chapter 7 Trapping Your Rat!

Rupert Thorne stormed out of the Gotham museum's security office, furious that not one single image of Catwoman stealing his rat had been recorded'.

The museum's curator and some of the other trustees including Bruce Wayne were there too.

"Don't worry Rupert, I've already checked and the insurance company are going to pay out. Lucky really it was stolen today." Bruce said

Rupert Thorne spun around to face the man he consider a rich fool. "What the hell is that supposed to mean!" he demanded.

"Well, as it's over 24 hours before the court verdict is given as to whether you are the Rat's rightful owner, so you're still the owner as far as the insurance company is concerned, therefore you get the money."

"I am the Rat's owner! I bought it fair and square!" he blustered. Looking into Bruce Wayne's penetrating stare he had the feeling that maybe Wayne wasn't such a fool.

"Well, you could be lucky and the Rat may be returned. I'm sure the insurance company would prefer pay out a finder's fee." David Blake the museum's curator said. "$1.2 million may convince someone to return it!"

Rupert Thorne walked away from the crowd toward the Men's Room. He needed privacy, before he burst out laughing. No one would return the Rat it was in the back of the safe in his bedroom.

David Blake turned to Bruce Wayne. "Bit suspicious old Rupert getting the Rat taken just over a day before he has to hand it back, don't you think?"

"I'm not sure he would have lost the case!" Bruce remarked "I was told he'd bought the judge."

David Blake sniggered, "He tried, but the judge was Martin Ackuba!"

"What 'OLD INCORUPTABLE' himself, don't tell me Thorne tried to bribe him!"

David smile "Damn, near got locked up for it! So any slim hope he had went down the pan. He's been very fortunate having it stolen."

Batman and Catwoman were on the opposite roof watching as Rupert Thorne caressed the Jeweled Rat before placing back in his safe.

The court verdict was in, the Rat was now legally the property of the people of Maquitchu as it should be. But because of it's theft they wouldn't be getting it back and because Rupert Thorne had been the owner at the time of the theft he would get the insurance payout. The judge had looked hard to see if there was any way the money could be taken off Thorne, but the wording of the insurance policy wouldn't allow it.

So Rupert Thorne was eagerly awaiting his twelve million dollar pay out. He now he had his precious Rat and would soon be much richer. It was a shame he wouldn't be able to show his prized possession off but you couldn't have everything, just almost everything! Rupert Thorne laughed at his own joke as he locked the Rat back up in the wall safe in his bedroom.

"Does this have to be a sneak theft? Why not go in tie up and gag old Rupert and let me torture him a bit." Catwoman ask flicking a long Sharpe finger nail the way cats flex their claws.

Batman eyed her sternly, "You need me to get you inside, so we do it my way. Otherwise, I'm out of here."

"Ok, don't get a ladder in your tights it was just a thought."

Again she got a stern look.

"Time to move!" with that the pair of them set off using Batman's line heading for the roof of Thorne Tower. Landing safely they dropped lines down to the window ledge outside Rupert Thorne's bedroom.

They could hear loud snoring from were they were standard. "No wonder his wife left him." Catwoman muttered. Again she got the look. She just sighed.

Batman removed a small box no bigger then a cigar packet from his utility belt. He attached to the window pane and pressed the central button, Catwoman saw the alarm indicator in the bedroom change from active to deactivated. Batman quietly slid the window open. As Catwoman started to clime in he whispered into her ear "You make one move toward Thorne and I'll set the alarm off. You open the safe and get the Rat, just the Rat understood."

"Yes, .. Scouts. err.. well.. vigilantes honor, I suppose!" She whispered.

As she entered the room Thorne turned over in his bed muttering. Catwoman froze, but the snoring soon started again. She made her way to the other side of the bed. The safe was in plain view, not even hidden by a picture, obviously Rupert wasn't big on interior design. A Bourn & Swan series 7, some how Catwoman felt cheated, this was such a simple safe to open. Three minute later she had the Rat in her hands. There was also a number of other items in the safe including bearer bonds and a jewel box . Catwoman looked over towards the window. She saw Batman's steely gaze on her, he just shook his head. Catwoman looked up at the ceiling, shook her head and closed the safe.

The sound of the safe door shutting brought Rupert Thorne close to waking, he sat up in bed "Rupert wants a drink mommy!" he muttered in a childish voice, then half asleep he turned towards Catwoman and started blinking, confused at waking from his dream, "YOU.." he started, leaning over to grab Catwoman. Batman's right hook silenced the man, apart from the sickening thud when the solid fist connected with Thorne's jaw wasn't there too much disturbance. Rupert Thorne fell back against his pillows.

Batman helped Catwoman out of the window he then closed it back to it's usual position and reactivated the alarm, while Catwoman made sure the Rat was secure in her backpack. They then headed Back to the roof opposite.

Removing the backpack she handed it to Batman. "You slugged him pretty hard."

"He deserved it!" Batman said in such a way as to end the conversation.

"You'll make sure this get to the person we agreed on." Bruce nodded. "I know this will hurt old Rupert more, but I enjoyed watching you slug that creep!"

With a nod towards Batman she left.

Rupert Thorne woke up with one hell of a head ache and his jaw hurt. He also had a vague idea something was wrong. He staggered to the bathroom, the angry purple bruise on his chin reminded him of his 'dream'. He rushed out to open the safe and a bellow of rage filled the room.

Bruce and Alfred were watching the morning news. Leslie Thompkins was on screen explaining to reporters how she had found the backpack left in the waiting room and how surprised she had been at finding the stolen Rat inside. "Yes, the insurance company's representatives have been in touch." she said. "The million dollar finders fee will be a God send to the clinic, we're going to spend it on new X-Ray equipment. No, no idea who left it, maybe it was someone who thought they owed the clinic something!"

"So the rat will be given to its rightful owners. Mr. Thorne will be out of pocket and I assume pretty angry. But what about Ms Kyle?" Alfred asked. "It won't be safe for Catwoman to be out on the streets for a while."

"Catwoman won't be around for a while! Do you remember Kathleen Prentice?"

Alfred nodded, "She went to school with you mother. If I remember right she runs a riding school for disabled children in Metropolis. The Wayne Foundation supports her work."

Well, Kathleen has been having problems with a property developer who wants the site. Our legal team is working on it, but there's been some intimidation going on. I've asked Selina if she'll go and check if Kathleen is ok and maybe hang around for a while to see what's going off. She was really keen to help!"

Alfred smiled. "I feel sorry for the people causing the trouble. Miss Kyle is a formidable young lady!"

Selina Kyle sat in the hire car stroking the little cat that was curled up safely in the cat bed on the passenger seat. "Time to set off, it's best we're out of Gotham for a while. Besides the country air will aid your recovery, and we owe Bruce a favor."

The new was on the radio; the next item had her laughing out loud as she listened to Rupert Thorne on the news blustering about how delighted he was the Rat had been found!