Professionalism.

I wanted Ice Queen Melts. I wanted it badly, but I had no justification for it, yet. Professionalism would radically increase my influence at Arkham and with my demerits, I needed that.

Alyce didn’t even fill her allotted time, or stick around for dinner, instead finishing bluntly and walking away, before Max and Kali even finished their bathroom fuck and rejoined us.

“Well…uh…that was Dr. Sinner,” the MC said, before running into a pitch for increasing Arkham’s funding that was clearly pre-written. Didn’t look like many people would be donating.

Penelope looked furious. The difference between the reaction to her introduction and the reaction to the speech was obvious, as was the difference in effort. I glanced around, everyone at the table, except Penelope, was on our side, “Is it possible Dr. Sinner doesn’t want donations?”

“Everyone wants money,” Jasmine said, with the cynicism of a long standing funder of charities.

Diamond’s eyes narrowed slightly and she glanced at Andre, nudging him under the table. “Not everyone. Taking money usually brings a degree of oversight. Not much, but some. Maybe she’s concerned about outside influence on Arkham?”

“The terms are clear that no influence comes with donations,” Penelope said.

“Not officially,” Jasmine said, “but once folks are dependent on your cash…”

“Oversight and influence aren’t the same thing,” I noted, considering how VDS had been embezzling... “Would you be entitled to see the books? Audit stuff?”

“Not entitled…but objecting would raise a lot of red flags with folks who have no compunction about hiring PIs…” Jasmine said.

“There’s no funny business with Arkham’s budget!” Penelope snapped, drawing a few looks, though the room was loud enough that folks at other tables were reacting to the tone, not the words they probably couldn’t hear.

“Of course dear,” Diamond soothed her, patting her hand in an only moderately condescending tone, deliberately pushing her to help me.

“Let’s discuss this like rational people, quietly,” I ordered. “No one’s saying that there’s anything funny going on with your budget, but if Dr. Sinner was skimming before it got to you, how would you know?”

She paused. “I wouldn’t...but surely there are audits and stuff. We’re part of the city.” But, she’d lowered her voice. +5 SP (Penelope: +38). Wow, that bonus from Diamond’s involvement was nice, given how minimal that command was. Once I had Penelope under control, the others should be so much easier. Well, not Alyce, or outside people, but the supervillainesses...

For the first time in our ‘relationship’, Andre and I shared a commiserating glance. She was so naive.

I opened a hand to him and he spoke with a quiet control which had been entirely absent in our encounters. “Ma’am, based on my experience with IA...the only group more corrupt than the GCPD is the auditor’s office.”

“To be fair to them, they don’t even have guns, so refusing to be corrupt is even harder,” I noted blandly.

Penelope looked so upset, I spoke up, “Look, I’m not saying it’s true, maybe she’s just has terrible stage fright. That would explain everything to and she’s way too proud to ever admit it and look for help. No matter what, this isn’t your problem, worst case, it’s a problem for the City, or Chief Boles, she’s in charge of security, not you.”

“But, if you’re right—”

“Doc, tell me you’ll leave this alone. It’s not your area.”

“But—”

“Doc.”

She flushed angrily, stammering for a moment as her submission fought her character. “I can’t...it would endanger everything.”

“If it worries you, all you have to do is ask, and I’ll look into it, quietly, because it is my area, not yours,” I smirked.

Diamond cut in, “Eli…”

“Don’t worry Diamond, I’m not going to do anything crazy, or risky.”

The anger vanished as I gave her an out. “Yes, please, do it, and let me know what you find.” +8 SP (Penelope: +46). Big one, probably because I’d said it wasn’t her area.

“No. That would be dangerous if we’re right and inappropriate if we’re wrong. You’ll have to trust me. Leave this in my hands,” I said, meeting her stare intently.

Jasmine seemed a bit lost by all this, but Diamond was barely withholding a domineering smile as she watched the power balance at the table start to slide irrevocably in my direction. She decided to lean on the scales, “Andre can help, but not if it’s going to have a doctor in the mix, too much risk of problems for us.”