The Fall

CHAPTER EIGHT: A FALSE DAWN THE MAN visibly shrank as Batman leaned forward over the table his face glowering at him. Zenith was a much changed character from the one who had wreaked such terror during his partnership with Jet. Still a criminal, yes - but now dealing petty felonies and scratching an existence among the denizens of the worst quarter in the city. Which is where Batman had tracked him down and finally seized him after a chase on the Batcycle through the narrow twisting lanes. "Look Batman," he said. "I don't know where she is and even if I did I wouldn't tell you." "Because you were once her lover?" "Ha," spat Zenith in disgust. "Jet doesn't have lovers. They might desire her but she only wants men so she can use them - whether it's humiliating them to get her kicks, using them for her own sexual gratification or getting them to do her dirty work. With me it was all three. I'd become nothing but her slave. If you hadn't caught her I don't know how low she'd have got me to sink before discarding me like a piece of trash. It took ages for them to put my mind back together in the sanitarium." "So why wouldn't you tell me if you knew anything? She was very eager to betray you in court." Zenith sighed. "Because, Batman, if she found out the nightmare would start again. Only this time I wouldn't survive. She'd just kill me. I've seen her do it - a great big smile on her face as she listens to her victims screams before finishing them. Only none of that came out as evidence did it?" "Only because we didn't have it," replied Batman with a hint of regret. "You were considered an unreliable witness. Her partner and mentally unstable. What could we do? But if I can put her away again - only this time it will be for good." Zenith looked at Batman almost pityingly. "Batman," he said as though explaining a simple truth to a child, "you got lucky last time. Took her by surprise. I was supposed to be the look-out remember? Only I was in the wrong place because my mind had been turned to mush. I missed Robin going in and she was so enjoying smashing your little friend to pieces you were able to ambush her. She won't make the same mistake again. "Believe me she'll be watching for you. In fact she'll be itching to pay you back. And even you Batman won't stand a chance against her. She'll grind you into the floor and enjoy every single minute of it." The Caped Crusader leaned back in his chair and stared long and hard at Zenith. The man was obviously still scarred from his experiences with Jet but seemed genuinely not to know her whereabouts. But it was still at the moment the best lead he had - no matter how tenuous. "Look," he said. "I need to find out where she is. Quickly. If you can help in anyway." Zenith shut his eyes and breathed in hard. There was a long silence and then he finally said: "I'd love it if you could make her suffer like she made me suffer." "Then help." Zenith sat with his eyes closed for at least two minutes thinking hard. Finally he opened them and studied Batman intently. He rubbed his hand anxiously over his face sweat beginning to break out on his forehead. "Look, I'll ask around. Some people...maybe. They're aware of the history. But I need to know I'll be watched somehow. Kept safe. I'll do what I can as long as there's some guarantees. And one cop outside the door or over the road won't be enough. She'd eat them for breakfast. Jesus, she'd probably get by them just by flashing her body." Batman nodded. "I'll arrange it." "Do that then we can talk again." Batman pushed his chair back and stood up. He leant forward and pressed his hand reassuringly around Zenith's wrist. "It'll be worth it," he said. "Payback time perhaps?" Zenith half-grinned. "Now that I'd love," he said.