Chapter Two: Bait

Friday evening: 4:06 pm

Pamela Isley had opted not to disguise her green skin for the event. After all, she was meeting Harley later, and she knew her girl would insist she dispose of the illusion. Besides she was hoping to speak with Dr. Beauchamps as herself. She was curious to see how the woman reacted to Poison Ivy's presence at the event. And curious, also, to learn if Beauchamps was truly on her side as an environmentalist or if she were simply remaining neutral. Surely, if she went as herself and if the woman was a true believer, she'd find out.

If nothing else, her natural coloring got Pamela a quick audience with her fellow botanist. The citizens of Gotham certainly noticed - and recognized - Poison Ivy and quickly retreated from her. She smirked internally as the sea of humanity parted before her, allowing her to approach Alice Beauchamps. There, by her treasured plant, stood a very petite woman with bright hazel eyes and skin the color of hot chocolate. She pushed a lock of her spiral-curled hair back from her forehead as the two women locked eyes on each other. Ivy was a bit surprised when a smile blossomed on Alice's face. A moment later, Alice closed the remaining distance between them and reached to shake the hand of the known eco-terrorist.

"Dr. Isley!" Alice greeted her in a proper English accent. "I was hoping you would make it. Such a pleasure to see you." The woman spoke loudly enough that anyone close by would overhear and believe that Ivy had been specifically invited. The tension in the room did not vanish, but it relented just a bit. Ivy realized that Beauchamps was attempting to put the public at ease. Clever. She smiled and nodded in reply.

"It's hardly something I could pass up," she laughed gently. "Especially when you've so graciously chosen to educate people rather than exploiting the flower for personal gain." She hoped her statement made it clear that she was only there to enjoy the plant. It must have been reassuring because a tightness in her host's eyes relaxed. "And if you had abused any of your plants, they certainly would have told me when I entered. It's clear, however, that they're all truly fond of you." Her eyes fell on the large purplish blossom that had brought her there in the first place. "Especially this one."

Now there was a genuine smile shining back at her, not just a polite greeting. "I'm honored," Beauchamps said sincerely. "Do you prefer Dr. Isley or Poison Ivy, by the way, I've never been sure."

"Well," Ivy reasoned. "Those who can't see past the green skin or those involved in Gotham's underworld call me Ivy. Those who still see me as a scientist call me Dr. Isley... And friends call me Pamela."

"In that case, Pamela," Alice's voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone and her grin flashed mischief. She nodded subtly towards three arrogant-looking men wearing lab coats. "I'm Alice. Let's make those tossers in the corner believe we've known one another for years, shall we? They've been trying to get their hands on my amorhophallus titanum for the better part of the last year. You might just frighten them away. If that's not too much to ask, of course."

"Hmm," Ivy mused, battling the smirk tugging at her lips. "If fear doesn't work, there's always pheromones... They are all men..."

Alice laughed softly as the offending trio came within earshot, pausing briefly when they recognized Ivy. " - so surprised with the results," Alice said as if they'd been conversing on an entirely different topic. Pamela winked at her, already enjoying the new game.

"I was, too, frankly," she laughed. "But the louder the music, the more they respond. My girlfriend got me a China Doll plant and I'm afraid we've rather spoiled it with - oh!" She pretended to just notice the men. She granted them a slightly wicked smile. "Pardon me, gentlemen. Alice and I were just catching up." She knew she was radiating danger when she offered the nearest man her hand. "Dr. Pamela Isley," she continued by way of introduction. "And you are?"

"I," he sneered at her, rather bravely, refusing to shake her hand. "Did not come here to have a conversation with Poison Ivy."

"Temper, temper," she chided him. "And in front of the children!" She gestured to the plants surrounding them. Alice smothered a laugh.

"Dr. Beauchamps," said another man, trying to edge past Ivy. "We were hoping you had reconsidered our offer. As we said before, money is no object."

"The corpse flower is not for sale," Alice said coldly. "The price is irrelevant. I simply can't part with it."

"Besides, it doesn't like you," Pamela chimed in, translating for the now-worried plant. "What do you even want it for anyway?"

"That's none of your concern," the first man snapped at her.

'He shouldn't have said that,' the corpse flower noted.

"I don't think you should've have said that," Alice mused. A mirthless smile had stretched Ivy's lips.

"The welfare of every growing thing on this planet is my concern, sir," she countered. "Or are you less familiar with my identity than you implied a moment ago?"

Before the man had the opportunity to either retort or stand down, a commotion erupted at the entrance to the large greenhouse. Startled guests cried out and tripped over one another as they backed away from the thugs that were now blocking the door. A familiar, unwelcome sound reached Ivy's ears: a very particular laugh. She clamped down on the rage that swelled in her chest and instinctively stepped in front of the large showcase plant. Alice did the same, providing the appearance of a united front.

'Oh, Harley,' Ivy thought. 'I'm so glad you didn't come...'

Ivy took a step forward, initially grateful this confrontation was happening in a greenhouse. She would have the home field advantage here. But the Joker would know that... Something else must be going on if he had chosen to attack her here. Was this a diversion? Did he already know where Harley was? Had he sent someone else after her? Ivy carefully kept her face blank of all emotion - save her disdain.

"You again," she sneered.

"Me again," Joker confirmed. "Are you sur- gah!"

Ivy tried not to smile as her vines wrapped themselves tightly around the clown's neck. Behind her, Alice was less discrete, laughing outright as the greenhouse came alive. All manner of flora responded en masse to restrain the Joker's henchmen. One of the thugs panicked and instinctively fired his gun at her. He was a lousy shot. Ivy heard the bullet tear past her ear and a scream from one of the men she and Alice had been confronting. Then there was a thud, the weight of a body falling against her leg, and sounds of horror from the man's associates.

'Can you get them to shoot the other two guys as well?' the corpse flower wanted to know. 'Dead guys can't bother Alice.'

'One monster at a time, dear,' Ivy replied.

Another of the henchmen managed to fire what seemed to be a warning shot straight into the air. Shattered bits of glass rained down from the ceiling, causing even more panic. Ivy swore under her breath. Most of these plants were tropical. Without the protection of the greenhouse, Gotham's climate would begin to kill them. But as she began to formulate a plan to save them, she suddenly realized that there had been no warning shot. Joker's lapdogs had deliberately shot out those panels and Ivy could now see flames shooting down through the opening. The plants began to scream and so did Ivy.

Alice, thankfully, took matters into her own hands. She located a ceramic pot, set her aim, and threw her improvised projectile. It sailed through the hole and Ivy watched, mesmerized, as it connected with the nose of the man with the flamethrower. He staggered, toppled forward, and crashed to the floor. There was a sickening crunch when he landed. He was clearly dead.

Unfortunately, this seemed to be part of the Joker's plan. A moment later, a beanbag round was fired directly at Ivy's head. She crumpled, instantly unconscious.

(:)

Friday evening: 5:23 pm

Harley had been impatient at 4:56. She'd been annoyed at 5:09. She'd been deeply concerned at 5:15. And now? Now she was panicking. Ivy was almost always fifteen minutes early to any meeting. If she was going to be late, she'd call. But for Pamela to be more than twenty minutes late? For a date with Harley?

"Nuh-uh," Harley muttered out loud. "Time for a missing person's report." Then she sighed. "Except ya gotta wait a full day to file one'a those... And the local cops ain't likely ta help me find her just on'a'count'a who she is... Guess it's up ta you, Harl..."

Nearby an old man stared at her, with an odd expression, like she was someone to avoid. In her little red dress and her hair loose and curled, he couldn't possibly recognize her.

"What's the matter?" She demanded, confronting him instead of ignoring him. "Never seen anybody talk to themselves before, huh? Move along!" Then she scoffed to herself. "This dump's full'a crazy people..."

She abandoned her table outside the little café and walked towards the Botanical Educational Center, hoping Pam had simply gotten sidetracked and had no idea what time it was. But when she arrived, the place looked like a war zone. Glass fragments littered the floor and a pair of corpses were laid out under sheets off to the left, just inside the door. Police tape blocked her path, but towards the back of the room she could see Batman's back. He was speaking to a small woman with dark curly hair and an accent. Harley started to charge in, but two officers moved to stop her.

"You can't come in here, ma'am," the lady cop said.

"Like hell I can't!" Harley almost screamed. "My girlfriend was here! She was supposed to meet me half'a'hour ago and she never showed! I wanna talk to that bat!"

Batman and the English lady turned at the sound of her rant and moved toward her. Batman waved the police away and they reluctantly complied. He placed his hands gently on Harley's shoulders.

"Quinn," he said softly.

"What's goin' on?" She fought to keep her tears at bay. "Where's my Pammy? Bats, where's my girl?"

He sighed. Took a deep breath. Then he began to explain.