Him and I

Chapter Two: Jack is back

"Jesus christ did he not have a maid?!" I exclaimed tip toeing around dads belongings and trying to dust. I was getting very irritated as it was pretty well known how expensive his tastes were... a custom made glass Versace table with a real jade Buddha in the middle... couches that were worth 1800 in the set that made me laugh because if memory served correct i helped pick the swatches of the color and fabric.

Lillian laughed and shook her head.

"Mercy.. its been two months. Dust tends to collect and stick when the inhabitants haven't lived in it recently." She said barely above a whisper. Jack was in the master bedroom asleep. We got him a late lunch at a local bistro so he was satisfied until one of us could cook dinner.

I snarled and just continued dusting as she picked up what debris there was. Our father was a clean freak so to speak so the fact that there wasn't much to pick up wasn't surprising.  As i headed towards the other rooms to try and tackle i walked into the conference/study room. The walls were decorated with bookshelves completed with the classics.. and a shelf with each of my siblings  (as well as mine) favorite reads. Of course Harry Potter was on each shelf.  The walls behind were a nice darker tan with some family pictures hung up. On the desk against the beautiful window there were more family portraits.. pictures of us as kids, a picture of jack when he was first born. Each of the kids the day they graduated high school.. you couldn't really tell that he was apart of a crime ring at all. He just appeared to be a big family man with a couple  "skeletons" hidden in a expensive closet.

In short, we were a well off family but tried to live modest in our "main home". In this place (which we lived in on certain occasions only on a strictly needed be situations) and our other vacation home in California did we show our wealth. It was thought to be kept best this way.

Near the head of table there was a couple papers everywhere. I picked them up and stacked them together. I sat down and started reading them. No dad around to smack my hand and snatch the papers around this time.

As i read the papers, i began to notice a pattern written among the papers. There was a mention of this person called "Clown prince of crime". From what i could understand he was the biggest client of the people dad worked for.

"...Ok. So step one.. figure out who the fuck this "Clown Prince of crime" is and stat.". I spoke softly to myself. Then i got an idea.

"Reno." I said to myself again, searching myself for my phone. Once i found it i searched my contacts and once i found the one i was looking for i pressed the call button and waited.

"Mercy! If Heaven would've called sooner!" Said a obviously very italian voice through the other line.

"Hi uncle..I was wondering if you could help me with something pertaining to dad?" I asked.. frankly i was probably starting to sound like dad with how irritated i was getting.

"Of course my doll. What can i do you for? And how have you been coping? You need anything?" I smiled at my uncle Reno's kindness. It reminded me of my mother, who would be his sister by blood.

"I've been better... i have to stay strong for jack jack. Lillian has been crying alot at night... " i spoke, Sitting down at the head of the table. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed.

"My love you, out of all three children, are definitely the strongest in terms of taking care of family. Your brother John, he's strong physically and mentally. But never exactly had that family trait. Lillian..she has the mother traits, but not the strong ones like you and john does. You are like your father in so many ways little one you dont even understand. Lillian will be alright, it'll take her time to come to terms with it. Jack will always be alright although i can promise you your father will always be by his side. You need to remember to take care of yourself, Mercy. Always. If you cant take care of yourself you cant take care of anyone else."

I smiled whilst listening to him speak. He always had a way to make me feel better when I needed someone.  In my family, you treat everyone who does you good just the same. Same with those who do you bad. This is one of the critical things my father taught me and my siblings and its one idea i've tried to adopt into my life no matter what my age was.

"Speaking of your brother.. have you spoken to him lately?" Uncle asked as i was reminiscing a memory of dad and myself.

"No, actually. Not since a couple months before dad died. What's he doing now?" I asked. My brother is... an interesting one. He's the oldest of three children but he's strange. Always kept to himself. Always wanted to do something with the business.  But we never talk much. Hes more like an estranged brother than anything.

Uncle laughed, then said "Oh, Johnny Boy. He's actually in town from what he was telling me yesterday. Works for one of our biggest clients. A right hand man so to speak."

"Who does he work for?" I asked. Now im interested.

"Well known guy in Gotham. Calls himself 'The Clown Prince of Crime.'. "

"The Joker?"

~~~~~

I hope you guys liked this chapter! I apologize about the hiatus. I needed serious me time and didnt want to write while i was in a bad mindset. Hope you enjoy and make sure to rate and leave some healthy criticism!