focus on the contracts and orders that needed his final approval. Instead, they were once more filled with riddles, puzzles, and various conundrum clues that could fit any number of items in the city, including items the Triad would be interested in.

With his mind wandering, he often found himself jotting notes, and drawing up schematics for an assortment of special weapons and tools that would be needed for the job. Every time he left the office, he was careful to write these things down only in a few notebooks, which he took home with him every night. These were secured in a special hidden space in Dee’s room at Manchu’s house.

Dee was generally less than thrilled about these notebooks. Too often she would wake in the middle of the night to feed or change the baby and find him hunched in a chair with a reading light, scribbling furiously away. Though she tried a few times to urge him back to bed, he refused, even snarling at her once when she gave his arm a light tug in effort to get him up. He hadn’t remembered that the next morning, and Dee didn’t even bother making him apologize for it. This was Evil Eddie, and she knew better than to try to get him to do anything that was good for him.

Each morning, however, Eddie was back to his normal, if tired, self. The endeavor of writing things down cleared his mind for a short time, and he was able to concentrate on other things. Dee went to work with him a few times in order to help sort through the piles of papers, and to determine what really needed his attention, and what could be handled by someone lower on the company food chain.

“You really do need someone else in here, Eddie. Someone you can trust to run the place so you don’t have to spend so much time here.”

“That would be a little suspicious, wouldn’t it? I suddenly stop running the company, and riddle crimes start back up? No, Dee. I’ll be staying here.”

“I don’t mean that you shouldn’t come in at all. I’m just saying that it would be a good idea so that you don’t have to stretch yourself so thin. Evil Eddie is looking to get himself clawed the way he treats Drained Dee in the middle of the night. Especially when she’s just trying to help him.”

Edward looked abashed. He had fuzzy memories of calling her names under his breath, or even out loud. For all he knew, those had been dreams brought on by the frustration of having to wait for the answer from the Elders. Dee confirmed that those had not been dreams, and he hated to have treated her badly. Her questions had been innocent ones, offering help to retrieve items for him, or to bring him a snack. The only time he said nothing and could tolerate her presence at those times was when she would quietly sit with him to rub his shoulders, temples, or hands (provided he wasn’t using the hand at the time).

“You know I don’t mean it…”

“Oh, you mean it, alright. But I know how you are when you’re concentrating on things, so don’t worry about it.”

Despite himself, he winced. He knew she meant “You’ll pay me back when I need it, even if I have to take my payment out of your hide.” He was about to offer up a placation when a knock came at her bedroom door.

Sliding the panel back, Eddie found Chu Hua standing there.

“Your presence is requested in the meeting room in one hour. Please dress appropriately. Refreshments will be served.” Without another word, she headed downstairs. The invitation was formally delivered, and now the answer was waiting.
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