Inscribed on the gravestone was the name Holly Robinson. The grave was atop a tiny hill under an oak and past the open field dotted with gravestones was Gotham City. The drama of the black city feeling so distant from the cold quiet of the graveyard.

Felicia placed a colourful bouquet of flowers on the grave.

“I’m sorry I can’t be here long,” Felicia said. “I’ll only be able to visit just this once and…”

Felicia wiped a stray tear from her eyes. “Batman found your body. Selina and I, we scrapped together whatever we could find. We barely scraped by until we got an anonymous donation from some sketchy organisation. Selina’s trying to find out who it is but they covered up their tracks pretty well.”

Felicia’s chuckle was shaky. “You were right about your parents being assholes. They barely decided to show. Too coked up to even bother. I… I just wish…”

Felicia sighed. “I wish I could’ve gotten to know you better. I wish we were friends. You always had my back and the only way I could repay you was by getting you into this mess. Batman captured that Cat bastard but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to strangle that asshole for what he did to you. For what he did to all those kids.”

Felicia felt her phone start to ring. “I… I don’t have much time but I promise you, Holly. I promise you I’ll do better. Not that it means much and I promise you, somehow… somehow I’ll get the bastard who killed you and he’ll pay for everything he did to you.”

Felicia didn’t realise her nails were digging into her skin until she felt the blood trickle down her palm. “I have to go,” Felicia said. “Thank you for always having my back.”

Felicia left, leaving behind the bouquet of Holly plants that rustled atop her grave.

…

The church was empty this afternoon. Aside from the blind lawyer who made regular visits to the confessional, today it was only Maggy and the Lord. She stared out front at the podium, whispering a prayer to herself when she heard the door creak open and footsteps behind her. A woman took a seat right behind her, she shuffled nervously and crossed her legs in a manor Maggy knew all too well.

“I met him,” Selina whispered. “I met our father. Our real father.”

Maggy’s body tensed. She didn’t want to entertain this, she just wanted to get up and leave but she had to admit the curiosity was great. She took a deep breath. “And did you find what you seek?”

“He called her a whore,” Selina said. “Talked about her like she was some… some prostitute. But she wasn’t that. She was our mother, she loved us, she cared about us but… but…”

“But if she loved us so much why would she leave us for a man like Falcone. Why would she leave us with a monster like our…” Maggy corrected herself. “My…”

“Our,” Selina said softly. She winced. “Our… stepfather.”

Maggy felt herself loosen up. “They are somethings only God knows.”

“You know I’m not a huge believer of that big man in the sky,” Selina said. “So, spare me.”

“Then what brings you here?”

“I’m not going to be in Gotham long so I thought I’d…”

“Tie up some loose ends?” Maggy said, feeling herself tense up again.

“No,” Selina said suddenly. “Nothing like that. Look, Maggy you’re my sister and I left you when I should’ve been there. I don’t know how you must’ve felt. I don’t even know if I can say I’m sorry so I won’t.”

“Then?” Maggy said. “What is you want to say?”

“I love you, Maggy,” Selina said. “I love you. I wish I could’ve been a part of your life more. As far as family’s concerned we’re all we have left so I just thought I’d let you know.”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s true,” Maggy said. “There’s someone waiting for you.”

Maggy turned around to see a girl with platinum blonde hair standing by the door.

Selina smiled. She gently touched Maggy’s shoulder and got up.

“And for the record Selina,” Maggy said. “I’ve forgiven you.”

Maggy smiled as she saw Selina place a hand around Felicia’s shoulder. They smiled together and started laughing, closing the door behind them and leaving the church in darkness.

Maggy smiled, pleasant memories of the talks her mother, Selina and herself had atop the rooftops of Cobblestone Alley under the stars above.

…

“That seemed intense,” Felicia said. “Are you sure you’re alright more importantly, who was that?”

“I’m fine,” Selina said. “And that was my sister, Maggy. You sort things out on your end?”

Felicia smiled. “Yeah, I did. There’s still the matter with my father but…”

“Yeah,” Selina said. “If only that self-righteous Bat didn’t get in the way maybe…”

“If only I hadn’t made that deal,” Felicia said.

“Shh Kitten,” Selina said. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. It was the only choice you had.”

“Yeah but where can we go?” Felicia said. “If we ever come back here Batman is going to be on our tail. I hear New York’s looking good. I hear the Fantastic Four have some technology that could fetch us a fortune in the black market. There’s also Coast City, Metropolis…”

“New York’s boring,” Selina said. “I’m thinking somewhere more exotic. Maybe Rome.”

Felicia chuckled and then she noticed the look on Selina’s face. “Wait, you’re serious?”

“Yeah.”

“I mean I’m down but where will we get the money?” Felicia said. “Not a lot of banks we can…”

Selina flicked her wrist and in her hand was The Emerald Necklace.

“What the…” Felicia said. “How the hell did you get that? I thought it was lost at sea, how the…”

Selina rolled down her sleeves and revealed the web-shooter she stole from Spider-Man. “It’s all out now but with a little quick thinking I managed to grab hold of it before it hit the sea and the rest is history.”

Felicia laughed, bumping into her and giving her a hug. “So, Rome it is?”

Selina grinned. “Rome it is.”

.

.

.

“Looks like Christmas came early Falcone,” Officer Gomez said through the other side of the bar. “Your Secret Santa got you and The Cat over there a bail.”

The Cell Door groaned open and Falcone and Walter got out their cells.

“Care to tell me who your secret Santa is?” Gomez asked Falcone. “C’mon it’ll be our secret.”

“My Secret Santa’s name is Go,” Falcone said.

“Oh. Go Who?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

Gomez laughed. He turned to Walter. “What about you, care to tell me?”

Walter just grumbled and looked away.

They walked through the precinct, the looks of scorn and hatred on the cops’ faces burning into them. Falcone gave them his best smile, reserving the biggest grin for Mr. Goodie Two Shoes Gordon himself who just stared at him blankly. Boy oh boy how Falcone wished he could see the look on Batman’s face once Gordon went crying to him.

Waiting for them outside the precinct was a black SUV. Falcone turned to Walter.

“Looks like our ride.”

They entered the truck, Falcone turned back to see the blinds where Gordon’s office was snap shut. He grinned. That grin disappeared when he saw just who the driver was.

“Wesley,” Falcone said. “I thought I’d hitch a ride with one of my men.”

“The boss wants to see you.” Was all Wesley said as the car drove off into the Gotham evening.

Fisk was waiting for him, in his office holding a glass of whiskey and looking through the blinds, wearing a black suit. That Elektra chick that did all his dirty work so that was a good sign.

Fisk turned to them, towering over everything in the office. Falcone and Walter didn’t feel so small.

“Beautiful city, isn’t it?” Fisk said, placing the glass on Falcone’s table.

“Yes it is,” Falcone said.

Even Walter broke his streak of silence. “City’s beautiful at this time of day.”

“Oh,” Fisk said. “Who’s that gentleman? I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him.”

“That’s Walter Hardy,” Falcone said. “Also known as…”

“The Cat,” Falcone said, walking over to him and shaking his hand. Fisk pulled a seat out for him and Falcone. “Please sit.” Falcone and Walter nervously took a seat. Fisk remained standing. “I’ve heard all about your exploits in your younger days. I’d never think anyone would have the gall to steal from Thomas and Martha Wayne but you did. How did a man of your talents end up working with Falcone?”

“Well…”

“Look, Wilson,” Falcone said.

“Kingpin,” Wesley said. “We don’t call him by his name.”

“Thank you, Wesley,” Fisk said. “Please stand by the door, we don’t want anybody listening.”

Wesley nodded and left the room.

“Look Kingpin,” Falcone said. “When we started out this whole deal I told you I’d need a way to gather up some funds. Dent and those freaks really did a number on my business and…”

Fisk raised a hand. “Yes I understand. Money makes the world go round. Us businessmen understand that all too well.”

Fisk placed his large hands-on Walter’s shoulders who tensed up. “But hiring the services of this old man, way past his prime. Did you think that was a good idea? A man who uses children. Fickle and unruly children.”

Fisk started to rub Walter’s shoulders. “Now children can be careless. But us men,” Fisk turned to Falcone. “We can’t be. And it was careless to hire this man. It was even more careless to partake in this business venture without letting me know. We agreed to a partnership…”

“Kingpin…” Falcone said.

“We agreed to a partnership, did we not?” Kingpin said.

“Yes.”

“And these secret transactions,” Kingpin growled, grabbing Walter by the head and crushing his head under his massive hands. Walter’s screams were like daggers as the Kingpin tightened his grip around his head. “THEY FLY IN THE VERY FACE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.”

There was a sickening crack as blood spurted onto the Kingpin’s black shirt. Walter’s body collapsed on the floor like a discarded ragdoll.

The Kingpin sighed. “Wesley.”

The door started to open. “Ah. Don’t come in here please, Wesley. I just need some new clothes.”

“Yes sir.”

Kingpin turned to Falcone.

“As for you, Carmine,” Kingpin said. “I expect details of your business ventures shall be notified to me or my men before being carried out. Are we clear?”

Carmine nodded.

“Good,” Kingpin said, placing a hand on Carmine’s shoulders. “Please do not disappoint.”

Kingpin stepped over Walter’s body as he left the room. Carmine felt his body loosen, noticing that the glass of whiskey he left on Carmine’s table was still unfinished.

To be continued…