Live or Die

Chapter 3

Joker's POV

He sat in his private booth, drinking another glass of Whiskey. He had no idea how many drinks he had now but he also didn't care. His Queen was still not as his side. She was not sitting on his lap and that thought alone made him crazy. He wanted her back, he thought, as soon as possible.

"Mr J," the voice of his right hand snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw Frost standing next to him. "What do you have for me?," J asked with a dangerous voice.

"The best information system all around Gotham City," explained Frost. "If the name Black Shadow is familiar to you, boss." Oh yes, he had heard of this person. The Black Shadow was a popular name in the Underworld of Gotham when you needed information about other people, especially gangsters.

"Good," said J, waving with his hand. "Bring the man in." He looked up as the beads curtains were moved away by a young girl. J raised his hairless eyebrows as he realized who was behind the name of the infamous Black Shadow.

He turned his head to Frost. "Are you kidding me?," he snapped. How could his right hand actually believe that some random girl could help him to find his Queen?

But before Frost could answer him, the girl already took a seat in front of J and looked him straight in the eyes. He noticed that she wasn't scared at all. "Mr J," she addressed him respectfully. "Frost told me what happened. And if you are willing to accept my help, I will do everything I can do find out who kidnapped your Queen. But you have to trust my work."

Oh, he had never been good with trusting people.

"I know every criminal in this city, every small thief, every little thug," she continued. "My system finds them all. My prices are high but I know that you can afford it. If you want her back, I would be glad to offer my services. You can trust me, all my clients enjoy absolute isolation from the GCPD and Batman. My work is hundred percent safe. And as you might know, the people don't call me Black Shadow for nothing."

She looked at him and waited for his response. He stared at her with an intense gaze and thought about her words. She could be quite useful for him.

"You're saying that you know every criminal in my city," said J after a while. "Is that correct?"

The girl nodded her head. "Yes, Mr J."

A thoughtful look crossed his features but then he decided it would be perfect to make her work for him. She had a reputation, after all.

"I'll tell ya something, girl," he said and leaned closer to her. "You'll work for me from now on. You will find my Queen and I'll pay you the triple of what you're usually earning." J leaned back in his seat and took another sip of his Whiskey.

"Well," began the girl. "I'll do everything I can to find your Queen of course. But I prefer to work on my own."

J tightened the grip around his Whiskey glass and narrowed his eyes at her. Then he flashed her a wide smile. But it wasn't a friendly one. It was a smile that could kill. "That wasn't a question, little one," he growled. "Do as I say or you'll regret it." He winked at her and licked his lips. "Besides," he added. "You won't get a better offer. I can promise ya that."

The girl smiled back at him. "I guess I don't have a choice then," she said. "I'm in!"

"Good girl," grinned J and pointed to his drink. "Whatcha having?"

"Cherry Cola," she replied.

"HA HA HA," laughed J and looked at his right hand. "Where do ya know each other from?" He noticed how Frost tensed up at the question. "We're old friends."