Maximum: Catwoman #3

Selina pulled off her hood and put the goggles on the table as she slumped down into a chair as she realized that she was going to have to try and creative. She picked up her cell phone and dialed Slam’s number. She got a busy signal.

“Great.” She muttered. She’d been going out nearly every night as the adrenaline had nearly taken complete control of her, but now she was more or less inclined to just try and get her head cleared up. Thoughts of revenge swirled through her but she realized it was futile to live on that precipice all the time. She went to check on Maggie and saw her sleeping. It was hard to see her like that, like her whole world was still yet to be explored and she didn’t know what was out there. She remembered her own like that when she was growing up on the streets of The Narrows; always afraid.

She peeled off the rest of her suit and started the shower and she stepped in. The hot mist and spray hit her body as she lathered up the soap and started to wash. Her mind kept wondering how long she could continue, but she knew until found out that there was likely a chance she would never find Maggie’s rapist. She got out of the shower a few minutes later and wrapped her body up into a towel and saw that the window from the fire escape was open. She thought she had closed it, but realized that someone was probably in the apartment with them. She went to the bathroom vanity and pulled out a pistol and went into the shadows from the Neon sign from across the street put an unholy spot light into her apartment. Suddenly she saw the figure of a man in a cowl and realized it was The Batman.

“Sorry to disturb you.” The Batman started.

“Good God, why in the world did you…” She realized that she wouldn’t get a straight answer from him anyway so she ceased asking. “What do you want?” She put her arm around herself as she tightened her towel.

The Batman looked her into the eyes. “I can’t decide if you’re still the thief I first chased down or not.”

Selina raised an eyebrow. “Likely you’d find out no matter whom you hurt.” She said to him. Their first encounter hadn’t gone over very well. Selina had nearly heisted the Rosenburg diamonds from their estate, but The Batman had thwarted her efforts and she barely had escaped then.

“I am not going to argue about what was and what should be, Catwoman.” He looked at her intently, “But the fact of the matter is, you’ve done things that would land you in jail for a long time.”

“Should I ask for penance from The Holy See of Gotham?” She said making sure she emphasized the sarcasm.

“Cute.” He looked at her. “I am willing to give you a chance, but you can’t live on both sides of the law.”

“I do what I have to do to survive, Bats.” She went to her room and closed the door but with a crack so she could continue their conversation. “So let me ask you again, what do you want?”

“I don’t think you’re all bad, Catwoman, but I am inclined to bring you down if you cross over into my territory again.”

“Maybe you can help me turn good then, Bats?” She peeked out and saw that the room was empty and she sighed. “So much for charity; how does he do that?” She came out and had gotten into some workout sweats as she picked up the TV remote with her VHS tape of ‘Sweating to the Oldies’. She started to do her workout as her thoughts started to wonder….









The courtroom was teeming and boiling with activity as Bingo Wallace had walked up and taken the oath and sat down as the District Attorney walked up to him. “Mr. Wallace, you know why you’ve been asked to appear here, correct?”

“I know why, Mr. Dent.” Wallace looked at Dent with confidence showing on his face.

“Fine. Let the record show that Mr. Wallace is considered to be a hostile witness.”

“So noted.” The Judge nodded.

“Mr. Wallace, your partner in business is being accused of murder and statutory rape of a minor. The state is here to prove that he’s the sole reason that Theresa Robbins is dead now. However, you’ve stated in deposition that Mr. Maroni is not the reason the child is dead, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.” Wallace nodded.

“Objection your honor, counsel is leading the witness.” The defense attorney stood up as the questioning had started.

“Overruled. I am going to give Mr. Dent some latitude here since the witness is a hostile witness.” The judge looked at Dent. “Proceed Mr. Dent.”

“Thank you your honor.” He looked back at Wallace. “Who is the murderer of this child, Mr. Wallace?”

“It’s the Catwoman.” The room broke out in fervor as the judge banged his gavel.

“Order in the court!” She ordered.

“How do you know it’s the Catwoman? All the evidence that forensics as put together said it’s your business partner, Sal Maroni.”

“Cause I saw her.” Bingo answered.

“What did you see her do exactly?” Dent pressed.

“I saw her rape that little girl!”

“And you did nothing about it?”

“I ain’t get my ass clawed up by some dominatrix dame in some cat outfit, see?”

“Yeah. I am sure.” Dent said as he looked at the judge. “No further questions, but I hold the right for redirect.”

“Okay, Mr. Dent.” The Judge looked at the defense attorney. “Any questions?”

“None for now, your honor.”

“Very well, we’ll convene this hearing until tomorrow morning at eight o’clock.” She banged the gavel down and walked off the bench. Harvey Dent hadn’t expected Wallace to blame the Catwoman now his case against Garrett was in trouble and he was going to have to figure out how to put it back together.



Alexander Knox had tried to call the Catwoman a couple of times, but there had been no answer to the number she gave him. He had covered the trial for Joss Garrett, but it seemed like it was just another reason for him to not trust the name she had given him. A lot about her story didn’t make sense, but he kept looking through some information about alleged Catwoman heists in the past few months since she had appeared. None of them seemed more fantastic than the one ‘Bingo’ Wallace had told the jury yesterday. His phone rang as he was putting some papers back into the file cabinet as he reached over and picked up the phone. “Knox.”

“Hello, Mr. Knox.” It was the voice he had hoped to hear Irena Dubrovna was on the other end.

“You really do know how to tell a story don’t you, Cats?” Knox started.

“Mmm… stories are fun if they have a happy ending, Mr. Knox.” She smiled because she knew she had picked the right reporter.

“Well, Catwoman. I have done my research; Irena Dubrovna was a character from the movie ‘The Cat People.’” Knox sounded off because he knew Catwoman would either hang-up or she would entice him more.

“Bravo, Mr. Knox, bravo.” She said. “However, this hasn’t anything to do with me.”

“It’s got a lot to do with you, Cat.” He paused. “Your name has been thrown into the Sal Maroni trial as the responsible party for raping and killing a young girl.”

There was a silence on the phone for a minute. “I see and you believe it of course?”

“No, but until we find the person that did this…”

“That’s what I have been trying to do Mr. Knox.” She said. “I think I should go now.”

“When are you going to start telling me the truth?” He heard nothing and then the phone went dead. He sighed as he put the phone back on the hook. “Guess that answers my question then.” Knox turned back to his computer and starting typing out his story on his take of things with Catwoman, but this time with a retraction….




The truth was that he didn’t know who he was at times. He figured that out a while back. Gotham never gave you a second chance though. You were either for her or you were against her. There was no in between. Dent splashed some water on his face as he realized the more he pressed for answers the more resistance he was going to get from the people that had a lot to hide. He told himself that this was more than he could take but how did he know for sure?

It was a struggle to figure out those things but he walked out of the restroom and headed towards the courtroom. He knew the judge liked to get things rolling early. When he walked in the bailiff finally called out. “All Rise, The Honorable Judge Patricia Dyson presiding.”

Dent took his chair as he looked over at Maroni who never wavered in his confidence. “Mr. Dent do you wish to call your next witness.” The Judge asked him as Dent looked at her with a shake of his head.

“No, your honor. The State will rest.”

“Very well; Mr. Deely. Would you care to call your first witness?”

“I will call Mr. Sal Maroni, your honor.” Maroni made his way to the witness box and swore in.

“You’ve been accused of raping and murdering Thereasa Robbins. How can you absolve yourself of this crime?”

Sal Maroni straightened up in the witness box. “I ain’t done nothing to nobody especially some whore… I mean some girl like that Robbins kid.”

“Who did this then?” His attorney said.

“That cat broad.” He straightens his suit jacket as he sat up straight.

“How do you know?”

“Cause she’s been prowling around my neighborhood for the last few months and well I saw her doing things to kids…”

“Go on…”

“She’s sick I tell you. Just sick.” Sal Maroni said as he looked over at Harvey Dent. “Some peoples will tell’ya that you gotta do something when the time’s a doing.” Maroni shook his head. “But I ain’t seen nuthin’ like it.”

“Thank you, no more questions, your honor.” The attorney said as he went to go sit down.

Dent strode up to the witness box as he looks directly into Maroni’s eyes. “You wanna place blame on someone without taking responsibility of your actions don’t you Mr. Maroni.”

“Objection your honor!” Maroni’s attorney shouted out.

“I’ll rephrase, your Honor.” Dent looked back at Maroni. “How do you explain the semen that matches your DNA, Mr. Maroni?”

“It was planted. You know how those cops are.” Maroni shook his head. “They tried to get OJ on the same thing, but they ain’t gonna pin no **** on me.”

“Watch your language, Mr. Maroni.” The Judge looked at Maroni as Maroni shrugged.

“I got nothing but respect for womens.” Maroni said as he nodded his head.

“Fine. So you deny it? How do you explain this then?” It was a double sided coin that Maroni was famous for leaving as his calling card. “This was found inside the fourteen-year old girl’s underwear after her body had been savagely raped, Mr. Maroni. Isn’t this your calling card?”

“**** you, Dent.” Maroni said as he glared at the District Attorney.
“That girl was fourteen years old; Mr. Maroni and you brutally raped her and then slit her throat with this knife. Your semen was found inside the girl and you left your calling card.” Dent looked directly back at Sal without a hint of backing down in him.

“I ain’t done nothing.” Maroni reached into his coat for a moment.

“You murdered that girl because she was crying. We have witnesses that can place you at the scene where the girl was holed up as a prostitute and she wasn’t scoring for you as much anymore so you raped her. She wouldn’t keep quiet so you murdered her.”

“I ain’t done nothing!!” Maroni stood up for a moment. “She owed me money, Dent. Don’t you get it yet? Money makes this world turn around… and I ain’t done nothing that nobody ain’t done since we all been doing it.” Maroni yelled back at him.

“You killed a girl because she wasn’t bringing in money like she used to. You killed her because she was screaming for help.” Dent pressed him further.

Maroni took out a flask in his coat pocket and opened it up as he flung the contents of it on Dent’s face. “I killed her like I am gonna kill your smart mouth Harvard ass, Dent!!!” Dent fell back as he screamed out in pain. The bailiff grabbed Maroni and shoved him to the ground. The courtroom blew up into a raucous as the court reporter had called 911 on her cell phone. Dent was writhing in pain as he covered his burnt face with his arms. Maroni was being dragged away as he spat on Dent. “You like it now, huh Dent? You like it now? My boys will be running this town faster than you can do anything about it… Kay? You got me you little ****!!!”

The paramedics arrived at the scene where they took Dent to the ambulance.

As the gurney was pushed passed the crowd Selina Kyle watched in horror as the paramedics tried to shield him from the media and the growing group of bystanders. Selina put a hand to her mouth as she saw Harvey closing his right eye as his left eye looked like he was unable to close it. They loaded him up and took him to the hospital.



Selina had seen his face and had that image locked in her brain as she waited until his doctor came out. She looked over her right shoulder as she saw Bruce Wayne waiting as well. He knew that Wayne and Harvey had been friends for a while but she didn’t know how far back they went.

Selina walked up to him and tried to offer a half smile. “You waiting too?”

Wayne paused for a moment as if he recognized her right off the ‘bat.’ “Yes. I heard he wasn’t in very good shape, but I wanted to be here for him.” Wayne offered his hand to her. “Bruce Wayne.”

“Selina Kyle.” She shook his hand as she offered a half smile. “We used to date… but we’ve been friends ever since.”

“Oh you’re that Selina.” Bruce recognized her name from his conversations with Dent about his failed romances similar to what Bruce Wayne had.

“Yeah I guess so.” She nodded with a small smile on her face.

“I know that Harvey thinks a lot about you that’s for sure.” Wayne tried to lighten the mood up, but he noticed that Kyle seemed to be aloof. He waited a few moments and noticed that she had gone to sit down and wait as she had avoided going any further with the conversation. “Would you like to get some supper while we wait?”

“Oh no, Mr. Wayne.” She stood up. “I… I need to check on some things.”

“Okay, I hope it’s nothing serious?” He looked concerned.

“No, thank you. I need to go though.” She looked at his eyes for a moment and then she got up and left and rode the elevator down.




She waited until Wayne was gone until she had come back. Something about him didn’t sit well with her. She went into Harvey’s hospital room where he had bandages all up and down his face. He was barely awake because of the morphine he had in him. Selina grazed his hand with her hand as she looked into his eyes. She could tell that he was in a world of pain.

“You came back to see me.” Dent said through the bandages.

“Yes, Harvey.” She loved the man but he had proved to be more than she could have bargained for because of his dual life as a politician and lawyer. She thought she might like that life but the glitz and glamour of the moment didn’t settle well for her. She had chosen to try to stay in the shadows. Not many people knew who she was inside… and she preferred it that way.

“I guess I look like a mess don’t I?” He tried to kid around but found it difficult to keep his spirits up.

“I guess you’ve had better days.” Selina said to him.

“Yeah I know what you mean.” He said as he squeezed her hand gently. “So, are you going to stay or?”

“I wish I could, but I am working tonight.”

“Working on what?” He said as he watched her eyes.

“Trying to find Maggie’s assailant.”

“You should let the police do that.” Dent said as he tried to appeal to her.

“No. The cops have enough going on.”

“Well, I guess we’re going to disagree but don’t get yourself killed will you?”

“I can’t guarantee that.” She said. “I will try and be careful.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek that wasn’t burned, she knew that he probably wouldn’t remember but she whispered into his ear. “I love you.” Dent had already fallen asleep under the effects of the pain medicine, so she didn’t know if he heard her or not. She left the hospital room and headed out. Her life for once seemed to be all muddled. She knew in her heart that she did love him, but that life he led… She didn’t want to be a part of that.

Her cell phone rang as she had gotten into a cab. “Hello?”

“Hey Kitten, where are you at?”

“Just left the hospital, Slam, I guess you got my message?”

“Yeah, I did, sorry I wasn’t here when you called.”

“It’s okay.” She said. “How are you?”

“Doing fine, but I had found out some things for you.” He said as he waited for her to respond but she didn’t. “Maggie was assaulted by someone called Big Sammy.” That caught her attention because she had heard that name before.

“How do you know that?” She said.

“I had a squealer squawk when I was beating his brains in.”

“Oh my, what else did he say?” Her curiosity piqued as she listened.

“He said that Big Sammy looked a lot like our ‘friend’ Harvey Dent.” Slam said that Selina detected with sarcasm.

“Oh my god.” She said as she realized that she had completely mistaken Dent in many ways. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, this kid has worked with Sammy before.” Slam responded.

“Okay, thank you Slam. I owe you one.”

“Yeah, I know, don’t worry I’ll be getting my repayment soon enough.” He tried to joke.

“Good bye, Slam.” She didn’t wait for him to respond as she closed the cell phone. “I need to make sure.” She mumbled to herself as the cab took her to her apartment.



Catwoman had reappeared and now was lurched on Dent’s window at the hospital as she opened the window she moved silently in. Her night vision goggles showed that the room was empty until she felt a hand go to her shoulder. “What the hell!?”

She turned around and saw The Batman with his cape around his shoulders. “Why are you here?”

“Following up on a lead.” She said.

He took out his infrared scanner and looked around the room, as he seemingly accepted her reason for being there. “He’s gone.”

“Where did he go?” She quickly snapped back.

“Not sure, but the hospital records don’t show a discharge.” He looked at her. “Looks like we’ve got a mystery on our hands if you’re game.”

“I am not a detective, Bats.” She crossed her arms as she responded to him.

“You’ve been trying to track down the rapist of your friend, Maggie.” The Batman said as he watched Selina’s eyes widen.

“How did you know about that?”

“I know everything about you Miss Kyle.”

That stunned her but she acted coolly to it. “That could be my name or then again it might be a fake name.”

“Oh yes, you certainly use those, like Irena Dubrovna and others.” The Batman kept some distance because he didn’t know if she was likely to attack him or not, but he was ready.
“Bravo, Bats, you’ve earned your stripes for today.” She said. “I don’t care what you think you know, because I am more than that.”

“Clearly.” The Batman responded to her.

“What do you mean?” She paused as that statement confused her.

“You’ve come as far as I have in trying to solve this case.” He said.

“It’s not a case to me, Batman; it’s my friend and someone I think of as my sister.”

“I know, but I look at things in black and white. No emotion because emotion can mask what you’re searching for.”

“I am not built that way.” She responded.

“I know you’re not, but that’s okay.” He paused as he looked at her. “What concerns me is that you’re hell bent on finding this person to the point where other things and people may take a back seat.”

“Then you don’t know me very well.” She said.

“Maybe not, but I am willing to help you find Harvey Dent and bring him to justice.”

“Justice is subjective, Bats.”

“Yes, but at least he’ll be in the hands of people who are charged with those things.”

She clenched her fist as she looked at him. “If I find him, I am going to castrate him.”

The Batman did not loose his cool as he looked at her. “Then you’ll be going to jail too.”

“Fine. Maybe we can work together.” She walked up to him and started to remove his cowl before he stopped her. “I want to know who you are.”

“This is who I am.”

“A man with no name.” She shook her head. “Fine. If that’s how you want to be,” She snapped her whip as it snagged an outside flagpole. “If you want to tag a long that’s fine…” She laughed dismissively. “If you can keep up.”

The Batman looked at her and nodded. “Let’s get him.” He fired a grapple gun that snagged the same flag pole and they both swung off into the night.