Like A Shadow In Gotham | Jeremiah Valeska/Joker

Chapter 11 - Five

I craned my neck towards Jeremiah, biting at my lower lip hard. I could feel my heart thumping inside my chest, ready to burst out any minute. My forehead had lines of worry etched to it as I couldn't stop myself from worrying over my son. What surprised me was the worry that I saw in his eyes. Somehow, amidst the chaos and the sociopath that he had become, he loved his son. It made my heart swell at one moment and deflate at the other, when ugly thoughts crossed my mind. What if we were late? What if something had happened to my boy?

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt his gloved palm fix itself on my shoulder and shake me slightly. He was sat in the drivers seat of Jerome's car while Jerome and Barbara were sat at the back. Another car followed us with few of Jerome's men inside. "Are you ready ?" His smooth, familiar voice echoed through my throat, making me swallow the bile that was forming in my throat. I nodded. I wasn't ready , no, but I had no other choice. "Lets go through this one more time. Ruby will go in first as she is aware of the house. She will know how to sneak in. She will then unlock the front door from the inside for us and we will get in. Is that clear?" He said, his voice cold and calculating.

"You aren't coming, Mr. Joker." I said, my lips pursed together as I watched his expressions change and a flick of anger cross his face, making his eyebrow twitch. "Not in your condition. You can't even walk."

"Listen brother -" Jerome poked his head through the space in the center, his throaty voice pinching my ears a bit, "- she is right. You aren't much help anyway. Besides, we need you to stay here in case we need some assistance from the outside."

"See? I told you guys she still cares about him." Barbara chimed in.

"I wouldn't be so quick to reach conclusions." I could feel a tremble in my voice, but I forced myself to stay firm and keep my head high, "I consider him extra baggage right now. I already am worried about getting Jason back, I don't need another head to be worried about."

"Ouch!" Jerome chuckled, pulling out his gun and sliding it into the holster at his waist. I didn't waste much time, I slid out of the SUV and with cautious steps , I made my way to the back of the mansion. The back metal gate was shallow enough and I could climb over it easily. Also, Alfred usually keeps the kitchen window open during the days, just to let the fresh air in.

I jumped over the the gate with much sneakiness and sticking to the wall, I slowly made my way to the kitchen window. As expected, Alfred had left it wide open.

I threw one foot on the other side and ducked carefully underneath the window frame, pulling my other leg inside. The house was quiet.

I could hear the sound of footsteps moving about on the floor just above me. Quietly, I stepped outside the kitchen into the hallway and pulled out my revolver from my pocket, curling my fingers tight across it and holding it against my side. I sneakily climbed up the flight of stairs until I was hiding behind an artifact closet, watching Alfred scamper about in the room with a dusting cloth in his hand.

I kept the gun hidden and slowly barged into the room, making Alfred's eyes widen in surprise.

"Miss Diggs. How did you come in? Wasn't the front door locked? Or did I forget to lock it again?" He asked, shrugging.

"Oh it was locked Alfred..Don't you worry."

He looked at me, perplexed but before he knew, I had struck him at the back of his head with my gun and let his unconscious body slide to the floor. Bending, I secured his legs and dragged his limp body into the walk in closet, shoving him inside and locking him in, incase he woke up earlier than anticipated. I went down the flight of stairs, and let the front door unlock from the inside, and using Jeremiah's phone , I texted Jerome.