Most of the editing is improvement on flow, grammar, and a few other descriptive additions. For the most part, the original format is still here.
AKA, my style changed dramatically after I finished this piece.
Stephanie sticks around for the afternoon. She helps me make sure there's no hidden damage to deal with later. Except for a broken pipe in the boiler room, all is good. While we're cleaning I call Maggie to see if she can meet for dinner tonight.
"I'm sorry, Kate, with the Hatter lose crime has gone up. I've got too much on my plate right now. Maybe next time."
"Sure," I tell her then hang up.
"Everything okay?" Steph is coming down the stairs with an armful empty, large boxes. "That was a loud sigh."
"It's Maggie. She can't join me for dinner. Too busy with the Hatter loose and such." I tap my phone against my left hand. "By the way, how are you and Damian handling things?"
"Fine. We found out where he likes to hang. There were some thugs there. We tied them up and called the police. I doubt the Hatter will be showing his large nose there again." Steph drops the box in the pile we've created in the corner of the back room then darts upstairs to grab more. There was a small closet filled with them on the second floor. She figured I could use them to pack my things in. "By the way!" Steph yells from the second floor. "What are you gonna do with this room up here? There's a stove, a fridge, and a bathroom. Why don't you move in?" Steph doesn't yell out the last question because she's already downstairs.
"I like my apartment. Besides, what if someone spots me coming into this building in my uniform? With the neighbors being so close, they might connect the dots."
"First off, that like never happens and second, it would cut down the cost for you. You wouldn't have to pay for an apartment and a shop."
"I'll think about it. For now, I'll use it for storage and an office." Steph shrugs and heads back up to get the last of the boxes. I walk behind the counter and turn on the 8" portable TV the past owner threw in for free. I flip through the channels but all I get are two for kids and the news. I settle for the latter and turn up the volume. Vicky Vale with her flowing red hair and green blazer stands in front of the Gotham police department doing a news piece. Due to the fuzzy picture and crackling sound quality of the TV, I lean in to hear what is going on.
"Thank you, Gerald, but as I was saying, the death of Officer Thomas Moore was one that took everyone's breath away. We all know Gotham City has the highest rate of cop deaths in the country, but no one expected this. Officer Moore was a desk worker. His job was simple and involved mostly paperwork with little field work. So, when Officer Moore was discovered murdered in his own home it didn't make sense. Sources say Moore was working on his own private investigation that involved Intergang and their presence in Gotham City. Luckily for the police, Moore kept his work backed-up and hidden in different locations. But unfortunately, because he did that, Intergang may also have the information." Vicky stops for a few seconds to listen to the information being fed through her earpiece.
"This just in ladies and gentlemen. We have received word the man responsible for giving Moore his information is in protective custody of the police and will be kept there until those accused are brought to justice. This has been Vicky Vale giving you the afternoon news." The camera cuts to the two news anchors. They start commenting on what Vicky has said. I turn the TV off at that point and stand up straight.
"I think we know what Maggie is so busy with tonight," says Steph, who is sitting on the counter and eating another Nutri-Grain bar
"And now, so do I."
XXX
I'm hunched over and watching the rear entrance of the police department. I've been here for an hour at the most and my back is cramping a bit. The air in the city has finally taken on a fall feel to it with its low night time temperatures and nippy winds. The wind plays with the ends of the ginger wig attached to the inside of my cowl.
"You know they already moved him, right?"
Without thinking I spin around and kick the person behind me. To my surprise, they avoid my kick when they drop the ground. Earlier tonight, Barbara told Stephanie and Damian to go on basic patrol and leave the Hatter for tomorrow. Damian grumbled about it and surprisingly so did Stephanie, but they did as they were told. And I wasn't expecting Supergirl because Barbara told me she had business to handle in Metropolis. Lying on the ground, her glasses slightly askew, is Linda. She huffs as she fixes her glasses and puts a hand out for help. I'm about to reach out but stop myself. She stares at me for a few moments then gets off the ground on her own.
"You're not as friendly as Batgirl or Nightwing. You, Batman, and the little Robin are the more stoic types." She twists her back as she stands but nothing cracks. She's wiping the dust off her butt and legs when I remember what she said.
"Wait, you said they already moved him. Is that true?" She looks at me and fixes her glasses again.
"Of course. The news report done by Vicky Vale was a fake. Well, actually it was true, just a few days behind."
"Why?"
"To throw off Intergang."
"Do you think it worked?" Linda scans the area around us then without warning pulls me down behind a half-wall.
"Shhh." She points to the building next to us. I slowly turn my head and peak around the wall to try and see what she sees. I don't see anything. Before I even open my mouth to ask what we're looking at, she places a finger on my lips and points over there again. It takes me a minute to finally see what she sees. There's someone dressed in all black and from the looks of it they are setting up a gun. I feel Linda's arm reach around me and put a notebook in my face.
His name is Night Shadow. He's a new assassin that rivals even Deadshot. Rumor has it he was hired by Intergang to take out the witness. Looks like he fell for the report.
I write a few comments and hand the notebook back to her. I hear her chuckle and the pen drag across the paper as she writes her reply. Night Shadow is in place and ready for the 'witness' to come out the back. A civilian car is waiting for him. I don't recognize it. Before Linda showed up, I saw the outline of a cop in the driver's seat, and if I know my outlines, it's Maggie. I feel Linda shift closer and hand me the notebook.
I'm sure Batman got made fun for the same thing. No one knows for sure if he's human or meta-human. Either way, I wouldn't take my chances. They'll be transporting the "witness" in two minutes once you finish reading this. I'd get ready if I were you. Even Supergirl couldn't catch this sucker.
I hand the notebook to Linda and position myself to attack. I look over my shoulder to get her to move back, but she's already a good six feet away from me. I guess as a reporter she's learned how to get around without being heard. I put my attention back on Night Shadow. He hasn't moved since he positioned for the kill. I try to figure out the angle of the rifle, so I can know what he's waiting for, when I feel something hit my wig. At my feet is a balled sheet of paper from Linda.
He's not aiming at the witness he's aiming for the driver. He'll shoot once the car moves past the first dumpster. He needs the momentum.
I'm amazed by Linda's math skills and intuition. Another paper ball lands at my feet.
By the way, he knows we're here.
Great, I don't have the element of surprise on my side. He may know I'm here, but he doesn't know what I am capable, nor does he know I know what his objective is. If he's aiming for the driver, Intergang must want the witness alive. Since he knows I'm here, I shift my body to be in a better position to attack. As I reach back for a bat-a-rang I get hit with another paper ball. I open it quickly and I'm surprised at what it says.
Don't hit Shadow. Use your imagination.
I give her a look that hopefully projects irritation I'm feeling. She smiles at me and winks. I'm not sure what to do with Linda. Suddenly, the back doors of the police department open. Two uniformed officers, and a young detective I don't know, escorts a man with a hood over his face. They move cautiously as they get in the car but not before the detective checks underneath it and the hood for explosive devices. He even checks the trunk. Smart guy. All three of them get in the car with the detective in the front passenger seat. Maggie starts the car.
This is my moment.
Based on what Linda said, Night Shadow will likely aim for the back of the driver's head. When the hood aligns with the corner of the dumpster, I react. In one swift motion I throw my weapon into the tire. It ruptures, and the car swerves left. I see the shot before I hear it. It hits the back window and pierces the glass. My heart stops as soon as it does. I may have saved Maggie but now the "witness" might be dead. I move away from the scene and jump over the ledge to attack Night Shadow.
He's gone. The seconds between his shot and my movements were few, yet he's nowhere in sight. His gun is there and his equipment. but Night Shadow is gone... and so is Linda.