SBAT Chapter 7

“Where is she?” Selina demands.

“Dunno,” Constantine replies distractedly. He bends to examine a doorknob. They’re in a hallway near the train tracks, although the train is gone now. “Have a kirby, love?”

“A what? For what? Did you hear me? The kid’s gone.”

Constantine looks up sharply. “She’s a kid?”

“Well, she’s younger than me. And everyone’s younger than you, gramps.”

“It’s just not my week, that’s all.”

Selina snorts. “Or your decade. We have to find her.”

“I need something to pick this lock with.”

“Get out of the way.” Selina pushes him aside and kneels in front of the door. “I assume it’s dangerous here. She shouldn’t be on her own.”

“She’ll be fine,” Constantine says, lighting another cigarette as Selina picks the lock with her claw. “Long as she doesn’t make any deals. And she doesn’t tell anyone I’m here.”

Selina looks up, confused. “You said you were a VIP and they were rolling out the red carpet. How can they not know you’re here?”

“Did I say that?”

Selina’s eyes narrow.

Spoiler: Bat out of Hell

The elevator is so small that Steph can smell Demi. There’s a hint of sweat, and an oddly smoky perfume. Her eyes keep getting drawn to the red woman’s tail, which swishes around at all times. It’s not exactly wagging like the tail of a dog, and Steph has to catch herself to keep from staring.

They step out on the 69th floor. The narrow hallway is plain and lined with countless doors. Steph swallows, looking in either direction. There’s no end to it that she can see.

Demi sets off, shoes tapping. “It’s broken,” she says as they pass an alcove with a soda machine. “Are you thirsty?”

“Um, no. I’m good.”

Demi stops in front of a door like all the others and fiddles with some keys, then steps aside.

Her office is hardly larger than the elevator. The ceiling is low and the light flickers. She has to squeeze to get past her desk, and there is only a single chair for Steph.

“You can sit,” Demi says, struggling out of her jacket. A button on her blouse pops, and more of her chest threatens to burst free. “Jeez.” She drops into her seat with a groan. The computer on the table looks truly ancient. The screen of the huge, chunky monitor is pure black with only red text on it. The keyboard clacks noisily as she deftly logs herself in.

“OK,” she says, fanning her face. “Sorry it’s so hot in here. Our whole floor’s been having problems.”

“Well, it is hell.”

“Doesn’t mean it has to be uncomfortable. You want Batman, huh?” Demi types away for a moment, then shrugs. “He’s not in the system.”

“You have a system?”

“You know how many people there are here? Wouldn’t you want a way to keep track?”

Steph shrugs. “I never thought about it. Am I in the system?”

“Let’s see. Spoiler.” Demi types, then frowns. “Stephanie Brown. You’re not supposed to be here. And I don’t see a visitor pass issued for you.”

“You have those?”

“Of course. Can’t have people just wandering around. We have important work to do,” Demi says, fanning away. “You have to have a pass.”

“Oh, uh. Can you give me one?”

Demi puts her chin in her hands and gazes across the desk. “You really are in over your head, aren’t you?”

“Um, maybe?” Steph admits.

Demi sighs, then smiles. “I gotta stop doing this.” She turns back to her keyboard and types.

“Doing what?”

“Stuff that isn’t my job. Makes me late for dinner every night. I feel like I never see my wife. She’s pregnant,” Demi adds, throwing Steph a tired look.

“Oh. Wow. Well, I appreciate you helping me.”

“Here we go. And you can take the mask off. Secret identities don’t matter here.”

“Uh, I’m good.”

“Sweetheart, you’re dripping sweat.”

It’s true. Steph removes her mask and hood as Demi taps one final key, then gets to her feet.

“Oh,” Steph says, sitting up straight as Demi squeezes around the desk, then past her to the corner. It’s hot, and it’s a lot of pushing and touching.

Demi opens a wall panel, revealing a slot. High-pitched noises come from within. It’s a printer. Paper begins to emerge. Meanwhile, Demi’s tail swishes in Steph’s face.

Then, almost eerily, the pointed tail rises up and scratches at the nape of Demi’s neck. The action appears utterly absentminded, but the tail lifts her skirt, revealing cheeky lace panties and a suspiciously peachy bottom.

Steph swallows with a gulp.

“Here.” Demi tears the paper free and peels off the back, bending to put a sticker on Steph’s chest. It says VISITOR. “That’s better.” She sidles past and returns to her seat.

Steph clears her throat. “So, someone can be here without being in the system?”

“They can. It’s unorthodox.”

“How do we find them?”

“We?”

Steph winces. “You want something out of this. I guess that’s fair. But I’m not supposed to make deals.”

“Says who?”

“Constantine.”

Demi snorts. “He would say that. I’m guessing that he really doesn’t want you to lose your soul. Which makes sense. It’s a big deal for him to hold onto his soul, but he’s a special case. Someone like you doesn’t have anything to worry about.” She waves a hand. “But that’s beside the point. Listen, Steph. Can I call you Steph?”

“Um, OK.”

“Steph, if Batman is here with us and he’s not in the system, the only way I can find him is to ask around or use the cameras. Everything’s recorded here. For the boss. And our network is slow. Searching for one guy will take forever. I don’t mind doing it, but…”

Steph braces herself. Demi looks serious. Steph’s knee is bouncing; she stops it. A drop of sweat rolls down her face. It really is sweltering in here.

“Will you rub my feet?” Demi asks.