Chapter 30
When Batwoman and Huntress arrived at Crime Alley, they didn't find Stephanie Brown, but they did find a monitor waiting for them.
"Figures she wouldn't be here. Too easy. But what's this?" Huntress asked as she moved towards the monitor, only to feel herself trigger a motion sensor and suddenly the screen turned on to reveal Cluemaster himself and he was holding Stephanie tied up to a chair.
"Well, well, I have to admit, I thought it would take you longer to solve my first clue. I guess you're smarter than I thought. Congratulations on making it to round 2 Batwoman and sidekick." Cluemaster said and Huntress's nostrils flared at hearing that.
"Why does everyone call me a sidekick?" Huntress asked.
"Don't know. Probably because you don't dress up like a bat. But anyways, focus." Batwoman said as they returned their attention to the monitor.
"Glad you both could make it, since I've spent years putting my plan in place and it is perfect." Cluemaster said as they watched Stephanie struggle against her bindings.
"How could you do this to your own daughter?" Huntress asked, since this hit a bit too close to home for her considering who her birth father was.
"Well, the thing is, she's not really my daughter anymore. Not since she betrayed me by selling me out to the Crows, since I don't care how they spun it, there's no way anyone but her could've solved my clue. Not only did she betray me, but then she sold out to Bruce Wayne of all people. What a waste honestly." Cluemaster said.
"What is he talking about?" Batwoman asked Huntress.
"Stephanie won a grant from Wayne Enterprises to finish high school at Gotham Prep." Huntress explained and Batwoman nodded.
"Browns don't take handouts and we don't sell out to people like the Waynes." Cluemaster stated.
"So that's what this is about. Revenge on your daughter for taking advantage of opportunities in front of her. Wow, this really is Gotham." Batwoman said.
"Yes, but anyways, let's get back to our game. You already made it past round one and this is a three round competition. Can you make it through rounds 2 and 3 in time to save her?" Cluemaster asked.
"We already found our way here. I say we passed round 2." Huntress said, but Batwoman wasn't so sure.
"Please, you're only here to learn of my next challenge. I've planted a bomb somewhere in Gotham. You have 30 minutes to find and deactivate it or else a large chunk of this city goes boom and Stephanie with it." Cluemaster said.
"Should've figured this was too easy. Where is the bomb?" Batwoman said as Cluemaster laughed.
"Here's your next clue. The bomb is located in a place that Gotham fears more than any other, but not where I just came from. It's where one of the city's oldest and most famous feuds and toxic relationships were born. The place where Batman nearly met his match. If you want to save lives in this city, then you can't waste time clowning around." Cluemaster said as the feed cut out.
"What do you think?" Huntress asked.
"Batwoman to Batcave, did you get that?" Batwoman asked.
"Yep. It sounds like it's the place where one of Bruce's enemies was born." Luke said over the comms.
"Agreed, that much was clear by the line Batman nearly met his match. But the question remains which one, since we don't have time to check them all." Batwoman said.
"He mentioned toxic relationships, that can't be a coincidence." Huntress said.
"Neither is the term clowning around." Luke said.
"Ace Chemicals." Batwoman said.
"The place where the Joker was born. It adds up. And I'm betting that the toxic relationship line meant him and Harley Quinn." Huntress agreed.
"Luke, hack in there and get us some kind of visual so we know what we're getting ourselves into. We're heading there now." Batwoman said as she and Huntress returned to their respective vehicles.
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