Notes: It might be a little too late, but just a warning for descriptions of a serial killer's actions. I haven't gone too in-depth but at the same time, I lack the ability to tell when I've gone 'too in-depth'.

Chapter 7 - Criminals Part 2

The group gathered at one of Abuse's safehouses. It was a place near the orphanage and one Colin had picked out. The building was run down and abandoned but he kept a lock on the door and his gear stashed away. It lacked the gadgetry and tech of safe houses owned by those affiliated with Batman however, it served its purpose as a place where Colin could mend his wounds and a place where Damian could meet up with him.

Damian had given Mar'i the address during the first night she played 'bait' for them. She didn't use it until what she assumed was the final night of this 'bait' mission.

Damian, as Batman, had told her that he needed to stay with Colin. She understood. His friend needed him.

Nightstar didn't go out that night. Mar'i waited in the safe house, heating and reheating hot water to make tea with when the boys arrived.

Colin returned first. He was still in his bulky and large Abuse form. Despite towering over Mar'i, his face was drawn and his muscles tense. Mar'i pulled up a chair for him and poured the tea.

They sat in silence.

Batman hopped through the window when he arrived. He was scowling and paced through the room as he started talking.

"The police arrested her and have started shipping evidence back to the precinct. They seem disgusted with this case so I doubt she'll fall through the cracks."

"Do you have a plan if she does?" Mar'i asked.

Damian sighed and pulled off the cowl.

"I have a few plans if that happens. Can I count on your help?"

"Of course!" Mar'i didn't mention that she had a few plans as well. One would be leaking the story to the press. Gotham's press could be vicious at times.

Abuse's form compressed on itself until he was back to being Colin.

"Thanks," he muttered in a quiet tone.

Damian scowled but didn't say anything. It was early morning when all three left.

While she had let them keep her in the dark for the most part, Mar'i wasn't content to stay like that. It wasn't hard for someone trained by Dick Grayson to get their hands on police reports, which was what Nightstar did the next night.
It wasn't pretty. No wonder Damian had been so pale afterwards.
The criminal had confessed to everything when questioned. She went on record saying that she did it to see what it was like. The first practically turned up on her doorstep, begging to be taken.
That didn't explain why the criminal already had chains and handcuffs ready to go.
The first one was just a simple grab and kill; dismemberment didn't come until later, when the criminal needed to hide and 'preserve' the body. The second, not so much. The criminal started planning. Started torturing to see reactions.

There were notes on her confiscated computer.

'She was such a wonderful conversationalist. I just had to see-'

'I think a new woman has caught my eye.'

'I'll have to hire a new man. My current one is asking too many questions. Apparently, getting paid to give some ladies enough of a scare that they'll let me bring them home isn't enough.'

The notes relating to Mar'i's disguise were the most chilling. They related to the disguise she had worn twice. The criminal had seen her twice, taken notes and then gone to talk to her.

'This woman. I've been seeing her around. She's got the most lovely eyes. Almost… unearthly.'

Unearthly.

A chill went down her back when she read that. She had been wearing the contacts but still... her eyes were like her mother's and most certainly 'unearthly'.

There were pictures of the captured women. No longer did Mar'i have to imagine chains in the room, she now knew what they looked like. And who they had held.

The anguished faces of those the criminal didn't kill straight away haunted her as she closed her eyes to rest for a moment. She felt for everyone involved. How did someone end up like this criminal? Her dad would say it was because they lacked a 'safety net'. Her mum would say sadly that some people became like that.

Mar'i didn't know what to think. There were other people handling it, like the Gotham Police, but still, she felt responsible because people died.

The worst part was there were more victims than they realised. Eight women had been killed. Mar'i flipped past the pictures of officers taking body parts out of the freezer. She didn't need to see the hand in a clear bag being held up. Didn't need to see the name and date labeled on it. This criminal seemed meticulous in the most odd of ways.

Mar'i took a deep breath of the fresh night air. She touched the mask on her face to remind herself that she was Nightstar. It was a small thing but it still made her smile. Even on a night like this. It represented her family, her goals and all she had overcome.

She glanced up and spotted a black shadow vanish into the darkness. If what was who she thought, he probably wasn't very happy.

Nightstar leapt from the roof of the police building and used her jump line to send her flying. The lights of the city flew past as she went through her patrol areas, breaking up small fights, arresting small-time criminals and talking with people who weren't scared of a teenager in a mask.

Before patrol ended, Nightstar made a point of going to see Abuse. He was standing in an alleyway and looking like a suspicious person in his trench coat and hat.

What was with these boys and their coats?

Nightstar landed across the street and walked over, greeting him with cheer.

"Hey," he grunted back.

"How are you doing?" she asked, just to be polite. She didn't think he would be doing so well after finding his friend dead.

Cut up and stored in a freezer like a frozen chicken-

Abuse gave a noncommittal grunt and shrug.

"At least Ro- I mean, Batman was impressed with you."

Nightstar was skeptical.

"He called me a 'talkative idiot'." Back in the safehouse, Damian had insisted on going over where everyone was and what had happened during those last few hours. Even if no one saw it, he wanted reports done up, just in case.

Damian had things to say about how she had talked to the criminal and let herself be taken in by them.

"He did. But, I think he was worried. You were kidnapped by someone we hadn't seen. It was only the description of her you slipped us and the comment on the 'new building' that allowed us to find you in time."

"It's something dad taught me," Nightstar explained. Along with a whole list of things to do if kidnapped, covering almost every scenario. He told her to talk or ramble at them. It allowed her to get to know them or gauge their personality. The ones who hated talking or realised that she was trying to make them empathise with her, wouldn't kill her right away. They were more likely to give her a warning first. Her dad also talked her through the list of exceptions and people who she should never find herself alone with.

"It probably saved your life," Abuse pointed out.

Nightstar was grateful but she wasn't going to tell her dad that.

If she had her way, her dad would never find out about this case.