Chapter 31

I scoured the news stations for the rest of the day hoping to hear anything at all about my Puddin. So far they just kept re-running the same footage from the parade over and over again with no new updates. I had my gear packed in a large duffel bag by the front door and my costume was laid out over the back of the couch in its garment bag. I had all three of my cell phones lined up on the table just in case someone called with some news. I couldn't concentrate on anything so I ended up pacing my apartment for most of the day. At some point I realized if I didn't talk to someone I was going to explode. I wanted to try to get in touch with J, but I knew that was a very bad idea that would make Puddin angry so I picked up my other burner phone and called Red. She picked up on the first ring.

"So any word yet Harl?" I sighed in frustration.

"No, not yet and I'm going out of my damn mind." She chuckled.

"I hate to break it to you sweet pea, but you're already out of your damn mind."

"Ha. Ha. Very funny Red. Ugh, the anticipation is killing me! I'm a great big bundle of nerves right now." I threw my body backwards over the back of the couch so I was sitting with my legs in the air and my head hanging off the cushions. My pigtails were dangling down so that they almost touched the floor and I could still see the television albeit inverted. "Am I doing the right thing Red?"

"That's a question you need to figure out on your own Harl." There was a pause. "Do you really love him?"

"Yeah Pammy, I really do. More than I've ever loved anyone or anything in my entire life."

"Well then, as much as I hate it and the clown I guess you have to follow your heart."

"Thanks for saying so. Hey Red, I was wondering if you could maybe do something for me?"

"Anything for you my little cabbage."

"Um, okay that has got to be the weirdest term of endearment I've ever heard." I heard her laugh on the other end of the line. "So can you talk to the green or whatever you call it and see if there's any word on J for me?"

"Well I suppose I can but this is a big city and it could take a while. I'll need concentration so give me a few hours and I'll call you back okay Harley?"

"Thanks Red, I really appreciate it. Talk to you soon!"

"Bye Harl."

It had been hours and I still had no word from Red. I was tempted to call work, but figured it might be a little obvious. Joan would have called me if Mr. J had been dragged back to Arkham, wouldn't she? I mean he was my patient, so someone would have to inform me if he was captured.

The sound of my stomach loudly growling interrupted my worrying and I decided I had better have at least a little something to eat before anything went down. It's hard to be stealthy when your body is making rude noises after all. I had neglected to shop so I ran down the street to the Happy Dragon for some Chinese takeout. When I got back to my apartment I checked my phones. There was a message from Red.

'Get over here. NOW. Pack your gear in the trunk and bring in the maps.'

I rushed around the apartment gathering my things and dashed out to my car. I drove to Ivy's as quickly as I possibly could without getting pulled over. I couldn't risk having the car searched or my whole plan would end right then and there before it had even begun. I got to Red's in record time. When I knocked on the door it opened a crack but I was suddenly caught up in vines that wrapped around me and started constricting.

"Red!" I screamed

"STOP! Release her!"

I suddenly felt the vines expand and I fell onto the floor after having the wind squeezed out of me. Ivy ran over to me and dragged me inside.

"Oh my God Harley I am so sorry! It's just, there is so much going on I forgot to call off my security." I wheezed and took deep breaths trying to get enough wind to properly express myself.

"What the fuck is wrong with you RED? You told me to come here but you had your plant sentries try to squeeze the life outta me!" She looked panicked and remorseful so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"Harley I found him. But it's bigger than you think!" I screwed up my face and glared at her. "Get out the maps you stole from the asylum." I did and spread them out in the table. "Joker is there," she pointed to a place on the map that didn't actually have any rooms included in the blueprints. "He has Batman down there as well. Your Dr. Strange has them in a room below the special containment units where there is apparently an additional sub-basement level. I'm sorry it took me so long to find them but I had to resort to speaking with mold and fungi spores in order to locate them and their conversational abilities leave a lot to be desired. Strange is not what he seems Harley, he has been working on this plan, whatever it is, for months down there. The green tells me you need to be very careful. It tells me Strange is a maniac. In order for you to even get to him you have to make your way through the asylum, bypass regular security then find your way through the catacombs under the asylum. I can help you there."

"Strange has Mr. J? Tell me what I need to do."

Red and I went over the plans for well over an hour. Then I finally donned my makeup and suit. When I did so I left Dr. Harleen Francis Quinzel behind and became Harley Quinn, the Joker's moll and would be sidekick.

"Wow, Harley. I'm not gonna pretend I've known you for a very long time, but in all the time I have known you I have never seen you look more like yourself, if that makes any sense at all."

"Red, I think my whole life has been culminating to this very moment. I'm ready, let's move out."