Maximum: Catwoman #5

Rio de Janeiro; what a place to be! It was full of life and circumstance and plenty of wealthy men with bloated bellies and fat wallets. Just the place to be a cat with a nine-lives. Selina Kyle made her living off people who had excesses anyway, but it was their excess that gave her the life and the comfort she thought she deserved.

“Miss Kyle there's a phone message for you.” One of the hotel's bellhops came over with a note.

“Thank you my good man.” She put a real in his hand and got up out of her tanning chair and headed to the desk where the phone for the guests was at. “This is Selina Kyle.”

“Gotham City does seem like a lonely blackhole without you here.” It was the familiar voice of her fencer.

“Sebastian!” She exclaimed almost like a schoolgirl. “How did you know I was in Rio?”

“Friend of a friend of friend, Sel.” He chuckled. “Listen are you on a job or just out getting those paws tan for gloomy Gotham?”

“Mmm.. well I thought about doing a job, but I am having so much fun just relaxing!”

“I thought so, listen if you do get the itch, Kitty... There is this sapphire gem that's begging for buyers and well I know you love those types of..”

“Oh what's it called?”

“Get this, the Cat's eye.”

“Oh scrumptious!” She paused. “So what's in it for me?”

“The usual.”

“I want forty this time.”

“Forty!? That's...” He sighed. “You win. No one can get those things like you can.”

“About time you learned that big man, okay I'll be in touch.”

“See ya, Sel.” She put her hands together in anticipation as she tried to think of what kind of security would be in place for the Cat's Eye. Sebastian had come through for her as the schematics for the museum were downloaded to her Blackberry. She grinned as she studied what it was going to take to get in and out of the museum as quickly as possible. Suddenly her revelry was interrupted by almost bumping into Bruce Wayne.

“Oh excuse me, I didn't..” Her eyes opened wide as she recognized him almost instantly. “Bruce? Bruce Wayne?”

“Hello Selina. Long time no see.” He smiled as he was wearing shorts himself with an open shirt and sunglasses.

“I... uh yeah it is. What are you doing here?”

“Business deal going down in Rio, question is? What are you doing here?”

“Vacation.” She was short and curt as she turned her back to him. “Well, I should be going, Mr. Wayne, it was lovely to have...”

Bruce grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. “You aren't going to play that game with me, Selina... not here and not now.”

“Get your hands off of me!” She almost shrieked but then was quieted by a passionate kiss from him. She fought for a moment but his kiss mesmerized her for a brief moment and then she pushed him away. “Touch me again and I'll cut you into pieces, Bruce.” She looked at him in anger. “You're drunk and I don't want anything to do with that or you!”

“No, I am not drunk, but seeing you here and like this, I just... I am sorry.” He appealed to her.

“Good now go back to Gotham and stew on it.” She turned away from him.

“Selina!” He called out. But there was no response. “Selina!” She walked away and Wayne clasped his hands in front of him. “Damnit.” He growled to himself and then walked in the opposite direction.



Selina got to her room and found a note taped to the mirror that faced the bed. She growled under her breath as she opened the note to read it.

“Cats,

I didn't expect you to return to my neighbourhood so soon, but I am glad you have. Look me up when you have time.

-Luis.”

She sighed and sat down on the bed that faced the mirror. “I came here for a vacation not to be hounded by love sick puppy dogs.” She crumpled the piece of paper but then she noticed there was an indentation of another note on the back of the one that Luis had written to her. She went to desk that was in her room and sat down as she took out a scanner and scanned the piece of paper into her laptop computer. After a few minutes she got the image ready for analysis. She looked at the note and read the indentation of as best she could the folds from the crumple made it hard to discern some of it.

“Cat's Eye is being guarded by Fabriano and he's said that only one person may see it. Will contact Selina maybe she can help.

-Luis.”

She smiled to herself as she curled a smile. “Maybe I will pay a call to you, Luis.” She said aloud.

“She grabbed her shawl and headed outdoors. The cool tropical air felt good against her skin. She was used to the harsh Gotham winters, but this was much better she thought. She could make a living down her, and retire in luxury. Yet, the adventure of her heists gave her such a adrenaline rush. She made her way down to the hotel lobby and to the estate of Luis Santos. He was one of the few in the city of Rio that exuded his wealth through his clothes, house, women and cars. It was something she personally detested, but if he had information on how to get to the Cat's Eye she needed to find out for sure. She took a taxi to Luis' estate and paid the cabby his real and she buzzed the gate so that he would let her in. After a few moments she heard his voice over the intercom. “Who is there?”

“It's me, Luis, I am here finally.”

“Selina! My goodness you did answer my message. One moment, love, I shall open the gate for you.” Suddenly an electronic buzzing noise came down and the gate started to retract open. She slipped in gracefully as she went to his front door and knocked on it.

Luis opened the door and she saw her face. He came to her and hugged her as if they had been old friends, but Selina didn't push him away. Her focus was to learn all she could and take the Cat's Eye for her self. “How are you?”

“I have been good, Luis, it's good to see you again as well.” She smiled as he left his embrace and he smiled.

“Let me guess, you were able to read the message behind the one I sent you by analyzing it?” He saw her eyes did not change. He expected the elusive Catwoman to cover all the bases. “No matter, I am glad you are here, for many reasons.”

“We're not going to sleep together, so you can get that out of your head right now.”

“Selina! I am shocked at you!”

“Just stating my position before we go any further.”

“But of course, Madam Catwoman.” He grinned slyly. “I got a girlfriend anyway, she does not like me sleeping with women that aren't her.”

“No woman would, Luis.” Selina looked at him impatiently. “Okay, okay let's get down to business, no?”

“Yes. Why don't we?” She followed Luis as he replied to her. They made their way to Santos' office that over looked a small alcove that let the blue seas that surrounded Rio in. It was a beautiful sight. He had all the amenities a man of his stature would have. His slicked back black hair was tied into a small ponytail to his back. He looked at her as he motioned for her to sit down. “So what brings you to Rio? Did Gotham City finally bore you?”

“Not hardly, Luis.” She sat down and crossed her legs. “Thing is, I could use more adventure and I heard about this Cat's Eye Sapphire, I knew I had to get in on the deal”

“The last time you came around you betrayed me, Selina. You sold me down the river and it took me millions to keep from going to prison.”

“Should teach you don't try and double cross me, Luis.” She nodded. “I knew you were trying to set me up, so I made sure the evidence pointed to you.”

“Whoever holds the cards, eh?”

“Something like that.” She nodded again. “Are you aware that INTERPOL has the owner of the Cat's Eye listed as a suspect in the assassination plot to kill the French President?”

“Yes, I knew that.” He raised an eyebrow, but I am wondering how you knew that?”

“It was elementary, Luis.” She shook her head. “I know you want the gem and I know you don't have anyone skilled enough to get it.”

“Cut the to the chase?” Luis steepled his fingers into a triangle. “You're right. I don't have anyone that's good enough to pull off a job like that.”

“So, how about we work together one last time?”

“Fine, but when you get the Cat's Eye you get thirty percent.”

“Forty that's my standard fee.” She shook her head.

“I happen to know it's twenty-five, but if you can recover it then you'll get thirty-five. That's my final offer.” He shook his head. “I can sell this gem for more than you can get from Sebastian so the forty you get from him will be peanuts from what you will get from me.” He saw her eyes nodded. He knew she was aware of many things, but he enjoyed the thought that he was outwitting Catwoman.

“Fine. Deal.” She nodded. “When do you want it?”

“Tonight can you get it done?” He watched her with a slow smile that spread across his face.

“I have an invitation to a party at the residence. I will make sure I get it tonight.” She nodded to him.

“Don't try and fence it elsewhere, Cat. I know you will try and bark up the deal with Sebastian and I will make sure I chop his balls off before I give up that cash deal.”

She laughed at that thought. “You know for a moment, I thought you were someone I really was going to have to worry about, but your paranoia makes you a tool for me.”

“Oh yeah? How do you say that?”

“People who are paranoid never see reality shown right in their face.” She stood up and smoothed her skirt out. “I will do the deal, but if I can get a better deal I will take it.”

Santos shook his head. “I will make sure you are well paid, Miss Kyle.”

“Good, because Sebastian has access to a lot of cash himself.”

“Yes, I know he's outbid me on a three items in the past, but he's there and you're here and I can pay you a lot quicker he can.”

“True enough.” She nodded. “I will be in touch, Luis. Have a good afternoon.”

“Good bye, Cat.” Selina Kyle left the room and Santos dialed his contact in America. “Sebastian, she fell for it.”

“Good, we'll need to make sure that Selina Kyle never returns to America alive. Make sure of it.”

“I will.”





Selina returned to her hotel room as she was getting dressed in her evening dress. The party was going to be full of the well to do and the well known. She was likely to bump into interested parties and it was something that she lived for. Her activities as the Catwoman were known by only a handful of people that knew she was capable of pulling off heists of lucrative sums of money. The dress was a place gown that opened in the front with a buckle that rested over the top of her bossum. The open portion revealed her side cleavage and was more extravagant that she was normally used, but it would serve its purpose. She put on her black high heel shoes and did her hair and finally left for the party. Her thoughts centered around how she was going to be able to pull of the job and how much money she might possibly see from it. Those thoughts made her smile because she could put that money to good use... the charity she worked for battered women... the animal shelters she supported. Money that she didn't need but knew could do a lot of good to the right people. It was what motivated her the most. She showed up in a limo that was furnished by Vittorio Fabriano. He was part of the well to do crowd in Rio but she knew that Fabriano wasn't well informed on what she did or who she was and that would give her the clear advantage. She showed up as the evening lights only made her porcelain skin glisten. She did love a good party and it looked as she had shown up at a good one indeed. She stepped into Fabriano's house and looked around.

“Miss Kyle!” Vittorio Fabriano approached with a woman on each arm. He was the typical pig in her mind, a man with money and no motivation on how to use it for good.

“Good to meet you Mr. Fabriano.” She smiled as the other two women glared at her. She was better dressed than they were.

“You are more lovely in person than my friends described.” He smiled as he bowed and kissed her hand. The other two women just left and went to the party to mingle. “So, tell me what do you think of my estate?”

“It's lovely, Mr. Fabriano. Definitely a taste of the decadence of another time.” She coyed a smile, because she knew the insult was only thinly veiled.

“Decadence? No, Miss Kyle this is my family's estate that has been in our family for many years.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “What do you think I do, Miss Kyle? Rest on my laurels?”

“I really don't know what you do, sir.” Selina responded in kind.

“Well, this is a treat then. Because a sexy woman has challenged me and I must meet her challenge by asking to spend time in her company.” He grinned as he offered his arm to her. “Please?”

“Sure.” She took his arm and out of the corner of her eyes she saw Bruce Wayne speaking with the two women that had Fabriano's arms just a moment ago. “So, what is it you do?”

“I am the chief funder for the Women's League here in Brazil.” He looked at he as her eyebrow popped up in surprise.

“Really? I had no idea that Brazil had one..”

“You'd be surprised Miss Kyle. I care very much for my country, but there are those that would try and drag my name through the mud. That's their prerogative, but I know what I do and I am proud to help those who are in need.”

“Well, I am surprised and grateful that I have met you then.”

“Oh why is that?”

“Because I support similar causes in Gotham City.”

“Well, then we should talk more after the party.” He grinned and kissed her hand. Selina felt her cheeks blush. He then started to work the crowd by saying hello and socializing with them. Bruce Wayne came over and saw her blushing.

“Well this is a change.”

“Shut up.” She snapped at him.

“Easy now, geesh, I thought we were friends?”

“Bruce, the only thing I want from you is...” She paused. “Listen I don't want to rehash the past.”

“Me either, but you have to realise how I feel?”

“I do, but we're too different, Bruce.” She looked away as the black strapless dress she wore moved with her body in almost a perfect synchronous. She walked out onto the veranda that over looked the city of Rio. It was an awe inspiring sight, but she knew in her heart she was conflicted by her feelings with Bruce. He had been something of conscious for her.

“I get it.” He walked up behind her. He wore a tuxedo that had a red tie. “I know what you think that I don't understand the kind of person you are.”

“Bruce Wayne understands one person in this whole mixed up world?” She turned around and faced him to eye. “You'll never understand me, Bruce. Not even if you were to walk in my shoes would you ever understand me.”

He sighed as he stepped back and nodded. “Maybe I'll never understand you, but I can try. If you'd let me that is.”

“Just leave me alone.” She put her arms around her waist. “I don't want to be pursued by someone that doesn't give a shit about anything.”

“What makes you think I am like that?”

“Bruce, your picture is in all the gossip rags about how you're dating this super model and dating that actress.” She shook her head. “I gave up those thoughts a few months back. I just want you to leave me alone.”

“Okay, okay, fine I get it.” He put his hands up in surrender. “I am sorry I disturbed your evening.” He walked away in a huff. She shook her head as she realized that she was never going to get him to understand anything about her and it frustrated her to no end. She truly did have feelings for him, but she did not want to be seen as just another one of his 'conquests.'

She waited around until Vittorio Fabriano was available. He excited her in ways she couldn't describe to herself. A part of her really wanted to know more about him, because he seemed like the real deal. As the party was thinning out she waited in the library of the mansion. It had books of all types and age on his shelves. She was impressed with the library's content. She picked up a random book that seemed very old. She opened the cover and saw it was old Genoese . Something that she definitely couldn't read. “It says Voyage to the New World by Christopher Columbus.” She turned her attention and saw Vittorio come up behind her. “It's a one of a kind, because Columbus never wrote in his native tongue.”

“This should be in a museum then?” She looked at him wide eyed.

“No, well, not for the price I paid for it.” He grinned gamely at her. “See, everything or anyone has its price.”

“Not true there are some things that don't...”

“Don't kid yourself, Selina.” He paused. “If I may?” She nodded to him. “You see if this document got to a museum it would be prized by scholars and debated for its meaning for decades, but people would miss its one true virtue.”

“Which is?”

“Columbus acknowledges that this is the New World. It was something he never believed or so was told by legend.”

“Then you need to let people see it for what it is.”

“A sentimentalist!” He grinned. “I can admire that.”

“Really now?” She looked at him challengingly.

“Well, I can try can't I?” He nodded to her. “I know of your reputation, which I can tell you very people know the true alias you use.”

She perked her eyebrow up at his statement. “Oh?”

“Catwoman. I know you're here to see the Cat's Eye aren't you?”

“How did you know?” She looked alarmed at him. “I make it my business to know who crosses into my lair.” He grinned. “But, actually Sebastian gave me your information in exchange to make sure you were killed.”

“Lovely.” She said sarcastically. “I suppose you're with Santos then?”

“No, I am not, but I made him believe I was.”

“I don't understand.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Well consider this then,” He walked over and pulled out a book and opened it and inside it had been hollowed out and there was a huge sapphire gem inside with a distinctive middle that looked very much like a Cat's Eye. “I have had this gem insured for more than a million American dollars.” He nodded confidently. “I can assure you that it's worth quite a bit more than that.”

“Why are you showing it to me if you know I am here to retrieve it?”

“Well that question is one I pondered myself when I first saw you walk in.” He is face showed a stern look and then softened. “I think I found my soul-mate and I wish you to stay here so that we may continue to know each other.”

Selina understood exactly what he was wanting and blushed a bit. “I haven't been asked to court like that... Ever.”

“It's our way, Selina.” He came over to her. “I am hoping you'll agree though.”

“I wish I could.” She shook her head, “But I have people and pets at home that depend on me.”

“Bring them here and let me care for them with you.”

“I can't Vittorio.” She shook her head. “I didn't expect to find you or...”

“You didn't expect to find your heart an issue?” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I know your secrets and I want you despite them.”

She felt her heart beating wildly in her chest as she wanted to say yes, but she knew that in heart that she wasn't cut out to be the matron of a wealthy man, nor would she want to live with such ease. She was an adventurer and wanted the excitement of that life. “I wish I could, Vittorio, believe I really wish I could.”

“I tried it the nice way... now..” He took out a revolver and pointed it at her. “Now I have to try it the hard way.”

“What the Hell are you doing?!” She looked at him incredulously.

“I agreed to keep you in Rio one way or another.” He grinned.

Selina's eyes moved from one end of the room to the other and looked for anything that she could use to move out of the way. She spotted a suit of armour that was near a wall. It had a spear with an axehead attached to it. She found picked up the brass ashtray and flung it at the armour. The shot was lucky enough as the axe came flying down. It startled Fabriano as he tried to jump out of the way, but his hand got caught as the axe cut two of his fingers off. He screamed in horror and Selina took the chance and picked up the gun and took out the magazine and flung it out of the window that faced the harbour. She then kicked him in the face and he fell over unconscious. She picked up the phone and called the police and then saw the open book with the Cat's Eye for the taking. She put the gem into her bodice and adjusted her breasts and then she waited until the police arrived. She pointed them to where he was at. The police saw that the man's hand had been severed by the axe. She gave her statement to an officer who could speak English.

“We were fooling around and he grabbed my hair and pinned me against the wall and tried to rape me.” The policewoman nodded and wrote her notes and an ambulance arrived and took Fabriano away. He was still unconscious. A cab arrived and she got in as she rode away. The police seemed to have bought her story that she had been assaulted by him. She grinned to herself. She finally made it back to her hotel room. She put her arms around her waist as she saw the windows were open. She went to the walk-out veranda and saw The Dark Knight standing in the shadows. “What are you doing here?”

“Need you back in Gotham.” He turned around as he looked her in the eyes.

“Listen I don't need you..” She paused as she considered what he had said. “What are you talking about?'

“I need your help.” The nodded to her.

“Why?”

“The Joker.”

“Oh no.” She shook head. “No, I am not going to get involved in that.”

“What can I do convince you?”

“Why is it so important to you?” She shook her head. “Why do you need my help? Answer me that?”

“Because, I trust you.” The Batman started to remove his cowl and her eyes grew wide.

“No. I don't want to know.” She turned her head. “I don't want..”

He had turned her head back to his lips. He still wore his cowl but he lift her chin and kissed her deeply. It took her off guard and she put her hand on his chest, but she pushed herself away from him. “Batman, I don't know what you think you're trying to do...”

He put her hands on his cowl. “Take it off. I want you to know who I am.” She loosened the cowl enough and then started to remove it but she finally shook her head.

“No! Please I don't... want.” She sighed deeply and looked at him.

“Okay, okay. I understand.” He fastened his cowl so it was back on his face. “Will you help me?”

“Yes, I will help you, but it's absolutely the last time. There are people who want me dead, and I need to make sure they are brought to justice.” The Batman reached for her bodice and felt her breasts, it was something that took her by complete surprised and he found the Cat's Eye. She pulled it out of her dress and looked at him with her heart beating fast. Part of her wanted to take his mask off and make love to him there and now, but she tried to resist. “How did you know?”

“It's not the real, Cat's Eye.”

“I am beginning to think there's nothing you don't know.” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Pretty much. It was a replica to lure you here for the kill.”

“Yeah, I know, but where is the real one? Wait, nevermind I'll find it myself someday soon.” She exhaled a moment. “Okay, I will help you but I need you to help me locate my would-be killers.”

“Deal.” He offered his hand out to her. She took his hand and shook it.

“Deal then.”

“I'll see you in Gotham.”

“Where?”

“I'll find you.”

“Yeah I should have known.” She sat down on the edge of the ledge that faced the city of Rio. She looked at the replica of the Cat's Eye and realized just how much she had been fooled. She had to watch it because she knew there were men out there that wanted her dead. She had a feeling she would be returning to Rio soon, but she had made a promise... and it meant returning to the dark city.