Gotham's Detective

Chapter 9

Heather didn't know what time it was when she heard gunshots and yelling. How had someone found them? She was sure they weren't followed, but they obviously had been.

Heather leaped out of bed and not even bothering to find her shoes, she grabbed her gun, her suitcase, and finding the button in the closet; she pushed it, making sure the closet door shut behind her. The hidden door slid open quietly, and she ran in as more gunshots sounded outside the bedroom door. The panel slid closed behind her, and she began to run. The tunnel was lit with small lights in the ceiling, for which she was grateful for. But she was also glad she did not see what she was stepping on since she was barefoot. The floor felt like it was smooth though, like some type of wood.

Heather ran, and ran, wondering how long it would take until she found the end of the tunnel. It felt like it took several minutes, but she knew it hadn't been very long, when she finally found a dead end after she had climbed uphill for a couple of minutes. Heather found a hidden door and seeing a keypad on the door, she quickly typed in the code and opened the door, shutting it quietly behind her. She looked behind her as the door shut and noticed that she was in another dumpy cabin. This cabin was just like the other one. It was all dusty, and a cot and table sat in the corner. She hurried to the table and pushed on one of the legs. A small keypad popped up, and she typed in the code once again. The door under the cot slid open, and she scooted the cot aside, walked down the stairs, and the door closed right behind her, she then descended the lit stairs. Heather walked into the room, took her suitcase into the bedroom, and after washing her dirty feet, she sat on the bed, and pulled out her phone, dialing Bruce.

He answered. "Heather, what is going on? It's 2:00 in the morning."

"We were just attacked."

"Are you all right?"

"I am, but I had to change safe houses."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes. I don't know if any of the agents are alive. I made it out by the skin of my teeth."

"That's not good that they found you already. If they found that safehouse, you know they are going to find the one you are in now."

"I don't even know where I am, so I hope not."

"How did you get there?"

"A hidden panel in the closet put me in a tunnel."

"Stay safe; I will see if I can come and get you."

"Bruce, do not put your life in danger because of me."

"It is not my life I am worried about," he growled and hung up.

Heather sighed and laid on the bed. She hadn't even bothered turning on the light. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was asleep again.

It didn't seem like too much longer when she felt herself being lifted into someone's arms. She opened her eyes and gasped.

"Shh," Batman told her softly. "We are getting you out of here."

"How did you find me?"

"Grisham."

"I need my suitcase," she said, "and I can walk," she pointed out.

"But I like carrying you," he grinned, and leaning over, he picked up her suitcase, and handed it to her, not letting her go, "besides, it is rocky ground outside, and you have no shoes."

"I had to leave them behind."

"Understandable," he said and hurried up the stairs with her, and out into the night.

Batman walked several yards before they came to a clearing in the woods. His jet sat in the clearing.

He pushed a button on his belt, and the roof opened silently. "My jet is only meant for one person, so it will be a tight squeeze, hope you don't mind," he said, as he set her down, climbed in, and then motioned for her to get in.

"I'm okay with this," she grinned as she sat close to him, setting her suitcase on her lap. She knew it was ridiculous bringing her suitcase along, but it had all of her expensive disguises in it that were hard to replace, along with all of her fake i.d.'s.

After shutting the roof of the jet, Batman took off into the air.

"Are you all right?" he asked her.

"Yes, I am okay."

"I don't know how those guys found you, I made sure you weren't followed."

"Then someone knew where we were going, which is not good."

"It wasn't Townsend; he is dead."

"How?"

"The Scorpions came after him. He wasn't subtle enough. They tried to get him to talk, and he wouldn't, so they spilled his guts for him."

Heather winced in the dark. "I almost feel bad."

"Don't; they did the city a favor."

"As long as the Scorpions don't think that they can take his place."

"Don't worry, I will make sure they don't."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

"So, where are we going?"

"Back to my place. You can stay in my cave; you will be safe there. The agents are covering the city now, looking for the Scorpions."

"How are the agents who were protecting me?"

"Fine. They took down the men who attacked the safe house, all but one. He escaped, and he is the one they want. They haven't found him yet."

Heather sighed and leaned her head against Batman's shoulder. He smiled down at her. She heard his heart speed up.

"You will be safe at the cave," he promised her.

"I know," she said and closed her eyes.

The next thing she knew, she was being carried again. She kept her eyes closed as she felt Batman walking down some stairs, and then she was laid on a bed and covered up.

"Sleep well," he whispered, kissing her softly, then she heard him leave, and she was asleep once more.