Joke's On Us

A Broken Deal:Joker pov

We were getting nowhere in finding Harley. I was sitting next to the van at a gas station with my boys. A store clerk came out and said "You uh have to pay for the drinks, dude." Without much thought I took out my gun and shot him.

"Sir, we had the money to pay him." Al said. He had met us in Santa Monica. Tall, tan man with very short blond hair. My most trusted man.

"I don't care." Al and I go back to when I was first becoming a criminal. We shoplifted together when I was 14. In fact I met him at the police station when my "guardian" was supposed to pick me up. We got along right away. He wasn't a kid. He was almost thirty. But he took me in and when I got my own place and my own men I earned his respect. He did his business and was there when I needed him.

"I'm going to the police station in an hour. I'm going to see if anyone around here has been kidnapped or if anyone has become a new resident recently." Al said.

"People move all the time." I hadn't smiled since we first left to get Harley.

"Just trust me on this. I really think I can track her down more easily. They won't know you're here, J." He's been saying that for a week.

•••••••••••••••••••••••
A knock alerted me. We got motel rooms and the boys shared one while I shared my own. "It's Al." I opened the door. "I know where she is, J." My heart leaped out of my chest.

"Where is she?" I asked, my voice deep and urgent.

"Penguin has her." How ironic that Penguin would be hiding out in California.

"That bastard! What the hell does he want with her?" I yelled.

"You. Remember that deal? You walked off and he never got his share." Oh fuck.

"I'm going to kill him."

"Let's go get your queen, J." I laughed. My laughter was so loud that the boys came out. Al stood there smiling and I laughed like an idiot. 'Honey, you're coming home' I thought.

"Pull the van around. We're gonna go get Harley."

••••••••••••••••••••

We arrived at an abandoned research center. I hopped out of the van and pulled my duster on. The boys walked with me, circling me for protection. Al walked behind me. Everyone had their clown masks on. This was a mission. As soon as I saw Penguins men I whistled and the shots began. I was so angry and determined to get right to Harley I didn't even look at the falling men. I walked. We turned corner after corner when I saw a cage. The cage was next to a hose and a chair that could restrain someone. There was a metal door. Locked.

"Open it, boys." Wasting no time, P set a small bomb on the door and it exploded. Harley was there. She was wearing a very short and dark dress and was dancing. Music filled my ears and I stepped forward. It's like she didn't notice. "Harley." She froze. Slowly she turned around and squealed.

"Puddin!!" She ran into my arms and I swooped her up easily. She was crying. "I knew you'd come for me." I noticed bruises.

"What did he do to you?"

"What didn't he do?" She started sobbing. I was still carrying her. "He gave me meds that make me hear shit and he whipped me and beat me and threw me in a cage. He said you didn't return his calls so he took me, Puddin, he's crazy! Crazier than the both of us!" She cried some more. I wanted to rip his throat out.

"Shh baby, I'm here." I rubbed her back and gently put her on the ground. The music was still playing. Pulling out my gun I shot the stereo. "Where is he now, Doll?"

"I don't know, Puddin. He told me to dance after the meds and then he was just gone. "

"We'll find him tomorrow. Let's go boys. Let's get her out of here." No one crossed us on our way out. Harley got herself together when we made it to the motel.

"I need clothes." Harley said. I had brought the jacket for her, a t shirt and shorts. She changed and laid down with me. I circled my arms around her.

"Oh baby. " I whispered into her ear. She smiled.

"Tell me a joke Mr. J." Harley demanded.