Thursday evening
The Hospital
It was amazing how small the kid was.
His name was Matthew Eisenberg and he weighed eight pounds exactly. He was perfectly healthy and had everything in the right places. Marty could not stop beaming and Kim looked radiant.
"Congratulations pal!" I said as I looked down at the tiny new person.
Matthew was fast asleep in a crib; he looked very happy. Kim, on the other hand, was looking rather tired. She had been able to take a brief shower, but she still looked like hell!
"Dave, Mindy. We want you to be Godparents for Matthew... Also Chloe and Josh, but we haven't asked them yet, so don't say anything to them," Kim said.
"We'd be honoured," I replied receiving an excited nod from Mindy.
"He's lovely, Kim," Mindy said.
"Marty or Matthew?" I quipped.
"Funny!" Mindy laughed.
Mindy and I had agreed on something for Marty and Kim and that moment seemed as good as any; I looked over at Mindy and she nodded.
"We have a gift for you both; call it a long term loan if you want. You have a family now; that shitty apartment is no place to bring up a kid," I said.
"The neighbourhood sucks, too!" Mindy commented as Marty and Kim looked at us a little confused.
"We have no need for West Ridge at the moment, so we want you three to move into it...," I continued.
"You what?" Marty asked incredulously.
"It's just going to sit there empty, or Josh and Chloe are going to use it to fuck in," Mindy stated. "Not to mention the, err, special equipment...!"
"Yeah," I added deadpan. "No other house in Chicago has a self-destruct device and is protected by Claymore mines!"
Marty laughed and Mindy blushed.
"Thank you...," Kim was crying now and Mindy went over to hug her.
"Not bad, considering Mindy tried to kill her last year!" Marty laughed.
"Ignore them, Mindy; they're fucking assholes!" Kim growled with a nasty scowl.
Friday morning
Safehouse F
"You two scared yet?" Chloe growled. "Because if you aren't, then you will be today..."
"Yeah!" Mindy growled.
"On Saturday night, you will be going out into the City...," Dave added.
I looked over at Cat, who grinned back; it sounded fun.
"Oh, almost forgot," grinned Chloe with a glint in her eye. "You'll be on your own!"
We spent the day going over and over everything that we had learnt up to that point.
Chloe, Dave and Mindy impressed on us the importance of remembering everything we had been taught. We also had time to try on our temporary combat suits. They were nothing special, at least that was what Mindy had said, but to us they were awesome!
Both combat suits were black SWAT suits, with black boots; although they were made from a composite material, which we had been told, was bullet and stab proof. I had no intention, of putting that to the test! Fitted onto the suits were additional sections of armour for added protection. For weapons, we would have a pistol, knives and a Jō-staff each. We had both been learning to use the Jō-staff since Monday; I could not believe how much we had learnt in just over four days! To protect our identity, we both wore a plain black, padded mask that covered our faces completely.
I was very scared at the thought of going out on our own. Why, I had no idea; I had been living on the streets for years! However, Chicago was new territory to me and so were the bastards in it.
We practiced fighting in the suits and carrying our weapons and communications equipment. It felt different wearing a mask, not to mention carrying heavy equipment. The two of us practised working as a team, as we would be depending on each other for safety.
I knew that Mindy would not put us into danger, but I also knew that her definition of danger was very different to our own!
That evening
Glenview
Bruce and Selina had been allowed out of the Safehouse for the evening as we had a guest.
Everybody had dressed semi-smartly for the evening. Marcus was there, as were Vicky and Hailee. The twins were being entertained by Megan for the evening, upstairs. The seven of us, Dave, me, Marcus, Vicky, Hailee, Bruce and Selina were being joined by the Chicago Police Department Superintendent himself, Trevor Howards.
As last time, I was sworn to behave. Although we were on my turf! I had briefed Vicky, Hailee, Bruce and Selina on what they could and could not say in front of the Cop. There could be no lapses in concentration, not one!
Alfred opened the door.
"Good evening, sir; nice getup!" Alfred said as he waved the Superintendent in the door and through to the living room.
"Evening, sir!" Marcus said, holding out his hand.
"Evening, Lieutenant!"
"This is Sergeant Vicky Richards, my deputy, and her daughter, Hailee."
"Pleased to meet you, Sergeant and you Hailee."
"You remember Mindy and you haven't met her fiancée, Dave Lizewski."
"Mindy. Good to meet you Dave."
"This is Bruce Wayne and his friend, Selina. They are from..."
"... Gotham!" The Superintendent interrupted with a surprised expression.
We all retreated to the living room and sat down to chat while Alfred finished off preparing the meal; he was an amazing cook from what I could see – and smell!
"I understand your Martial Arts Studio is doing well," The Superintendent said.
"Very well. We've been turning some kids away; we're looking for some larger premises," I replied.
"Very good! I understand that young Hailee teaches there, too."
The man was very well briefed!
"She does; she is very good and has been doing Martial Arts since she was about six or seven."
"Very good!"
Hailee was unhappy being this close to the main enemy, but she was controlling her emotions, as were Vicky and Marcus.
"Dinner is served!" Alfred announced and we moved through to the dining room. I sat at one end, with Dave at the opposite end, by the windows. Superintendent Howards sat in between Marcus and Bruce, facing Vicky, Hailee and Selina, who was beside me. Marcus was on my left.
Alfred served the first course, which was soup.
"So, Master Wayne, how are you enjoying your visit to Chicago? Is it your first?" Superintendent Howards asked.
"Yes, it is my first visit to Chicago and I have enjoyed what I have seen of the City," Bruce replied with a smile.
Selina and Bruce had not seen very much at all having been cooped up in the Safehouse for the entire week!
"What brings you all this way?" The Superintendent persisted.
'To learn how to put down corrupt Cops, like you!' I thought and from Selina's expression, she was thinking the same thing.
"Wayne Enterprises has facilities here, in Chicago and I thought it time to visit them," Bruce replied smoothly.
"I heard that Gotham had a visit from our Number One Criminal, Hit Girl and her team."
"They were in the city, yes and they helped to clean up the corrupt GCPD!" Bruce said forcefully. "My good friend Jim Gordon of the GCPD was very glad of their assistance."
Thankfully, we had a short break in the conversation as the main course was served by Alfred.
"I cannot stand corrupt Cops!" Mindy said as we started eating again.
"Of course not!" The Superintendent replied. "Nobody of your calibre would..."
I sensed a potentially nasty atmosphere building. Marcus was doing his best to control his temper, as were both Vicky and Hailee. The Superintendent seemed oblivious to them and continued talking.
"... However justice must be allowed to function – corrupt Cops deserve a trial..."
"Maybe... But quite often they are in the employ of powerful people, such as the Mayor…" Hailee stated with a slightly forced smile.
The Superintendent did not miss a beat.
"That is the worst case, when powerful people are corrupt..."
The Superintendent continued in the same vein for a while. I could tell that some present at the table were getting very annoyed, knowing what they did about him. He was a typical political asshole who could talk pure bullshit!
I was very glad when dessert was out of the way and the bastard had finished his coffee.
"I think it is time for me to take my leave. Thank you very much as always, Miss Macready."
I did my utmost not to slam the door behind him. I turned around and my fists clenched – I needed to hit something and soon, before I exploded.
"Try this ma'am!" Alfred advised – passing over a large punch pad to Dave who smirked and braced the pad in front of him.
I lashed out, not with my fists, but with my foot, squarely into the pad and sending Dave backwards a short distance.
"Happier?" Marcus asked.
I nodded.
"Thank you Alfred," I laughed. "Well timed as always!"
"I feel like I've just been molested!" Hailee growled.
"That man was – I had no idea he was so horrible," Vicky said. "I knew he was crooked – but damn!"
"Chicago has some dark days ahead of it..." Marcus warned.
"I hate to say it, but with him and the Mayor in charge, I think Gotham could be gaining a sister city," Alfred stated simply.
"Now that is a singularly horrifying thought!" Bruce said.
Now that the bastard had gone, it was time to check up on the three monsters, upstairs.
I could hear music as I approached the bedroom:
… I'm brushing up on looking down
I'm working on my roar…
Megan was singing Zazu's lines, while Anne-Marie and Danny were singing those of Simba and Nala; all three were dancing about too!
Thus far, a rather uninspiring thing!
Oh, I just can't wait to be king
You've rather a long way to go
Young master, if you think…
No one saying, "Do this"
Now when I said that, I…
No one saying, "Be there"
What I meant was…
No one saying, "Stop that"
Look, what you don't realize…
No one saying, "See here"
Now see here…
Free to run around all day
Well, that's definitely out…
Free to do it all my way
I think it's time that you and I
Arranged a heart to heart…
Kings don't need advice
From little hornbills for a start…
I waited until the end, and clapped; Megan blushed and stopped prancing around the bedroom a big grin on her face.
"Having fun?" I asked.
The smiles that I received told me all I needed to know.