Batgirl learns the Chechen’s men are meeting with an Australian looking to expand his female boss’s criminal empire to Gotham. She pulls the welcome mat.

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After the Chechen’s men went inside the pawnshop, Batgirl floated down to ground level using her cape as a makeshift parachute. Whoever let in the Chechen’s men locked the door behind them.

They should have bought a better lock. Batgirl was inside in a matter of minutes.

The rear entrance brought her to a back room used for storage. A door separated this section of the building from the shop proper. Beyond the door connecting the two, Batgirl heard muffled voices. 

Sneaking to the window in the door, Batgirl saw the door allowed access to the service counter. Narrow, floor-to-ceiling bars separated the counter from the customers, providing security against unwanted elements.

Another door allowed the person behind the counter to get into the shop proper. A small, barred window lay within the door. The door’s lock didn’t look any better than the one on the back door. 

For their sake, Batgirl hoped that lock was better than the one on the back door.

Carefully, Batgirl cracked open the door to the service area. Thankfully, whoever operated the shop kept the hinges oiled. She could now hear a few unwanted elements having a conversation further in the shop, out of her field of vision because of shelving.

“Who the ‘ell runs a gambling joint in this piece of shit neighborhood?” a man with a gruff voice and an Australian accent asked. 

“Kinda the point,” another man replied. She recognized the voice as Abram, the Chechen’s right-hand man. Batgirl determined this was one of the Chechen’s men. “Who would look for one here?” he added.

A silence followed, probably time for the Aussie to contemplate. He eventually asked, “So what ya got for me? It on or what?”

“It’s definitely on,” Abram said. “Light security inside. They think nobody knowing the location is security enough. Because it’s a secret location, and because of the neighborhood, cars are parked blocks away. If anybody gets out, they’re on foot for a bit. Easy to pick off.”

“Anything else ta know?”

“Gamble’s men inside don’t dress like security. They dress to blend in. Part of Gamble’s man of the people schtick. Keeps the civilians at ease.”

“Civilians?” the Aussie asked. “You mean casualties.”

Batgirl’s hand balled into a fist.

“The game’s open to the public,” Abram explained. “Well, the public that knows how to get in on the illegal gambling circuit. All types; some pro gamblers, high society types slumming, locals looking to make a quick buck.”

The Aussie laughed a boisterous laugh. “A right casino he’s got in there! I see why you Chechens want a piece of it!”

“The Chechen says it’s the same way your boss wants to stretch her wings to Gotham,” Abram said. “You prove you’re worth it, get Gamble out of the picture, the Chechen will make that happen.”

Knuckles cracked. Batgirl presumed it was the Aussie, as he said, “Then you best get yourselves set for the first shipment.”

Like the city needed more organized criminals with delusions of grandeur.

The Chechen would only do business with a new out-of-town gang if they proved themselves. If someone were to make the Aussie and his boss look like idiots, they might stay away. 

At least, the Chechen would have second thoughts about bringing them in and lose the confidence to take on Gamble in a full-on attack.

Batgirl needed to get ahead of them. With the newcomer and a lot of ground to cover, it wouldn’t hurt to call in some backup.

During her casing of the theater, Batgirl noted the boards covering the theater’s front doors.

Chains and padlocks barred entrance to others. There were no boards over the doors leading to the backstage area. Chains draped the doors’ handles, dissuading a casual observer.

Batgirl was more than a casual observer. She noted the chains were decorative — there wasn’t a lock to keep them in place.

She also spotted four of Gamble’s men hiding behind dumpsters and around corners. They all kept a line of sight on the unlocked doors. This meant they’d have a line of sight on her when she dropped into the area.

She counted on that.

Predictably, the men came out with their guns at the ready. Batgirl threw up her hands, trying to look as non-threatening as possible.

“Not here to fight this time,” she began. “I just need you to get everybody inside there to safety. Now!”

Batgirl takes the chance that Gamble’s men care more about their community than giving her a beat down. Is she right? Find out next chapter!

While writing this fanfiction, I used Green Ronin’s Mutants and Masterminds, 3rd Edition RPG, to leave some things to chance. Check it out!

Like this Birds of Prey fanfiction? Check out Mark’s original “Shadowdance” saga books!