Frank Marchetti listened to the story of the robbery as Angelique told it. He
was worried. He looked over at Catwoman from time to time and she was
strangely quiet.
Angelique had done all the talking.
""Well,'' he said. ""The money you stole was $15
million.''
Angelique squealed in delight. Catwoman did not move.
""After my cut and what Alfonzo gets, your take is over $10
million,'' he
said. ""I have taken the liberty of placing it in a Swiss bank account...''
""What!!!'' Angelique said.
""Relax, the money is yours for whenever you want it,'' he
said. ""The
information is all in this folder.''
He handed a manillia folder to her and she looked at it quickly.
""I will give you some money now,'' he said. ""For
your traveling
expenses.''
""What traveling expenses,'' Angelique said.
""I think it is time you disappeared for awhile,'' he said.
""I have
plans for you.''
""Travel? Disappear? What plans,'' Angelique said.
Catwoman continued to stare out the window, deep in thought.
""You have angered some very dangerous people,'' he said.
""I think you
need to vanish.''
""But we're ready to pull another job,'' Angelique protested.
Marchetti shook his head.
""Now is not the time,'' he said. ""Am I right
Cat?''
Catwoman nodded but didn't say anything.
""Something went wrong, did it not,'' he said, looking at
Catwoman.
She did not answer.
""Catwoman was great!!!'' Angelique said. ""You
should have seen her deal
with that Nazi bitch. She put her in her place.''
""That Nazi bitch,'' said Marchetti. ""As you refer
to her....is known as
Lady Valkyrie. She is known far and wide as a leader in the Nazi movement.
She is a known killer. I believe she pulled that job in Los Angeles. She is a
formidable adversary.''
""Fuck her,'' said Angelique.
""You did my dear, and now it is timeto disappear,'' he said.
""Where to,'' Angelique asked.
""Europe,'' he said. ""I have someone there you
need to meet. He owns a
chateau in the south of France. Pierre Moreau.''
""Who is he,'' Angelique asked.
""He is an old man,'' Marchetti said. ""But in his
time he was a master
thief, one of the greatest criminal minds on the planet. I have been in
contact with him. Like you two, I have done business with him in the past.''
""So.''
""He has agreed to be your mentor. He is fascinated by your
story. You
have done well to this point but you are both young. There is much to learn.
He is the man to teach you.''
""Bullshit,'' snapped Angelique.
Marchetti stared at Catwoman. It was her decision. Angelique would
follow.
""Cat, what do you think.''
Catwoman stared out the window.
Quietly she said, ""We will go.''
********
The Reichmarshal brought water and pain-killers. Lady Valkyrie lay on
the
couch and stared at the ceiling. She had not said much either. The bank
manager had told the Reichmarshal what had happened.
""Take these my dear,'' he said. ""They will
help.''
""Nothing will help,'' Lady Valkyrie said. ""Until
I kill that woman I
will not rest.''
The Reichmarshal looked at her. There were severe bruises on her face.
Her normal Nordic beauty had been scarred, perhaps for life. The anger inside
her was just as ugly.
""The money can be replaced,'' the Reichmarshal said.
""Your plan can
wait.''
Lady Valkyrie sat up and looked at her mentor.
""You are right,'' she said. ""But my revenge can
not wait.''
There was a knock on the door.
""Come in,'' said the Reichmarshal.
A young man in a brown shirt, black pants and a short blond haircut
walked in.
""Sieg Heil!!'' he said, thrusting an open palm outward.
""Heil!'' the Reichmarshal said. ""What information
do you have?''
""Sir,'' the young man replied. ""The two women are
believed to be the
ones who robbed a jewelry store in town. A daring robbery. They got away
clean.''
""What else?''
""Very little,'' the young man said. ""But there is
one interesting
thing. Across the alley from the jewelry store is a liquor store. The women
are believed to have hidden in that store and waited for the right moment.''
""So.''
""The liquor store is owned by Frank Marchetti, a notorious
American
gangster who runs the Las Vegas mafia and is powerful across the country.''
""You think he's behind this?''
""It is possible.''
Lady Valkyrie stood up and looked at the Reichmarshal. She said just
one
word.
""Marchetti.''
********
They took Marchetti the next night, right from his limousine as he was
going home from a show at Ceasar's Palace.
They got him at a stop light, a gang of six Nazi henchmen. Under orders
from Lady Valkyrie, Alfonzo was beaten severely but Marchetti was only bound
and gagged.
They achieved total surprise. There was no resistance.
********
Catwoman packed the suitcase quietly. Angelique sat in a chair and
smoked
a cigarette.
""Cat, you have to talk to me,'' she said.
Catwoman looked at her friend.
""I should have killed her Angel,'' she said.
""Why did you not?''
""It would have been painless. I wanted that bitch to
suffer.''
""You did that.''
""I know, but I compromised ourselves. That bitch will never
rest until
she finds us.''
""If she does, so what? We'll kill her this time.''
Catwoman walked over to Angelique, looked at her softly and caressed
her
cheek.
""Angel, we may never see her coming. You know what Mr.
Marchetti said.
She is a powerful enemy.''
""Cat...our plane leaves in two hours. We'll be in France
tomorrow with
this Mr. Master Criminal. She'll never find us.''
Catwoman continued to look at her friend.
""My dear. I do not intend to be the hunted the rest of my
life.''
Angelique looked out the window.
""Alfonzo is here. It is time to go.''
Catwoman shut her suitcase and made an idle inventory of their
belongings. There was a knock on the door.
""Tell Alfonzo I'm almost ready,'' Catwoman said.
Angelique went into the living room of their apartment. Catwoman looked
in her purse....cash, passport, plane tickets, letter from.....
""OH MY GOD!!!''
Catwoman heard Angelique shriek. She rushed into the living room.
Alfonzo stood in the doorway. His face was a ghastly shade of black and
blue. One eye was swollen. His left wrist was in a cast.
""God Alfonzo,'' Catwoman said. ""What happened?''
""They took him.''
""Who.''
""The Nazis. They have him. They want you and the money. They
said they
would kill him if you don't do as they say.''
Catwoman felt herself sway. She sat down on the couch and buried her
hands in her face. She looked at Alfonzo.
""You've heard from them?''
""They called this morning,''
""When did it happen.''
""Last night.''
""How bad are you?''
""This is not about me, this is about Mr. Marchetti.''
Angelique looked at Catwoman.
""What are we going to do?'' Angelique asked.
""Alfonzo, how do we contact them.''
""They say they will call the office again tonight.''
""But,'' Angelique said. ""We don't have the money.
Mr. Marchetti said
the money was placed in a Swiss bank account.''
""That is not the problem. We have negated the transaction.
The money is
available. All $15 million.'''
Catwoman nodded in silent thought.
""Cat we're out of here,'' Angelique said.
""You can't go,'' Alfonzo said. ""Mr. Marchetti
will be killed.''
""Look,'' Angelique said. ""You're the fucking
MAFIA!!!! Don't you have
thousands of guys who can deal with this shit. What happened to the FUCKING
all-powerful mafia!!! Murder Incorporated and all that shit.''
""They want you,'' Alfonzo said.
""Bullshit!!!'' Angelique said. ""Cat let's get on
the plane and get out
of here. Forget the money.''
Catwoman stood up and placed her hands on Angelique's shoulders.
""It's not the money, my love,'' she said. ""Mr.
Marchetti was good to
us.''
""Oh shit, don't give me that crap about Honor Among
Thieves.''
""No my love,'' Catwoman said. ""This is deeper. I
am not the hunted. I
am a cat not a kitten. I am the panther. I am going hunting.''
Catwoman pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
""This time my prey will not be as lucky.''
*********
The three sat in Marchetti's office. Angelique twitched nervously but
Catwoman sat quietly. She was calm and serene.
She thought of her enemy. Tall blond but sinister. Who was she? What
was
the source of her malice.
God, thought Catwoman, what evil lurks in the heart of all of us.
She felt herself on the edge of the precipe,waiting for action. Only
this
action would be more dangerous than she would ever know.
The phone rang, jarring her thoughts. She picked it up.
""Yes.''
A sinister female voice was on the other end.
""You have something of mine. I want it.''
""You have a friend of ours. We want him.''
""The exchange is fair, but you must follow instructions to
the letter.''
""I'm listening.''
""There will only be the three of you. The three that pulled
off the
robbery. Any more and Marchetti is dead.''
""Listen my worthy friend. Mr. Marchetti can die for all I
care. We have
the money. We don't need to fuck with you.''
""Then why did you pick up the phone.''
""Just to tell you to fuck off.''
""You have done so...As payment, Mr. Marchetti will now die a
painful
death.''
""Wait....''
""Wait for what.''
""I want to know that he's alive.''
Lady Valkyrie laughed.
""As you wish....one moment.''
Catwoman waited intently. A familiar voice came on.
""It is me dear.''
""Are you hurt.''
""No..just a little bruised. Most painful is they won't let
me have a
cigar....''
The voice was cut short.
""Satisfied?''
""Yes,'' Catwoman said. ""I'm listening.''
""These are my instructions. Follow them to the letter.''
*****
Angelique crouched behind a sagebrush and looked down the hill, across
the roat at the overlook below. She held her 44 auto mag tightly in her hand.
Catwoman stood there with a briefcase in her hand. Alfonzo was next to
her. They waited patiently. Catwoman rested on a railing. Below the Colorado
River churned rapidly.
Upriver about 300 yards, the roar of water rushing through Hoover Dam
drownded out all other noises.
It was midnight, Angelique thought. No tourists would be around but
certainly there were workers at the dam. Would they not hear the commotion?
She felt her breath hiss. She saw a car come down the road from the
dam.
It stopped just below her. A black Mercedes Benz.
Five people got out. One was Marchetti, bound and gagged. There were
three men. And her.
Angelique watched as Lady Valkyrie walked slowly down the path to the
overlook. A man came with her towing Marchetti. The other two hid behind the
car, waiting for the signal.
Angelique knew those two were her responsibility.
********
Catwoman saw Lady Valkyrie approach. Neither wore sunglasses at night.
Two pairs of cold malvolent eyes stared at each other with deadly intent.
Both felt a surge of wrath swell inside them.
Neither blinked.
Lady Valkyrie stopped about 15 feet from Catwoman. She did not look at
Alfonzo. She stared hard at Catwoman. The stare was returned with equal
vengeance.
The lethal silence lasted for what Alfonzo thought was an eternity. He
had a gun hidden. Catwoman was unarmed. The henchman had a gun out pointed at
Marchetti's head. Who knew about Lady Valkyrie.
Lady Valkyrie, looking at Catwoman, broke the silence.
""Where is the other?''
""She's around.''
""Where?''
""Close at hand.''
""You were to follow my instructions to the letter.''
""She's here. Just a little protection to make sure we are
alone.''
""Get her now!!!''
""Fuck you!''
Lady Valkyrie turned to her henchman.
""Now!!!''
The henchman turned, pointed his gun at Alfonzo and fired. The bullet
ripped through his left shoulder. Lady Valkyrie pulled her gun just as
Alfonzo pulled his.
Alfonzo took aim and fired a shot. It tore a hole in the henchman's
heart
and he fell to the concrete. Lady Valkyrie aimed and fired at Alfonzo,
hitting him in the right hand. The gun clattered to the ground.
And then, before she could take aim again, Catwoman was on her, her
hands
on Lady Valkyrie's throat. Catwoman flung her against the railing and tried
to strangle her. The gun flew out of Lady Valkyrie's hand and into chasm
On the other side of the railing was a dirt ledge, six feet wide. Below
was the Colorado River, a deadly drop of 100 feet.
Catwoman tore her claws into Lady Valkrie's throat and felt her gasp
for
air. Lady Valkyrie grabbed at Catwoman's hands, realized it was useless and
delivered a savage punch to the stomach.
Catwoman gasped, loosened her grip and then let go as Lady Valkyrie
slammed her knee to Catwoman's groin. Lady Valkyrie swung hard but the blow
grazed Catwoman, who delivered a hard right to Lady Valkyrie's head. The blow
stunned her momentarily.
They grappled against the railing. With all her might, Lady Valkyrie
flung Catwoman over the railing. But Catwoman's claws grabbed tight to
LadyValkyrie's leather jacket. The Nazi went over the railing too.The dirt on
the ledge crumbled beneath them.Both fought hard to gain a foothold.
Lady Valkyrie threw a hard right that slammed upside Catwoman's head
and
it banged against the railing. Lady Valkyrie kicked and the blow caught
Catwoman on her knee.
""Mother fucking bitch!!!'' screammed Catwoman.
Lady Valkyrie tried another kick.This time Catwoman caught her leg with
the left hand while her right hand clung to the railing. She tried not to
look at the river.
Instead, with a desperate twist, she yanked at Lady Valkyrie's leg and
managed to flip her on her ass. Now Catwoman delivered her own kick with her
hard leather boot and caught Lady Valkyrie in the ribs.
She tried again and had her own manuever reversed on her. Lady Valkyrie
grabbed Catwoman's leg and flipped her to the ground. Both women tried to
hold onto the railing to avoid plunging into the water.
Lady Valkyrie, still on the ground, aimed a kick that caught Catwoman
squarely in the head. Catwoman was stunned. Lady Valkyrie pulled a knife.
""You should have killed me when you had the chance,'' Lady
Valkyrie
snarled.
She got up, still clutching the railing. Catwoman lay prone on the
ledge.
Lady Valkyrie kicked her in the ribs. Then she leaned over to strike the
fatal blow.
""I won't make the same mistake,'' Lady Valkyrie vowed.
Catwoman saw the knife flash. It was headed for her heart but she had
enough wits to twist to the right. The knife came down hard but only found
dirt. Lady Valkyrie, in her wrath, had rushed and was off-balance.
Catwoman slammed her elbow into Lady Valkyrie's head. Then she coiled
up,
placed both leather boots on Lady Valkyrie's stomach and shoved hard. The
Nazi stumbled backward. The dirt beneath her gave way. Lady Valkyrie felt
herself falling.
Catwoman got on her hands and knees and crawled carefully to the ledge.
There below about three feet, Lady Valkyrie's leathered gloves clung
desperately to an exposed piece of t-bar. The Colorado River churned beneath
her.
Lady Valkyrie tried desperately to find a foothold with her boots
against
the chasm. Then she looked up. She saw Catwoman staring down at her.
Lady Valkyrie, for the last time, returned the stare. Her hate had
choked
her, defeated her.
Lady Valkyrie looked at Catwoman and snarled, ""I'll see you
in Hell.''
And then her hands slipped and she fell 100 feet into the cold dark
wild
Colorado River.
********
Catwoman crawled to the railing and pulled herself to her feet. Pain
seared through her body and her breath came in gasps. She closed her eyes and
fought for control.
""Cat!!!''
She heard Angelique's voice. She opened her eyes and was blinded by
flashing police lights. She adjusted to the lights and saw the overlook was
swarming with cops.
She closed her eyes and felt Angelique's hands on her shoulders.
""Cat...darling...are you all right?''
Catwoman nodded weakly.
""Here, let me help you.''
Tenderly, Angelique helped Catwoman over the railing. Catwoman surveyed
the scene. There were eight cops. Two were tending to Alfonzo. Two were
helping Marchetti, who was alive. Two had the two remaining henchmen in
custody. Two were looking at the two girls.
They all had their guns drawn.
Catwoman felt her breath returning to normal. Her head was aching but
clear.
So this how it ends, Catwoman thought. Some life of crime. Lady
Valkyrie
is dead but I'm going to jail. If all is known, it will be for a long time.
She hugged Angelique as the cops and Marchetti approached.
""Are you all right my dear,'' he asked earnestly.
Catwoman nodded with her remaining strength.
""Are we under arrest?'' she asked.
""Whatever for my dear,'' he replied.
""The cops...''
""Oh no my dear, these are dam security. They are friends of
ours.''
Catwoman looked up. Marchetti was smiling. So was Angelique.
An older man appeared to be in charge.
""Mr. Marchetti,'' he said. ""What was going on
here tonight?''
""Nazis Mr. Underwood,'' Marchetti replied.
""Nazis. They were here to
blow up the dam. These two girls, they work for me in one of my clubs, they
stumbled onto the plot. A great disaster might have befallen us all, Mr.
Underwood, had they not thwarted their intentions.''
""Shit,'' Underwood replied. ""Fucking Nazis. The
bastards.''
""Yes,'' Marchetti said. ""They are bastards.''
""Don't worry Mr. Marchetti, we'll clean up this mess and
take care of
those two bastards.''
""I expected no less, Mr. Underwood,'' Marchetti said.
""You have my
thanks. A more tangible form of my appreciation will be forthcoming.'
""Thank you sir. And we'll make sure your boy gets medical
attention.''
""Again, my thanks.''
The security officer nodded and walked away. Catwoman looked at
Marchetti
and smiled.
""The mafia,'' she laughed. ""Your powers are deep
and far.''
Marchetti smiled.
""If so, they have not been put to the test. But who knows,
if I keep
doing business with you, we may find out.''
Catwoman laughed. She looked at Angelique.
""The other two,'' she said. ""You took care of
them?''
""Yes. I subdued them but I feared I was too late to help
you.''
""It doesn't matter. We got the job done.''
""It is time to go my dear,'' Marchetti said. ""And
don't forget your
briefcase.''
Angelique laughed. Catwoman turned and looked hard down into the dark
waters of the Colorado River. She felt Angelique wrap her arms around her,
her body pressed against her back.
""She's gone my love,'' Angelique said. ""It's time
for us to go to
France.''
Catwoman nodded. The three walked toward the car.
""Every watch the Olympics, Angelique?'' Catwoman asked.
""Some, yeah, so, what are you talking about?''
""I didn't watch much. I know less about the Olympics than
World War II.
But I do remember one thing.''
She put her arm around Angelique. Her partner recipocated.
""What's that.''
""I seem to remember the German women usually win a lot of
gold medals in
swimming.''
Marchetti laughed.
""Don't worry my dear,'' he said. ""You have me
convinced.''
""Of what.''
""That you are the most dangerous woman in the world.''