Yes, that first year was hard. The second year was a real turning point.
Mr Adams, the man I had saved outside his theatre, had suddenly died of a heart attack. His will had simply read: Give it all to Tom Green. I had become a millionaire overnight.
His will also contained a secret letter addressed to me.
Dear Tom. First off let me thank you again for saving me and my wife's lives. Don't worry, she is financially secure with the theatre.
You might be wondering how a dead man can write a letter. But the simple truth is my doctors tell me my heart will give out soon so I thought it best to put things in order.
How can I say this? I know your secret. I know you are the Darknight. I noticed you slipping out late at night. First, I was unsure if I should tell the police or not. But once I saw what you were doing, how you were helping people. I knew you were doing good. This city needs men like you.
I also knew that a man with this kind of destiny would need financial help. I just hope in some small way this helps.
Your friend, Mr Adams.
As I held the letter in my hands it seemed like the final piece of the puzzle had moved into place. I folded the letter up and stared out at a London, I knew had a chance to be better.
Two days later, Mr Adams was buried and I signed my name to his bank account. The first thing I did was find a home. Within a week I found the perfect place.
It was hidden behind backstreets. I even managed to buy an adjoining warehouse. The place was perfect. Next, I gave myself a complete makeover. I bought myself two Colt 45's and a tailored crime fighting suit. With enough hush money you'd be surprised what you can buy along the streets of London.
Next, I bought a car. A Jaguar xk120. The finest car a man could own. Sometimes when I ran a bad guy over, I used to think they should polish the bonnet as they bounce off it. This too I had tweaked with flip number plates and bullet proof glass. All very James Bond.
The warehouse became my HQ. I kept files on all known criminals. I studied chemistry, biology and anything else I could think of to fight crime.
Chief Inspector Gordon Maxwell helped a lot. I had a direct phone line to his office installed. He would give me insider information. Anyone who thought they were above the law had a knock on the door from me.
Then one night as I did a patrol around Westminster, I saw something I thought could never exist even now all these years later I can feel a cold shiver run through my blood.
I saw high up on Westminster's roof a vampire. It was a cruel skinny creature. But it moved as fast as lighting. In a blink it was in front of me.
We looked at each other for a moment before it quietly hissed. "Darknight nice to meet you." And then it was back up on the roof. It waved and was gone.
That was the first time I truly came into contact with hell, with the darkness that no one wants to talk about.
How little did I know that for the rest of my career I would be fighting that darkness with every breath of life I had?