After, and Before
Jan. 26th, 2006 05:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gotham_knockingWHERE IS JOKER'S BODY??
By Alexander Knox
Gotham City, October 8 - A month after the death of Jack Napier, AKA the Joker, the whereabouts of the crimelord turned the madman's body remain a mystery. Police and government officials refuse to verify reports that the body vanishes three days after it was brought to the morgue. The deny that a task force has been assigned to find the ghouls repsonsible for this act, and hav made no statement to the press since the purported theft.
___
"Knox, we cannot publish this."
"You say that every day, George."
"And until you stop submitting it, I will keep saying it." Allie Knox sat in city editor George Taylor's office, as he did every afternoon at 6:57 pm. It was becoming a ritual, in fact, but one that Knox liked. Not because he liked having the biggest story of the year - okay, second biggest, after the Bat - rejected. But because it meant that anything else he submitted, no matter how little Taylor liked it, would be accepted. It wasn't that George Taylor didn't have respect for Allie.
No, it was that. But Allie Knox could live with that. As long as the people of Gotham City got to judge the news - the truth - for themselves.
Still, he really did want to get this story into the paper.
"I've changed it. See - 'purported'. That covers the paper's butt. And there is nothing here that I can't back up.
"There is no proof."
"There's no denial either. Nothing that explain where the Joker's body went."
"Napier went to Potter's Field, Knox. They buried it and left it to rot far from the prying eyes of groupies, criminals or reporters." The only thing that rankled Knox was that Taylor never called the Joker the Joker. As though not using that name would turn the clock back, as if he could undo the arrival of hero and villain with words.
"Then they could say so. A quick call. 'Knox, it's O'Hara. Joker's in Potter's Field.' But they don't. That tells me something."
Taylor sighed. "Verify it, Knox. Bring me proof and I will run this on the front page." The editor dropped the story back on his desk and looked over two or three of Knox's other submissions for the day. Taylor gave Knox a long leash, letting him track down the news more than most would be allowed do. And for the most part, this worked well for the paper.
"This one's a good page three story, Knox. 'Grissom Aide Next In Line in Gangland?' How are your sources.
"Jason Bard, and three Mob underlings."
"It's a crying shame about Bard, isn't it?"
"That he still can't get his job on the force back? Maybe for the cops, but not him. Makes more dough as a PI right now." Bard had been one of Gordon's men, one of the honest few, before getting his kneecap shot off. Knox got on Bard's good side after that, and in turn Bard got some extra business.
"We'll run with this, unless Wayne does something interesting tonight."
Tonight. Allie had forgotten. Another party under Wayne auspices, this time at his office tower.
"George, Wayne never does anything interesting. He's all suit and nothing else, not even a shirt!" And, he thought for the thousandth time, what on Earth does Vale seen in him? It wasn't so much jealousy - he never figured he and Vale would be an item for long, ego aside. It was just his nose for news.
Or so he told himself.
"You never know, Knox. He could announce a new acquisition."
"Yes, and that sells newspapers."
"A business deal that creates jobs in Gotham is news." Allie loved making his editor defensive about the paper's contents. It was good fun.
"Ask circuation if they agree." Knox slowly rose. "We're done, boss. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Without the Joker story, Knox." There was a bit of frustration seeping into Taylor's voice. But Allie didn't comment.
Leaving his folder on a desk layered with stories, coffee cups and clippings, Knox grabbed coat and hat, and aimed at the elevator. "Anyone up for Murray's," he called to the newsroom but not to anyone in particular.
"Skipping the Deadline, Knox?" a voice - Harrison? - called. "Gordy finally called in your tab?"
"Very funny, Harrison. I would just rather see what I'm drinking." The debate over the Deadline's ambience was a long running one, but Knox didn't engage it now and went to the elevators. That he went alone didn't phase him. He didn't become a reporter to win his coworkers' friendship. Or approval. He did this to get at the truth. And in a city where everything was lies, he could live without the fake friendships of the newsrooms.
Outside, the air was thick, the stench of industry hanging over downtown Gotham as usual. In the canyons of the city, the streetlights did little to bring day to night. Knox didn't take note of any of this, and made a beeline for Murray's. He could use a beer, maybe a dart game, and a few minutes in the corner with today's paper, looking for the newest lies...
By Alexander Knox
Gotham City, October 8 - A month after the death of Jack Napier, AKA the Joker, the whereabouts of the crimelord turned the madman's body remain a mystery. Police and government officials refuse to verify reports that the body vanishes three days after it was brought to the morgue. The deny that a task force has been assigned to find the ghouls repsonsible for this act, and hav made no statement to the press since the purported theft.
___
"Knox, we cannot publish this."
"You say that every day, George."
"And until you stop submitting it, I will keep saying it." Allie Knox sat in city editor George Taylor's office, as he did every afternoon at 6:57 pm. It was becoming a ritual, in fact, but one that Knox liked. Not because he liked having the biggest story of the year - okay, second biggest, after the Bat - rejected. But because it meant that anything else he submitted, no matter how little Taylor liked it, would be accepted. It wasn't that George Taylor didn't have respect for Allie.
No, it was that. But Allie Knox could live with that. As long as the people of Gotham City got to judge the news - the truth - for themselves.
Still, he really did want to get this story into the paper.
"I've changed it. See - 'purported'. That covers the paper's butt. And there is nothing here that I can't back up.
"There is no proof."
"There's no denial either. Nothing that explain where the Joker's body went."
"Napier went to Potter's Field, Knox. They buried it and left it to rot far from the prying eyes of groupies, criminals or reporters." The only thing that rankled Knox was that Taylor never called the Joker the Joker. As though not using that name would turn the clock back, as if he could undo the arrival of hero and villain with words.
"Then they could say so. A quick call. 'Knox, it's O'Hara. Joker's in Potter's Field.' But they don't. That tells me something."
Taylor sighed. "Verify it, Knox. Bring me proof and I will run this on the front page." The editor dropped the story back on his desk and looked over two or three of Knox's other submissions for the day. Taylor gave Knox a long leash, letting him track down the news more than most would be allowed do. And for the most part, this worked well for the paper.
"This one's a good page three story, Knox. 'Grissom Aide Next In Line in Gangland?' How are your sources.
"Jason Bard, and three Mob underlings."
"It's a crying shame about Bard, isn't it?"
"That he still can't get his job on the force back? Maybe for the cops, but not him. Makes more dough as a PI right now." Bard had been one of Gordon's men, one of the honest few, before getting his kneecap shot off. Knox got on Bard's good side after that, and in turn Bard got some extra business.
"We'll run with this, unless Wayne does something interesting tonight."
Tonight. Allie had forgotten. Another party under Wayne auspices, this time at his office tower.
"George, Wayne never does anything interesting. He's all suit and nothing else, not even a shirt!" And, he thought for the thousandth time, what on Earth does Vale seen in him? It wasn't so much jealousy - he never figured he and Vale would be an item for long, ego aside. It was just his nose for news.
Or so he told himself.
"You never know, Knox. He could announce a new acquisition."
"Yes, and that sells newspapers."
"A business deal that creates jobs in Gotham is news." Allie loved making his editor defensive about the paper's contents. It was good fun.
"Ask circuation if they agree." Knox slowly rose. "We're done, boss. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Without the Joker story, Knox." There was a bit of frustration seeping into Taylor's voice. But Allie didn't comment.
Leaving his folder on a desk layered with stories, coffee cups and clippings, Knox grabbed coat and hat, and aimed at the elevator. "Anyone up for Murray's," he called to the newsroom but not to anyone in particular.
"Skipping the Deadline, Knox?" a voice - Harrison? - called. "Gordy finally called in your tab?"
"Very funny, Harrison. I would just rather see what I'm drinking." The debate over the Deadline's ambience was a long running one, but Knox didn't engage it now and went to the elevators. That he went alone didn't phase him. He didn't become a reporter to win his coworkers' friendship. Or approval. He did this to get at the truth. And in a city where everything was lies, he could live without the fake friendships of the newsrooms.
Outside, the air was thick, the stench of industry hanging over downtown Gotham as usual. In the canyons of the city, the streetlights did little to bring day to night. Knox didn't take note of any of this, and made a beeline for Murray's. He could use a beer, maybe a dart game, and a few minutes in the corner with today's paper, looking for the newest lies...
