Disclaimer I don't own Batman in anyway, but I do own my characters.

AN: I'm very sorry for the delay in updating. This semester at school was rough and I took a break to focus on school. However, I'm now back to writing so you can expect more updates. Also, I'm not 100% happy with this chapter, but I promised myself I would update this story by my birthday, and it's my birthday! Hope you enjoy it!

AN2: I've re-edited the first 9 chapters for grammatical errors. There isn't anything new in the content so there's no need to re-read it unless you really want to


"Watch out for the snake in the grass

Cause it will get your ass."

Snake in the Grass - Vallejo


The pulsating bass throbbed through Nicole as she made her way to the crowded bar, shoving past gangs of women who were dressed far nicer, albeit more scantily, than she was. She managed to find a small opening between two rather hulking men and squeezed through it to the silver metallic bar. As she waited on the bartender, she looked out across the rotating dance floor that occupied the center of the club. Hue, one of Gotham's newest and most popular dance clubs was jam packed full of young people, drinking and gyrating on the dance floor. It was certainly the "it" spot to be on a Saturday night.

Upon seeing the bartender move toward her, she tried to flag him down to no avail. In a place this busy it would be a while before she could order drinks for her friends and herself. Letting a sigh escape her glossed lips, she lightly drummed her fingertips against the cool metal surface, becoming slightly annoyed at the drunken men pushing up against her.

She briefly thought about the events of the day. After Bruce had left them to entertain the rest of his employees, Nicole and Rebecca had enjoyed their day at Amusement Mile, riding various rides and snacking on carnival food. Both women were now sunburned and fairly tired from their adventure but had come straight from the park to celebrate a friend's birthday. Rebecca had teased her mercilessly about the events from earlier, trying to get her to admit her growing affection for Bruce. At this point, Nicole wanted to deny the fact that Bruce Wayne even existed. She tried to rationalize that Bruce was being nice to her because he was her superior, not to mention she routinely took care of him at work. The simple fact was that liking Bruce Wayne would open up an entire can of worms that she didn't feel entirely equipped to deal with. Sure, there was the issue that was Bruce Wayne himself, but she didn't want to face her fears. She had been burned badly, which made her all the more wary of dating. Truth be told, she wasn't eager to delve into that part of life again; to deal with the stresses and emotions that relationships brought. She didn't want to have to rely on someone, much less have to face the risk of trusting someone. For Nicole, admitting that she liked Bruce Wayne meant she would have to face her past and her emotions—and she just wasn't ready for that. Not yet. She was, however, ready for something stiff to drink.

Suddenly someone knocked into her violently, pressing her even closer to the bar, so much so that she thought she wouldn't be able to breathe. She turned her head, prepared to give a scathing look to whoever had caused the discomfort when she noticed the perky blonde next to her smiling apologetically.

"Sorry about that; I accidentally tripped while trying to get through the crowd."

Nicole nodded silently while trying to flag the bartender down yet again. It seemed as if she were never going to get a drink in this place.

"He doesn't seem very interested in us, if you know what I mean."

Nicole chuckled softly, at the woman scowling next to her.

"By the way, I'm Cassidy. Cassidy Jenkins. Is this your first time at Hue? I don't mean to offend; you just seem a bit…out of place."

Nicole took in the blonde's made up appearance. She was attractive and exuded sexuality with her sparkling eyes and glossed pouty lips. The dress was obviously expensive and insanely short and low cut. It stood out in stark contrast to her own simple appearance considering she hadn't even changed from her day at the amusement park and wore not even a hint of make-up with the exception of her lip gloss.

"Actually it is my first time here, and you didn't offend me. It was sort of a spur of the moment decision to come here for a friend's birthday. My name's Nicole Miller, but everyone calls me Nikki," she said with an honest smile.

"Well Nikki, what do you say we get those drinks," Cassidy smiled before turning around. "Ah, there she is! Hey, Jenny! What's the deal, we can't get service anymore?"

Nicole could only assume that the petit raven haired woman who had just exited the storeroom was Jenny. She threw a towel over her left shoulder and gave Cassidy a smile as she ambled toward the two women.

"Cass! So great to see you! Sorry about the wait, we're packed tonight. What will it be?"

"A Guiness, a Heineken, and three Buds. Oh and Jenny, my friend Nikki here needs a few drinks as well—and put them on my tab," Cassidy stated, gesturing toward Nicole who was now awkwardly standing there. Sensing Nicole's protest, Cassidy held up her hand. "I insist, it's your first time here and I did stomp on your foot with my heels. That had to hurt like a bitch!"

Jenny laughed. "What'll it be hun?"

"Three Jagerbombs, two rum and cokes, and one long island iced tea."

Jenny noted the drinks and disappeared, gathering their order.

"You can hold your liquor can't you," Cassidy asked slyly.

Nicole simply smiled innocently.

"Here you are, girls," Jenny said as she plopped down the drinks on two small trays. "Just bring the trays back when you come to pick up your tabs or get more drinks."

Nicole picked up the tray and bid Cassidy farewell, eager to get the night's festivities started. After all, she still needed that drink.


Metropolis was a pristine city filled with towering glass skyscrapers that was located across the Delaware Bay from the shores of Gotham City. Throngs of laughing tourists roamed the streets of the bustling downtown area, sampling the fine dining and nightlife that Metropolis was renowned for, which was considered some of the finest in the country. But Batman hadn't come to Gotham's sister city to enjoy such frivolities; he had come to talk to Katarina Collins.

Finding her hadn't been as hard as he thought it would be. On a whim, he entered her name into the database of his computer and it had returned a single hit—a lease for a loft signed less than a week ago in her name. He had to admit he was somewhat surprised that she had used her given name considering her concerns of being found by a serial killer, never mind the fact she was able to lease a relatively expensive loft near downtown Metropolis.

He stood in the darkness, his eyes vigilantly watching for any signs of life in her loft. The faint sound of key being slipped into a lock was amplified by the microphones in the ears of his cowl, alerting him that the young woman was about to enter her home. Sure enough, the light was soon on, showing the young woman slipping off her shoes in the sparsely decorated apartment. A few seconds later, Katarina was walking into the kitchen. It was time for him to make his move.

Batman leapt from his perch and floated down to the balcony of the loft. He managed to land softly with little noise and without being seen by any tourists below. He soundlessly jimmied the lock of the balcony and slipped into the darkness within before sliding the door shut behind him. He had maneuvered himself away from the window and was creeping along the wall when he heard the sound of bare feet on the hardwood floor getting louder.

Katarina padded into the room as she pulled her dark hair from the messy pony tail. She unzipped the blue and white standard waitressing uniform and let it fall to the floor before climbing out of it. She threw open the closet door and switched on the closet light as she started fervently searched for something. With her arms full of clothes she turned around and dropped them with a shriek. Before Batman could react, Katarina was brandishing a Louisville Slugger and charging at him. She landed a hard blow on the side of his cowl before he took the bat away, and he was thankful that his cowl could withstand the blow, he didn't need a trip to Metropolis Memorial Hospital tonight.

Katarina shrieked once more and made an attempt to run out of the room. Batman swiftly caught the smaller girl, clad only in a black lacy set of matching underwear. He had to admit he felt a little remorseful for intruding upon the woman's privacy like this until she landed a blow on his lower jaw. Katarina had a hell of a right hook.

"Stop fighting, I'm not going to hurt you, I only want to talk," he painfully growled.

"You killed all those cops and you only want to talk?! Like hell you do!"

"If I wanted to hurt you, you would be dead. I just need information."

At this, the woman calmed slightly as if she was contemplating his words.

"And if I give you this information, you'll leave me alone?"

"Yes."

Katarina resigned herself with a sigh as her shoulders slumped in defeat. Feeling the woman relax, Batman let her go and handed Katarina the bat as a show of good faith. Suddenly, she whipped around and swung the bat, stunning him briefly. It was all the chance she needed as she darted towards the door. Batman stood up and maneuvered his head to loosen the now tense muscles he had. She was really starting to irritate him. As he rounded the corner he was met by a flying vase. Easily ducking it, it hit the wall and shattered. As he came closer, Katarina became desperate and made an attempt to run for the door. He tackled her in mid stride and the two of them crashed to the floor, where she continued to fight.

"Stop. Fighting." He growled menacingly. It only made the fighting worse. Gritting his teeth in frustration he tried again. "I want to find who killed Bunny."

At Bunny's name, she suddenly stilled. Batman took his chance. "I need your help to find who killed her and the other girls. If you don't help me, we may never find him."

Katarina suddenly gasped for air and Batman knew she was choking back her tears. "How did you know where I was?"

"Zsasz told me where to find you."

She looked momentarily frightened before she took a deep breath. Batman released her, trusting she would do the right thing. Katarina sat up and stared at him.

"You're the only one that can help me. I need you to tell me everything you know."

Katarina nodded and began her tale.


She couldn't decide whether or not she wanted to burst into tears or scream as she forcefully made her way to the bar from the back of the club, her eyes moist with tears that threatened to spill at any moment. From the moment they had entered the club, Josh had been surrounded by girls throwing themselves at him. It was to be expected considering how attractive he was, yet that fact didn't quell the jealousy she felt. After a couple of hours, Cassidy had managed to get the object of her affection all to herself. And then she had sprung it on him. She told him how much loved him and wanted to be with him. That she would give anything to be with him. And the bastard had told her she was like a sister to him and had given her a half smile before walking into the arms of some other woman.

Cassidy wasn't used to rejection and in all honesty, she couldn't remember the last time she had been rejected by a guy. In fact, she hadn't even given the present scenario much thought. She was so sure Josh would feel the same about her. Pushing through the crowd, Cassidy had a sudden desire to run through the exit and out into the night; away from everything and everyone. But she couldn't bring herself to run away from anything, and she sure as hell wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her heartbroken over him; no, it was time for her to move on to bigger and better things. After all, there were bound to be many eligible bachelors here tonight, meaning she didn't have to go home alone.

As she stood with her back to the bar, waiting on her drink, she caught sight of Nikki and her friends taking a shot and singing yet another round of Happy Birthday to a small Puerto Rican girl who was obviously being celebrated. Cassidy typically was a great judge in character and had instantly liked the girl. She seemed shy and a bit unsure about the big city, but Cassidy had no doubt this girl was a force to be reckoned with in her own right, especially if and when she finally broke out of the shell she had obviously built around herself.

"Busy night, isn't it?" a deep rumbling voice purred next to her. Breaking her stare, Cassidy turned to the left to find the source smiling at her. He was tall and good looking in a way that was subtle but wholesome, with his blonde hair tousled in a style that was popular. Brilliant sapphire eyes gazed back at her and flickered with a hint of mystery. She gave a quick look around to confirm he was talking to her before she put on her best flirtatious smile.

"I've seen worse," she commented nonchalantly with a shrug of her shoulder before looking to the back of the club to allow herself one last glimpse of Josh. It was time to move on. "But from where I'm standing, the view isn't so bad. Buy me a drink?"


He had been watching her from the back of the club for most of the night. The way she moved, how she tilted her head back to laugh, the way her attention seemed focused on the dark haired man. He had to admit that he hadn't taken into account the woman's affection for the man. At first he had been concerned that his attempts would be thwarted. But soon, it became apparent at the one-sidedness of her affection, even though that only eased a few of the snags he faced.

He had been on his way to the bar in the early evening in hopes of following her and striking up a conversation when he saw the young dark-haired girl she was conversing with. He had seen her once before, when he stopped to help her in the rain without receiving as much as a thank you in return. Truth be known, he had been sorely tempted to abandon Cassidy as his target in favor of this girl. Not only did she need to be taught manners, but he seemed inexplicably drawn to her. The young girl had crossed his fantasies multiple times since their brief encounter. To see her standing there with his intended victim seemed too surreal. So he had fallen back and watched from afar to wait for the opportune moment, not wanting anyone to recognize him. And eventually, after nearly two hours of waiting, that moment had arrived when it seemed Cassidy's heart was crushed and she was turning to the bar for a drink.

He had swooped in, gracefully, though he had to admit he was surprised she so willingly threw herself at him. Maybe things were looking up from the problems he faced earlier, he wasn't sure. At any rate, it seemed too easy. All he had to do was continue to buy her drinks.

"So, Scott," Cassidy drunkenly slurred as she licked her lips, "What do you say when this place closes, we go back to your penthouse in Gotham Towers. I'm dying to see one."

The blonde man smiled, "Oh, really? Well, it's only half an hour to closing time," he said looking at his watch. "Why don't you have another drink, say goodbye to your friends, and then meet me down the street at Gotham Towers. It's only two blocks. And in the meantime, I'll get everything ready for a night you will never forget."

Cassidy smiled and he knew his trap was set. He bought her another drink—something incredibly strong—and sent her off to her friends. He turned and smiled at her before he left the club. After all, he did promise Cassidy a night she would never forget—and he intended to keep his promise.


Nicole picked up the plastic cup that contained her fifth Long Island Iced Tea of the night and swallowed the remnants. The night had been a blast so far and the trio of girls was joined by more of their friends, creating an impromptu party. She checked the time on her cell phone and was amazed that it was already last call; she couldn't remember the last time she'd danced so much, not to mention had so much to drink; and she was definitely feeling the effects of the alcohol. Dropping her cell phone back into her black handbag, she turned toward the group before plucking the cherry out of her plastic cup.

"Going to tie the stem into a knot with your tongue Nikki?" one of the guys that had joined them, she thought his name was Ryan, asked, receiving a slap on the shoulder from Becky, who obviously liked him.

Nicole rolled her eyes as she munched on the cherry after she removed the stem.

"Guys, Ryan has offered for us to take the party back to his place, what do you say?"

Nicole looked around the group, suddenly realizing that she was the odd girl out of a group that seemed to be pairing off. She knew for a fact Becky wanted to hook up with Ryan tonight and was pretty sure Ellie was eyeing the other guy, Nick.

"Actually guys, I think I might head out," she answered to a chorus of "aws."

"Nikki, how are you getting home?" Ellie asked.

Nicole laughed. "Oh, a cab I suppose. Don't worry guys, I'll be fine," she said as she picked up her bag. "I promise, scouts honor," she added, giving a small salute, at their disbelieving looks before making her way to the exit.


Cassidy's red stiletto heels clicked on the pavement as she staggered down the empty avenue, her small clutch under her arm and a tube of lipstick held firmly in between her fingers as she applied more to her plump lips. She might have been wasted but she could at least look her best for the man she was about to sleep with. And that man was Scott Alexander. She had fully expected to go home with someone tonight, but she hadn't expected Scott to be so charming. Or rich. She let out a squeal of excitement at the thought of staying in a luxurious penthouse as she dropped the golden tube of lipstick back into her silver clutch. He may not have been Josh but part of moving on was to immerse yourself in something else, and Cassidy was sure that there couldn't have been a better way than a passionate night with a millionaire. It might not take away the hurt, but it was one hell of a comeback.

Cassidy saw the immaculate Gotham Towers, only a block away now. Her feet were starting to ache from the height of her heels. Oh the price we pay for beauty she thought wryly. As she passed the nearby alleyway, she never saw the black figure waiting in the darkness.

Suddenly she was thrown off balance and felt herself falling backwards. She thought she might have broken a heel and was plummeting to the ground until she felt something warm and leathery over her lips and something solid against her back. Panic flooded the young blonde girl as she began to fight back, haphazardly trying to push away from the strong figure that held her. She began to scream, though it was muffled. The only thing she could do was try to make as much noise as possible. Hoping someone, anyone, could hear her. She gasped in pain as something sharp was roughly jabbed into her neck. Did someone just give her a shot of something?

She fought for a few more minutes, her limbs growing heavier with each movement and her screams being silenced by whatever was covering her painted lips. Cassidy Jenkins lost consciousness just as she was dropped to the ground.


It was funny how the air outside always smelled fresher after you'd been drinking Nicole thought as she heard the heavy door close behind her, silencing the mass of voices that came from inside the densely packed club. Looking around, she saw that the streets were devoid of any activity, not that there should be any activity at almost 2 am, but she had at least expected to see a taxi or some wayward car. She paused for a moment, plucking a hair tie out of her handbag to pull the mass of dark hair into a bun. It may have been late at night, but the heat seemed to be trapped between the buildings in Gotham. She paused for a minute, looking around for any signs of life before she began walking toward the train station, thankful that it was in service throughout the night. Still, she hoped that she could find a taxi. During her short duration in Gotham, she had never needed to take the train at night considering she normally used her own vehicle, but she had heard stories about the random muggings and other petty crimes that often plagued the more rundown stations in the city. She realized she should probably be wearier of the dangers that lurked in the darkness, but frankly she was too tipsy to care much about anything.

She was amazed at the transformation Gotham underwent at night. During the day, these streets were jam packed with bumper to bumper traffic and the sidewalks were bustling with pedestrians. But at night, everything was eerily quiet and empty. It seemed all of Gotham had been deserted while she was in the club. The majority of the buildings that lined the street were businesses that had been emptied of their patrons and employees hours ago. The only light came from the ornate street lamps and from Gotham Towers in the distance. Still, she welcomed the solitude. Besides, she had always been a night person.

As she continued walking, the only sounds she could hear were the treads of her shoes gripping the worn concrete sidewalk and the sound of something moving in the alley up ahead. She was about to brush it off as a large rat or homeless person rummaging through the dumpster of the restaurant bordering the ally until she heard what sounded like moaning. She was about to brush it off as a trick of the imagination and continue on when she heard a metallic clang followed by more moaning causing her breath to hitch in her throat.

She quietly crept toward the darkened alley as her stomach began to tighten in fear. She unconsciously tried to quiet her breathing as she pressed herself close to the brick wall of the building beside her. Reaching the edge of the building, she peered around the corner into the darkness.

She caught sight of the woman, her bare legs kicking at anything that was in the vicinity as she struggled to free herself from the dark figure behind her. Just as the woman seemed to catch her footing in the alley, the figure jerked her to the side, catching the girl off balance and giving Nicole a glimpse at the woman's face. She gasped in surprise as she realized it was the woman from the club, who was now being assaulted. She forced the panic rising in her stomach back down as she realized she couldn't watch Cassidy be mugged—or raped for that matter—she had to do something. She didn't have time to call the police, knowing they would never get there in time anyway, so she had to take matters into her own hands.

Not knowing what to do, she ran at full speed toward the dark figure, alcohol thankfully dulling the fear and rational voice in her mind that would have insisted she run away, and tackled the man around the torso, sending all three figures to the ground.

"Cassidy, run!" she screamed as she began beating what she presumed was the back of the ski masked figure's head, only to feel a deep rumble beneath her as the dark figure began laughing.

"You couldn't just mind your own business could you," the figure asked, catching Nicole off guard and throwing her off of his back onto the cracked, hard pavement next to her. Before she could scramble away, the figure moved with lightning speed, straddling Nicole and pinning her arms to the ground.

"What did you do to her," she managed to croak out as she struggled to wrench free of his strong grip.

"What a novel concept, a woman concerned about someone other than herself! You know, you are intriguing," he paused to shake his head and emitted a low chuckle at the mixture of concern and confusion that marred Nicole's features. "Don't worry about her, my sweet. She's fine for now at least. You on the other hand," he added as his voice trailed off.

Nicole relaxed and drew a deep breath as she stared into the man's unmasked blue eyes. He was distracted for a fraction of a second and somehow she managed to kick him in the back of the knee, causing him to shift his weight and allowing her to shove him off of her. She hopped to her feet and began to run in the opposite direction, only to come face to face with the brick wall of the restaurant.

Turning around, Nicole backed up farther from the man as he advanced, noticing for the first time how truly intimidating he was. He stood nearly a foot taller than she and was clad from head to toe in black, making him look even more ominous than he had a few moments ago. Her eyes darted around searching for anything to use when she found it; a small metal pole near the dumpster beside her. Quickly, she grabbed the melee weapon and swung it at the man's head, only to have him laugh as he caught it.

"Do you really think I'm that stupid," he asked sardonically as he ripped the weapon from her hands.

Nicole's breath hitched once again in her throat. The only way to safety was through him. She charged the man, only to be thrown into the wall behind her, her ankle twisting as she fell on it. Suddenly she was overwhelmed with fear, and unable to call for help. She tried to crawl away but was roughly grabbed by her ponytail and pulled upward as she grunted in pain. She began blindly swinging and kicking, trying anything to get away, when she felt her foot collide with something hard and mercilessly fell to the ground as her assailant cried out.

She sprung upward, trying to run, stumbling a few times before she was unceremoniously pulled backwards and thrown into the side of the dumpster, hitting her head on the metal corner in the process, and knocking her unconscious.

The dark figure scowled beneath his mask as he walked toward Nicole's crumpled figure, checking to make sure she was out cold before turning his attention to her purse that lay in the middle of the alley. After a moment of digging, he removed her wallet and found his prize.

"Nicole Miller, so that's your name," he asked aloud, staring at her form. He examined the photo and address once more before he returned everything to its place in her bag and dropped it next to her figure. He looked back to the blonde that lay in the alley. He still had time before she would wake up, but it he would be cutting it close. He walked to Cassidy's figure and slung her unceremoniously over his shoulder.

"Well Nicole, tonight isn't our night sweetheart. But don't you worry, I'll see you soon." With that he continued to the end of the alley where he dumped Cassidy in the gracious trunk of an old black Buick, left to him by his grandmother, which had been well hidden by debris in the back of the alley. Once his victim was secure, he slid behind the wheel of the ancient boat of a car, and disappeared into the dark of night, without leaving a trace behind.