Asprin, Robert Lynn – Catwoman – Tiger Hunt (With Lynn Abbey)

By the same token, the butler could not imagine letting his friend and employer down. If Bruce Wayne wanted Catwoman lured away from Pier 23 at the critical time, Alfred would find a way. Time had almost run out when Alfred called the arts desk at the morning paper. Could they please, as a favor to Mr. Wayne and the Wayne Foundation, insert a small piece into the next City edition?

Selina could not know any of this, of course; she only saw and read the final result:

Are you one of the thousands who stood in line to see the icon at the Gotham Art Museum this weekend? Did you like the style, but not the subject? Then you’ll be pleased to know that an anonymous gentleman is prepared to disperse his collection of secular icons—including the humpbacked horse, the firebird, miscellaneous legendary subjects and an extremely rare series of cats. This offering is by appointment only. For further details, please call . . .

The announcement concluded with a phone number.

“This is a joke,” Selina said after reading the ludicrous text for the second time.

“I thought so too, but I called the number anyway—just to see what would happen. But it’s for real, or at least the man who answered knew what I was talking about. He asked me if I was interested in a particular subject, and I said ‘a Catwoman,’ naturally, and he gave me an address and then said,” she cleared her throat and deepened her voice for effect, ” ‘Come at midnight.’ Midnight! Like a real art gallery’s going to be open at midnight, right?”