I didn't realize it has been almost a month since the last update to this story, but snow days have come in handy for writing. I hope you enjoy it.

mkpunk: Thanks. Freddie should be obvious at this point and I thought the others were having hints to who they could be in the future, but you'll just have to stay tuned. Also stay tuned for who stole from Mason.

Sugar star: I'm glad you enjoy those characters and here is the update.

pbow: You just may get an answer to that in a future chapter. That's some nice speculation in regards to Robbie…

Jeremy Shane: Thanks and here is more.

darck ben: I'll keep you in mind and thanks.

Boris Yeltsin: I would say those are some good guesses.

Challenge King: Thanks and here is the next chapter.

Fanfic-Reader-88: S&C is purposely targeted to a different audience than Victorious and I would say even to iCarly fans that grew up with the show. The lack of quality speaks for itself to the point that recently Jennette more or less the writing was crap. Steven was a dead man walking because he had a lot of people that wanted him dead.

PD31 has updated his 'ShelbyVision' and Illusorygentleman has updated his 'Schneider's Island', so check them out. IG's story is rated M, so it isn't for you kiddies.

Rating: T

Chapter 6: Quiet Sunday Lunch

West Manor
Bristol Township, NJ

Sunday, June 25

After the morning service at a local Methodist church, Freddie made his second stop for the day in front of the main doors of West Manor. He lightly tapped the doorbell and less than a minute later, the door opened to the sight of Miss West's faithful butler Erwin Sikowitz. The reporter politely nodded and greeted, "Mister Sikowitz."

The balding butler softly returned the greeting, "Hello Mister Benson. I'm sorry sir, but Miss West is not feeling well this morning—last night's events and all."

A sharp breath past Freddie's nostrils and his concern was evident on his face. He was about to ask further about her condition, but Jade shouted with clear irritation filling her voice from further into the home, "Erwin, let him in!"

Sikowitz deeply frowned with a slight roll of his eyes, but he opened the door for the young man to enter. He motioned towards the reporter to enter then follow him deeper inside the home.

Freddie slightly outpaced the loyal butler and reached the expansive living room with the large L-shaped staircase on his left coming from the entrance with a large fireplace on the right, unused since it was the summer. A couch was facing the fireplace with a large flat screen television to the cattycorner right of the couch.

He frowned when he saw when Jade (in casual wear of a T-shirt and light sweatpants) turned to face him in her seat with her right arm rested in a sling. His voice was laced with concern as he asked, "Miss West? Are you alright?"

She looked up and shook her head before casually remarking, "I'm alright. It turns out that I pulled a muscle in my arm when I was punching oh Mister Clown."

"Shouldn't you have gone to the hospital to be checked out? Called the D.A.? You were actually hurt during the robbery so wouldn't that up the charges against him?"

"I have a personal physician that does make house calls and Robbie has his hands full with Steven's apparent suicide."

The reporter slightly nodded his head to the side and remarked, "Okay, but are you alright?"

She reassuringly smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, Mister Benson, I'm fine."

He put on a relieved smile then continued, "That's good to know and yes I heard about Mister Carson's apparent suicide. I stopped by before church to see Mister Oliver this morning to inform him, just in case he hadn't heard the news."

Jade wore a slightly bashful smile at hearing his genuine relief that she alright, but lovely brow knotted and she hesitantly asked, "You spoke with Beck? Why?"

"I wanted to inform him of his associate's death and that before he died, he had accused him of being 'The Joker'. I wanted to get his reaction to the accusation so he could get his side of the story out."

He immediately noticed her muscles tense in her face and shoulders twitch when linking Beck's name with 'The Joker'. He saw the slight hesitation in her body language while she adjusted in her seat on the comfortable couch and the reaction confused him for a moment.

She glanced away from him and remained silent for a few pregnant seconds, but then quickly put back on a smile and stated in an almost embarrassing tone, "I'm sorry, I'm being rude." She patted a spot beside her while she finished, "Have a seat."

He nodded his head then walked around the back of the couch and had a seat to her left, dropping his fedora on the coffee table between the couch and fireplace. Before he continued his line of thought, he asked, obviously still concerned about her condition, "Did you have a restful night? After everything—including your arm?"

She cracked a smile without realizing it. "It took me a little while to go to bed, but after that I was able to get to sleep. It really didn't bother me since I'm kind of a night owl. How about you?"

"I'm fine. I slept pretty well. It wasn't the first time a gun's been pointed at me, so it didn't shake me to get to sleep."

She cocked her left eyebrow, once where she had a piercing in high school and early college. "Actually it was pointed at me."

He retorted with a slight tease, "But he shot at me."

Her smile started to ebb, recalling how he selflessly threw himself into the situation to defend her, just like her father had with her and her mother all those years ago… She shook herself out of falling into unpleasant memories and stated with a more upbeat tone than she felt, "Yes he did… it was odd that the police couldn't recover the bullet he fired at you."

He cracked a nervous smile and chuckled, "Oh? I guess it was a real dud them."

"Thankfully so."

The pair stared at one another for a few moments, unsure what the next move was in such a situation. Jade wasn't used to someone trying to protect her in such a manner and Freddie wasn't used to someone thanking him. As they paused in their conversation, he faintly smelled the same scent he had smelled in the hotel rooms from last night during his little escapade. Her scent was quite enticing too and snared his attention, but he brushed it off because of his professionalism and the comparison as he couldn't accept the similarities.

Freddie cleared his throat and continued, "I read this morning that they caught Steven late last night. The word is that he was shouting to whoever is listening that 'The Bat' rescued him from the Joker trying to kill him…" He hesitantly finished, "…and he's saying that Beck is the Joker. That's why I went to see him."

Jade put on a stern expression and unequivocally stated, "Beck is not the Joker. It was just Steven trying to smear his name as payback for Beck being more successful and that he's Tori's friend. He wanted to try to hurt Tori through Beck."

"I don't understand?"

"Beck works for Mason—"

"He mentioned that last night—"

Jade surprised herself, but didn't let it show at how easily the words rolled off her tongue, "Yes, but Beck is the only honest man that works for him and actually successful at being a legitimate business man. In the end, Steven was just a two-bit criminal that was jealous of Beck's success."

"But how is Miss Vega involved?"

"Years ago when we were in high school, Tori dated Steven, but it turned out he was two timing her with this girl named…" She paused as the name finally hit her, apparently not making the connection earlier and Tori not mentioning anything when she met the reporter. "…Carly Shay. I'm guessing she and your partner are one in the same?"

Freddie tried to hide his embarrassment as he wasn't aware of that story. He awkwardly answered, "I wouldn't know. Carly keeps her family life and past before Metropolis pretty tight lipped. All I know is she has a brother that she keeps in regular contact with and her father is a general in the US Army Air Corps."

Jade suddenly became tight lip, feeling a sudden wave of sympathy for the young man in not having a strong relationship with the person that was suppose to one's partner. "Yeah, so… that's why Steven would say such a thing about Beck."

The reporter nodded his head and casually remarked, "Jealousy and revenge, everyone can get their head around those motivations."

"So are you going to publish a story?"

"After confirming what you told me, yes—it's not that I don't trust what you say ma'am—but I'd like to have two independent sources before I summit any story. I just hope the chief will publish an article explaining why Carson would make such accusations against Mister Oliver."

Jade sternly remarked, "He better if he wants to keep his job."

Freddie raised a surprised eyebrow. "So you would interfere in our paper?"

"I would say I'm being proactive in preventing Beck having a case for libel by accusing him of being a criminal without a shred of proof… and worst… he might see it as a betrayal as we are friends. I don't have to make any apologies to you or justifications."

"Just don't use the Planet as a way to protect your friends and punish your enemies or we wouldn't be any better off being owned by Nevel Pappermen."

She narrowed her gaze and directed a near scowl at him that would have made plenty of males and females cower in fear, but he held his gaze on her. She recognized the look in his eyes, the one of someone completely confident in their beliefs and knowing they were right. She usually saw it with crooked businessmen/women and politicians when they justified their actions in their heads with their own moral code, but in this case Freddie, he was standing on firm moral ground. It was something she saw as admirable and someone that could become a great asset to her in the future.

Jade turned her head towards the television to watch the displaying news and remarked with a quiet voice, "Keep speaking truth to power Mister Benson and you'll go far in the Planet and West Enterprises as a whole."

He suppressed a small smile threatening to form on his face as he heard a hint of admiration in her voice.

The doorbell rang again in the distance and Sikowitz was eager to answer the door while the pair remained sitting quietly together. While Sikowitz went about unobserved to answer the door, Freddie admired the millionaire's profile and felt the odd bubbling of feelings coming up from his stomach that he hadn't experienced since high school… and the first time he met his reporting partner Carly Shay.

His teenage admiration was interrupted when Sikowitz returned and called out, "Miss Valentine, Miss Vega, Detective Vega and Mister Shapiro are here to see you."

The pair on the couch instantly turned their respective heads to look over the top of the backrest of the couch to see the four eagerly heading for the dark brunette, the girls knowing their way around the mason like the back of their hands regardless of not really needing that knowledge to find the living room.

Jade stood up and walked around the end of the couch to meet them with Freddie quick to follow on his feet and stand next to her.

The redhead of the group in a moment put on a worried expression, but Tori was quicker to speak when she saw her friend with her arm in a sling, "Jade—"

Jade held up her good hand, "Don't start Tori. I've had enough babying from Sikowitz and concern from Mister Benson."

The brunette didn't look convinced, but she relented in not making a fuss over the matter.

The mistress of the home continued, "Cat, Robbie, Detective."

The police detective was not so swayed by the millionaire's words to not worry. "Are you sure you're alright? The piece of scum is already facing assault charges against you, but you being injured add to the charges…" He glanced over to Robbie as he finished, "Even if Mister Shapiro has to cut a deal with them…"

Cat and Tori directed disapproving glances at Robbie, but he was quick to defend himself, "I don't like it, but I'm going after the big fish, not the small fries. I want Mason and the rest of the bosses of the crime families. I get them then the Mob is broken in Gotham."

Jade rested her good hand on Robbie's upper arm and reassured him. "I know and it's okay. If you can get them behind bars then you take down the whole Mob and it will be worth a sore shoulder and those punks getting minimum time."

The glasses wearing D.A. smiled his thanks and gratefully replied, "Thanks."

The pale dark brunette glanced around to her unexpected guests and asked, "What is everyone doing here?"

Cat giggled, "We're here for lunch."

Jade knotted her eyebrows, confused at the self-invite, but not necessarily upset.

Sikowitz spoke up, "I received a call from Mister Shapiro to see if you were free for lunch. He thought it was the perfect time for everyone to meet up and celebrate Tori's visit. I told him you were available and here they are."

Jade softly prodded with her question, "But I wasn't well enough for Mister Benson's company?"

Sikowitz licked his lips and retorted, "He's a reporter and I was concern that he could upset you. You need to relax, not having to worry about watching every word that he could twist around and print. Tension would not be good for the muscles."

"I'm offended Mister Sikowitz of you questioning my professional ethics."

The butler lazily remarked, "I'm sorry Mister Benson… I wasn't aware that your profession had any."

Jade tired to hush him with a curt and soft tone, "Sikowitz."

Freddie surprised them all by letting out a soft laugh, "It's alright Miss West. I can completely understand the attitude. I've met plenty of people like that in my profession that Mister Sikowitz would be describing to a T." He glanced around to the others and politely continued, "Since this is obviously a private gathering, I think I'll head on out. I'll call your office tomorrow to see when you're available."

Tori quickly spoke up, giving the young man a flirtatious smile, "We didn't mean to interrupt your lunch."

Cat quickly leant her support with a quick clap of her hands, "Yeah, the more the merrier."

The detective spoke up, "The girls are right Mister Benson. You have your story to research on Miss West and we wouldn't want to interfere with your livelihood."

Robbie eagerly nodded along, "Absolutely. We don't want to run you off."

Jade slightly narrowed her sight on the D.A. and detective. She understood why Cat and Tori insisted on him staying since the redhead was just friendly in that manner while she had noticed last night that Tori was being a little flirtatious with the reporter, but she curious as to why they would want the young reporter to stay.

"They're right Mister Benson. We were going to have lunch, so we're having lunch."

He easily relented and answered, "Okay ma'am."

Sikowitz spoke up before she could question why, "I can go ahead and escort you to the dining room. I set working on lunch as soon as we hung up." He motioned an arm toward one of the doors at the end of the living room. "Right his way."

Jade suppressed a frown at Sikowitz for allowing such a stunt to be pulled. It wasn't that she was adverse at seeing her friends, but she had business with Freddie that she was hoping to attend. She was distracted from her mild annoyance with Cat happily taking her good arm and walking with her to the dining room.

Jade took a seat at the end of the long table while Tori took a seat on her right cattycorner followed by Detective Vega and Freddie while Cat sat at the millionaire's left cattycorner then Robbie.

Sikowitz quickly rushed back and forth from the kitchen to sit out their respective meals, tailored to each of them, and drinks. However, he was missing a plate for Mister Benson, leaving the reporter to oddly look around, not sure what was the proper etiquette for such a situation.

Jade looked to her butler with a curious and somewhat disapproving glance.

He didn't need to be a genius to figure out why she was giving him such a look. "I was expecting him to respect you needing your rest and simply meet with you tomorrow."

Jade closed her eyes and let out a slow breath through her nose before calmly instructing him, "Erwin, please prepare Mister Benson a plate as quickly as possible."

"Yes ma'am."

Tori looked past her father to graciously offer to the reporter, "You can have some of mine while we wait."

He lifted a hand and politely answered, "Thank you, but no. I couldn't deprive you of any of your lunch. I can simply wait."

The actress looked slightly disappointed that he declined, but at the same time was impressed with his chivalric choice.

Cat looked across the table and eagerly asked, "So you're here to do a story on Jade?"

"Yes, I was here for lunch for an informal interview. I know Miss West is a very busy woman with West Enterprises and all."

Tori softly teased, "Actually André handles the day-to-day stuff. I'm not sure what she does all day. He still does that right?"

Jade nodded. "Yes Tori, André still manages the day-to-day stuff, but I keep quite busy."

The brunette and former rival playfully teased, "Being a philanthropist and socialite must be so much hard work."

Jade rolled her eyes while the redhead continued towards Freddie, "We're sorry for interrupted, but when Robbie suggested that we all go see Jade and catch up with Tori, it seemed like a fantastic idea."

"Don't apologize. I'm not here to intrude on Miss West's life and interrupting your get together."

Tori softly teased as she brought her glass to her lips, "You can intrude in my life."

Her father raised a concerned eyebrow, knowing when his daughter was flirting with a young man, a young man that he really didn't know anything about and was just going to use as a pawn.

Jade apparently saved Tori from any scrutiny from her father and prevented any more flirting for some odd reason that she didn't appreciate by asking Robbie, "So this was your idea?"

"Yeah. We didn't get to catch up last night with Tori being late and the whole getting robbed part."

Cat picked up, "We called Sam and Beck to come, but they wanted a quiet Sunday to themselves after last night."

"Can you blame them after what Steven accused him of before he died?"

Tori raised an eyebrow as she finished a piece of her sushi. "What did he accuse him of?

Cat looked onto the pale millionaire in as much a curious expression.

Jade looked to Cat and Tori then to Robbie and Detective Vega with a curious expression. "You hadn't heard the news? Neither of you told them?"

Detective Vega slightly frowned, not appreciating the young woman trying to scold him like a child, especially since he remembered her as a sixteen year old.

Robbie on the other hand looked slightly embarrassed and explained, "It's been a busy eighteen hours for us. I'm running on about five hours of sleep since the fundraiser."

The millionaire rolled her eyes, accepting her curly haired friend's explanation then continued, "Steven accused Beck of being the Joker, the guy that's been robbing and torching the Mob's speakeasies and gambling halls… and said Beck as the Joker tried to murder him last night."

The redhead blinked and looked to her with a dumbfounded expression then shouted, "How could he say that?!"

Tori spat in mild disgust, "What? He actually accused Beck of doing that?"

"Yes."

The brunette shook her head and muttered, "I hate to speak ill of the dead, even Steven, but that is just insane."

Jade nodded along, but her face showed she was still uncomfortable with the subject. So much so that it looked like she had suddenly lost her appetite, but she ignored the feeling and took another sip of her soup.

Freddie noticed that it looked like she was forcing it down, but remained silent to watch the conversation between friends.

She blew out a deep breath and dismissively remarked, "It's nonsense. I was telling Mister Benson before you arrived of why he would say such a thing."

Tori picked up her glass of tea to hide her embarrassed expression.

"Sorry Tori, but I had to tell him to help stop Steven from trying to ruin Beck's reputation from beyond the grave. Mister Benson is going to write a story explaining why Steven would make up such a thing when it's obvious that he's the Joker."

The brunette actress nodded her head and quickly recovered, "I understand. If you said it was on the news then the commentators must be ripping him to pieces." She looked to Freddie and asked with a hopeful tone, "I hope you write a fair piece about our friend."

He nodded his head and in a kind voice answered, "I intend to." He looked to Robbie and politely asked the D.A., turning away from the obviously embarrassing experience the young actress experienced in high school, "Speaking of Mister Carson, would you like to comment for the record on his apparent suicide, other than your office's press release?"

"The official statement from my office is that the Gotham Police Department is continuing to investigate Steven Carson's untimely death, but all indications at the moment were that it was a suicide."

"How about unofficially?"

"Unofficially, no comment."

Freddie accepted the answer with a polite nod then questioned, "Has there been any discussion about an independent investigation from your office since there was a report that Commissioner Dickers was named by Mister Carson as belonging in Mister Thornesmith's pocket? The man that Carson was accused of attempting to kidnap and murder? I don't mean to imply anything with this statement, but there were plenty of people that had reason to see Mister Carson dead including Mister Thornesmith."

"I cannot even dignify that with a legitimate response."

"I'll take that as a 'no comment'."

Detective Vega saw his opportunity for what he and Robbie had planned and suggested, "We have complete confidence in Commissioner Dickers, though we would freely admit we are biased in favor of him, but I know I speak for Robbie and myself that we would never discourage the press from asking questions or continuing to do their own investigation into what happened. I would say questioning the officers that were assigned as Carson's protection detail would be the first logical choice in trying to get to the truth… if say I was a reporter."

Jade chuckled as she remarked, "That's Detective Vega's way of saying that Robbie wants you to investigate what he can't."

The detective smiled as he brought his glass to his lips. "Now Jade, I never outright said that."

Tori held back a chuckle from her father's coyness while Jade gave him a wink.

Freddie held a guarded expression as he didn't trust the detective as he simply didn't know the man and it was blatant to him that the detective and Robbie just wanted to use him. He remarked in a casual manner, "I wouldn't be beholden to you, but to truth and justice."

Detective Vega chuckled as he sat his glass down, "You sound like an honest reporter."

"I try to be."

Sikowitz finally arrived with the original meal planned for Mister Benson and sat a glass of tea down next to the plate.

Tori finished a morsel and casually asked to Robbie and her father, turning the subject, "Do you have any idea who broke into Mason's place? That's why he ran out of here so fast last night just before the 'fun' started."

The lawyer and cop looked across the table to one another then Robbie offhandedly remarked, "It wouldn't be proper to discuss an ongoing case."

Tori slightly tilted her head down and raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, okay, this is just idle talk among friends…" He glanced over to Freddie.

"Anything I hear while at the table is off the record."

Robbie spared a quick glance to Jade to confirm the reporter's words, which she did with a slight nod of her head, then the D.A. continued, "We're thinking it is the Bat vigilante."

Freddie softly laughed from the detective's left, "The Commissioner last night told me there was no such thing as 'The Bat'. I would actually be foolish to look into such a thing."

"That changed last night on how we caught Carson last night."

Jade questioned in an odd tone, letting her curiosity slip into her voice, "The 'Bat'? Why would you think he broke into Mason's place last night?"

Tori was quick to snap, as if she was offended that 'The Bat' was getting the blame for the crime, "Yeah, why him?"

Robbie chuckled before sticking a piece of food in his mouth with his fork, "Ah, well… she—"

Cat knotted her and asked in a childlike innocent tone, "The Bat is a she?"

Her boyfriend nodded his head as his mouth was full with a piece of delicious chicken. He quickly took a sip of his drink to wash it down then answered, "That's what Steven told us—why the Commissioner has changed his mind about the existence of the vigilante. He said that 'The Bat' rescued him from… from Beck trying to throw him out a window. He said she had 'Very dark hair, blue eyes and a slim figure with 'a nice rack'."

Robbie blushed in mild embarrassment at realizing he didn't edit Steven's quote in his description of the masked woman.

Cat looked down, kind of embarrassed by her lack of assets with a few odd and end jokes Sam would playfully tease her about when they were roommates in college.

Jade snorted out in mild disgust and rolled her eyes, "She's saving his life from going splat on the pavement and he's ogling her goodies? Oh my God."

Tori quickly spoke up to agree, "He may have been perving on her, but it feels good to know that it's a woman out there kicking some behind."

The redhead shouted in a childlike manner with a raised fist, "Girl power!"

The others were not fazed by this reaction from the botanist, but Freddie raised a curious eyebrow above the rim of his glasses.

Detective Vega politely smiled and offered his opinion, "I have my doubts about such a thing that one woman could do put that much fear into the street thugs or do that much damage to them. I saw what 'The Bat' did to the Triplet twins and I don't see how a woman could do that to them."

Jade pointed out with a soft smirk, "A pair of brass knuckles or something similar would certainly even up the odds even if a woman couldn't necessarily punch as hard as a man and there are plenty of martial arts that teach how a physically weaker opponent can beat stronger one. Cat's right, girl power."

The longer haired brunette smirked in triumph at Jade's point while her father raised an eyebrow, not having considered something so simple for an explanation if 'The Bat' was a woman.

Jade continued with a mild concern in her voice, "What makes you think it was 'The Bat'?"

Detective Vega picked up, "Because she was caught in the act by one of Mister Thornesmith's security guards, but she did a real number on him then escaped. She fits the description of 'The Bat' except for missing a cape and she had a whip."

Tori awkwardly chuckled, "So Mason's bodyguard thought that ey—she had a 'nice rack' too?"

Her father cleared his throat, of course not feeling comfortable talking about a woman's anatomy with his daughter. His wife had 'the talk' with their daughter after all. "That was not part of his description, just having a black, skintight suit."

Jade snorted out thoroughly amused, "A whip and black skintight suit? Sounds like more of a dominatrix than a cat burglar."

Tori frowned and quickly came to the burglar's offense, "Wouldn't a form fitting suit be the practical thing to wear if you were going to burglarize someone if you're female? You wouldn't were a pair of jeans and a T-shirt or anything loose to snag on and leave behind any evidence."

The Vega patriarch raised a curious eyebrow towards his daughter.

She shrugged a shoulder and softly teased him, "I'm a detective's daughter. You don't think I've picked up a thing or two from you over the years?"

He shook his head and turned back to his meal.

Tori turned to look back to Jade and continued, "And you're cheerleading 'The Bat' and she had to wear something similar for Steven to describe her that way and my dad and Robbie think she could, so why are you ragging on her?"

Jade looked to her with an odd expression, thoroughly curious as to why Tori would defend the burglar. "I'm not. I just find it a little funny that she could be mistaken for one. I find her pretty gutsy to rob from the Mob boss of Gotham."

Mister Vega mumbled as he was taking a sip from his drink, "Or stupid."

Tori gave her father a sideward glance and a slight frown.

Jade looked back to Robbie and casually asked, "But let's say for discussion that you're right about this cat-woman and 'The Bat' are one in the same, why would she break into Mason's place? What would she want from him? She's a vigilante fighting criminals, not a criminal burglarizing the man for cash or whatever other valuables she could fence."

Detective Vega quickly pointed out, "She's a vigilante, that's what makes her a criminal."

Jade was quick to snap, "By whose standards? The very criminals running the city that happen to hold public office?"

The veteran police detective put on a sour expression as he couldn't really counter the point.

Robbie cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncomfortable in trying to answer that question and the unexpected notch in hostility between Jade and Mister Vega. "That I really can't speculate on other than to say it wasn't a simply burglary. She didn't steal money or anything with monetary value."

The millionaire asked in a more curious manner, "Then what?"

Detective Vega continued for the nearly tongue-tied D.A., "Let's just say that what Mason lost cost him far more than anything of monetary value."

Jade curiously questioned but there was a hint of offense in her voice, "What? Personal affects? Family photos? She wouldn't do that. I haven't heard one whisper that 'The Bat' is a criminal herself and robbing people and if it was someone else then why didn't she take anything of value to fence? It's sounding more like a simple burglary and this person a common thief."

Tori hid a small smirk behind the rim of her glass as she took a sip of her tea.

Detective Vega responded with an equally curious voice and without attempting to correct her train of thought in what the burglar may have stolen, "Jade, how can you guess a vigilante's motivations other than taking the law into her own hands? If she's willing to ignore one law, what is stopping her from ignoring others like someone's property rights?"

"Motive, the one thing that separates vigilantes from other criminals. Why do vigilantes take the law into their own hands?"

The detective began to answer, but Jade continued, "Because they believe that the law can't or won't bring them justice. The system's broken Mister Vega, so what is one supposed to do, just give into despair and accept their fate? Haven't there been plenty of people in this city that has done that already?"

"What? You expect one person, some hero to come riding in on a horse like the Lone Ranger or like some… dark knight to save the people?"

Jade softly shook her head and began with a regretful voice, but steadily grew stronger and more confident, "No, what I see is… I see someone trying to show the people of Gotham that the city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt… people need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and this… this 'Bat' is doing such a thing. A person is just flesh and blood and can be ignored or destroyed, but a symbol… as a symbol she can become incorruptible, everlasting… that's what they are beginning to see… that's what the criminals are beginning to see."

The detective embarrassingly looked down at his plate and remarked in a regretful tone, "I think that's a little naïve Jade. I think you might have too much faith in people."

Jade frowned in turn, his words pricking at her heart as she never much had faith in people. Other than a handful of people, most of them being in the room, people had failed her and she didn't want to admit he could be right, but a soft voice called out that stopped her from looking in that dark place in her heart…

"I don't think it is naïve Miss West."

She looked up from her soup to see Freddie's warm and supportive smile while everyone else turned to look at him, giving him various levels of curious expressions.

He continued in quiet confidence, "This Bat may be trying to point the people back to an ideal they've stopped trying to achieve because they thought it was impossible with the corruption and darkness of the city: living happy, peaceful lives and raising their families without worrying that around every corner there is someone going to take their property or their lives, be it a crook in a clown mask and a gun or a well dressed businessman or politician taking everything they have with a smile on his or her face. My late father told me that ideals are something we should strive towards… that we'll race behind and we'll stumble at times and even fall, but in time… we can be more than we think we can be and maybe this dark knight… this… dark dame can lead… raise the people into the light and out of the darkness that has fallen upon this city."

The others looked to him with dumbfounded, unsure what to make of the visitor from Metropolis.

He whispered as he looked back down to his meal and tried to cover his face by taking a sip of his tea, "That's just my two cents."

Jade cracked a soft smile, allowing a little of her inner emotions shine through with a soft prickle to the back of her eyes and whispered while she lifted up her glass. "I think they were a valuable two cents."

Tori raised her glass and happily remarked, "I'll toast to that."

Jade sat her glass down then softly teased the group in a light hearted tone, "Okay, enough business talk. The excuse for everyone to come over here and eat all my expensive food was for us to be happy Tori's back in town, so why don't you catch us up on what's been going on with you and not what the tabloids have been saying. Any serious potential Mister Tori Vegas on the horizon?"

Cat giggled and clapped her hands, eager to hear any juicy details from her friend.

Detective Vega raised an eyebrow at that question, obviously concerned about any potential suitors for his daughter.

Tori took her napkin and delicately wiped her lips off before softly countering with a quick glance to Freddie, "Any potential Mister Jade Wests?"

Jade cocked her once pierced eyebrow.

The brunette let out a triumphed laugh at getting under her friend's skin then continued, "Okay, okay, there's been a few that've shown interest, but I've been keeping it strictly professional. Most sound like they just want a Hollywood hook up…"

After another half hour of catching up including her current film in NYC and enjoying each other's company, the guests were on their way out. Detective Vega and Robbie were waiting just outside the door as the girls were bidding farewell to their friend. Cat carefully hugged one of her best friends and whispered, "You get better."

She patted her shorter friend on the back and answered, "I will."

Tori followed up as Cat pulled away from Jade, "You better because I want us to go out tomorrow. You can visit the set then go out. Maybe I can convince you to try out acting again."

The millionaire rolled her eyes and blew out a slightly annoyed breath. "Fine, we'll go out tomorrow and be part of your entourage."

The girls waved back as they exited the mason and Jade closed the door behind them. She immediately turned to Freddie and started to apologize, "I'm sorry our lunch got interrupted and—"

He gave her a look that stopped her midway through and suggested he slightly doubted her sincerity.

"No, I really am. I may not like the idea behind the piece, but I'm not blaming you or trying to make your life difficult over the matter and… thank you for the support you gave me. I didn't think the apathy… the hopeless had seeped into the people close to me. I guess you have the advantage of living in Metropolis where everything is sunshine and rainbows."

He snorted out a laugh and softly shook his head. "I wish that was the case, but it isn't. Metropolis likes to make out to the rest of the world that we are the 'city of tomorrow' and we've left behind all the problems other cities face, but ours are done in the dead of night and under the cover of darkness than out in the open."

Jade nodded her head then softly replied, "I see… I guess you'll have to tell me about it some time, fill me on how Metropolis really operates."

"I will and you're welcome for the support and it but this was actually better than a lunch for two…" He suddenly trailed off at hearing his own words, but giving a different impression than one he was trying to convey. "I mean having lunch with a beautiful young woman like yourself ma'am would be…"

He shut his mouth and slightly blushed, looking away as he felt he was just digging the hole deeper.

"I'm flattered Mister Benson, but I'm sorry for the interruption."

He gathered some courage and continued, "It's okay. Really it is ma'am. Seeing you interact with your friends was far more eye opening than just tentatively asking you questions. It was an enjoyable lunch and you really do have some nice friends."

"I'm very blessed to have them. I wasn't the easiest to get along with in high school, especially with Tori for most of it."

He chuckled, "That sounds like an interesting story to hear at another time, but I must be going. I don't want to take up anymore of your Sunday."

She gave him a half smile and replied, "So where are you heading? Off to write your story?"

"Actually I was going to take Mister Shapiro and Detective Vega's suggestion to go speak with those officers that were assigned to protect Mister Carson. Maybe I can get to the truth and prove it was a murder." He shrugged a shoulder and bashfully remarked, "Maybe even link it to one of the Mob bosses and bring some heat down on them."

"Ambitious… and maybe just a little foolish as trying to go after the Joker and his partner."

"Maybe, but I do believe in truth and justice…"

She teased, "And the American way?"

"You could say that… my late father was a patriot and he did instill those values in me."

She gave a soft nod then leaned her head to the side and stated, "If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you on your investigation."

He reached up and adjusted his glasses on his face and croaked out, "Go with me?"

She remarked with a cocked eyebrow. "Yes, I'm curious as to the true fate of the man that robbed the fundraiser. It is personal for me… I'm not apathetic to what's happening around me and you could use me."

He looked to her in a slightly frightened expression. "Use you ma'am?"

She gave him a sly, seductive expression. "I'm rich and I have a pretty face… and a few other nice things. Men open plenty of doors for me without even realizing who I am."

He thought about it for a moment then remarked, "That could come in handy. You'd be amazed how many people would talk to my partner Carly before they would talk to me."

She lifted the corners of her mouth in a closed lip smile. "Give me a few minutes to freshen up and change." She turned from him and headed towards the stairs to her left.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this last setup chapter, because the action definitely picks up in the next one that I'm hoping to publish by Saturday. Take care, OneHorseShay.