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Β  Β Β  The Cave was quiet when they returned. Lennox removed her cloak and sat down beside the computer. She watched as Bruce removed his mask and took out his contacts, replaying the events of the night on a screen. She crept over to Bruce, "Can you print me a still of that card?" He printed one and handed it to her and she returned to her perch on the table.

Β  Β Β  "His son was there, Len." Bruce faced her now and she could tell he was tired, despite the kohl beneath his eyes. "I saw him. In his room. He was the one who found him." Lennox stood and walked over to him. "What if we're not doing enough?" he asked quietly.

The woman sighed. "You've devoted years to this, Bruce. Just because you don't see drastic change doesn't mean it isn't happening." It was true. He gave Gotham hope. The Batman was a symbol of freedom to the citizens. Lennox placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't give up on them."

Β  Β Β  Alfred entered the Cave moments later, acknowledging Lennox with a nod and a smile. He carried on an incoherent conversation with Bruce, while Lennox wrote the key on the card. "He lies still." Bruce and Alfred turned to face her. She extended the card to Bruce who took it gently. Lennox turned to the computer beside Bruce and printed a still of the cipher. She laid it on the table beside Bruce and bid him goodbye. She felt the way his eyes bore into her back as she entered the estate.

Β  Β Β  Lennox's body longed for a hot bath, so she gratefully obliged. The water was all but boiling when Lennox sank into the bath. Her muscles relaxed and she let out a sigh of content. For days, Lennox had been running around Gotham, taking care of small-scale problems. Her body ached despite the protection her armour gave. Dirt was under her nails and her white hair was painfully grey. She needed sleep and she needed it now.

---

Β  Β Β  Lennox woke in bed. She vaguely remembered waking in the bath and going straight to her bed. Bruce was banging on her door. "Lennox?" he called, she presumed he'd been there a while based on the concern in his voice. "Lennox, I'm coming in."

Β  Β Β  The door opened softly and Lennox groaned, covering her face in blankets. "Lennox?" Bruce said gently. He was still standing in her doorway from what she could tell. "I'm going to Mitchell's in ten minutes." With that, he was gone.

Β  Β Β  Quickly, Lennox pulled on her suit and cloak. She hurried down the ornate staircase and bade Alfred good morning. "It's two o'clock, Miss Hawthorne," he called as she rushed past. Mounting her bike, Ghost took off into the city. She quickly found Batman and tailed him to Mitchell's where Officer Gordon was already waiting. Ghost parked her bike and walked to Batman. "Why are we back?"

Β  Β  Β  "Drive," he showed her a photo of the cipher, spelling out the word. Walking in front of the men, Ghost entered Mitchell's expansive garage and looked around. She walked down the centre, carefully analyzing each car. "Here," she whispered, motioning to a car with bloody shears in a tire. Batman pulled it out and handed it to Gordon.

Β  Β Β  Ghost opened the passenger door and started looking around. "What are you looking for?" Gordon asked.

Β  Β Β  Ghost shrugged her shoulders and Batman spoke, "USB port." Ghost opened the centre console and furrowed her brow. Batman pulled the thumb drive from the USB port and the two left the car. Batman motioned to Gordon, who looked disgusted by the thumb hanging off the end. "Thumb. Drive." Batman said.

Β  Β Β  Ghost took it from Batman's hand and plugged it into the computer. "It's encrypted," Gordon sighed.

Β  Β Β  "Fingerprint," Ghost whispered. Gordon shook his head in disgust but placed the thumb on the hard drive and it unlocked. It revealed pictures of Mitchell and a beat-up blonde woman. "What the hell?" Ghost muttered. Fear gripped at her and her breath hitched.

Β  Β Β  "That's the Penguin," Batman said. "Carmine Falcone's right hand. That's outside his club, the Iceberg. Multiple pop-ups showed on Gordon's screen with the words "Message Sent."

Β  Β Β  "What?" Gordon said. He turned the computer to himself, looking at his inbox. "It sent the pictures to every news source in Gotham. Pete's gonna kill me."

Β  Β Β  Ghost placed a gloved hand on Batman's arm. "We need to go there, tonight."

---

Β  Β Β  The music from the club was faint from outside, but when Batman knocked and the door was opened, Ghost could tell it was blaring. "We need to speak to the Penguin," Batman said.

Β  Β Β  The man looked at him and laughed. "There's no Penguin here." And he shut the door. It opened again, revealing another man, his twin. "Says he wants to meet with the Penguin, I told him there's no Penguin here." With that, Batman punched the first man square in the nose. Ghost kicked the second man with her right leg and knocked him down. The duo pushed through the door and into the club.

Β  Β Β  People stared and whispered, and lights were flashing. The club was bathed in red light, bodies pressed flush together on the floor below. One of Falcone's men tried to grab Ghost, but not before she pushed him off the balcony. She turned around to see an all-out brawl between Batman and Falcone's men. Knowing he had it under control, Ghost slipped down a hallway she supposed would lead her to the Penguin. Batman was at her side in an instant, a cautious hand feathered her cloak. The two opened a door and stepped into an office of sorts.

Β  Β Β  There he was. The Penguin sat, gazing through a sheet of glass at the party below him. Red light seeped through and tinted Ghost's hair. "Ah!" The Penguin exclaimed. "The Batman and his Ghost. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Ghost said nothing, only laid the pictures on the table in front of him.

Β  Β Β  "Who is she?" Batman's voice was gravelly. The Penguin studied the pictures, obviously noting where they were taken. He looked at the masked man, "I don't know who she is. Really, I don't. I mean, we may have been leaving at the same time, but I don't remember seeing them."

Β  Β Β  "Don't lie," Ghost whispered eerily. The Penguin shook his head rapidly as Ghost drew a blade from her belt.

Β  Β Β  "I told you, I don't know." With that, Ghost disappeared. She mounted her bike and drove to an apartment uptown. The halls were dirty, and dropheads cackled in the alley, but Ghost had other business. She removed her hooded cloak and knocked on the door. The woman who answered was crying. She was extremely distraught, so Lennox took her to the sofa.

Β  Β Β  "Annika," Lennox cooed. "It's going to be okay. I'm going to Mitchell's to get your passport and then you need to get out of the state."

Β  Β Β  "Lennox," Annika sobbed. "They're going to kill me. Please, Lennox." The girl was trembling and Lennox stood pressing a kiss to her friend's forehead.

Β  Β Β  "I'll be back soon, Annika. You need to hide." Lennox strode out of the apartment and headed straight to Mitchell's.

---

Β  Β Β  Dropping in from the skylight, Ghost scanned the room. She knew the passport would be in a safe somewhere concealed. Her eyes caught on a painting straight across from her. The woman ran her fingers along the frame and found a small notch. When she pressed it, the painting swung open revealing a small safe. She procured a tool to help her crack the safe. She pressed her ear against it, listening for the faint clicks. After a few turns, the lock clicked and Ghost pulled the door open.

Β  Β Β  "You're a woman of many talents, Ghost," said a voice behind her. Snatching the passport, Ghost turned to face her counterpart. He tried to grab it from her, but she quickly kicked his chest, leading to blows being dealt by both. Batman snatched it from her and opened it, reading the contents. "Kosolov, Annika," he read. "How do you know her?" Ghost said nothing, only tried in vain to regain the passport. The two heard a noise and Batman wrestled her behind a corner. He placed a gloved hand over her mouth and held her flush against his body. Ghost became acutely aware of his breath on her ear and his arm around her waist, making heat rise to her face. The two waited until the guard left before Ghost whipped around to face him.

Β  Β Β  "You didn't answer my question, Ghost," he whispered. "How do you know Annika Kosolov and why were you lying to me?"

Β  Β Β  Ghost swallowed hard. "You know I was involved in some bad rings when I was younger. I met Annika at the Iceberg years ago, and we stayed in touch. As for the lying, well it wasn't really lying if you never asked me outright, darling." She watched as Batman clenched his jaw. "Don't be mad, Vengeance," she pouted. "I'm just one step ahead."

Β  Β Β  "Why is her passport here?" Batman asked lowly.

Β  Β Β  Ghost shrugged before answering, "She won't tell me. Whatever it is, it's got her so spooked she can hardly form a comprehensive sentence. My guess is that she found out about something she shouldn't have, and Mitchell is to blame."

Β  Β Β  "Ghost, if I help you, you need to give me any information you find on Mitchell," Batman said handing her the passport.

3/8/22

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