Chapter Eight
"Whatcha' doin'?" said Helena. A few days had now passed since the incident at the water tower. Barbara was sitting and typing at her computer.
"I'm working on a database program … something I've decided to call Delphi," said Barbara.
"What does it do?"
Barbara turned around to face Helena. "Your father has appointed me … to complete … his work," she said. "Delphi is a part of it."
"Wayne Enterprises?"
"I meant his … OTHER … work."
"Ooh," said Helena in understanding. Batman. "Is there anything I can do?"
"I don't know what form this is going to take," said Barbara. "This has been more-or-less … thrust upon me."
"I figured maybe you could use an assistant," said Helena. "You know … someone with a … um, working pair of legs."
"I'm not going to lie to you," said Barbara solemnly. "Mine -- and your father's -- is a hard, brutal business." Barbara paused. "It's no place for amateurs, dilettantes, or the faint of heart." Barbara paused once more. "Many have died … doing what we did," she said softly.
"Look … I owe you one…"
"Don't do this for me," said Barbara, cutting Helena off. "Don't do this for your father." Barbara paused. "Do it for yourself. Do it for your own reasons. Ultimately, THAT'S what's going to keep you going over the long haul."
Helena glanced around nervously and shuffled her feet in place. "I've done some bad things," she said. "Some things I'm not proud of."
"They're relatively minor…"
"For most people, yeah … but then again, most people don't have a crook for a mother." Helena paused. "Have you any idea what it's like to be me?" she said bitterly. "To have to go to court hearing the snickers and the giggles and the jokes about 'the apple not falling far from the tree'? " Helena paused again. "I don't wanna go through life being known as the daughter of a crook."
"We work in secrecy … in the shadows," said Barbara. "If you're looking for glory, you've picked the wrong line of work."
"If nothing else, I'LL have the satisfaction of making the world a better place," said Helena. "As I said, I've done some bad things. I wanna put `em right."
Barbara smiled. "I'll definitely keep you in mind," she said.
THE BEGINNING…