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

She shouldered her way onto the train ahead of the regulars. She chose a window seat for herself and the aisle seat beside it for the backpack containing the costume. A handful of commuters were still standing when the train pulled out of the station. No one laid a hand on the pack or suggested she remove it. Her obsidian aura remain unchallenged until she’d hiked a mile beyond the Riverwyck station, when, without warning, she was bathed from behind with glaring white and crimson lights.

Cops.

Selina didn’t need Catwoman’s help to deal with cops; she’d been hustling the law before she got to Gotham City.

“Where you headed, miss?” The officer emerging from the passenger side looked young enough to do uncover work in an elementary school. He reeked of college and too many sensitivity-training courses. “We don’t see many strangers walking down this road. We thought you might be lost.”

He said it so sincerely that Selina almost believed him—almost didn’t know what to say—almost didn’t know what to say—then she got a look at the other standard-issue cop taking up space behind the steering wheel. Cops were cops. The only difference was that these two would probably fall for a line that wouldn’t fool an East End rookie.

“I’m looking for the convent. I heard there was a convent around here. I thought, maybe, they’d be able to help. I’ve got a problem.”

The college cop turned to his partner; he left his back wide open. A few moments later Selina was getting a ride the rest of the way—and she was glad of it. What had been two and a half inches on the map worked out to about ten cross-country miles.