CHAPTER 1 MATCHES MALONE On a Gotham City subway train Matches Malone fidgeted restlessly Malone was a two-bit criminal on his way to make the biggest deal of his life He wore a green plaid suit and tinted glasses but his behavior was even stranger than his clothing Every few minutes he’d try to engage a fellow subway passenger in extremely annoying small talk So he said to a middle-aged woman in a business suit Come here often The woman sneered at Malone Every work day she snarled Leave me alone you creep
Matches shrugged He went and sat next to an elderly man with a long gray beard How’s it going Grandpa Matches said Liking the weather The weather the old man said We’re in a subway you dolt And it’s raining cats and dogs outside Get away from me Malone shrugged and moved on down the subway car He started to sit down next to a young woman but she blocked the seat with her hands HISSSSSSSSSSSS she snarled at him Matches jumped back Yikes he cried out
Matches gave up hope of finding casual conversation and found a seat in the back of the subway car as the train rose above ground Matches loved talking with folks but most of the time they didn’t enjoy talking with him That made him angry RRRRRRRING The criminal’s cell interrupted his brooding He flicked open the phone and listened I’ll be there in a few minutes he said You just make sure you don’t forget to bring the money The old man nearby wrapped himself in his blankets and glared at Matches In front of the old man stood a shopping cart stuffed with plastic bags empty bottles and old newspapers Just some homeless guy Matches thought
