Gotham Police Station
Gordan looked over the bags that forensics had left him. The report lay on his desk.
Daniel, Richard. Found dead in alley near Turk street deli. Bullet wound through the heart. A .22 caliber pistol with the nipple of a baby bottle used as a crude silencer, as well as a jack-o-lantern was left on the scene.
Some Halloween prank? No, thought Gordon. If it had been anyone else maybe. Richard Daniel was infamous for his dealings with the mob. We could never pin anything on him, though.
Gordon wished he could bring this up to Batman. No, he couldn't. Maybe if he went to the roof, he would come anyway, without the signal. Batman always seemed to know when there was trouble. Gordon hoped Batman could hear his plea for help as he closed his office for the night.
Nighttime - Gotham Bank
Selina had hoped she looked the part. She wanted to be stealth and the black made her blend in with the night. She had hoped Lola had believed her when she said she needed the black pants and shirt for working out. Black slims her, Selina had said to her. Selina couldn't help but notice Lola's eagerness to buy black in bulk after that. Lola, so funny.
But this night was serious. Everything she had learned from Isaiah had to come into play tonight. Stealth, she would remember. Blend in.
Breaking into the bank had been easy. Cover the camera here, hack a code there. Child's play. The safe was in the basement. She couldn't imagine it being anywhere else. From the marks on the floor, movement had been recent. But that didn't matter now. The safe was here now. She slowly began her routine. She could open any safe by touch now. Each movement had a purpose. She continued unaware of the activity outside.
Outside Gotham Bank
Batman had glided over the rooftops of Gotham until he reached the bank. As he creped down the side of the building, he reached for his sensor. He placed it over the entrance of the bank doors, but found the doors opened.
Someone was already in here, he thought. Falcone? He thought he made it clear to Richard how important it was to cut ties with Falcone. Why would he give him a chance to move his safe? Batman found the door to the basement. He readied himself for anything as he opened the door.
"Got it!" Selina exclaimed. She opened the safe and peered inside. Contracts, money, numbers, it was all here. She just wanted to take enough to scare Falcone into helping her. Maybe some money to tide her over. She put the contents into the bag she had brought.
As she pulled apart the papers in the safe, she felt a matted piece in her grasp. It was a picture. Of what, she thought. Some family. Selina peered closer.
A happy family. It was them. All of them. Carmine, Vivian, Alberto and Selina. The happy family. It made Selina sick. Everything that matters most to me, he had said. It was his fault we weren't that picture perfect family anymore. Selina tore up the picture, rage boiled behind her eyes. The wool, winter mask felt hot against her skin.
"Stay where you are!" a voice boomed.
Selina whirled around. The voice had shaken her to the core. She had tried to be so careful. As she prepared to raise her hands for the police officer, she was surprised to find him. The Batman.
Selina felt a rush a disappointed rush over her. She felt cheated. No one was going to ruin this for her. She had come so far.
"Let me guess. You were on your way to a costume party and saw the light on?" Selina heard herself say. She stood in front of him, hands on her hips. She tried to guard her territory.
"Give me the bag," Batman said. He had not betted on finding a woman poking around in here. Typical Falcone goons, yes. But not her. Whoever she was.
"Hm, you're no fun. Tell you what. How about you close your eyes and count to ten and I'll go hide," Selina said. She hoped her voice wasn't shaking.
The Batman was not amused. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I figured this money belonged to the good people of Gotham. And here I am ready to deliver. Sorry Bats, but I was just on my way to the soup kitchen...
She tried to move past him, but he pinned her to the wall. He tried to get a good look at her, but before he could, he was met with a swift kick to the head. Batman reeled back.
Selina flew up the stairs and out the door. In one quick motion, Batman followed. As he ran outside, he caught a glimpse of a figure over the rooftops. He pointed his grapple gun in that direction, but as he came to the top of the building, he threw down the gun. He had lost her. Questions whirled in his head. Who was she? And what did she know of Falcone?
Selina collapsed on top of a chimney, her lungs hurt as she tried to catch her breath. That was so close, she panted. He almost ruined everything. The Batman. Selina pounded her fists on the ground.
Selina looked over at her contraband. She had what she needed, to bring him down. Falcone had no choice but to help. No choice at all.
As Selina tried to catch her breath, her eyes wandered over to the police station. Someone was on top of the roof. She ducked down, afraid of who or what might see her. James Gordon sat atop the building, slowly pacing. Selina noticed that a dark creature leaped up onto the building. It was the Batman.
He is up in everyone's business tonight, Selina thought. She needed a closer look. As she made her way down the building, she found herself closing in on the conversation between Gordon and Batman.