Page 7 of Joker
CHAPTERFOUR
JOKER
Reck has been home a few days now; he seems to be settling in okay. The boys had been partying pretty hard. We were all sitting in the lounge room when Reck comes in.
“Off to see my girls,” he chuckles as he’s heading for the door.
My eyes instantly find Prez.
“Reck, I want a word before you go,” Prez demands as he gets up and heads for church.
“Bull, Joker, join us,” he finishes.
Taking a deep breath, I get up and follow them down the corridor to church. Once in the room, I close the door as I’m last in.
I choose to stay standing near the door. Reck is looking from Prez to Bull and back again.
“What’s going on?”
He asks with a slight hardness to his voice, like he knows something is up.
Prez starts, “Brother, I know you requested to know nothing about what happened on the outside while you were inside. We respected that wish. Your ol’ lady didn’t handle you being sent down well and spiraled.”
Reck’s face grows hard. Wiping his hand down his face, he says, “Fuck, I knew she wouldn’t. She hated this life and was a useless ol’ lady.”
I grunt in agreement, but otherwise keep quiet.
“Not long after you went inside, she found out she was expecting again. You have a son, Reck.” Prez continues, “Your son is the prospect, Johnny.”
The shock on Reck’s face fades to the biggest, genuine smile a guy could have
“I have a son, and he’s club?” Reck asks.
Prez nods, letting him have this moment before they break the bad news.
“There’s more, brother. Your ol’ lady couldn’t cope. Turned to drink and drugs. Carrie did what she could, but fuck she was a stubborn, strong girl and hid a lot of what was happening.”
Taking a breath, Prez breaks it down, “Child Protective Services got involved and took the kids. We found Johnny and looked after him. But fuck, brother, I’m sorry we haven’t found Carrie yet. We’re looking, and we won’t stop,” Prez promises.
Reck had gone white and is shaking with so much rage. His hands fist on the table, and he’s visibly shaking.
Rising from his chair, fists still on the table, he grinds out.
“What the fuck do you mean you don’t know where my girl is?”
Prez never wavers, looking Reck straight in the eye, “CPS took them before we could step in, and they were sent to separate foster homes. Johnny stayed local, but Carrie didn’t. We have been searching for her ever since they took her. We have every resource on this, and we will find her,” Prez promises.
Reck takes a deep breath and turns to me. Clearing my throat, I confirm, “I’ll find our girl, and I’ll bring her home.” Hoping the conviction I feel comes across in my voice.
After a moment, he nods his head and comes to me. Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and leaning close, he growls.
“I want in, and our girl is coming home. Can see you love her son, going to need that story soon.”
Moving out of his way, he leaves church heading for his bike. I move to follow, but Prez stops me.
“Leave him, son. Give him the wind to sort his head out. Heavy news we just laid on him.”
Lowering my head, I leave church and head to find Johnny. Best to warn him Reck knows he’s his son. Finding Johnny in the garage, working on his bike, I ask him to join me outside. Taking a seat on the top of the picnic table, he sits next to me.
