Descent

Chapter 32

Johnny watched the women from his spot in the far corner of the Iceberg Lounge. He could see by Harleen's flushed checks they were talking about the boss. Knowing Selena the way he did Johnny was sure it was her who passed on whatever information she had about the Joker to Harleen.

Neither he nor the boss minded. As a matter of fact it was helping them further their cause. What Johnny did worry about was where Selena was Bruce Wayne wasn't far behind. He did not need the boss finding out that Harleen was anywhere near Wayne again.

"Frost." The giant of a man plopped down in the seat across from him.

Johnny kept an eye on the ladies for a moment more. He knew that was how the Joker would have handled this guy. And while the boss was stuck in Arkham he was second in command and needed to play by the rules the Joker set.

Marty Magpie, was a bear of a man. He was more an information runner than anything else. Most of the families in Gotham used him from one time to another.

"What do you got for the boss?" Johnny had now turned his full attention to him.

"He ain't gonna like what I found." He said as he passed a file folder across the table.

Frost wanted to say that there wasn't much the Joker liked when it came to Harleen. Oh, he liked the young woman plenty. But when it came to her and other men, it sent the Joker into a killing rage. Johnny was afraid to see what would happen if someone ever tried to take her from him.

Shrugging, "I'll handle the boss. You just tell me what you found, Magpie."

He glanced around the club. "Seems her mother was a peach. Sold her to the Lupinacchis."

Johnny paused with his glass of scotch halfway to his lips, "Sold her?"

Magpie saw the fire burning in his eyes and knew that whoever this lady was she meant a lot to him. Which had him thinking that she probably meant a lot to the Joker. He knew a number of people who would pay well for that kind of information. All of which would put a hit out on him if they knew he was meeting with Johnny.

"Yeah, sure. Mrs. Quinzel was in deep with Lupinacchi's bookies. So she had Harleen work off the debt."

Johnny leaned forward, a menacing ripple of muscle under his suit jacket. "How?" He growled.

He wasn't a man who was known for his fits of anger. But when it came to the women his boss claimed as his, Johnny lost his cool. No man should hurt any woman, he would have killed any man who hurt his sister. Harleen reminded him of Casey so she was off limits.

Magpie held his hands up in surrender. "She was Jimmy's toy. Rumor has it even Mario got in on the action."

Trying to control himself Johnny whispered, "When?"

For what it was worth Magpie was oblivious to the growing storm Johnny was trying to cage.

He waved his hand dismissively, "She was 14 the first time."

Johnny leaned over the table and yanked Magpie forward by his collar. "Do the Joker a favor. Let Mario know they'll be having a meeting real soon."

Patting his cheek Johnny shoved Magpie back into his seat. He rubbed at his throat.

"Sure." He nodded like a bobble head.

"Now, get out if my sight."

The man scurried out of the club leaving Johnny with his thoughts. Every one of them seemed to swirl with Jimmy and Mario hurting Harleen in the most unimaginable of ways. And then came those thoughts that had Johnny hurting Mario and her mother far worse.
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