The silence of the empty church was comforting to Maggy Kyle. She watched the candle lights swaying, casting large shadows of the aisles and her hooded face across the black walls. She let out a deep breath, she was at peace within these walls being overlooked by God, by Jesus. It calmed the storms of her heart.

And then the candles flickered for a brief moment. And then she heard her voice.

“I know you don’t want to hear from me,” Selina said, sitting in the aisle behind her. Despite that, her shadow was still far from hers.

“What gave that away?” Maggy said, her tone much harsher than she intended.

Selina paused and then sighed. “Look I’m close to finding answers. About mum, about who our father is.”

“Still on that again, huh?” Maggy said. “Still holding on to that obsession.”

“I…” Selina paused. “Don’t you want answers too?”

“It’d be good to know,” Maggy said. “But I’m not obsessed about it and that’s your problem. That’s always been your problem. While I was starving, while I got beat up, the both of us got beat up you were off searching for answers like that’s all that mattered to. Stealing your way around life in a desperate attempt to be special, never accepting the lot we were dealt with.”

“That’s not true!” Selina got up. “I stole for you. I tried to get us both a better life.”

“I never wanted that Selina,” Maggy said. “I just wanted a sister!”

Selina slumped back onto her seat. She had her hand over her forehead.

“I was there when our father,” Maggy scoffed. “The one who you say isn’t our real father. I was there when he died, I attended his funeral. Where were you, Selina? Where the hell were you?”

“I…”

“Don’t say you’re sorry, Selina,” Maggy said. “Try as I might I can never forgive you. All I can offer is advice. Stop this path of obsession, of searching for answers. It will only lead to ruin and you’ll lose something important to you.”

By the time she finished, Selina was gone and the fires of the candles swayed calmly.

…

“The blood samples you gave me matched with one of the children the GCPD caught in the museum,” Bruce said to Jason and Peter.

“What does that mean?” Peter asked.

“Judging by the location of the blood sample,” Bruce said. “The child was shot. Killed.”

“Jesus,” Peter said, feeling a knot in his stomach. Those kids were around his age. To be killed so young.

“It’s safe to assume it was a cover up,” Bruce said. “An attempt to keep the activities of a certain organisation covered up.”

“They were two thieves who managed to get away,” Jason said. “Both of them were girls, around Peter’s age.”

A look of realisation flashed across Bruce’s face. “It would seem these children were being tested, put through a trial and those that weren’t deemed to be worthy were put down. I know of one organisation that does something like this.”

Bruce’s gauntlet flashed. “I have an appointment. Jason, Parker, look into the Cat syndicate. The files are on the computer.”

Bruce placed his cowl and hopped into the Batmobile.

“Alright Peter,” Jason said, turning to face Peter. “Let’s look into the syn... Wait what are you doing?”

As the Batmobile drifted off, Peter put on his Spider-Man mask. “Jason. Look into the Cat syndicate. I have something I need to do.”

“Wait, what?” Jason said. “What’s the problem? What’s going on?”

“See you around Jase,” Peter said. “Tell me what you find.”

Peter dashed out of the cave.

“Peter!”

But Peter had already disappeared.

“God dammit!” Jason cursed. Who was going to help him with the computer now?

…

Under normal circumstances, Turk wouldn’t have minded being tied up by a babe like Catwoman. Under normal circumstances, Turk might’ve liked it too. Her smile was delicious, her curves were outta this world and he didn’t have to see her face to know she was outta this world. However, when Catwoman was standing right next to the Batman as if they were buddies, well that was bound to ruin the mood.

“Look I ain’t talking,” Turk said. “You can do whatever you want with me but I ain’t gonna…”

Batman walked over to him and raised a fist.

“FALCONE MADE A DEAL WITH SOME BIG TIME NEW YORK BOSS!” Turk cried. “DON’T KNOW NOTHING BOUT HIM. JUST MANAGED TO SQUEEZE MY WAY THROUGH THANKS TO SOME FRIENDS OF MINE!”

“That’s not what we want Turk,” Catwoman said, walking to him with her hips swaying. She ran a finger through his cheek causing Turk to perk up. “Carmine Falcone. Where is he? How did he get the money to buy those weapons?”

“How bout you let me unzip that suit of yours? Maybe then I’ll talk,” Turk said with a grin.

“Sure thing,” Catwoman said, running her hand over his cheek. “But I’ll have you know my partner over there doesn’t like it when I waste time and he can get a little violent.”

Catwoman placed a hand by Turk’s thigh and as if to prove a point she turned to Batman. “What bone is this, Batman?”

“The tibia,” Batman said. “One of the easiest bones to break in the human body.”

Turk gulped.

“Now Turk if you’re not clear about where our good friend Carmine is getting the money,” Catwoman tensed her fingers. Turk yelped.

“Okay, okay,” Turk said. “I get it. I get it.”

“Talk,” Batman said, cracking his knuckles.

“Alright, alright,” Turk said. “Now I don’t know much but after his deal with the Kingpin, Falcone got in touch with his black-market contacts. He didn’t have enough funds thanks to…”

Turk stared at Batman. If Batman was proud of his work he didn’t show it.

“So, he got around contacting somebody,” Turk said. “Now I don’t know who that somebody is but he smuggles stuff to Falcone for a fee, valuable stuff.”

“Does this party have any names?” Batman said. “Any distinguishing features?”

“And why should I tell you that…?”

Catwoman pointed at his leg.

“I don’t have much in terms of specifics,” Turk said. “Hell, I’m at the bottom of the ladder, way at the bottom. But the guy he deals with, from what I heard he calls himself the Cat.”

Catwoman’s face paled. No way, that couldn’t be. He was still alive? What the hell was going on.

“Now that’s all I know,” Turk whimpered. “Please don’t break my bones.”

“I have to go,” Catwoman said, putting on her most convincing smile. “Thanks Turk. Batman.”

Batman and Turk’s conversation trailed off into the distance as Catwoman climbed the roof. She was about to put some distance between her and the building when Batman appeared in front of her, causing her to stumble back.

“You got your answers, right?” Catwoman said. “Our deal is over.”

Catwoman walked to the side but Batman stood in front of her. “You know something about The Cat, don’t you?”

Dammit, how did he notice? She figured there was no use lying to him. “Yes I do. But that’s a personal issue and it’s none of your business.”

Catwoman took a running start but Batman tugged at her arm and pulled her back. She scratched at him but Batman dodged.

“Saving lives is my business,” Batman said. “If you have information that helps and you’re purposefully withdrawing it, that makes you a criminal.”

“Not a very open-minded guy, are you?” Catwoman said.

“Tell me now,” Batman said. “Or else.”

Catwoman claws snapped out of their gloves. “I’m more than capable of taking you on, big boy.”

Batman lunged at her, Catwoman dodged. He threw Batarangs, Catwoman managed to dodge most of them. The last one scratched her cheek. She didn’t have time to touch the wound, Batman went in for a punch to her stomach. Catwoman returned with a kick across his face. He punched, she ducked, she swiped her arm he ducked. Their bodies were locked in a dance of action and reaction and Catwoman had seen him fight enough to understand how he moved but so did he.

She scratched him across the cheek. “Payback.”

Batman ignored the pain, grabbing her arm and landing a knee to her stomach causing her to fall on the floor. Catwoman twisted around, wrapping her legs around his body and using her body weight to toss him to the floor.

Catwoman unwrapped her legs. She didn’t want to fight him; he was just doing his job. She just needed to get back home and plan her next move. She sprinted away but she felt a rope wrap around her heel and pull her down.

“Tell me about the Cat Syndicate,” Batman said walking towards her. “Or I’ll make you.” Catwoman grabbed onto the edge of the building, claws appeared from her gloves and she swiped at the rope. Batman lunged at her but Catwoman pulled some smoke pellets she snatched from his belt and threw them to the ground.

Batman burst out of the smoke but Catwoman had already disappeared.

…

The night she found out was the night Selina wasn’t at home. Felicia scoffed. She was probably out working like she said she was. Hard at work, stealing children and killing fathers.

When Selina didn’t make it in the morning, Felicia figured she might as well go to school. Holly texted her saying that the Cat would give them their next mission soon and she had nothing better to do.

It was at school and after school that something weird happened.

Peter Parker approached her with a pale look on his face. He looked at Felicia as if she was someone who had just died.

“Hey, Felicity,” Peter said. “Hi… uh…”

“Look I’m not free this afternoon,” Felicia said. “Or any afternoon for that matter. No dates.”

Peter frowned. “No, it’s not that… it’s…” Peter looked away and back at her. “What am I doing?” he mumbled to himself.

“Look it’s nothing,” Peter said. “Talk to you some other time, okay?”

“Okay,” Felicia said, looking at him confused.

For the rest of the day, she saw Peter staring at her with a worried expression on his face, as if he recognised her somewhere. She wanted to ask him about it but her mind was on Selina, wondering just what she was going to say to her when she saw her later today.

…

Selina Kyle returned to her old apartment after a long night and half a day out, bruised and exhausted she wanted nothing more than to curl up on a couch with Felicia and watch some old DVDs they must have had lying around.

When she entered the house, Selina stretched and saw that Felicia was already back from school. “I’m back, kitten. Mind the bruises, I had a rough day at work.”

Felicia was awfully silent. Selina wondered why. She walked to the living room and Felicia was sitting on the couch with something draped over her lap.

“What’s up, kitten?” Selina asked. “Why are you so quiet?”

Felicia turned around holding a mask in her hands and the grey silted dress that was once her first Catwoman costume. “Why don’t you tell me about that, Catwoman?” Felicia said, the venom in her green eyes being something Selina hadn’t seen before.

Selina figured there was no point in lying to her. “I… I should’ve known you’d find out. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you…”

“Oh, no,” Felicia said with a bitter laugh. “I don’t care about you being Catwoman, hypocritical as that may be. No, you lied to me, didn’t you about my dad, about everything?”

“Lied to you?” Selina said, genuinely confused. “What… what are you talking about?”

“You told me I was abandoned,” Felicia said, tears in her eyes. “You told me you found me out in the streets but that wasn’t the truth, was it? I… I wasn’t abandoned. I had a father and you took me away from him!”

“I…” Selina was quiet. “Look, there’s a lot you don’t know.”

“The Cat was my father,” Felicia said. “And now he’s dead!”

“He’s…” Selina said. “I didn’t…”

“I don’t care that you took me away,” Felicia said. “I don’t care that you told me not to steal even though this…” She threw the old Catwoman outfit to the floor. “Makes you look like a hypocrite. No, I don’t care about that.”

Tears started trickling down Felicia’s face. “You lied to me. You were my sister and you lied to me and I don’t think I can trust you anymore.”

Felicia turned back, walking to the window. Selina clenched her fist. She wanted to fight, she wanted to beg Felicia to stay but deep down she knew she didn’t have the right.

Felicia was about to step out of the window when Selina stopped her.

Don’t go, she wanted to say. Please stay.

“Don’t trust him,” Selina said. “I don’t have the right to say anything more but don’t trust The Cat.”

Felicia leapt out of the window, whether or not she believed Selina, she didn’t know. When she was sure Felicia had disappeared, Selina collapsed on her knees, a sobbing, shaking mess.

…

The Cat wants us to meet someone.

She got a text from Holly, raindrops bouncing off her hoody. She was sitting by a bus stop, the only source of light in the dark rainy night.

I’ll be there.

Felicia followed the road, the puddles reflecting the neon lights of Gotham and finally stood by the door of the mansion.

Out of her hoody, she stood in front of the office door alongside Holly.

“God I’m so excited,” Holly said, so caught up in her she didn’t notice Felicia’s bad mood. “I wonder what our next mission is going to be. I wanna know if we’re finally going to get paid.”

Felicia offered her a half-hearted smile.

“Shit you don’t look so good,” Holly said. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve been…”

Felicia wiped her eyes. “I had a falling out with somebody.”

Holly placed a reassuring shoulder on Felicia’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay.”

Felicia sniffed. “I hope so.”

The Cat opened the door with a wrinkled smile on his face. “Come in.”

Felicia and Holly stepped into the fancy office. Expensive shelves lined the walls and grand, expensive paintings were placed on all four walls. There was a shiny oak table in the centre with throne like chairs on each side of the table. Sitting on one of those chairs was a man Felicia couldn’t make out the face off holding, tapping his fingers against the handle and holding a cigar.

“That’s our client,” The Cat said. “These are the girls I was telling you about.”

The man got up from his chair and Felicia and Holly only had to be living in a cave to know who the person standing in front of them was.

“Pretty looking girls, aren’t you?” Carmine Falcone said. “It’s a pleasure to be working with you, Ms. Hardy, Holly.”

To be continued…