Shades of Selina
Gotham - Present Day
John Blake never failed to feel a little intimidated by the elegant opulence of Bruce Wayne's hotel. When the mood struck, he would swing by and wait for the elusive billionaire to make an appearance. The hotel lounge, John soon discovered, was a terrible place for waiting. The drinks were grossly overpriced and the women coy teases who seemed to sense how broke he was. The one time Bruce did show, John suspected that the man had grown wise to his lurking and decided to take mercy on him.
Even though he had never been up to the penthouse, John knew exactly how to get to it. He passed the lounge, the exclusive restaurant that was impossible to get into, then through a maze of corridors. When he reached the private elevator, he found a large man in a blue blazer standing impassively in front of the doors.
As he observed John's approach, the man spoke to a seemingly invisible person. When John reached the guard, he noticed the comm unit at the man's ear. He looked up to see a camera trained on him.
"He's expecting me," John said. That wasn't entirely true but he figured he earned the right for a drop by.
"May I see your ID, sir?"
Blake handed him his driver's license. After scanning it to confirm its authenticity, the man's shrewd gaze assessed John. His head tilted a bit, indicating someone was speaking to him through the earpiece.
With a nod, he handed the license back to him.
"You may go up," he said, stepping aside so John could enter the elevator.
On the ride up to the penthouse, John considered the flimsiness of his excuse to pop in unannounced. The list of addresses he and Gordon had found at Oliver's hadn't panned out but it was enough of a reason to drop in. He watched the floor indicators as he ascended, pondering the whys Selina Kyle was worth all this trouble. Unable to shake his prejudice, John couldn't help but wonder why Batman, of all people, was shacking up with a criminal.
The elevator doors opened to reveal Alfred waiting for him.
"How do you like the dog?" Blake asked, by way of greeting. He would have loved to have seen the old butler's face when Bruce arrived with the dog.
"Mr. Tibbles is a welcome addition to the household," Alfred replied, not as irked as John thought he would be. In the last few years, they'd spent a fair amount of time together and one thing John knew about Wayne's faithful butler, the man liked an orderly house.
"Yeah, right."
Alfred smiled, then gestured for John to follow him. "Master Wayne has visitors. You may wait with me in the kitchen."
As expected, the penthouse was stunning. Ultra modern furnishings spread out over the massive space gave the living areas an elegant yet, John decided, cold look. The kitchen, however, was different. Cozy. The room, replete with the latest in kitchen gadgetry, had a more lived in look than the other living areas.
In the middle of the large marble countertop island, were three large pizza boxes.
"Wow, you guys really are the gourmet types aren't you?" He helped himself to a slice, surprised to see they'd ordered in from Venezia's. Sure they had the best pizza in town but he didn't think billionaires knew that. "So...any change with Ms. Kyle?"
"I'm afraid not," Alfred replied.
"You know I arrested her once," John said conversationally as he took another big bite.
Alfred paused in his task of straightening the barstools that flanked the island. "Did you now?"
"Yeah, she had quite a record, too."
Alfred gave him a look. "That was in the past."
"Is it?" John leaned against the counter. "Sometimes things from the past have a hold on you and you can't break free."
"No one here will dispute that."
John hesitated. Their friendship had grown over the last few years but John didn't think that included Alfred confiding his thoughts concerning Selina Kyle.
"Look,"John began. He'd never been very good at keeping quiet. "I don't want to speak out of turn but maybe he's not thinking straight about all this. I mean, we know who he is…was…but I'm just saying he wouldn't be the first guy to think with the wrong head."
"None of that, Mr. Blake," Alfred gave him a stern look, slamming the door shut on that topic.
Bruce came in, followed by a Middle Eastern man, a young girl, and Mr. Tibbles. By the quick look Bruce shot his way, John thought he might have overheard him.
After Bruce made the introductions, Alfred and Mr. Bashir chatted amongst themselves as Bruce talked to the little girl, Maliha. Bruce listened attentively as Maliha excitedly described the science project she was working on. He asked questions, not patronizing or absent-minded queries, as though he was genuinely interested in the kid's elementary school project.
As they talked, another child dashed in and grabbed his leg, hiding her face from John. Without pausing in his conversation, Bruce lifted her. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face against his neck.
Shocked, John looked at Alfred who nodded.
Without a glance at John, Bruce kept chatting until Mr. Bashir said it was time to go. As he left to walk them to the door, the little girl mustered enough courage to look at him briefly from the safety of her father's embrace. John saw that it was the girl from the photo they found at Oliver's house.
"They have a secret kid?" He asked Alfred when they were alone.
"Miss Helena's not a secret," Alfred replied as he gathered the dishes that were littered across the countertop. "Master Wayne chose not to alert the media to her existence."
Mr. Tibbles bounded back in the kitchen followed by Bruce and Helena who, when she saw that John was still there, lifted her arms for her father to pick her up again.
"This is Helena," Bruce said, as Helena went back to hiding her face against his neck. "Helena, can you say hello to Mr. Blake?"
At the shake of her head, Bruce said, "Give her a minute."
John nodded, still trying to process the fact that Bruce had a daughter. With Selina Kyle.
"I stopped by to bring you this list Commissioner Gordon and I found in...Oliver's trash," John said as he handed him the crumpled up paper.
"This isn't her handwriting," Bruce replied, moving strands of Helena's dark hair away from his face.
"I don't think it's...uh...the other guy's either." John stammered, following Bruce's lead on not using names in front of the little girl. "I checked them out. There was nothing there. Just a bunch of abandoned, junked out places in bad parts of town."
"Any connections between the properties?" Bruce asked.
"Not that I could see," John replied, smiling at the girl who seemed to be losing her shyness. Instead of hiding her face, she peered at him through her fingers. He wondered who put her hair in the cute pigtails: Bruce or Alfred? "I checked ownership and they look to be owned by different entities. Don't worry, you don't own any of them."
"I would like to see the list of owners," Alfred said, looking over the paper. "Sometimes it's not obvious what entities are Wayne entities."
"And you want to check them again?" Bruce asked. Sensing that his daughter was more comfortable with the stranger in their home, he put her down.
"Sometimes things happen after the sun goes down," John said. "These are all pretty isolated. If anyone was up to no good, these would be ideal locations."
"That's Mr. Tibbles," Helena said. "My mommy sent him to me."
"Yeah?" John said, squatting down to pet him.
She mimicked John, squatting beside the dog. "He pooped on the carpet."
"Dogs'll do that sometimes."
She laughed. "It was funny."
"Yes, it was very funny," Alfred said, with a fond smile to Helena.
"Do you know my mommy?"
"I do," John replied, feeling a flash of guilt about the thoughts he had been entertaining about this sweet girl's mother.
Bruce's phone rang. Soon after answering, his expression changed and he left the room. Alfred and John exchanged a look.
"Miss Helena," Alfred said. "How about we gather Mr. David and take the dog out so we can avoid any further funny business in the house."
"Mr. David?" John asked.
"Our new...chauffeur," Alfred said with a long look before going to help Helena get her coat.
"Everything ok?" John asked Bruce when he returned.
"I think so. That was the security detail at the hospital. Looks like Selina's friend decided not to call me but showed up at the hospital. She was angry at not being able to see her and made quite a scene."
"Think she knows anything?" John asked as Bruce prepared to leave.
"Let's hope so."
Alfred and Helena returned with Mr. Tibbles leashed and eager to leave.
"David's coming with us," Alfred said at Bruce's concerned look. "As well as whoever else is keeping watch."
"You're not coming?" Helena asked her father, her eyes suddenly watery.
"I'll be back before bedtime," Bruce said. "Promise."
Her lip jutted out and she looked suspiciously at John as if to blame him for this turn of events. John waited for one of those tantrums he'd heard kids made but Mr. Tibbles pulled at his leash making her follow. Alfred walked with them, whispering something about ice cream to her, causing her to smile.
"Selina's not going to be happy with what we've been feeding her," Bruce said.
"Yeah, moms always have to be the ones to keep us on the straight and narrow," John said.
They were both quiet for moment.
"I'll come with you," John said, not caring if he was being a nuisance.
Down in the garage, Bruce bypassed the expensive choices of cars and settled on an older model Camaro.
"Whoa...this is nice," John commented as Bruce revved the engine. "Not your usual style."
"It's Selina's."
"It's not stolen, is it?" The comment was meant as a joke but as soon as the words escaped his lips, John realized it didn't sound funny.
"Get out!" Bruce glared at him.
"I'm sorry," John said. "I didn't mean anything."
Bruce continued to glare, waiting for him to get out.
"I'm still getting used to the idea you have a kid. I have to revise my entire opinion of her. Not just your girlfriend but somebody's mother. I get it."
Bruce stared at him a moment longer, a warning clear in his hard gaze.
"The last I saw of you before you disappeared," John explained. "I dropped you off at her place. Then, when I arrested her, it seemed like she had a pretty good idea what happened to you. So what else was I supposed to think?"
"That was a long time ago." Bruce put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot.
John noticed he didn't deny or defend her innocence.
"So...Oliver Preston," John said, not caring if his attempt to change the subject was obvious. "You think he's a brother or something?"
"I'll go with 'something'," Bruce said. "Selina doesn't have any siblings."
That 'something' didn't seem to ignite any jealousy in Bruce. Not like earlier that afternoon when they visited Oliver's apartment. Something changed within the man from a few hours before.
As they drove to the hospital, they discussed the case.
"I really thought it had something to do with drugs," John said. "But then you found that picture of the woman."
"If we can find her, I think we'll find out who's behind this," Bruce said. "I can't sit still and wait for Selina to wake up and explain this...situation. I'm concerned that someone will try to use Helena as leverage against her."
"That won't happen," John said, fully understanding what was at stake. "Has the security detail reported anyone suspicious at the hospital?"
"No. It's been quiet since that woman made a move against Selina last night. Or, rather," he said, with a quick glance at his watch. "This morning."
He smiled. "It's been a long day."
"I guess with a kid, all nighters are a thing of the past."
"Not since she was a baby."
It was early evening, and the hospital was quiet but when Bruce and John reached Selina's room, they found more people than usual. The Indian woman sat at her usual spot near Selina but on the chair on the other side sat another woman. She was African American, fortyish, dressed in a nurse's uniform. She smoothed back Selina's hair, talking to her friend. At the foot of the bed, a Caucasian man leaned against the wall, looking concerned.
When Bruce walked in, the woman looked up.
"DeeDee?" He asked.
She nodded, then rose to shake his hand.
"Is she going to be okay?" She asked, looking down at Selina. "Isha said she's been sleeping for days. Why isn't she waking up?"
"The doctors say she'll be fine and she'll wake up when she's ready."
"She looks awful! Who did this?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. I hoped you might know something."
DeeDee shook her head. "Lately, she seemed kinda off so I knew something was going on. At first, I thought it was something between the two of you but she would've told me if it was that. Finally, I got sick of her shit and asked. We sorta got into a fight about it."
"Don't feel bad," Bruce said, with a companionable smile. "You're not the only one."
She smiled back, and they shared a moment until DeeDee's temper rose.
"Fucking Selina! This is just like her!" DeeDee exclaimed, suddenly angry. "So mysterious, thinking she can do what the hell she pleases. Thinking she can keep her life in pieces without them touching. Sometimes she's so fucking stupid!"
She went to Selina, touched her hand encased in a cast. Her anger spent, tears sprang to her eyes. "Is she really gonna be ok?"
The other man went to her, putting his arm around her.
"This is my husband, Kevin." She waited for the men to shake hands. "Has Helena seen her?"
"No," Bruce said.
"That's good. Selina'd hate for her baby to see her like this."
"You have any idea who we could talk to who might know what she was doing?" John asked.
DeeDee looked at him with surprise, she hadn't noticed him skulking by the door.
"This is John Blake," Bruce said. "A friend helping me."
"I take it the police aren't involved?"
"They're involved but…we're looking into things ourselves."
DeeDee nodded.
"What about that guy?" Kevin asked his wife. "You know her friend that she went to Vegas with that time?"
"Bobby?" DeeDee considered the name. "Yeah. He's a good friend of hers. He might know something."
"Do you have a last name?" John asked. "An address?"
"Sorry," she said. "I haven't seen him since before Selina left. But I think Selina said he was still working over at that bar on Charles Street. What's it called, Kev?"
"Babe, I wouldn't know that."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not saying you go there I'm just trying to think of the name."
"You don't have to jump all over me! I don't know! Only met the guy a few times and that was years ago."
"I'll find out then text you the name," she said. "You could try Ollie. He might know something."
"Oliver Preston?" Bruce asked.
"You know Ollie?" DeeDee sounded surprised.
"I haven't met him but-"
"Is he involved in this?" She asked disgustedly, then continued without waiting for an answer. "I should've known this mess would involve him. He's a disaster. Damn him, what did he get her into? Selina doesn't think straight when it comes to him. Good luck finding him, though. He's probably high in a hole somewhere."
"He's in the morgue," John said.
"What?" DeeDee went still.
"He was killed," Bruce said, more gently than John. "They were together. Selina got away. He didn't."
"Ollie's dead?" Her stunned eyes travelled from Bruce to her husband.
"Oh, shit," Kevin said, shaking his head.
"What happened?" DeeDee asked.
Bruce explained, his eyes on Selina's still form.
"This is bad," DeeDee said, sitting back down.
"Don't call him, Dee," Kevin said. "Not 'til Selina's wakes up. He's going to freak."
"Who?" Bruce asked.
"Trouble we don't need now," Kevin replied, looking at his wife who stared defiantly back at him, her hand holding her phone. "A friend of theirs who won't shed any light on what happened but will make things more complicated."
Bruce checked his phone, looking over a text he just received.
"I have to go. It's Helena's bedtime and I promised her I'd be there," he said.
"How's she doing without her mama?" DeeDee asked.
"She's confused."
She nodded. "Go to your girl. I'd like to stay here with See."
"Of course," Bruce said.
"Babe, I'm going, too," Kevin said. "My mother's probably exhausted from the kids."
As they started to leave, Bruce showed DeeDee the picture of the mysterious woman. She looked closely but said she had never seen the woman before.
DeeDee kissed her husband good bye then went back to Selina's side. Instead of sitting in the chair, she lay on her side, next to Selina, putting her arm around her. "So I'm here now and you need to wake up, ok?"
Kevin left with Bruce and John. They said nothing until they were alone in the elevator.
"Who was she talking about?" Bruce asked.
"Her brother, Daryl. Or, half-brother," Kevin said. "Different fathers."
"And this guy might be trouble?" John asked.
"Just to whoever did this." Kevin's tone was grim with a touch of worry.
"What does that mean?"
Kevin waited until they vacated the elevator, walking into the garage away from anyone who might walk by.
"He's...uh...not exactly the law abiding type."
"Oh, what a shock," John said, earning him a quick glare from Bruce.
"He's like a gangster but without a gang," Kevin said. "Likes to take matters in his own hands. He and Selina are similar that way. They do things on their own. Not rely on anybody."
"How much do you know about Selina's prior...business?" Bruce asked.
"Not much, man, honest. Selina's business was hers. Dee didn't want to know what she was up to and Selina didn't want what she was up to touching Dee. You know?"
"How does she know Selina?" Bruce asked.
"Through Daryl. Daryl and Selina grew up together. In the Narrows. I'm sure a guy like you has no idea but it was a pretty miserable place."
"I heard," Bruce said. "So they're close?"
"Close as in calling and chatting and going out to dinner? No," Kevin replied. "Selina and Dee are close. What Selina, Ollie and Daryl have is different. Daryl might be DeeDee's blood brother, but he's Ollie and Selina's street brother. They got a thing, a bond. Let's put it this way, if he called Selina and asked her to go kill somebody. She'd do it. That tight."
"That's pretty tight," Bruce said.
"I guess that's what you get when you grow up in a ghetto with shitty parents. Though, I gotta say, from what I heard, Daryl and Dee's mom wasn't too bad. For an addict and a prostitute, that is. Dee didn't really know her. Her dad, when he figured out what was happening with his ex, swooped in and took her."
"That's pretty rough," John said, "Getting taken from your mother."
"Best thing to happen to her. Her dad is a good guy, tried to help Angela, and when she was murdered, he wanted Daryl to come live with him but Daryl refused. I don't think he wanted to leave Selina and Ollie. He's very protective of them. Oh, man, he's not going to take this news well."
He checked his watch. "I've got to go. My mother's watching the kids and I told her I'd be there before eight."
As he walked away, he stopped, and turned around. "Hey, if you catch this guy, what are you gonna do?"
"Turn him over to the police," Bruce replied.
Kevin lingered, thinking. "I know Dee. She's pissed and worried. She's gonna call Daryl."
"So what if she does?" John asked.
"Better hope you find whoever this is before Daryl. There won't be anything left of him to turn over to the cops."
Northern India – One Year Ago
After weeks on the road, at the mercy of every form of public transport in Northern India, it was with great relief for Bruce and Selina to find themselves in a city big enough to warrant an almost four-star hotel. The first night of which, Selina spent a good half hour in the shower enjoying the hot water, before collapsing next to Bruce and Helena in the wide, comfortable bed. Isha slept in the room next to theirs, her eyes big as she took in the room that may have seemed modest to Bruce but, to her, it was the grandest room she'd ever seen.
The next morning, the search for Isha's daughter began. The last Isha heard, Shanti's husband worked in a factory and that was all she knew. It was easy for Bruce to locate which one as there was only one factory in town. After breakfast, Bruce left to make inquiries leaving Selina, Isha, and Helena free to explore the small city.
The women eventually found a crowded market that was loud and colorful. Selina inhaled the exotic scents very much liking the hustle and bustle of the Indian city. Wearing khakis and a loose white blouse, Selina felt very much the exotic traveler. Except, instead of a camera around her neck, she toted a two-year old on her hip.
Helena kicked wildly, wanting to be let down. With visions of losing her child in the crowd, Selina tightened her hold on her daughter, refusing to allow the kid the slightest inkling of freedom. Ignoring the kicking, Selina lingered in front of a basket vendor as she waited for Isha to catch up to them. She distracted Helena by pointing out the blue toy elephant that was crudely fashioned but Selina knew that in a matter of minutes, she was going to overpay for it. One look at the sad eyed man listlessly overseeing his modest crafts and she was a goner.
"More?" Isha asked when she saw Selina's purchase.
Selina shrugged, grinning at Isha's concerned look that Selina was being taken in by unscrupulous vendors. Selina Kyle a sucker? Hardly.
"They will take advantage of you," Isha insisted. Now that she was in her home country, she felt comfortable in displaying her protectiveness of Bruce, Selina, and Helena. Her burgeoning confidence pleased Selina.
"Don't worry about it," Selina said, switching Helena to her other hip.
"Look!" Isha pointed to a selection of colorful saris. "This would be beautiful on you." She held up the dark purple silk against Selina, admiring how the color complimented her skin. "I will teach you how to wear this."
After purchasing saris with matching choli and skirt for both of them, Selina and Isha continued through the market, making their way slowly through the crowd before emerging onto a street lined with restaurants.
As soon as they sat down in a small cafe off the main road, Bruce called.
"Any luck?" Selina asked, leaning her head back so Helena couldn't take the phone.
"Shanti's husband no longer works here but Mr. Mittal, the owner, is making inquiries."
Selina relayed the message to Isha who didn't seem surprised at the news.
"How do you feel about dinner?" Bruce asked.
"I love dinner," Selina replied.
"I mean we've been invited to a dinner."
That got Selina's attention. Bruce wasn't known for making friends so quickly. Selina handed Helena to Isha then walked a few feet away to a quiet alcove. "Really?"
"The factory owner, Mr. Mittal, invited you and me. Since he's looking into Shanti's whereabouts, I feel it would be rude to refuse..."
They were quiet for a moment.
"She loves Isha," Selina said. "I doubt she'll even miss us." But it wasn't the possibility of Helena not missing them that gave them pause.
"I have to say that an evening with other adults is appealing. It'll be good for us." Selina leaned against the wall, waiting for Bruce's internal debate to sway to her side. She, too, was apprehensive about leaving Helena for the first time but she thought a night out would be good for them. For him. Since their midnight encounter last month, Bruce had been subdued, working through the bad memories that experience had dredged. "Besides I have a lovely new Indian outfit to wear."
Selina knew it wasn't the idea of her new outfit that changed his mind but she was glad he let go of his anxiety.
When Bruce returned to the hotel a few hours later, he brought Isha a new cellphone. He showed her the only functions that he felt was necessary: how to call Selina or him and how to answer when they called. For her part, Helena seemed unconcerned that her parents were leaving as she explored their newest temporary home.
Selina took the phone from Bruce and gave it back to Isha. "Thank you for watching her, Isha. Just call if anything comes up." She sounded more relaxed than she felt but she really did want to go and Isha looked very pleased at Bruce and Selina entrusting their precious daughter to her care. Kissing Helena on the head, Selina held her close and it was Bruce who handed her to Isha.
"You've got us at the best hotel in town, Bruce. We'll only be away from her for a few hours," Selina said as they walked through the lobby. Her words were as much for his benefit as her own. "It'll be fine."
"You're too trusting," he said, opening the door for her.
"I'm too trusting?" Selina paused to give him a long look. "Excuse me, did you really just say that?"
"I did," he replied, grinning at her before paying the valet to hail a taxi.
Once they were settled in the back seat, the cab driver sped away, rapidly weaving in and out of traffic that could only be described as chaotic. Selina settled against Bruce, looking out the window. It was a little odd being alone with him. They'd been three for so long.
His arm went around her before dropping a kiss on her head. "I like this," he said, fingering the soft silk of her sari.
"You'll have fun later figuring out how to unwrap me." She turned to receive his kiss but the taxi driver swerved the small car, jolting her away from him. "If we live through this cab ride."
They did, indeed, live through the cab ride. Selina felt a moments irritation at Bruce's seeming calmness throughout the ride that had her gripping the door handle tightly.
But the haveli was breathtaking and Selina's irritation was immediately forgotten as they approached the old but beautifully preserved palace. They were greeted by Raj and Gunjan Mittal. The couple, in their late thirties, were pleased at their foreign guests interest in their house. As their hosts took them on a tour of their home, it became clear that this was a family heavy on history but light on money. Selina knew all about that and, for a thief such as her, it was important to maintain standards. She had quickly learned to rule out the impoverished people that still clung to society, spending what little remained of their trusts to keep up appearances. These people, however, seemed to have no interest in appearances. Their home was huge, a palace for certain, but most of it was closed off and the living areas the family occupied were comfortable and modest.
The Mittals were the most prominent family in the city and had once been princes of the province but that was so long ago that no one cared. The only ones who did remember were the Mittals themselves who didn't regard the fact as something that elevated them but instilled a responsibility over the city.
Though Raj wasn't aware of his connection with Bruce in that regard, Selina certainly was and shared a smile with Bruce. Maybe because he found a kindred spirit but Bruce took to Raj and Selina found she liked the couple more because of it. By the time dessert arrived, the conversation had turned to business matters that Selina had little interest in paying attention to.
"Do you have children?" Gunjan asked Selina, also seeming to tire of the conversation topic.
"Yes. A daughter. She's two."
"Ah...the age where they begin to feel most independent," Gunjan smiled the knowing smile of a mother well acquainted with children. "Does she miss her home?"
Selina ignored the pang at the thought of Helena not knowing a home, not having a room of her own with too many stuffed animals or whatever belongings two-year-olds had. Were they being selfish dragging a two-year old from country to country just because they couldn't figure out where they wanted to be? Or, who they wanted be? Selina couldn't help but wonder when she and Bruce would settle somewhere. Gotham? Was he ready to go back?
"Do you miss being home?" Selina asked Bruce on the way back to their hotel.
He hesitated, looking at her carefully. "No. Do you?"
"Of course not," she said, thinking that it wasn't really a lie if she wanted it to be true.
Eager to check on their daughter, they quickly made their way through the lobby, grinning at each other over their parental anxiety. Selina knocked softly on Isha's door. Within seconds, the woman answered, opening the door wide enough so they could see Helena but not so wide as to let in the harsh light in the hallway, giving them assurance them that their child was sleeping soundly. With a quick look at Selina, she suggested that Helena stay the rest of the night with her.
"How about that?" Selina said, leading Bruce to their room next door. "You can be as loud as you want to."
"Convenient, huh?" Bruce responded. He closed their door and went to work at divesting Selina of her sari.
Gotham - Present Day
Laying next to his daughter on her bed, Bruce read to Helena. As he read, he received a text from DeeDee. Without missing a word, he surreptitiously glanced at the screen.
The Sly Dog on Charles Street. He'll be there tonight.
He forwarded the message to John who was downstairs with Alfred eating the last of the pizza.
Though anxious to get going, he continued to read to Helena. When she begged for another book, he quelled his irritation which wasn't difficult when she looked up at him with adoring eyes. Halfway through the next book, she fell asleep but Bruce continued to read just in case. She didn't wake up when he rose from the bed, turned off the light, and quietly closed the door.
"Ready?" Bruce asked John, as he slid on his black leather jacket.
"Why don't you let Mr. Blake handle this one?" Alfred looked to be in his fretting mode.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because The Sly Dog is a gay club," Alfred replied. "While we have no judgment on that matter, one picture of you there and you can kiss your hard earned privacy goodbye!"
"You're the one that didn't want me wearing a mask."
"The tabloids are finally losing interest in you because you've been boring," John said, holding up an Ipad which displayed the club's website, featuring photos of the club's recent Mardi Gras celebration. "Bruce Wayne at a gay club is the opposite of boring. At least let me go in, figure out where he is and get him to come out to talk."
"Fine. Though I'm not sure you're dressed right," Bruce teased, enjoying John's brief bout of discomfiture. Alfred did, too, by his quick smile.
The Sly Dog was located downtown in a district filled with bars and clubs. It was a popular area with both college students and young professionals. After giving John a couple hundred in persuading cash, Bruce dropped John off at the front of the brightly lit club, then drove to a side street behind the bar to wait. The next ten minutes of waiting were spent cursing the paparazzi. Bruce chafed at being on the sidelines and was on the verge of going in, privacy be damned, when he received a text from John telling him to meet him at the back door on the east side.
John was waiting for him at the door. "I paid a guy a hundred bucks to let me back here. I think he thinks I'm a client or something."
The outer door closed, shutting out the sounds of the street. As they walked further inside, they heard a group of men talking and laughing. Following the sounds, they walked down a hall. Others bustled about paying them no attention. John asked about Bobby and was pointed in the direction of a door at the end of the hall. The door was open, revealing a group of men getting dressed. The men, wearing bright, garish clothes, and sporting elaborate wigs, laughed and joked amongst themselves as they applied layer after layer of makeup preparing for a show.
"I'm looking for Bobby," John said to the man closest to the door.
Without seeming to look up, the man bellowed in a deeper voice than expected: "Bobby! There's a cutie here for you!"
A man, with an impossibly high blonde wig, approached.
"Well, well, well," he drawled, smoothing his hands over his skin-tight black satin dress. "I may waive my usual sandwich fee for the two of you. Who can I thank for referring you to me?"
"Selina Kyle," John said.
"She did?" He looked confused.
"So you know her then?"
The man's flirty demeanor instantly chilled.
"Sabrina?" He asked, looking mystified. "I don't know any Sabrina. Anyone here know a Sabrina?"
A chorus of no's answered him but the rest of the men regarded them with suspicion.
"Sorry. Can't help you," he said, maintaining a false friendly tone as he gestured toward the door. "The girls and I have a show to put on so it's time you leave. Thanks for stopping by."
"We need to talk to you," John said.
Bobby stood straighter. He was wearing platform high-heels and he positively towered over Blake.
"We may be a gaggle of queens but we can throw you both out of here painfully," he said, his threat credible. Under the glitter and glamour, this was a muscular guy. "Don't be fooled by the makeup and heels."
"Yeah," Bruce said, stepping forward. "I learned that awhile ago."
Whatever retort Bobby had, faded as he stared at Bruce. He had that look Bruce had seen many times: he was trying to place him. After a few moments, his face changed into shocked amusement.
"You and Selina?" He asked.
Bruce nodded.
"Oh, Jesus! Selina's baby daddy is Bruce fucking Wayne!" He laughed again as he clapped his hands. "That girl! She just said he's 'employed'! Which for Selina is saying something!"
He laughed again until he suddenly became serious. "Why are you here?"
"Selina's been injured," Bruce explained.
"What? Is she alright? Where is she?"
"She's going to be alright," Bruce replied, relieved that this man seemed to be a friend. Hopefully one with helpful information. "She's at Gotham General."
"She's in the hospital?" Bobby asked, looking dumb with shock. "What's going on?"
"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Bruce stepped back, wanting to get away from the many eyes that were on them.
"What about Ollie?"
"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Bruce repeated.
Bobby just stood still. "You're scaring me. Is Ollie ok?
"No," Bruce said, softly.
"What does that mean?"
"I'm sorry," Bruce said, shaking his head. "He's dead."
As he stared at Bruce, everything about Bobby's bearing changed. His face slackened, his shoulders slumped. He looked like he'd just been punched in the gut.
Dragging the blonde wig off his head, he stared at Bruce, stunned.
"Come on," he muttered, leading them out of the dressing room. They followed him down the hall and upstairs to his apartment.
"Gimme a minute," he mumbled before disappearing into his bedroom and closing the door.
"I don't think we're going to get anything out of this guy," John said, as he walked around the apartment. "Too respectable. Like DeeDee."
Bruce sat on the plush, white couch. The room was decorated in various shades of white with large windows that faced south. The room was warm and inviting, giving the owner the vibe of being a positive guy. Since the room was attached to the club, Bruce surmised that Bobby was the owner of The Sly Dog. Selina wouldn't do anything to endanger his legitimateness.
"Maybe he'll know the woman in the picture," Bruce said, scrolling through the photos on his phone to have the picture ready. "Then we'll leave him alone. He seems pretty upset."
John handed him a framed photo. It was of Selina and Bobby sitting at a table littered with beer bottles. They smiled happily, if a little drunkenly. Dressed fashionably in a low cut black dress, Selina looked very much like the woman he had first met five years ago. Bruce studied the picture, noting the glimmer of lights of a casino behind them indicating they were in Las Vegas.
So this was him, Bruce thought. Selina had told him about Vegas. Telling him about of her friend and how they lived there for a year. Each plying their different trades, he trying out show business and Selina, honing her grifting and thieving skills.
Some of the pieces were fitting together.
The bedroom door opened. Bobby emerged then sat down on the other couch opposite Bruce. Dressed in a plain white t-shirt and jeans, with his face wiped clean of makeup, Bobby looked very different.
Bobby wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm so shocked. By him being dead, I mean. Guy like him.. it's actually a miracle he lived as long as he did." He looked at Bruce. "He didn't OD though, did he?"
"No. He was murdered."
Bobby stared at him. "And Selina?"
"They were together when he was killed."
Upset, Bobby looked away. "Who would kill him? The only person he ever hurt in his life was himself."
"That's what we're trying to find out," John said.
"Do you have any idea what they were up to?" Bruce asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Did anything seem...different about them?"
"Well, Ollie was in a funk but that wasn't unusual. And Selina was her same secretive self so, nothing seemed different."
Bruce showed him the photo of the woman. "Do you know her?"
After peeling off his false eyelashes, Bobby studied the photo carefully, taking Bruce's question seriously. "No, I'm sorry, I've never seen her before."
"Did Oliver have a girlfriend?" John asked, sitting next to Bruce.
"No...Ollie wasn't into that."
"Women?"
"Women...men...he just had no interest."
"We think they were searching for the woman in the photo," John said.
"Why?"
John shrugged. "All we know is that someone killed your friend, put Selina in the hospital, then tried to kill her there."
"I know Selina hates cops but aren't they involved?"
"They are," Bruce said. "It's just…"
"It's best if the cops don't find out too much about Selina," Bobby said, finishing Bruce's sentence.
"You've known Selina a long time?"
"Since we were teenagers. It was Ollie and me who were friends and I knew her through him. Back then...things were pretty messed up. I was strung out on H but I kicked the habit. I've been clean for nine years and you can't be with people who are using. So Selina and I became close, bonding over trying to keep Ollie from killing himself."
"Did she ever talk to you about her...work?" Bruce asked.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "Never. I knew what she did but she liked to operate solo. Not answer to anyone. She certainly doesn't like people asking questions about her."
"When's the last time you talked to Oliver?" John asked.
"About a month ago? It's not unusual, though, he'd get clean and come around and then he'd disappear and you knew he was using again. So, not hearing from his was not unusual. But I thought maybe this time he'd stick it."
"Why now?" Bruce asked.
Bobby's expression turned grim. "Selina wouldn't let him see her...your kid 'til he was clean." He shook his head sadly. "God, that's gonna eat at her. You said Selina's still unconscious?"
Bruce nodded.
"I guess that's a good thing," Bobby said. "She's going to be mess over this."
Northern India – One Year Ago
Bruce met Raj at his factory in the center of the city. The factory was the backbone of the city, providing work for thousands. As Raj led Bruce toward his office, the man apologized, again, for not yet finding the whereabouts of Isha's daughter and husband. What he didn't say but Bruce surmised was that Isha's daughter's husband changed jobs quite a bit, taking his family from city to city in search of better work. Finding her might be more difficult than he hoped.
"We make something that no one will need in five years," Raj confided once they reached the privacy of his office. "My father anticipated such a problem. So, instead of training as a businessman, I trained as an engineer, hoping to keep our factory viable."
Suddenly embarrassed, Raj busied himself with pouring tea then handed Bruce a cup. Although Raj was as friendly as the night before, Bruce could tell something was distracting him - and it wasn't his failure in locating the family.
Raj sat down and sighed heavily. Maybe because Bruce was there at a weak moment or maybe Raj sensed a kindred protector, Raj shared the problem.
"You are looking at a ruined man," he said, his voice tired. "The last few years, I've sunk everything into a project. A project that will allow my factory to continue for many years." As Raj explained the mechanism that would keep his factory in business for a long while, his excitement grew until some thought caused a shadow to cross his features.
"But…?" Bruce asked, thinking of a way Wayne Enterprises could invest and help this man out. "You need an investor?"
Raj shook his head sadly. "I don't need money, I've already spent enough money as it is. You see, my wife and I came up with an idea. A good idea, if I say so myself. We've spent everything we had, borrowed far beyond our means to develop a project that will save this city. We had it! Everything worked and I had an investor lined up who would help make the necessary modifications to our equipment. But now…" He looked away, upset. "Everything is gone. The specs, the backups, even my notebook which detailed every step in my research process. I could reconstruct the work with that but the thief was very thorough and left me nothing."
"Do the police have any leads?"
"I haven't yet gone to the police. I believe the thief to be my business manager, Daman Batra, who has mysteriously disappeared."
Bruce calmly sipped his tea. He could already see what Raj, in his good heartedness, failed to see: he had been set up. Bruce had little doubt that the business manager, Daman, was a fairly new employee. Probably planted by the nameless benefactor who, Bruce suspected, wanted a cutting-edge invention without having to pay for it.
"It's a heavy responsibility you've shouldered," Bruce commented, thinking of the hustle and bustle of the factory floor and how thousands of people depended on the factory for work.
"I apologize for burdening you…" Raj said, misunderstanding Bruce's comment. "Sometimes we share things with strangers we don't share with our closest friends."
"I'm sympathetic to your plight," Bruce said, setting down the tea. He leaned forward. "I might be able to help. I have some experience with this sort of thing."
"With thieves? Con artists?"
Bruce smiled. "Let's just say I understand something about the responsibility you feel."
Raj studied him for a few moments. "I suspect you do."
"Here's the deal," Bruce said, his mind already focused on finding Damon the business manager. "I'll find what was stolen from you and you find Shanti Singh and her family."
"That hardly seems fair," Raj said. "I believe my search for the Singh family will be satisfied with a few phone calls."
But Raj's protestations were merely a formality as he welcomed any help he could get. After providing Bruce with the few bits of information he had on his former business manager, they shook hands, and Bruce went to work. As Bruce suspected, Daman had been in Raj's employ for only a few months and few people knew him. The general consensus had been that he was a hard worker - staying late after most had left for the evening - and that he kept to himself.
Several hours later, Bruce sat in a small restaurant across the street from where Daman lived. If the waiters were curious why a foreigner chose to while away hours in a district that tourists rarely visited, they never asked. Each coffee refill and each order of food presented to Bruce was answered with a sizable tip. When Bruce asked about the man who lived across the street, the waiters were sorry to not have helpful information other than he hadn't been home in days.
Sipping his coffee, Bruce kept his eyes on the Daman's door. The street was still too cluttered with people to risk breaking in now. Besides, Bruce felt bad about depriving Selina of such an opportunity. With a small smile, he called her.
"Do you think Isha's up for more babysitting?" He asked Selina.
"I think so. Why?"
"How do you feel about a little B&E?"
"A little B&E?" That was not the answer she had been expecting. "Why it's not even my birthday!"
He filled her in on the details and told to be at the address after sunset.
An hour and a half later, a taxi stopped down the street. Selina got out and strolled toward him, looking very nonchalant and not at all like she was about to do something illegal.
"That's quite an outfit for breaking and entering," he commented, taking in her white capri pants and red silk top.
"Well, we both can't go in looking like thieves, can we?" Bruce wore dark trousers and a black t-shirt. It hadn't been intended as burgling attire - it was just good fortune that he'd been wearing the dark clothes.
"It's called an exit strategy," she said. "If someone asks, I'm just a lost tourist."
"And what am I?" He asked, leading her toward their target.
Selina grinned. "My clueless husband who thinks this place is our hotel."
They approached the building that noone would ever mistake for hotel. Bruce looked at her doubtfully.
"You don't think I could pull off that story?" She asked, tilting her head.
He didn't doubt her abilities in the slightest but he wanted to be in and out without anyone the wiser. After handing her some tools for picking locks, he stood to the side to conceal her actions. Picking the lock, however, was not necessary.
"Wow," Selina said as she pushed open the unlocked door. "You sure know how to challenge a thief. This place is like Fort Knox."
Bruce stepped in ahead of her. After she closed the door, they waited for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. As there were no windows that faced the street so they felt it was safe to turn on a light. A single bulb hanging from the ceiling provided dim but adequate illumination.
"You've got to be kidding me," Selina said as she surveyed the room.
Daman's home was a mess. Not a mess like someone had tossed the place looking for valuables or information but a mess like a slob lived here.
"So…" she said still standing near the door, reluctant to walk further into the messy room. "You want me to find paperwork, in Hindi, which I don't read, in this place?"
"Yes," he said, very happy that she was here with him.
She sighed. "OK."
Bruce sat down at the computer that was the newest and cleanest thing in the room. "Look for anything that looks like a money transfer. From what I learned about this guy, there's no way he's the brains behind the theft."
"After seeing this place, I don't think this guy is the brains behind anything." She tossed aside some food wrappers. "A competitor, maybe?"
"Maybe," Bruce responded absently as he plugged in a device that could penetrate any computer safety measures.
"This reminds of a job in Detroit," Selina said, as she rifled through the disorganized papers that littered the apartment. "Real rich guy and…" she gave him a significant look, "...a shut in. He was known for his hatred of banks so there was supposed to be cash galore in his place. I broke into his mansion then got right back out. Not only was he a real shut in but he was a hoarder! Imagine this place just a thousand times worse. With garbage and dead animals. The smell was unbelievable. He could've had the Hope Diamond in there but I wasn't about to go looking for it."
Bruce paused in his work and watched her. As she shared her criminal history with him, she hadn't glossed over the less than glamorous aspects of her life as a thief. Sensing his eyes on her, Selina met his gaze, and guessing what he was thinking, gave him a quick smile before returning to her search.
"I've got it!" Bruce exclaimed a short time later. "Three days ago, someone wired him enough money to not only get out of town but set up somewhere else." He powered down the computer realizing it was probably futile as the previous resident would most likely never return. "We'll track down the account details back at the hotel."
"These should help narrow down where the guy was headed." Selina handed him some papers.
Bruce nodded as he looked over a receipt for a train ticket and hotel reservations He looked up and gave her a wry grin. "Guess we're going to Mumbai."