MARVEL/DC COMICS PRESENTS #13

Catwoman

Fisk Tower

New York City

She opened the glass door and paused as it closed behind her. The room was long and somewhat narrow with off-white painted walls and rows of black chairs along the left side wall. A booth with a plump stern looking woman wearing glasses who didn't acknowledge her presence after walking in. The few individuals who sat against the wall all took notice as she stood in the doorway. While they were dressed in business attire, she stood there wearing reflective sunglasses, a black leather jacket with a red blouse underneath with matching black leather pants that showed her curvy figure. She took a momentary glance at them before walking to the booth.

"Can I help you," the stern looking secretary said as she typed on her computer.

"My name is Selina Kyle. I have an appointment."

The secretary stopped her typing for a second and glanced at Selina before looking down to a ledger that was on her desk. "Yes," she said. "You are our 12:15 appointment and early. Mr. Lord is still with his 11:45 at the..."

The wooden door at the back of the room swung open and an angry woman with all white hair and dressed in black business attire stormed out. With clenched fists, she stormed past the others sitting in the seats along the wall. One of them cried out in pain as her black heels stabbed his foot. Undeterred, she kept marching on. Her long white hair in a ponytail, bouncing on her back. She didn't meet the shocked gazes of the few that sat in the seats or Selina as she went through the entrance and slammed the door.

Selina turned her gaze back at the secretary.

"I'll see if he is ready for you now," the secretary said as she lifted up from her seat. "Wait here."

Ten minutes later the secretary returned and gave the go-ahead for Selina to go into the boardroom. Calmly she walked around to the door and opened to a rather large room with an oblong table surrounded by chairs. The room had a concave shape that mirrored the table with wood paneled walls. At the head of the table, a man sat typing on a laptop computer that sat in front of him. Selina walked nearly halfway to him when the man pointed to the second closest chair next to him. She sat in the seat and placed the bag close to her feet on the floor.

"Miss Kyle," the man said. "My name is Maxwell Lord with Innovative Concepts and we are serving as a third party between you and the client. We have been tasked with relaying your performance and procuring the item that you have been sent to retrieve as part of your job test for the client. Any questions you have for the client can be relayed to them by us. Do you have any questions?"

"Plenty," Selina said with a smile, "however, I don't think that they can or should be answered by you at the moment. I expected the one that contacted me to meet with me today. Usually my meets are done in shadier locations than the scene of the test, as you say."

"Do you have the item in question?"

"Yes," Selina answered as she reached down to the bag on the floor, "with interest." She pulled out a metal headpiece with a jagged broken end as though it was part of a small staff. An open mouth creature with two horns was carved onto it on both sides of the top. She placed it on the table before Mr. Lord and then pulled out an identical metal head and placed it next to the other.

"Ah," Mr. Lord said as his eyes lit up. He picked up the pieces one at a time and placed them into metal container that was out of her view on the floor next to him. he placed them carefully in, but a slight sound of metal clanging could be heard. "Items 94 F and 94 H as delivered."

"Have I passed this little test?"

"I must say, Miss Kyle, that you live up to your skill and reputation. You retrieved the item that you were assigned to retrieve. You also managed to evade other parties trying to take it from you and..."

"Other parties? That's a very calm way to put it. Apparently I wasn't the only one up for the job. You had that amateur, Black Cat, doing the same test at the same time!"

"Yes,' Mr. Lord admitted, "you were not the only one who applied for the position."

"What about the the other two who were there? One of them was shooting at both of us with these red glowing cards at us as well as fighting us. I barely managed to get away with not only my piece but hers as well."

"Something that Black Cat was not too pleased about."

"She'll get over it. You still didn't answer my question about the other two."

"While I don't have all the details, the client did add some obstacles to better gauge your skills. The two you encountered were in their employ for this test. Nevertheless, you were successful beyond measure. The client was very pleased with your performance and has given you the job."

Selina was calm, but was inwardly surprised by the news. "Ok, what next?"

Mr. Lord typed on his computer for a moment and turned and said, "Now you will wait for the client to reach out to you. Your skills will be needed on a case by case basis. As a welcome to their employ, you have just been given a generous starter package of $1,000,000 to the account of your choice.”

Selina got up from her seat and casually walked over to Mr. Lord. She sat on the table next to his computer and started twirling his brown hair. “Is there anything else I can do in the meantime for my new employer?”

Mr. Lord calmly closed his laptop and replied, “No. I would appreciate that you would not do that. You have the job, we have no further business, and I have other clients to tend to today. Besides, I’m just a glorified third party.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Selina said as she leaned over closer to his face. She pulled out a card and placed it between them. “Should you change your mind, I have your card.” The card was Mr. Lord’s business card.

“How did…when did you…that was in my pocket,” he said, her stealth and speed momentarily shocked him. “You are good.”

Selina moved the card and said, “Better than you know.” Smiling, she got off the table and returned to pick up her bag near her seat. Then she walked to the door knowing that he was watching. “Bye, Max.”

As Selina left the room and entered the waiting area, she noticed two additional people sitting closer to the entrance. In their own way, like her, they stood out from the young nervous job applicants waiting. She placed her shades on as walked closer to them. They were a man and a woman. The man wore dark ruby tinged sunglasses and dressed as one more suited for a nightclub than a boardroom. The woman was a blonde who sat with legs crossed with an air of dominance and danger. Both were more than they appeared.

Selina walked a few blocks from Fisk Tower before hailing a cab. The cab traveled several miles out before letting her out in front of an alleyway. She walked down the lonely alleyway to the end where it turned onto another shorter alley closed off from the street by a building. At the end stood an imposing dark figure who partially blended in with the shadows.

Selina walked over towards the shadowy figure without fear or hesitation. “I got the job.”

The shadowy figure did not initially react before replying, “There was no doubt.” Then a duffel bag was thrown at her feet. “As agreed.”

Selina gleefully bent down to it and opened it. Inside were rolls of 100 dollar bills. She quickly examined them and was satisfied. “I take it that you are aware of everything that happened last night and today.”

“Yes.”

“I figured that I was not their only choice.” Selina rose up and placed the duffel bag on her back. “Care to elaborate any more on that for me. Professional curiosity.”

“You were not their first choice. The Thieves Guild were employed first.”

“Thieves Guild? Those country bumpkins are pretty good, but weird to me. I guess the employer thought so as well.”

“The Guild and this employer had a falling out. So they decided to part ways amicably and the Guild were allowed to help in your audition last night. They were more impressed by you than by Black Cat.”

“That explains why Hardy stormed out before my meeting. The girl is just sloppy. I got my package and hers. Thanks in part to those two Guild people. What exactly did I steal? I’m sure you already know, smarty pants.”

“Broken pieces of the Wand of Watoomb. A mystical artifact.”

“Magic. Gives me the creeps. Well, I’m off to enjoy myself. You know where to find me.”

“If they contact you…”

“I know, I know…I’ll let you know first. This isn’t our first rodeo you know.” Selina turned and started to walk away.

“And it won’t be our last.”

Selina turned around and the shadowy figure was gone. She smiled and walked back down the alley. “I hope it won’t…Batman.”