Note: Batman, his rogue's gallery, supporting cast, and all affiliating characters are owned by DC Comics which is a Time-Warner Company. For the purpose of improving my skills as a writer and for your and my entertainment I'm merely borrowing them for this mystery story.

Note 2: This is an AU fic and takes place outside of the current continuity.

BATMAN in

THE COPY BAT KILLER

By

Mimick

The Batcave…

Batman was in front of the bat computer running some further tests on the Mozline oil when Alfred walked up beside him. Batman could feel that his foster father had something urgent that he wanted to say so he stopped typing.

"Master Bruce, I just received news from Leslie that she has Batgirl in her clinic and she is hurt."

"What happened?"

"It appears she fought the killer who intended to put the Scarecrow to permanent rest."

"Tell Leslie to do everything she can for Batgirl. I'll pay for it."

"Will you be paying Miss Gordon a visit, Master Bruce?"

"No."

"Don't you think you should?"

"Alfred, there is a killer stalking the streets of Gotham and he's doing it in my name. If I don't find out who he is then more lives will be lost."

"As important as this case maybe Master Bruce, family is just as important."

As Alfred walked away, Batman leaned back in his chair and rested his chin on his closed fist reflecting on the matter.

Titans Tower…

Robin was pounding away at the punching bag in the gymnasium when his pager started beeping. He walked over and picked it up to see who was paging him.

"Christ, right now?"

He ran to his room to take a quick shower and then got into his costume as he readied himself to head back to Gotham.

Gotham Coroner's office…

Detective Bullock looked over the sight of the dead bodies that were piling up in the morgue and he felt sick. He took the top off the Pepto-Bismol bottle he had in his hand and started gulping it down. Some of the pink fluid dripped down his mouth and he wiped it away with his jacket sleeve.

"So, doc, can you tell me anythin' about these deaths?"

The doctor looked at Bullock and then dead body he was examining, "Well let's fucking see. Oh yeah they're dead."

"Very funny doc. How about I write ya up for withholding important information to a police investigation?"

"Fine, Bullock, I didn't find anything out of the ordinary except faint traces of Mozline oil."

"Mozline oil, is that all?"

"Yes, now will you please leave? You disgust me."

"I'll disgust ya right up side yer head," Bullock muttered as he headed out.

The East End Clinic…

Batman strode in through a window access and made his way into the room where Barbra was laid up. He grabbed hold of the note taped to the side of her bed and brought it up with in his eye level to read.

"I see you got my note," Leslie said quietly.

"Yes."

Leslie motioned for Batman to follow her and she led him into a more private room where they wouldn't disturb the patients.

"She's got a concussion and cracked ribs. Other then that I think she'll be fine."

"Did she see the face of the killer?"

"She got dropped off a building for god sake's, Bruce. Do you think you're really going to get much out of her?" Leslie snapped.

"…keep me apprised of her condition."

"You know I will," Leslie replied as she watched him leave.

Gotham Jewelers…

Catwoman launched herself through hole she cut into the glass panel roof and somersaulted to her feet. As she looked around the room, a smile touched her luscious lips. She sensually strutted across the walk ways looking at the various display cases with her big blue eyes.

"Mmmm, what should mommy pick up today?"

A batarang whizzed by Catwoman's head and slammed into the far wall where it hung there. Catwoman turned around to see the copy cat who she mistook for Batman.

"Precious, you nearly hit mommy."

"I know…"

Catwoman cracked her whip in the direction of the copy cat and he rolled away, drawing two blades from his utility belt which he tossed at Catwoman and they nicked her arm and side. She looked at the cuts and went wild with her whip. Slapping him with it and catching him by the throat with it in intent to strangle him. The copy cat pulled on the whip causing her to fall on her back side. As she reached for her whip, he kicked it away and dragged her to her feet and locked her in a full nelson.

"I want to hear you scream…."

"Okay…AHHHHHHH"

Catwoman slammed the back of her heel into copy cat's crotch and watched him limp away. She popped her claws and started towards him with look of unrepentant anger on her face.

The copy cat pulled something from one of the pouches on his utility belt and threw it into Catwoman's face. She let out a scream as the liquid burned her face and stung her eyes. While she was busy tending to her wounded face. The copy cat gingerly got to his feet and pulled a garrote wire from his utility belt and wrapped it around Catwoman's throat.

She gagged as he jerked with all of his strength against her throat and her struggles began to slow as her lungs burned from lack of air and then after a few moments her struggles ceased completely. The copy cat let go of her once he was confident she was dead. He then fired a grapnel to the roof and zip lined his way up as he made his exit.

Gotham General…

Commissioner Gordon was lying in his bed watching the nightly news when they showed an interview with Detective Bullock about the murders. Gordon shook his head in frustration as the detective was making a spectacle of the GCPD with how sloppy he was dressed and the sight of the tuna fish dripping down his face as he spoke. It didn't occur to the detective that they were chasing the wrong man. In fact, it didn't occur to the commissioner till he saw the unruly look in the killer's eyes before he passed out.

A knock came upon Gordon's door and he turned the television off as he called them in. In walked a uniformed officer.

"Hello Commissioner."

"What can I do for you officer?"

"I just wanted to inform you sir that we found the Catwoman dead at the Gotham Jewelers outside Robinson Park."

"Sonvubitch. Let me get dressed officer. I want you to take me down there."

"But sir," the officer started to protest.

"Don't but sir me. I need to be resume command before Bullock further discredits the GCPD."

"Yes sir."

Gotham Central…

Batman quietly crept into the evidence locker and looked through the stack of items they had related to him and the killer. He found the blood stained batarangs and remnants of the killer's assorted pellets. As he closed the locker, he heard the loud mouth of Bullock and he made a dash for the window. By the time Bullock came in Batman was safely outside, standing on a small ledge.

"Well it looks like we got anotha thing to add to Bat's murder conviction. He finally aced Catwoman."

"Do you really think he did it Harvey?" the officer with Bullock asked.

"Of course he did. He's a nutcase for goin' around in some cockamamie bat costume like he does," Bullock replied as he filed the evidence they gathered away and walked out with the officer.

Batman slid the window open and walked back in to see what Bullock brought in and he found blood stained darts. His eyes narrowed as he took a moment to remember Catwoman. He then fled into the night to research the evidence he had taken.

The Batcave…

Robin entered through one of the secret entrances to find what appeared to be Batman at the computer and as he drew closer. The copy cat turned around to regard Robin's presence.

"Hello…"

"You're not Batman," Robin said as he drew his Bo staff.

"You sure you want to fight?" the copy cat asked.

The copy cat stood with something tucked behind his back. As Robin started to impulsively dart towards him, the copy cat pulled out some kind of gas pellet which rendered Robin unconscious at the copy cat's feet. The copy cat leaned over and picked Robin up and placed him over his shoulder as he walked towards one of the batmobiles that he lowered for himself.

"Master Robin? Are you all right?" Alfred called.

The copy cat stuck Robin in one of the batmobiles and waited for Alfred to come down the stairs. Once he was in the cave. The copy cat tried to creep up on him, but found the old buzzard was tougher then he looked as Alfred threw a punch in his direction.

The copy cat caught Alfred's fist and pinned his arm behind his back.

"Now what is an old man like you doing here? Hunh? It didn't take much finding this cave since I've been following the Batman for some time."

"What joy do you get out of framing Batman? What is the sick satisfaction that motivates you to ruin a good man?" Alfred asked.

"Let's just say that I'm nobody who is looking to become a somebody," the copy cat replied as he chopped Alfred in the back of the neck.

As Alfred hit the floor, the copy cat got into the batmobile and started it up and drove off into the night.