In Another Life VII

Chapter 7

"We're going on another job tonight," said Henderson, as he sat next to Harley's bed a few nights later. Her arm was feeling much better, but it still wasn't usable without a great deal of pain, and so the Joker had insisted that she sit this operation out.

"I know," she said, spearing her dinner angrily. "But the boss says I can't come."

"Would you want to?" he asked, surprised. "I dread having to face another ordeal like last time."

She shrugged. "It helps gain his trust, Ernie." She didn't tell him the real reason, which was that she found the idea and practice of committing crimes exciting.

"When are you leaving?" she asked.

"Couple hours," he said.

"Where are the other guys?" she asked, taking another bite of her dinner.

"Out in the lounge," he said.

"You should be with them," she said. "Making friends, blending in..."

"Well, I'd...rather be with you, Harley," he said, sincerely.

"It'll be best if people don't think we're too cozy," said Harley. "For the sake of the mission, y'know. Anyway, I'll come with you," she said, standing up and taking her plate in her good arm. "I feel like being sociable after being stuck in this room for days on end."

He sighed, following her out of the room. She heard the sounds of the TV coming from down the hall, and they entered the lounge to see some of the men watching a sitcom with canned laughter on the TV, while Rocco and Jerry were playing a game of darts, the board of which was Batman's face.

"A hundred points if you hit him in the eye," said Harley, nodding at the Batman picture.

"Harley, you're up!" said Rocco, happily. "How you feeling?"

"Like I wanna throw a dart in the real Batman's eye the next time I see him," she said, taking a seat at the table and continuing her dinner. "But otherwise not too bad."

"We were all really worried about you," said Rocco, handing his darts to Henderson and sitting down next to her. "I said we should buy you some flowers and a card or something, but the others thought that might be too much..."

"It would have been," retorted Jerry. "For a cut arm? Remember what the boss said – we're supposed to treat her like one of the guys. And we wouldn't get each other flowers and a card for a little scratch. Although maybe that's why you shouldn't let women in the henching game – they make little scratches into huge deals."

"Have I complained to you, or anyone?" she demanded.

"Only because you've been in your room," he retorted. "Believe me, I know women. All they do is complain and yammer, and yammer and complain."

"That's just your wife, Jerry, 'cause she's a nag," retorted Rocco.

"Is she ever," growled Jerry, throwing a dart at Batman's face.

"I didn't know you were married, Jerry," said Harley. "Funny, I think your wife probably got the worse end of that deal."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded, as Rocco snorted in laughter.

She grinned. "Don't wanna annoy you by yammering, Jerry, so I ain't gonna explain it to you," she said smugly, taking another bite of her dinner.

He growled, throwing another dart. "You know what's worse than a nagging dame? A smartass dame," he muttered.

Harley looked around the room. "Where's the boss?" she asked, casually.

"Working in his study," said Rocco. "Putting the finishing touches on his plan for tonight. Anyway, he don't usually mingle with us. Got a lot of stuff going on in his head and he doesn't like to be distracted from it by casual chit chat."