Disheveled dress, wet hair clinging to her shoulders.
Selina Kyle pushed herself up from the ground, all trace of elegance gone. She stared at Jack Kadere with open resentment before finally speaking. "Software that can erase criminal records. That's what I've always wanted."
"Jack Kadere, please." Her voice dropped. "Help me just this once. Give me what you filmed, and I'll owe you a favor."
"Are you sure something like that actually exists?"
Hope flickered across her face. "I'd heard rumors before—I've been searching for years. Never found it. But this time is different. Wayne Enterprises definitely has it. That's why Miranda Tate approached me for a deal." She stepped closer, her tone softening. "Help me. Please."
She looked like an abandoned kitten begging to be taken in.
Jack Kadere was unmoved. He shook his head. "It hasn't served the purpose I want yet. I won't give it to you." He paused. "But..."
Selina Kyle's head snapped up. Jack Kadere beckoned her with one finger, gesturing for her to approach. She hesitated, then stepped forward. He smiled and motioned for her to squat down.
The moment she did, his hand came down on top of her head.
Smack!
The sound was crisp. Selina yelped and sat down hard on the floor, clutching her forehead where a red mark was already forming.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she shouted.
"Are you stupid?" Jack Kadere's voice was flat with impatience. "If she actually had this software, I'd just ask for it directly. Why would I hand over my leverage?"
Selina froze. Her eyes widened as understanding dawned. She wasn't really helping Miranda Tate. She just needed the software. And if that was the case...
She looked up at Jack Kadere, expectant.
"Help me with something," he said. "If it works out, I'll clear your record myself."
"Tell me."
"First, come with me to meet someone." He grabbed the bag and headed for the door. Selina scrambled to follow.
On the street, heads turned. It wasn't every day you saw a woman this tall and striking walking through Starling City looking like she'd been dragged through a storm drain.
Selina endured it. For a clean record, she could endure anything.
After about half an hour of walking, Jack Kadere led her to an apartment building. Up the stairs. Down a hallway. He knocked on one of the doors.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Footsteps approached from inside, and the door swung open.
Laurel's gaze moved from Jack Kadere to the unfamiliar woman beside him—tall, beautiful, thoroughly disheveled.
"Who's she?" Laurel asked.
"Selina Kyle." Jack Kadere walked past her into the apartment. "Your new teacher."
"New teacher?"
Both women stared at him. Jack Kadere dropped onto the sofa and set the bag down beside him. "Suit and basic equipment. For now, you'll continue learning combat with Selina Kyle."
He looked at Selina. "Once she's trained enough to 'graduate,' you get what you want."
Selina's brow furrowed. "What counts as graduating?"
"At least able to hold her own against you in a fight. Capable of running solo missions."
Selina went quiet. Laurel spoke up instead. "What about you? You're not... you're not going to teach me anymore?"
"Do you have Stockholm Syndrome?" Jack Kadere glanced at her and stood. "Something interesting came up. I'll be back after you graduate."
He walked toward the door, passing between them. As he did, he brought both hands down—one firm slap across Laurel's backside, one across Selina's.
Then he opened the door and left.
Laurel and Selina Kyle stood in the sudden silence, exchanging glances. The awkwardness hung thick in the air.
---
Even helpless and bullied in front of Jack Kadere, Selina Kyle's skills were more than sufficient to train Laurel. Jack Kadere used the time to focus on Helena instead.
Frank had already informed the household security. When Jack Kadere arrived, no one questioned him. He walked straight upstairs to Helena's room.
Overnight, she seemed to have made peace with something.
She was smiling, talking easily, as if nothing had happened the day before. Jack Kadere was happy to see it. If Helena had become desperate and numb this quickly, it would have been boring.
He asked her to bring out the evidence she'd collected. There was plenty of it, but none of it was decisive. Frank had influence in Starling City; even without it, what she had wouldn't put him away for long.
"As long as my father takes me along when he moves against his competitors," Helena said, "I'll have a chance to collect direct evidence. But he won't take me to the scene easily."
She looked at Jack Kadere.
He chuckled. "I won't help you collect evidence. I'll just create opportunities."
"That's enough." Helena's voice carried conviction. "As long as I make him—make all of them—believe that I'm no longer Frank Bertinelli's daughter, but your woman, no one will care if I show up at the scene with you."
She held his gaze.
"So... do you have any tricks you want to try?"