He closed the door and walked in with a bag over his shoulder. He moved to the small table he had set up near the entrance. He unpacked his bag, pulling out his food and thermos. Then he pulled out the small paper package from the bottom of his bag and threw it down on the table.
He opened it up and poured the contents onto the table. They were a stack of bills with an extra stack thrown in so he made about three thousand just from that extra work. He would spend it on food and other things he can use.
Ricky picked up the money and walked further into the building. He stopped at a mattress he had set up and lifted it up then pushed the stacks of bills under the mattress. He then walked back toward the entrance and stopped when he realized something was off.
He looked around and then realized more light was getting into the large room. He was about to look around when he heard a chuckle. He spun around and saw a woman standing near his mattress.
"What a dump." The woman pointed out while Ricky looked around to figure out how she had gotten in the rundown gym.
"Yeah, I know. I plan to fix it up. How did you get in here?" Ricky asked as he moved over to grab his bag. He would move his thermos and lunch box to the kitchen that was set up in the corner of the room.
"Roof, not very secure up there. You should fix that when you have a chance." The woman pointed out. She was a beauty but definitely a foreigner with that accent.
Ricky looked up to see the sun roof window had been opened slightly. "Okay then. I will do that when I can start fixing the locks. How can I help you? I thought we were done after the warehouse at the port." He had recognized her voice from the woman that forced him out at the warehouse.
"So you recognize my voice." She chuckled, "my name is Nyssa. I was actually coming out as a guard for my sister and her child. But they are somewhere that I do not need to guard them."
Ricky frowned and glanced at her. He recognized the name from somewhere. "Okay. So that explains why you are not with them but why are you here. This is not exactly a tourist destination."
"I was considering killing you just in case. But this is just sad." She was looking around. "No wonder you are working at a port. I thought criminals in this city thrived."
Ricky chuckled, "no, that is only if you work specifically for a family or survive a job working for one of the psychopaths." Ricky explained. "Assisting smugglers does not really count, especially when I am a freelancer."
"So you get paid low if you do not take risks?" Nyssa asked as she started walking around the rundown gym. "What do you plan to do with this place?"
"I plan to run a gym eventually. But for now I am fixing it up and doing some part time work. I prefer not to take big risks. Especially in this city because that usually means death for someone like me." Ricky explained as he unpacked his food. He poured out his thermos, the coffee spilling out into the sink. The code was not from before getting stuck on the grate in the sink.
He picked it up and set it to the side. He would leave it to dry for now and burn it later. "I am actually looking for something to do. I do not want to get involved with their drama. What can you tell me about the city? Villains, vigilantes, and any other big names."
"Well…" He sighed as he finished putting away the things from his bag. He then tossed the bag to the side. "I am going to get some food. Do you want to come with me or…?"
Nyssa smirked at him. "I will come with you. Are you going to use…" She stopped speaking as he pulled out one of the stacks of bills and took about a few hundred dollar bills.
"Yeah, can you…" He nodded at the roof. "Close that?"
"No." Nyssa responded.
Ricky shook his head and slid the bills into his wallet. "Do you have any preference for food?"
"How about one of those American Burger Joints?"
"Okay," Ricky chuckled as he led the way out of the rundown gym. After he locked the door he led the way down the street. "I suppose I should start with the criminals. There are the big names that I am sure are known internationally."
"Joker, Riddler, Mister Freeze, Bain, Scarecrow, and Poison Ivy." Nyssa began listing names.
"Yeah those are big names. People who work for Joker either end up crazy or dead. Riddler, you have to be clever and know a lot to not end up dead while working for him. Freeze is actually pretty nice to work with, but you have to be careful about what you say. Bain is an organized crime. Scarecrow will test his goods on his people if he feels like it. Poison Ivy enslaves, she does not employ people." Ricky explained as they rounded a corner and he nodded at a diner.
"Interesting. Then I suppose you work for none of those big names?" Nyssa asked as they walked across the street to get to the diner.
"Correct. I will do small discreet jobs that need to be done just because there is a lack of manpower in an organization. Eventually they will tell me to buzz off or they will move operations." Ricky told her as they walked into the diner. They went and sat in a corner booth. She took the side with the wall behind her.
"Okay, that explains the big name villains. Anyone else?"
"Penguin, organized crime. Two-Face, organized crime. Black Mask, organized crime. Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, and Catwoman are all solo acts. Clayface is a mercenary. But there is a new player called Red Hood. No clue what his deal is." Ricky looked over the menu and discreetly checked behind him so the waitress and none of the other patrons would overhear their conversation.
"Red Hood… interesting. Okay then the heroes or vigilantes." Nyssa asked while she clearly was hiding a smirk.
"Vigilantes. Gotham does not have heroes." Ricky responded with a smirk. "Umm… Batman obviously. He has had several Robins. The last one changed his name to Red Robin and moved to New York. Batwoman, she is newer. Nightwing is in and out but he is not based in Gotham. The Batgirl got younger and the previous one disappeared." Ricky clicked his tongue. He then remembered something he heard. "Actually there have been recent rumors about a giant metal batman running around as well."
"A metal batman?" Nyssa looked at him with suspicion. Ricky just shrugged in response. "Okay," Nyssa seemed to think for a moment before nodding. "How would you like a bit more work on the side?"
"How dangerous?" Ricky asked with a raised eyebrow.
"A bit. But it comes with benefits. It looks like you have been working out. This will provide you with the proper equipment and some training. In exchange all you have to do is discreetly watch a building." Nyssa explained while glancing at the surroundings.
"You have my attention." Ricky told her.
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