Shortly after supper, Bruce went to work. Donning the now -amous cape and cowl, he slipped into the Batmobile and sped out of the cave and into the falling night. It took him a few hours of searching and questioning, tracking down the city's snitches in its many dark and damp corners, getting them to talk the way only the Batman could. But finally he found the apartment where Basil Karlo was staying.
He floated silently over the rooftops, landing on the building in question and making his way down the fire escape. Peering inside the window he saw a large shape, moving through the darkness, shining a flashlight around. Batman opened the window noiselessly and slipped inside. “Find anything interesting, detective?” he asked, once in the room.
Harvey Bullock spun around, flashlight in one hand, pistol in the other. “Jesus, Bats!” he hissed. “Keep doing that and one of these days you’re going to get a cop’s bullet between the eyes! What are you doing here?”
“My sources told me that the shooter from Van Cleer’s party the other night is staying here. What about you?” he replied, eying the detective warily, just in case it was Karlo in another disguise.
“Got an anonymous tip,” Bullock answered with a shrug. Unlike Batman, the grizzled detective had no concerns that he wasn’t speaking with the Batman, few others moved as silently as him. “Figured might as well check it out. No sign of our perp, but I did find this,” he told Batman as he shone his light on a marked photograph of Selina. “Look’s like we know who he’s after now.”
Batman nodded, managing to keep the concern from showing on his face as he examining the picture. “Found out who he is too, thanks to Van Cleer’s security cams,” Bullock added. “His name’s Basil Karlo. Use to be a big time actor in horror flicks back in the Sixties and Seventies. Got out of it when the films started turning into gorefests, saying that wasn’t real horror. Now he’s one of the best assassins outside of the League. Go figure.”
“Have you told Gordon yet?” Batman asked.
“I’ll radio him when I get back to my car,” Bullock replied. “We’ll send a few more cops to cover Kyle and some to stake out this place, wait for Karlo to return. Anyways I’m done here. I’d tell you not to touch this place but we both know you’re going to. Not that I expect you to find anything else.” He lit up a cigarette and headed out of the apartment, down to inform Gordon as to what he found.
As soon as Bullock was gone, Batman started to look around the apartment. The detective had been right, other then some clothing, the picture of Selina and the killer’s orders there was nothing here. He was leaving through the window when he noticed a dark shape on a nearby rooftop.
Batman swung off in the opposite direction, making a wide loop and coming at the roof from the other side, sneaking up on the shape. Or at least he would have if the shape were still there.
“We really have to stop meeting like this,” Catwoman said, slipping out from behind the rooftop door. “I see your sources are at least as good as mine,” she purred.
“Why are you here?” Batman said.
“The East End is my part of town,” Catwoman replied. “I don’t like to see crimes happen here.”
“You mean like robberies?”
“Oh, let’s not start that again,” she laughed.
“It’s not safe for you,” Batman told her.
“Why? You need powers or some fancy gizmos to join the superhero club?”
“No. I mean it’s not safe for Selina. You’re his target.”
Catwoman stepped back, silent for a moment. Then she laughed again. “You think I’m Selina Kyle.”
“You both had a limp after Karlo stabbed you,” Batman explained.
“So?” Catwoman shrugged. “Lots of people have limps. You think I’m all of them too?” She stepped forwards, one hand reaching up to the zipper at the top of her catsuit. “Mmm… Maybe I should take some of this off. Prove to you I’m not Selina Kyle.” Batman just glared at her, face expressionless. She laughed again. “You have to learn to lighten up Batman.” She turned. “Got to go.”
“Wait!” Batman called out, running after her. Catwoman was too quick, however. She jumped off the rooftop and landed on a passing train. By the time Batman reached the edge it was too far away to catch.
* * * * * * * * * *
Alfred pulled the car up next to the warehouse where Carrie would be meeting Ra’s. “There’s still time to change your mind,” he told her.
“I know,” Carrie sighed, obviously fighting a war within herself. “What would you do?” she finally asked Alfred.
“Probably the same thing you are doing right now,” he replied after a moment’s silence.
The two exited the vehicle, heading into the warehouse. They waited a moment when they heard a voice, Ra’s Al Ghul and his servant Ubu, stepping out of the darkness.
“Ah, Mister Pennyworth,” Ra’s said. “I see you have aged well since last we met.”
“Unfortunately I see time has been just as good to you as well,” Alfred commented in return.
“Now, now. Is that anyway to talk to a former ally?” Ra’s asked.
“I was merely doing my duty for Queen and Country. One which I could have done just as well without your aid,” Alfred replied.
Ra’s said nothing. Instead he turned to Ubu and took a file from the large man. “Here you go,” he said, holding it out to Carrie. “Everything I have on the man responsible for murdering your parents.”
Carrie reached out to take it, then stopped. “What’s the price?” she asked.
“I see they’ve ‘warned’ you about me,” Ra’s said, glancing over at Alfred for a second before returning to Carrie. “It’s simple really. One day I may ask a favor of you.”
“No,” Alfred said. “
I will be the one who pays the cost of this information. Not her. And I will do whatever you wish, provided it does not bring harm to Master Bruce, or Miss Carrie.”
“Fine,” Ra’s said simply, before handing Carrie the folder. He then turned and left, Ubu following behind him like a puppy.
“You didn’t have to do that, Alfred,” Carrie told him, once Ra’s had gone.
“No. I did not. But I chose to,” Alfred replied. “Now let us leave.” The two headed to their vehicle, Alfred starting the engine for the ride home.
“What was he talking about?” Carrie asked. “You and him being ‘allies’?”
“It was many years ago. When I was around Master Bruce’s age. I was a member of MI6.”
“MI6? You mean you were a spy? Like James Bond,” Carrie said in awe.
“In a way,” Alfred replied. “Although we did not get nearly so many women as Sir Connery would lead one to believe. Anyway, I was in India on a mission and was ordered to assist Ra’s.”
“And?” Carrie asked.
“Let us just say that I have learned that while he is a man of his word, he is not to be trusted beyond that,” Alfred told her. “It was however fortunate, since I was later able to warn Master Bruce of his nature when he initially began his training.”
“Bruce trained with him?” Carrie said. “Wait a minute. You said you worked with him when you were Bruce’s age, but Ra’s doesn’t look a day over forty, if that.”
“That… is a complicated situation that I will explain later.”
* * * * * * * * * *
Bullock had returned to the precinct only to fine that his partner, Officer Ellen Yin, and Jim had just left a few moments before, headed out to talk with Selina Kyle. The large detective grabbed a donut off of his desk and exited the police station, getting into his car and followed to the East End where Selina lived.
“I understand your concerns, Commissioner,” Selina was saying to Gordon as Bullock entered her apartment. “But even if I am the target, I have no intentions of canceling my speech tomorrow night. You and I both know how important it is not to give in to the criminals in our city.”
Jim nodded, admitting defeat. “I do,” he said. “Ah… Harvey. Find anything else?” he asked. Harvey shook his head in response.
“Not a thing, Commish,” Bullock replied. “Got a team going over that place with a fine tooth comb though.”
“Surprised he even knows what a comb is,” Holly Robinson commented. Selina and Yin giggled a bit at her comment.
Bullock just ignored them as he continued telling Gordon what they knew so far. “So what’s the plan?” he asked once he was finished.
“We’re tripling the watch on Miss Kyle here, while continuing to keep a few men on the other targets,” Jim told him.
“In case what I found was planted to throw us off,” Bullock added. “Good idea, Commish.”
Gordon nodded. A few seconds later another female cop entered the room. Captain Sarah Essen reported, “Shift’s over, Jim. I’m here to take charge. You go home and get some sleep.”
Bullock held in a chuckle, the red-head was the only one he knew on the force that could get away with talking to Gordon like that. Like Harvey himself, Sarah had been one of the few cops Jim trusted to clean up the force. The two had been rivals for years with experience, and probably more than a little sexism, the main reason Gordon had gotten the job of commissioner over her.
“Good idea. It’s been a long day,” Bullock said, cutting off any confrontation as Gordon glared at Sarah. “Come on, Commish. I’ll buy you a coffee.”
“Fine,” Jim finally said with a sigh. “But I’m driving.”
“What?” Bullock replied. “You’re still upset about that? That was just one time!”
“Harvey,” Jim said.
“Fine, fine,” Bullock answered. He took his car keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Gordon, the commissioner catching them with his left hand. “Just one time,” Bullock muttered to Ellen, as he followed Jim out of Selina’s apartment.
After Gordon and Bullock had left, Essen looked around, examining the area. All the window shades were closed, preventing anyone outside from seeing in. She also knew there were two officers stationed in an apartment down the hall at all times, ready at a moment’s notice. Two more officers would now be found in a van down in the alley next to the building. “I’d also like to station an officer in your apartment itself,” Sarah told Selina. “Have her answer the door.”
“I understand your concerns officer,” Selina replied. “But I’m sure you know that this isn’t the first time my life’s been in danger. And while I do appreciate the added protection, I can take care of myself while I’m in here just fine, thank you.”
“Still…” Sarah started.
“If you are that concerned, you are free to place an officer outside my door. But as a member of city council I often have phone conversations that I would prefer remain private. I’m sure you understand.”
Captain Essen nodded, giving in. “Fine, an officer outside your apartment then.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Selina said, showing her and Officer Yin out.
“Who do you think is after you?” Holly asked Selina once the two were alone.
“Good question,” Selina replied. “I’ve certainly made enough enemies over the years. I’m sure more then one of them would like to see me dead. What do you think, Isis?”
The black cat that had just entered the room meowed and rubbed up against Selina’s leg. “You don’t know either, hmmm,” Selina said. “Didn’t think so.”
* * * * * * * * * *
It was well after midnight as Commissioner Gordon looked over some of the files on his desk. His pen was in his left hand as he signed a few reports. Sighing, he put the file away and moved onto the next. Jim had always hated paperwork, but it had to be done. A sudden light breeze from the formerly closed window behind him told him he had a guest.
“I heard you gave Bullock some ‘help’ tonight,” Jim said, swiveling his chair around.
“I guess you could say that,” came the reply. The voice seemed to emerge from the very shadows of the room, Gordon only able to see a faint outline of the speaker, the Batman.
“You find anything else out?” Gordon asked him, standing and cleaning his glasses.
“Nothing,” Batman answered. “I watched the apartment for an hour but there was no sign of Karlo.”
“Probably found out we were on to him and he’s gone to ground,” Jim said. “Still I’ve got some of my best people watching Miss Kyle.”
Batman nodded, Jim just barely noticing the motion. “I suspect he’ll strike tomorrow night.”
“At the press conference?”
“Yes,” Batman replied.
“He just might,” Jim nodded, turning to his desk. “I’ll have over a dozen officers as well as myself there. If he does show up we’ll…” his voice trailed off as he turned back to the window. As usual the Batman had already left. “I hate it when he does that,” Gordon said to himself before closing the window and turning back to the remaining files on his desk.
* * * * * * * * * *
Batman hated going out in the daytime. Especially on bright sunny days like this. The shadows were few, making it hard to stay out of sight. But sometimes it was necessary, like today. He swung over the rooftops before landing on the East End recreational center, where Selina was holding her press conference inside.
He slipped in through the roof access, and scanned the huge crowd already assembled. He quickly found a place where he could watch the event while hidden, hoping he could find Karlo before it was too late. His eyes lingered on Selina, looking as beautiful as ever in her black dress and again he wondered if they really had a chance together. Bad enough he spent most nights dressed up as a bat risking his life, not to mention her decision to support Cobblepot, the man Batman knew was the Penguin, even if he couldn’t prove it. But now he suspected she could be this Catwoman, which troubled him. Maybe he should just end it now before it got more painful
Detective Bullock stuck out like a sore thumb. Neither dressed up like most of the press and others present, nor wearing a uniform like the rest of the officers on guard duty. No, he was dressed as normal, uncombed hair, shirt half tucked in beneath his ragged trench coat. With a coffee cup in one hand, and the other near his revolver, he too scanned the crowd.
Selina’s personal assistant Holly walked up to the microphone, gave the basic pleasantries and asked the reports to hold all questions until after the speech, then introduced Selina. As the dark-haired woman walked up to the podium, Bullock could feel the growing tension among the officers present. His eyes moved to Gordon on the far end of the room, and watched the Commissioner's right hand creep toward his pistol.
“Crap,” Bullock whispered to himself. “Everyone down!” he shouted as he ran for the stage, the crowd starting to scream and duck. He might have been overweight and out of shape, but Bullock could really hustle when he had to. Reaching the stage, he dove at Selina, crashing into her and knocked her to the ground just as a gunshot when off and grazed his coat.
There were a number of screams and a flurry of motion as Bullock quickly got back to his feet, his own weapon in hand. “Stop him! Stop the commissioner!” The officers froze, unsure what to do.
Batman had been watching the crowd as well, spotting the same thing Bullock had. At same instant the large man has started moving, Batman had pulled a batarang from his belt, launching it through the air. Less then a second after the shot had gone off, it ripped the gun from Gordon’s hand, both weapons clattering to the floor.
While the police were still in shock from the gunshot and Bullock’s orders, Batman moved, leaping in front of the running commissioner and grabbed his arms. “What are you doing?” Gordon shouted. “The shooter is getting away! Officers, arrest the Batman!”
“Ignore him!” Bullock shouted as he moved down the stage and towards Batman. The officers looked between Gordon, Batman and Bullock, unsure who to listen to, their guns trained on the Batman.
“Are you crazy, Bullock?” Gordon yelled. “The gunman ran out the door, if we hurry we could still catch him!”
“Oh I think we’ve already caught him,” Bullock said. He reached up and grabbed Gordon’s nose, yanking. Gordon’s face ripped away, revealing the face of Basil Karlo behind it. “Thanks for the help,” Bullock told Batman as the rest of the officers quickly moved in to make the arrest. “Figured it out too I see.”
“I noticed a number of movements that didn’t fit in with Gordon’s usual actions,” Batman said.
“Oh… I just saw him going for his gun with his right hand,” Bullock replied. “Jim’s left handed.”
“That too,” the Batman said.
“What did you do with the real commissioner?” Bullock asked Karlo, turning to face him.
“Like I’d tell you,” Karlo replied, chuckling. “You’ll have to find him yourself.”
“He’s right here!” came a female voice. Bullock and Batman both looked to see Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon entering the main room. Batman looked at Catwoman, then quickly looked over at the stage, Selina was still there, smoothing out her dress, but never let the shock register on his face. “Found him in a supply closet,” Catwoman replied. “I see you’ve caught your man. Good work.” She blew Batman a kiss before dashing back down the hall.
Batman pulled out his grapple gun and in seconds he too had vanished, leaving the police to finish cleaning up.
* * * * * * * * * *
Sondra Fuller entered the Ace Chemical factory, late that evening, with the note she’d received that afternoon clutched in her hand. Following the note’s orders, she climbed up to an empty catwalk hanging above a number of vats of chemicals. Empty save for the man at the other end, Oswald Cobblepot.
“I see you got my message,” Cobblepot said, cigarette holder clenched in his teeth, umbrella held before him, its tip touching the metal catwalk floor.
“I did,” Sondra nodded. “I hope you’re not blaming me for today. I certainly didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Of course not, my dear,” Cobblepot replied. “I was the one that tipped off the police.”
“You did?” Sondra said, confused. “Why?”
“Because whether Selina Kyle lived or not didn’t matter,” he explained. “Although I must admit to be glad she did survive, she is indeed a joy to see,” he added with a grin. Sondra was still confused.
“It’s a simple plan really. An assassin targets one of my biggest supporters. Once Karlo talks, the police will find out that it was Mayor Hill’s secretary that hired him.”
“Of course, what they won’t know is that it was really me disguised as his secretary,” Sondra added, started to understand.
“Indeed, my dear,” Cobblepot nodded. “And once it gets out that he might have been responsible, it really won’t matter if he’s later found completely innocent. The press will have a field day, and I’ll look far, far better to the public. And the only ones that know the truth are you and I. You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”
“Of course not,” Sondra replied. “I don’t want to go to jail.”
“Good, good,” Cobblepot grinned. “The fewer people that know a secret the better. Just one lose end to tie up.”
“And what would that… be…” Sondra said, her voice trailing off as the realization hit her, followed seconds later by the bullet, just missing her heart. As Sondra collapsed onto the catwalk, she saw another woman join Cobblepot.
“Excellent shot, my dear Hawk,” Oswald said, praising the redheaded woman. “Now, if you could please dispose of the body. I believe that vat will do,” he told her, pointing to one with his umbrella.
“Are you sure?” the woman called Hawk asked. “You remember what happened last time someone took a dip in your chemicals.”
“True, true. But don’t worry, those chemicals are far stronger then the others had been and of course
he hadn’t just been shot. Besides what are the odds of something similar happening again?”
Hawk nodded at that. She picked up Sondra’s body and tossed her over the edge, and it quickly sank into the mud-like chemical.
“And that’s that,” Cobblepot said. As Hawk cleaned up any signs of the shooting, he grabbed the note that Sondra had dropped on the catwalk. He used it to light a cigarette, then dropped it into an empty trash bucket.
Cobblepot and Hawk then left the factory and headed back to his mansion.
