"Adriana's not here," Harri told Jack. Arsenio was sitting on her legs and playing with a rubik's cube and she was laying back on the couch, looking at the TV. "She's out on one of her mysterious errands."
"Hi Jack!" Arsenio said cheerfully.
"Hello to you both," the Joker said. "Your pronunciation gets better every day, Arsenio."
"Jack look!' Arsenio said and held up the cube. "Alfred gimme!"
"That's a nice gift," the Joker said and walked over to the empty loveseat but Arsenio held his left arm outstretched, indicating he wanted the Joker to take him.
The Joker picked him up and took him to the other seat and watched him twist the cube as they sat. After a few minutes he happened to glance in Harri's direction. She was putting a handful of popcorn into her mouth and staring at him. She didn't look away when she realized he noticed her staring at him. The look in her eyes was curious. Like she was trying to figure out or decode him. Her eyes were squinted slightly. She then looked at Arsenio, blinked, and then looked back at the TV. It was in that moment that the Joker knew that Adriana told her that he was Arsenio's father. It seemed obvious to him. What was also obvious was that Adriana did not tell Harri the whole story.
"Mommy!" Arsenio said and pointed at the TV.
Harri looked over at him.
"Hm?" Harri said and looked back at the screen.
The news was on and Harri didn't see anyone that even resembled Adriana. The Joker had been looking and saw the image of Shade on the screen seconds before. Arsenio could see that Harri did not know about his mother being Shade. Arsenio knew that it was a secret. He never mentioned it around his nanny. But Alfred knew, his father knew, the Joker knew...Arsenio hoped he hadn't made a mistake. Maybe it was a secret from his aunt too.
"Umm...neverminee!" Arsenio said and continued to play with his cube.
.
.
.
At around ten in the evening, Harri found Adriana in the kitchen. Harri thought her sister looked exhausted. She had been out much of the day on errands and looked completely drained, yet she was wiping down the countertops. Harri watched as Adriana pulled packs of meat out of the freezer and put them into the refrigerator.
Harri was curious about where Adriana had been all day but she also could not stop wondering about Jack. Arsenio's biological father who she knew little to nothing about. Except that it sounded like he had experienced a difficult life. Difficult enough to make him forget most of it.
"Hello?" Adriana said as she pulled out her phone. She still didn't realize that Harri was in the massive kitchen with her. "Hey...really? Tomorrow evening, okay that was fast. Thank you so much...I know, it's been a rough week for me and my suit. Okay I'll come by at eight. Thanks so much, you're seriously the best. Okay...see you tomorrow. Bye."
"Hi sis," Harri said, startling Adriana,
"I didn't know you were there," Adriana said with a laugh.
"Who was that?" Harri asked.
Adriana remembered what she had saidto Lucius on the phone. Harri would have heard her end. She wasn't ready to tell Harri about her vigilantism.
"It was...the dry cleaners," Adriana said. "This week I had to go to Wayne Enterprises for a few things and I have a suit that I wear there sometimes...to look professional you know. Just because the boss is away...I have to step in sometimes. I want to look serious. I got a stain on it so they were getting it out."
"Oh," Harri said, believing Adriana. Wayne Enterprises and corporate business were both very boring to Harri. She wanted to know more about Jack. "Well you look exhausted. Like you got dragged by a car or something."
Adriana raised her eyebrows. Harri's assessment was freakishly close to what had happened to her as Shade a few hours ago.
"I know what you need," Harri said.
"What do I need?" Adriana asked.
Harri walked over to Adriana and grabbed her hand. Adriana followed her as Harri pulled her down to the mansion's wine cellar.
"Wine?" Adriana asked.
"Of course," Harri said. "Well, actually just being in this place is stunning enough to distract anyone from anything. This place looks like...some kind of a beautiful vault."
Adriana looked up at the row of chandeliers on the ceiling. Dark wood paneling lined the open areas on the wall. Bottles of wine filled every space in the cellar and the room they were in was spotless. It was one of the few areas in the home that Adriana did not clean herself. A brick wall lined another room that they could see into. There was a bar with grey and gold bar stools and another long wall of wine bottles.
"A 1947 Cheval-Blanc," Harri said aftre looking over many of the bottles on display. "I heard one of these was sold at auction for like..300 grand."
"Oh..." Adriana said.
"And you have..." Adriana watched Harri counting. "Twelve bottles!"
"I didn't know that," Adriana said, sleepily.
"That's like...over $3 million in wine right there.." Harri said, in shock. "A complete case of the most expensive wine ever."
"Mmmm," Adriana said and rubbed her eyes.
"I wish we could open a bottle," Harri said.
"I don't see why we couldn't," Adriana said.
"Umm..maybe because it's a collection," Harri said. "An even set...a case. Of the most expensive wine. Ever. So, I guess Bruce is a collector. He'd probably be angry if we opened it."
"Right well then let's pick something else," Adriana said.
Harri looked through the bottles.
"I know a lot about wine," Harri said. "And nothing here is worth under $1500."
"You keep eyeing the Cheval-Blanc," Adriana noticed.
"I bet it would taste amazing," Harri said.
"Yeah.." Adriana agreed. "And...I don't think anyone would notice. I mean..there's a lot of wine here."
Harri looked nervous.
"Let's try it," Harri finally agreed.
The taste was amazing. Unlike any other wine Adriana had ever experienced. It was like drinking liquid silk.
"I can't believe we're doing this," Harri said. "But it so freaking worth it."
They finished the entire bottle at the bar and both of them looked like they were wondering if they should be ashamed.
"That was worth more than my house," Harri said.
Adriana burped and then covered her mouth. "That burp was worth more than.."
"Nothing you own," Harri said. "Face it, you're rich as hell."
"I want more.." Adriana said.
"Me too.." Harri said, happily. She wanted Adriana to drink. That way she would talk. "Maybe we can find something at least worth less than my car.."
"I actually want more of the French one," Adriana said, somewhat drowsily. She was a lightweight compared to Harri.
"Uhh..you want to open another one?" Harri asked.
"Yes," Adriana said and went to get another bottle. "This might be my favorite wine ever."
"Well...to bad it's basically extinct.." Harri said as Adriana came back and opened the bottle.
Harri watched Adriana pause before pouring.
"Shit..." Adriana said after a moment.
"What?" Harri asked.
"Maybe we shouldn't have opened these..." Adriana said. "I feel silly...I mean clearly Bruce was collecting these and wanted the whole set...shit."
"Relax," Harri said, unconvincingly. "We'll tell him that..."
"That what?" Adriana asked.
"I don't know," Harri said. "Trying to think of something."
Adriana began to whine, and covered her hands with her face.
"Chill, sis it's okay," Harri said. "I mean it's not like he ever forbade you to drink it, right?"
Adriana looked up. "Okay, well that's true. I just don't want him to be upset."
Adriana poured another glass and Harri watched her.
"Let's talk about something else," Harri said as Adriana sipped her fifth glass. they had been in the wine cellar for almost two hours and it was after midnight.
"Like what?" Adriana said, flicking her hair back with her eyes half open.
"Like...Jack," Harri said.
"What aboutem," Adriana said, and Harri could tell that Adriana was definitely drunk. Harri felt it was well but it was obvious that Adriana was even more.
"You told me he had a hard life...or some trauma...and forgot most of his life," Harri said.
"Yeah...buh...I don't wanna talk about that," Adriana said and waved her hand. "I mean, he couldn't remember it. Even when we met...he didn't know."
"He didn't know his past?" Harri asked.
"Mhm," Adriana said and sipped from her very full glass.
"So..how did you two meet?" Harri asked.
"I...we..." Adriana said, as though she was thinking. And then she laughed.
"What's so funny?" Harri asked.
"Nothing," Adriana said and wiped a tear from her eye even though she was laughing. "Just...Damien. He introduced us."
"Jack knew Damien?" Harri asked. "When Damien abducted you...and Jack found you..."
"Mhm," Adriana said. "Yeah..they knew each other."
"So, you met through Damien," Harri said.
"Yeah...it seems like a lifetime ago," Adriana said.
"There was...a job," Adriana said. "With the police...and they needed me. They needed my gifts. They though it would help. That I could find something out that would help...everyone. But there was nothing there."
"Okay?" Harri said, not understanding.
"I was paid so much," Adriana said.
"That's nice," Harri said, wanting to talk about Jack again. "So Damien introduced you and then what? You found him incredibly hot and the two of you had a steamy romantic triste?"
"Hahaha!" Adriana laughed madly.
"Umm..okay," Harri said.
"Sorry..I don't mean to laugh," Adriana said. "It's just..no..no it didn't happen like that. It's just...Jack...I didn't know what to make of him. Anyway..we went our separate ways but then..crossed paths again. He wasn't a good person...really was not."
"How? What was he doing?" Harri asked.
Adriana looked into Harri's eyes.
"What did he do?" Harri asked.
"I...can't say," Adriana said.
Even though Adriana was certainly drunk, she still was unwilling to tell. And it was then that Harri knew, it was something serious. Something that no one would likely ever tell her. But the fact that Adriana involved herself with him made Harri wonder how bad it could have been?
"But you started sleeping with him," Harri said. "So it must not have been that bad."
"Logic...would tell you that," Adriana said. "It was bad...but I didn't care. He did what he did.I knew all of the terrible things he was doing but I still wanted him. I also wanted to sabotage him and what he was doing. But I didn't want to sabotage us...because for the first time in my life..I was enjoying a man. I was selfish."
"So...great sex," Harri said.
"Great...great..." Adriana said, sounding like she was turning the word over in her mind, examining it. "No...great doesn't cut it. It was better than great it was..."
"Amazing? Incredible?" Harri asked.
"Bewilderingly...astoundingly...shockingly...unnervingly...mind-blowingly stunning," Adriana said and sipped her wine again.
"So, that just makes him a million times hotter, if that's possible," Harri said.
"The first time...I wondered if it was only so good because we were both under the influence of..something," Adriana said. "But it wasn't that because, it was even more fantastic without it."
"Were you on E?" Harri asked.
"Something like that," Adriana said. "Anyway...I got pregnant. I didn't even know til after we went our sepraway..."
"Separate ways?" Harri asked.
"Mhm," Adriana said. "And he was gone...And I was pregnant...and then Bruce.."
Harri put her hand on Adriana's shoulder because she had suddenly started to cry.
"I miss him," Adriana said.
"Oh..sweetie I know," Harri said. "He'll be home soon."
Adriana nodded tearfully. "He took me..and my baby," Adriana said. "And he loves us..and I'm drinking his good wine. I have to go.."
"Oh-" Harri said as Adriana stood up. Still Harri didn't have all the answers she wanted.
Adriana left the cellar quickly and went to her room and shut the door. Ever since Bruce had been in rehab, he had found a way to secretly access his phone to call and text Adriana. For the first time, she decided she would call him. At midnight. Drunk. She knew it was very likely he didn't have his phone, but she had to try.
He answered on the second ring.
"You..have your phone," Adriana said.
"Yes..I was going to try to call you but I thought you would be asleep," Bruce said.
"I'm not..um up," she said and laid on the bed in the dark with her phone against the side of her face.
"Have you had a few drinks, my love?" Bruce asked.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," Adriana apologized.
"No need to apologize, dear," Bruce said lovingly.
"I drank your fancy wine... Harri said it was 300 grand.." Adriana said.
"Which one?" Bruce asked.
"The...Cheval-Blanc," Adriana said, struggling to remember the name. "We opened two bottles."
Bruce was quiet for a second.
"So..." he asked. "Did you like it?"
"I...I loved it...it was so good Bruce," Adriana said, sounding like she was trying not to cry. "So I opened the second one...it was the mouth feel of it..it was so nice.."
"I see," Bruce said, sounding like he was listening closely.
"Are you angry?" she asked.
"No, dear," Bruce said. "I am not angry."
"Then..disappointed? Upset?" Adriana asked.
"None of the above," he said.
"But...you had a whole case there and...I thought...maybe this was an investment or-" Adriana asked,
"I cannot think of a better return on investment," Bruce said. "Than that wine delighting your beautiful palate."
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes," Bruce said, sounding like he was smiling. "Now tell me more. Tell me how much you enjoyed it."