Chapter Four
Dinah and Barbara searched five strip malls and shopping centers in their quest to find the elusive motorcycle. They searched the darkened service corridors and hidden employee parking areas -- places where few people (the occasional wino notwithstanding) dared to venture.
They came upon their sixth strip mall. There -- tucked behind a block that contained a supermarket, buffet, coin laundry, an Italian restaurant, a drugstore, and an optician -- something caught Barbara's eye.
"Dinah, stop the van!" Barbara exclaimed. The Hummer's headlights caught the tail end of a yellow sport bike tucked behind the supermarket. "What's the make and model of that bike?"
Dinah got out and checked the bike. "Late-model Kawasaki Ninja," she replied. "Think this might be it?"
"Maybe," Barbara replied. "What's the license plate?"
"Kevin-Delta-Jacob-Two-Nine-Larry," said Dinah as she read off the plate.
"That's our bike," said Barbara. "Nice work," she said as Dinah got back into the Hummer.
"What did I do?" asked Dinah.
"Had it not been for you, we would've spent the night on a wild goose chase."
"Sooo … what happens now?"
"Back up … and wait."
Barbara and Dinah backed up the Hummer and assumed a position approximately thirty yards behind the bike. They each intermittently glanced through a pair of night-vision binoculars. Barbara maintained a steady vigil on the bike. Dinah's head slumped forward as she nodded off to sleep behind the wheel.
"Dinah … DINAH!" exclaimed Barbara as she elbowed the dozing Dinah.
"Mmmph?" mumbled Dinah as she suddenly jerked awake.
"We're on a stakeout. I need you to stay awake."
"Sorry, Barbara," said Dinah. "I'm not used to this … What time is it?"
Barbara pressed a button on her watch, activating the backlight. "One-eighteen A.M"
"I sure hope she's worth it," said Dinah with a sigh as she glanced through her night-vision binoculars. "I'm not used to these crazy hours."
"Could be worse," said Barbara. "The first time I met Batman, he cut my jumpline … at ten stories."
"Get out!" exclaimed Dinah in disbelief.
Barbara nodded her head. "It's true," she said. "If Robin -- Dick -- hadn't grabbed me in midair, I would've been street pizza."
"What did he do THAT for?"
"He said I didn't belong there … said I didn't belong on the street."
"You don't need his permission."
Barbara's face broke out into a grin. "I let him know that too," she said.
"This your thing with Spoiler?" said Dinah. "She reminds you … of you?"
"Of me … at her age."
"You gonna confront her?"
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"The time is not right."
After what seemed like an eternity, the choked rumble of an engine -- a motorcycle engine -- broke the night air.
"Got her!" exclaimed Barbara as she looked through her night-vision binoculars. A caped and hooded figure silhouetted in infra green appeared in her binoculars. The figure was struggling to kick-start the motorcycle to life.
"So this is Spoiler, huh?" said Dinah as she peered through her night-vision binoculars at the figure.
"It would seem so, yes," said Barbara.
The motorcycle roared to life as the caped figure gave one last grand kick on the starter pedal. She then sped away from the Hummer and into the night, oblivious to the presence of Barbara and Dinah.
"You wanna go after her?" asked Dinah.
"That's not necessary," said Barbara. "I know where she lives."
