Two for the show…
Moments later, she was standing between Macbeth and Duncan, waiting for the curtain to rise. Someone whispered,
"Where's Alison?"
Harley whispered back,
"She had to go, something about a stomach ache"
"Then where's the understudy?"
"There never was one"
In truth, Alison had refused to have an understudy assigned to her, saying it was an insult to her credibility. Surprisingly enough, up until now, the leading lady had never needed one. Unfortunately, she hadn't considered her death when she turned away a substitute. Pity.
The curtain rose just then, and Harley was momentarily stunned by the lights. But the two men on each side of her held one of her hands, and she was able to bow with everyone else. She smiled widely as the audience cheered and clapped. Now that her eyes had adjusted, she could see her father. Peter Quinn barely clapped, and was one of the last to get out of his seat for the standing ovation. But then he saw his daughter on stage; suddenly he gained more enthusiasm,
"Too little too late, Daddy" thought Harley.
The curtain lowered then, and the actors headed backstage to take off their costumes and makeup. Harley reveled for a moment in the center of the stage. Just then, Redgie came up towards her. She tried to appear as innocent as possible. But by the look on his face, Harley could see that Redgie knew something was up.
"Why did you set up the landing pad that way? Alison could have been killed!"
Harley smiled ever so slightly at the irony of what he said.
"Unless that's what you meant-were you trying to murder her, Harley?"
"No, of course not! And besides, technically, that would have been manslaughter, Redge"
"Are you serious?! Is that what you meant to happen? Why?!"
"Oh, no! I couldn't do that. Well, I mean, at first, that's what I wanted, but really, that wouldn't have worked anyways, would it? No-it had to be the real thing"
"What are you talking about? And what do you mean 'had'?"
Harley sighed, and made a tsk tsk noise,
"Oh, Redgie. So much to learn. But I can help, follow me, I've got something to show you"
Harley momentarily panicked when he didn't immediately follow her, but he seemed to lose a battle of reasoning, and came jogging after her.
Harley knew she still couldn't use the gun-she'd save that for Daddy, and then disappear into the night with the Joker. So, she led Redgie to the set-construction room.
"Harley, I've been here before, a thousand times. What could you possibly have to show me?"
Harley reached around on the workbench behind her. The lights in the room weren't on, but some light dimly showed in. Fortunately, it wasn't enough for Redgie to see what she was doing.
"Just wait-you'll like it"
She said this with just a hint of seduction-she knew from their relationship that Redgie was a sucker for dirty talk. And this was no exception-
"Oh really? I thought you hated me"
He answered her with his own tone of sexiness, his voice low and rough. Harley felt shivers start all over again. Part of it was from the nostalgia of her various sexual activities with Redgie, and part was from what she was about to do.
She could see his outline as he started to walk towards her. Just as he reached in front of her, Harley's hand finally landed on what she'd been searching for. Redgie never saw the hammer coming as it slammed into his temple, instantly killing him. As his dead body slumped to the ground, she took out the cards and found the Jack of Clubs. She then crouched down and placed the card between Redgie's lips. As she stood up, she saw a figure appear in the doorway. Harley prepared to make another attack.