"Snap."
The Pink Wooden Door swung shut in the shadows of the Municipal Building's underground parking garage.
A second later.
On the top floor, in the Mayor's Office.
The air before the floor-to-ceiling windows warped.
A Pink Wooden Door appeared out of thin air.
Beyond it, there was no hallway, no security guard, and no keycard reader.
Carrying his medical kit, Yang Ming stepped through.
Outside the window, torrential rain swept across Gotham.
The distant towers were blurred black shapes behind the curtain of rain, and headlights on the streets looked like sparks submerged in sewage.
Inside the office, however, it was warm.
A roaring fire burned in the fireplace.
Dark wool carpeting, mahogany bookcases, and oil portraits of Gotham's past mayors lined the walls.
A bottle of red wine stood beside the desk.
Two wineglasses had already been filled.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Applause rang out.
Mayor Hamilton rose from beside the fireplace.
He was in his fifties, his hair immaculately combed, his dark gray suit without a single crease. A tiny sapphire studded his tie clip.
He looked at Yang Ming with a perfectly measured smile.
"Doctor Yang."
"I've been waiting a long time for you."
Yang Ming closed the door behind him.
"Seems Gotham's mayor has plenty of time on his hands."
"Staying up in the middle of the night just to wait for a house call."
Hamilton smiled.
"How is Elwin?"
"Still alive." Yang Ming set his medical kit on the coffee table. "Though he might wet himself whenever he sees a needle from now on."
"A shame."
Hamilton lifted his wineglass and gently swirled it.
"He was a fool. He took the money without even knowing who he was working for."
"But he was always just one of the many expendable pawns in our Court of