Chapter Three


"What's your angle?" Helena asked Barbara. Barbara was at her PC in the Clocktower with her back turned to Helena. Helena was standing behind Barbara with her arms folded across her chest.

"What do you mean?" Barbara replied.

"I mean, what do you want with this kid … this 'Spoiler'?"

"I have several reasons."

"Care to share with the rest of the class?"

Barbara turned around to face Helena. "First, there's the matter of Spoiler herself," said Barbara. "We're talking about a fourteen-year-old … or someone's who's not much older than fourteen … inexperienced crimefighter. She's been lucky so far."

" 'Herself'? 'She'? "

"If she's anything at all like the original, we're going to be looking for a woman. The worst she's had to deal with so far are penny-ante guys: purse-snatchers, muggers, street corner drug dealers, petty thieves, et cetera. There's going to come a day when she's going to meet one of Gotham's big boys: Blockbuster, Clayface, Harley Quinn, or … God forbid … Joker." Barbara took off her glasses and cast her eyes downwards. "I don't need to tell you that the last time I met Joker … I barely got out with my life."

"Yeah … you got a point."

Barbara looked up at Helena. "I wouldn't wish an encounter with that giggling bastard on my worst enemy."

"So … where do WE fit in?"

"I was getting to that," said Barbara. "I also had a strategic purpose in mind. I would eventually like to forge an alliance with Spoiler … a mutual-aid agreement, if you will. We cover New Gotham, she covers Gotham Heights … and we back each other up in case of emergencies. It would enable us to extend our reach."

"We know nothing about this kid … can we trust her?"

"Why do you think we're investigating her?" said Barbara with a shy smile.


"What are we looking for again?" asked Dinah. Dinah was driving the van, Barbara was sitting in the passenger seat next to her. Dinah had a portable halogen spotlight trained on the alley to the left of the van. Helena was working a late shift at The Dark Horse.

"A late-model yellow Kawasaki Ninja sport bike," Barbara replied. She had a portable halogen spotlight trained on the alley to her right. "Nothing over here," she said with a sigh. "Let's try the next block."


Earlier, they had been to the home of the first person on Barbara's list of Spoiler candidates -- a 17-year-old girl named Donna Williams -- only to find the suspect vehicle (a late-model maroon Toyota Celica) -- parked on the street.

"Maybe she's sick?" inquired Dinah. "I mean … don't superheroes catch cold?"

"Unlikely," Barbara replied. "According to the police incident report database, she -- or someone like her -- was active in the northern sector last night." She then paused. "We'll keep her name on file for now."


Now, they were combing the dead-end streets, alleys, and isolated cul-de-sacs of New Gotham Heights in search of a motorcycle that belonged to Barbara's second Spoiler candidate -- a sixteen-year-old girl named Brenda Cantrell. They had first gone to her house, only to find the suspect motorcycle missing.

"I've been thinking…" said Dinah. "I wonder if we're not barking up the wrong tree?"

"What do you mean?" Barbara replied.

"Well, I mean … we're dealing with someone who's trying to keep her identity a secret, right? I was just thinking … isn't a motorcycle rather noisy? Wouldn't someone starting a motorcycle at two, three in the morning attract attention … unwanted attention?"

Barbara paused and grabbed her chin. "You have a point," she said.

Dinah continued. "I'm thinking, maybe we should be looking in some place that's nearby, deserted … and yet, a place where the sound of a motorcycle being started at two, three in the morning wouldn't be out of place."

Barbara made a few keystrokes on the laptop computer that rested in her lap. "There's a large strip mall just west of here," she said. "Let's search there."