Information was quickly gathered, and with the ever so helpful Bizarro, the character of Trix came to full light. Indeed, she was a master of manipulation, moving from victim to victim and from city to city in her hunger for dominance. Her tracks were always well covered, not to mention that she seemed to dance around the consequences of her actions.
The earliest account they found was a release from the mental hospital in Metropolis. Her residency at the institution lasted for years, and at one point, she was considered a subject of study, an odd mind to crack. All of a sudden, something changed. 'Treatment' began to work, behavioral issues declined, and only praise seemed to be given to Miss Dovaski.
She was set free.
Ever since then, men and women, lawyers, police forces and courts, heck, even cities seemed to melt out of her way.
The deeper the Outlaws dug, the more atrocious evidence they discovered; burglary, fraudulence, a couple counts of rape and battery, and suspicions of murder bubbled to the surface one by one. Each was brilliantly hidden beneath layers of fabrications and bribes. Many of Beatrice's crimes were merely a flex of power; if she wanted to get her hands on something or someone, she could.
It was like a game to her, manipulating the world to work for her.
While Biz was busy unearthing more and more on their target, Jason took time to patrol the area around different neighborhoods, trying to sniff out Trix's hiding place. Artemis in the meantime was tracking down rumors and witnesses of Trix's havoc. A week passed and still no trace of the perpetrator. Jason took a break, returning to the usual routine of looking for the common criminal that popped up in Gotham.
One evening after knocking around some common thieves that ran into the wrong vigilante, Biz summoned Jason back to the Headquarters.
"What's the big emergency," Jason yawned as he strolled through the open portal into the dim room.
As usual Biz sat in front of his multitude of screens, the lights flashing across his holographic face.
"I've located Beatrice Dovaski," Biz announced, his electronic voice already sounding worried.
"Where is she?" Jason inquired, approaching the monitors while tugging his helmet off.
"The security cameras by the clock tower picked her up."
"Old Gotham, huh?"
"She was heading towards the Diamond District," Biz said softly.
Jason swallowed, his heart starting to pound in his chest. He glared at the screens, a small pixelated Trix walking down the street casually.
"Do you think she found-"
"It certainly looks that way," Biz cut him off. "We've got to get you down there now."
"I don't like this, Biz," Jason frowned at the fuzzy apparition of his friend.
"She's on her way to Miss Cole's apartment where Carol's hiding," Biz insisted, non-existing fingers flying over keys. "I can drop you in right now and prevent another incident from happening."
A glowing blue portal appeared in front of Jason, his circular door to a well lit neighborhood.
"Jason," the hologram turned in his seat to see the vigilante better. "If you care about this girl's life, you need to take care of this now."
Jason stared at the red reflective helmet in his hands before pulling it over his head.
"I plan to," he said flatly.
He stepped through the portal onto the roof of a apartment complex. The street below was illuminated, and the traffic streamed on, completely unaware of anything else. Thunder rumbled overhead as dark clouds pressed low with the threat of rain. Here, Red Hood waited for his prey. Luckily for him, it did not take long to appear.
A thin framed woman walked briskly down the sidewalk. She seemed to not have a care in the world and yet she moved quickly. The hem of her long coat spread out behind her almost like a cape. Even from the rooftop, Red Hood could see the gleam of her eyes. She looked almost hungry.
"You're going to miss her," Biz warned suddenly.
Almost instinctively, Red Hood's body moved on its own; his hand reached into his belt, fingers wrapping around a small metal blade, and he threw. The two nearest lampposts shattered, glass sprinkling down to the side walk, and the section in front of him went black.
Silently, the leather clad anti-hero dropped, story by story down to the ground. Though it was dark, the young woman's stride didn't break as if she hadn't even noticed the loss of the light. If anything, her pace quickened.
If he did nothing, she would pass right by him.
Moving rapidly, Red Hood dropped and swung a foot out, catching the woman by her ankles and knocking her legs out from under her. She fell flat on her back with a hard thud. A gasp hung in the air as the lady struggled to roll over. Breathing hard, she finally crawled into her hands and knees, struggling to get to her feet.
"That was some fall," Red Hood jeered, slowly circling his victim.
"That it was," the woman replied as she gradually rose up from the ground, dusting off her dark pink dress.
Thanks to the technology in his mask, Red Hood could make out Beatrice Dovaski's characteristics perfectly. It was almost a completely different person. Her shiny short hair had been pulled back with pins, and only a few strands of ebony had fallen loose. Her pale skin looked flawless. Purple eyeshadow complimented her heavily lined eyes.
Burgundy lips pulled into a smile. Her fangs were still there.
"Now, good sir, tell me," Beatrice's voice was filled with false civility, her breathing beginning to even out. "What is your aim here?"
"I'm here to give you a message," Red Hood stated, finally standing still.
"Oh, are you here to bully me?" Beatrice cooed sweetly, collecting her name brand tote from the ground. "Hurt my feelings?"
"I prefer breaking bones," he jeered.
A chuckle forced its way out her chest, but emerald eyes conveyed that she understood.
"How brash," she snorted.
"Get out of Gotham," Red Hood's words were firm. "Our hands are already full with people like you."
Dovaski blinked as if offended.
"People like me?"
"Yeah," the vigilante continued. "People like you: thieves, rapists, and murderers. Monsters."
The corner of Beatrice's eye twitched slightly before surprise swept over her face.
"How would you know if I was a bad person?" she whimpered. "I could be completely innocent for all you know."
"You're anything but innocent," Red Hood informed her, pulling a knife from its hiding place, playing with it in his hand.
Her face remained unchanged as she watched the blade dance around his gloved fingers.
"You don't know me," Beatrice's tone turned cold.
This time Red Hood laughed, shortening the distance between them.
"I don't think you get it," he sneered, staring his target down. "I know about everything."
"You don't know me," Beatrice repeated, eyes insisting on his silence.
"Okay then, let's see," Red Hood rested his hand on his chin as if he was pondering. "Beatrice Dovaski, I know you steal what you can from who you can, but it's usually whoever you're 'dating' at the time or in this case you're ex. I know that you've eluded arrest five, no, six times, but of course most of those reports you got erased. You've only gone to jail once, but apparently that's all it took to convince you never to go back."
The color slowly drained from Dovaski's cheeks, but she stood firm.
"Rumor I'm afraid," she smirked.
"Is that so? What about the murder?"
All emotion dropped out of her face. Folding his arms over his chest, Red Hood loomed over the young woman.
"I mean it was one guy, some rich tycoon that exploited your talents," he went on. "It was a clean kill, and even better, you had a solid alibi. Unfortunately, I've seen a few better. Bribing cops and toying with security cameras are child's play, sweet heart."
"How did you-"
"And remind me again, how long did you spend in that asylum in Metropolis? Three or four years?"
Beatrice's jaw dropped and her eyes widened, a tinge of fear in them. Red Hood held his knife in front of her face, the edge centimeters from her skin.
"I told you, I know it all," he said. "Everything you have ever done. You set another foot in Gotham city, I promise you, everyone you don't want to know is going to find out."
"You son of a-"
In a flash of fury, Beatrice launched herself at Red Hood, black claws aimed for his neck and shoulders. With a simple step, he slipped behind her and caught both of her hands by the wrist. He held his weapon to her throat.
"There is no negotiating out of this one," he declared calmly. "This is your only warning."
He sheathed his blade and shoved the woman away. She stumbled and dropped to her knees before scrambling to her feet. She glared back at her reflection in the red mask.
"If I ever see you again, no one will ever recognize your face," Red Hood growled. "You'll be sipping out of a straw for the rest of your life. Is that clear?"
After a moment of silence, Beatrice nodded, but her eyes remained defiant. He watched as she pulled her bag over her shoulder and stormed back the way she had come. Waiting until her silhouette had been consumed by the darkness, Red Hood returned to the roof tops. His communicator jingled in his ear.
"Hey, how's it going?" Biz asked.
"I'm done here," the anti-hero replied, surveying the city below.
"Sending a portal now," Biz announced.
A circle of energy opened before Red Hood and he walked through, eager to get off his feet. However, he discovered that on the other side of the portal was another neighborhood. He slowly turned around, observing the buildings and streets around him.
"Biz," he hissed. "This doesn't look like Headquarters to me."
"Oops, I sent you the wrong portal. Sorry, Jason," Biz apologized, but it didn't sound sincere to Red Hood.
Red Hood angrily kicked a discarded can across the road. All of sudden he recognized a nearby structure.
"Biz, did you mean to send me to the exact apartment complex where Carol is hiding?"
"Did I?" the AI stammered.
"Biz!"
"Well since you're there, you might as well check in on her. Making sure she's doing alright, y'know?"
"Biz! You send me a portal back right now!"
"I'm working on it."
Red Hood quickly moved towards the large bushes that outlined the complex's grounds. Before he could hide in one, a rustle from above caught his attention.
"Jason, is that you?"
"I hate you, Biz," the vigilante stated before ripping his reflective helmet off.
Sure enough, three stories overhead, Carol was leaning out of an open window.
"Jason?" she hollered down at him.
"Hey, Carol," Jason responded through clenched teeth. How was it that she always found him?
"What are you doing here?"
"I was in the neighborhood. Just making sure everything was alright."
Carol was quiet for a moment. Sensing the awkward air, Jason waved up at her.
"Well since everything looks good, I'm going to head out," he stated.
"Wait!" Carol shouted. "Would you like to come in?" Before he could give his answer, she continued on. "I-I want to ask you something real fast."
Instead of declining like he intended to, Jason gave an exasperated shrug.
"Sure, I guess," the words flew out of his mouth before his brain could process his answer.
Carol flashed a smile.
"Great! I'll meet you at the door," she beamed before disappearing into the room and slamming the window shut.
Jason groaned loudly as he shuffled to the front of the apartment building. Was he just a sucker for being roped into things? This had to stop happening otherwise he would never be able to complete assignments concerning Carol. She was just too hard to ignore.
It took a couple of minutes for Carol to make it down to the door. She looked like a mess; her faded pink hair was frizzy and starting to curl every which way. The extra large sweatshirt made her seem smaller than usual. It was kind of cute.
Jason followed her into the lobby but wouldn't go to the elevator. Carol's concerned look hit him first before she even opened her mouth.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"I have some things to do tonight," Jason explained. "I can't stay long. Can we talk here?"
"Oh, um," Carol stammered over her words, pulling at her hoodie's front pocket. "It's kind of personal so if you're alright with it, I guess it's fine."
Great, now there's guilt for making her uncomfortable.
"It's fine, Carol," Jason sighed. "What do you want to ask me?"
Like a disciplined puppy, Carol made her way back to Jason. Her face twisted in silence, most likely choosing her phrasing carefully. The dark circles under her eyes indicated her lack of sleep. Her skin has a few break outs along her hair line and chin. She must be stressed from all the current events with Trix going on. What was rolling around in that pretty head of hers?
"Has there been any sign of Trix?" Carol finally inquired. "You see, I've arranged to have some of my classes be completed online, but a few of my professors are being . . . stubborn. I know it's not reasonable to take public transport to the university. And I don't want to inconvenience Anya anymore than I have to."
"It's been slow," Jason mused. "The police have their hands full with the recent crime sprees and keeping the public calm. But there are people keeping an eye out for you."
"I understand," Carol took an emotional breath. "I just feel bad about everything."
"Don't," he said firmly. "None of this is your fault."
"If I did what Anya told me to do earlier and ended things with Trix before all this started, none of this would have happened," she choked out. "I should've stood up to her sooner."
Jason grabbed Carol by the shoulders, eye burrowing into her crumpling face.
"But you did stand up to her," he spoke fervently. "You are standing up to her! And I'm- we are helping you to keep standing. So don't think that you're the problem 'cause you're not! Trix is the one that manipulated and hurt you. She knows what she's doing."
Carol's lower lip trembled as she attempted to hold back the tears in her eyes. Despite her efforts, a few escaped down her flushed cheeks.
"You're obviously important to your friends," Jason continued. "Otherwise we wouldn't try to protect you. Anastasia wouldn't have put so many of her assets into protecting you if she didn't feel otherwise. You are not a burden, okay?"
"'Kay," Carol managed to mumble.
Jason released the weeping girl and patted the side of her head softly.
"Next time you talk to those 'stubborn' professors, you make sure Anastasia is with you," he instructed. "I'm sure she can help you convince them to let you take their class online."
As he turned to leave, something grabbed his wrist.
"Thank you, Jason," Carol's words were nothing but consonants and air, and yet they somehow pierced through his heart.
Jason hummed in reply before pulling away.
"Get some shut eye," he jeered. "You look like a wreck."
Carol mumbled another 'thank you' from behind. Jason strolled out of the anteroom, forcing the door out of his way as he exited the building. As he walked down the street, he shoved the images of Carol's tear stained face from his mind.
"How did it go?" Biz buzzed in his ear.
"Fine," Jason hissed under his breath. "Just take me back."
"That bad, huh?"
The sight was burned in Jason's memory; hot tears rolling down Carol's flushed cheeks as her hazel eyes sparkled with moisture, so eager for comfort and searching for hope.
"Take me back," Jason demanded.
A portal opened leading into the shiny interior of the Headquarters. Jason jammed his hands in his pockets and stormed through. A slice of pizza and then bed would fix everything. He'd throw in a beer or two for the memories.