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"Well, that was productive." I told Sheila as we walked to the car.
She didn't say anything until we were seated, then told me, "You just introduced me to the Penguin and Two-face."
I nodded, and added, "You're lucky. Harvey likes you, and you also won Harvey's coin toss. You're also forgetting Harley and Pamela." At her look, I said, "The Joker's girlfriend, Harlequin, and Poison Ivy. I think that you can forget about those punks bothering you. I would be surprised if they last until Monday. Want to get something to eat?" I started the engine, and slipped into gear.
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As we sat in the diner, I said, "So tell me, Sheila. What brings you to this point?"
She stared off into the distance, and sipped her coffee. I waited, and she put down her cup, and looked me in the eyes. "I joined the Corps in college. I always hated the restrictions on women, especially growing up in a Japanese family. The Marines let me be who I always wanted to be." I looked at her, and she quickly added, "I never wanted to be a guy, you understand. I just didn't want to grow up as another mama-san, like my mother and sister. The military was an honorable way out, especially for my father. He belonged to one of the American/Japanese divisions in World War Two. He would have preferred I join the Army, but I liked the Marines better. I did a couple of tours with the Fleet, and another on Embassy duty. I really enjoyed that duty in Tokyo, and having command of the language helped." She took a sip of coffee, and nibbled on a fry. I waited, and she continued, "When the time came to re-up, I set it up so the Corps would pay for law school. In return, I'm a reservist. I enjoy it, and I've extended my reserve enlistment twice. I don't look like a captain, do I?" I grinned, and shook my head. She said, "Not much else to tell. I enjoy the practice of criminal law, and safeguarding someone's rights. A client like you pays for a dozen clients that can't afford my normal rates, and when they conflict out, and can't use the PD's office." She leaned back, and said, "You're arranging the … delivery of those punks bothers me some, but they deserve what they get, as long as they're not killed. I'm glad you specified that, as, quite frankly, Pamela makes me really nervous." I grinned, and she added, "Okay, she scares me witless!" She sighed, then asked, "You about ready? It's one a.m., and I'm kind of looking forward to a nice warm bed."
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I stopped, and punched the code, and waited for the gates to open. I yawned, and told Sheila, "On Sunday, we usually sleep in. Bruce and I are both night owls, but Alfred is a morning person. You think you can find the kitchen, or you want me to wake you?"
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Sunday morning, I knocked on Sheila's door, and heard her call, "Come in!" She was sitting at her vanity, typing on her laptop. She was wearing gray shorts and running shoes, and a maroon T-shirt with USMC in gold on the left breast. She looked up and smiled. "Those punks missed this in my car's trunk. I've been keeping a diary on this for the last few years. I'd hate to lose it!"
"I hope that it doesn't have any actual names in it." I asked.
"Nope. Just initials. Of course, you're covered under attorney/client, of course." She typed a few more words, then saved the file and shut off the laptop. She added, "It's encrypted by the best program I could find."
I grinned at her, and said, "I'll bet that I could hack it."
She looked at me, then said, "You're on. What do we bet?"
"Hmm. What about this? You've met some of my friends. I haven't met any of yours. If I win, you'll introduce me to your co-workers and society friends."
Sheila thought about it, and then said, "If you can't hack it, you'll introduce me to the Batman? Maybe a tour of his infamous cave?"
I stifled a giggle, then said, "I don't know about the cave, but I'll definitely introduce you to the Bat. I'll let him decide about the cave. Fair enough?"
She nodded, then said, "I usually work out in the mornings before going to work. Is there a track or gym someplace in this museum?"
"Both, actually. Let me get changed, and then we can go. Come on down to my room."
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I grabbed some workout clothes, and started to change. As I did so, Sheila asked, "Which do you want first, the track or the gym?"
"I've always liked to warm up on the track, then the gym. What do you think?"
"Either way. I don't mind, but I lean toward the gym first."
I nodded at my dresser. "Why don't you flip for it? The silver dollar there is one of Harvey's. Scarred side up, we do the track, good side, the gym."
Sheila nodded, then examined the coin. With a smile, she flipped it, catching it, and slapping it on her hand. Before she uncovered it, she said, "Oh, Ms. Catwoman. I was thinking. Shall we put a time limit on your cracking my diary? Say, fifteen minutes?"
I stopped, with my shoe untied, and said, "I doubt it would take more than ten, but if you're comfortable with fifteen, I'm agreeable. Once I do, I'll read the last entry to you. Agreed?" She nodded, and then uncovered the coin. "Scarred side. The track first. You ready?"
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I opened the gym doors, and held them for Sheila. She walked in, then whistled. The high glass windows let the winter sun in on the hardwood floors, the chrome equipment gleaming in the light. I pointed, and said, "Men's and women's locker rooms and showers through there, and the track is through here." I pulled off my sweatpants and top, and tossed them on a bench. Leaning forward, I started stretching in my white workout tights and purple leotard. Sheila walked around a bit, then shucked her T-shirt, revealing a magenta top. She joined me in warming up, then opened the door, and said, "Catch me if you can, pussycat!"
I got close to her, and she called back, "How long is the track?" I answered, "Eight kilometers. Around the estate." She called, "Thanks!" and put on a burst of speed.
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I caught up to her as she started to slow, ending her lap. She passed the gate leading to the manor, and started to walk to cool down. I walked with her, and she said, "Nice run. Why isn't there any snow on the track?"
"Track's heated." She whistled at the thought, and I grinned. "Mr. Wayne takes his workouts seriously. He does three laps every day, and five on weekends. One will do it for me, though. " Sheila nodded, and asked, "You ready to head back?"
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I tossed Sheila a towel, taking one for myself. I wrapped it around my neck, and headed to the balance beams. Sheila dropped hers next to a weight machine. I dusted my hands, then began my routine. As I bounced and twirled on the narrow beams, I lost all track of time, and didn't look up until I heard Sheila say, "Hey, can you spot me?" I glanced at her from my handstand on the rings, and said, "Sure. Give me a minute, though?" I continued the splits, lowered myself so my arms were horizontal, then twisted and flipped onto the high wire. I walked it end-to-end, then back on my hands, twisting and spinning into a dismount. I bowed to the invisible crowd, then trotted over to Sheila. She said, "Wow! I haven't seen that since the last Olympics. Why haven't you competed?"
"Gymnastics is a sport for teenagers, now. I wouldn't stand a chance with them. I do it for flexibility, although I do fantasize about it, now and then." I started to check her weights, as Sheila grunted and settled back on the bench, and said, "That's been one of my fantasies also, to compete in the Olympics. Ah, well. Ready." She gripped the bar, and started.
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Bruce came in as we were finishing our workouts. He smiled, and said, "Good morning, ladies." Sheila paused at the door, and watched him pull off his warm-up clothes, stripping down to a tank top and running shorts. She gave a low whistle, and Bruce glanced at her, grinned, and headed out the door to the track. She waited until he was out of sight, then looked at me, and asked the ceiling, "Lord, give me strength!" I grinned, and she asked me, "Well, girl? Are you?"
"Am I? Am I what?" I asked innocently.
"Girl, are you crazy? You're living in the same house as this gorgeous, rich, single man, and you want to know WHAT? Are you getting any? Or are the rumors true, and he's secretly gay?"
"Oh, no! He's definitely not gay! But as for the rest, well, I don't kiss and tell…"
"Yeah, right! Girl, if you don't stake a claim, I will!" I looked at her, and she glared at me, and then we both dissolved into giggles. I straightened up and looked at her, and Sheila looked back nervously. I grinned, and said, "What we need is a nice, warm tub. C'mon."
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"Oh, this is nice!" Sheila said as walked across the wooden deck to start the hot tub. "But I'm not wearing a swimsuit."
"The view at night is spectacular. Besides, it's just us girls. What's wrong with skin?" I replied, twisting dials.
"I don't have any problems with it." I turned, and Sheila was holding a pair of bikini panties up. I glanced at her, and she smiled, and said, "I don't think that these would fit either Bruce or Alfred. On the other hand, Ms. Kyle, they look about your size." She spun them on a finger, and added, "Details, Ms. Kyle. All the details…"
### Chapter 18: Of Gyms and Girls
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