SEL Chapter 22

Helena stays quiet.

“Go clean up,” Cheshire orders.

Riley glares, and Helena’s afraid that she might try something.

“Listen to her about the poison,” she warns. “She’s not bluffing.”

Cheshire arches an eyebrow, giving Helena a curious glance.

With a murderous look, Riley stalks off to the bathroom.

“Set up the cameras,” Cheshire says softly.

Helena works quickly, and she and Cheshire are out of Riley’s home before she comes out of the bathroom. There’s a hotel on the same block, and Cheshire already has a room reserved. There, Helena sets up the live feed and recording, then hands the laptop to Cheshire, who reclines on the bed with her feet crossed. Helena has covered every part of the apartment that might be relevant. Doing this feels gross, but she is posing as a career criminal.

Cheshire puts the laptop to the side and keeps an eye on it.

As expected, Viti Saxena arrives at the redhead’s apartment.

Helena has to put it together for herself; the two clearly know each other. Saxena is married, and not to this woman. So, there’s infidelity, and Oswald knows about it. He wants to mess with the race. Does he want to tank Saxena or just control her? Probably the latter.

Helena’s been through some things, but it’s uniquely awkward to sit on the edge of the bed and watch this unfold on a laptop screen about two feet from Cheshire.

Local politics matter, and Helena’s a teacher, so she pays attention to the news. Viti Saxena is, for lack of a better word, a forgettable DA. Her politics are generic neoliberal with a little tough-on-crime thrown in. This kind of limp centrism doesn’t impress Helena much, but it also doesn’t offend her. She’s had no reason to like Saxena or to dislike her. Indeed, a part of her would like to see Viti Saxena kick Barbara Gordon’s crippled, yet no doubt somehow still perfect ass in this election.

But it’s hard to think about that when she’s grappling with the reality of watching Viti Saxena get her cock sucked, and that only comes after a deeply uncomfortable amount of what appears to be actual intimacy. The redhead isn’t just some side piece for Viti Saxena. That much is obvious.

Helena’s not even here as herself; she’s being Mags, but her pride still exists. She stubbornly watches the screen and doesn’t look at Cheshire, well aware that there must be some color on her cheeks.

All of the clothes come off, and the tap of Cheshire hitting one key to switch to the bedroom feed seems deafeningly loud. Why is Gotham so quiet tonight?

Helena looks on as Riley lies back and lets Viti get on top of her, then pulls her in. What follows isn’t very exciting on the screen; that’s why real sex is so different from porn. That just makes it worse. Helena swallows with her dry throat and hopes Cheshire doesn’t notice.

The guilt is especially strong after Viti empties herself inside of Riley. Riley’s fingers run through Viti’s black hair, and lamplight reveals that there’s a layer of shiny sweat on Viti’s soft body. Presently, the kissing resumes, and soon Viti’s on her side and Riley’s behind her, holding one leg up. It’s not on purpose, but she’s…

“Well,” Cheshire remarks lightly, breaking the silence as they watch Riley’s cock plunge into Viti Saxena, whose soft penis dribbles on the sheets. “That’s just quality television.”

Yes, Helena had been about to reflect on the much more pornographic quality that Round 2 is taking on. Viti’s jiggling flesh is hypnotic, and it’s hard to look away from the rhythm of Riley’s hips. Helena has to clear her throat.

“Right?” Cheshire murmurs. “Makes me wish we were on better terms with her.”

“You really gonna kill her?”

“Not if she does her job. And I’d say it’s looking good for her,” Cheshire adds, biting her lip.

The base of Riley’s cock throbs, and Helena can only imagine the geyser exploding inside the mayoral candidate. Then Riley slips out and more cum spills across Viti’s copper skin. Riley quickly grabs her slick rod and jerks it, shooting more onto the rolls of Viti’s belly. The whole time, her tongue is deep in Viti’s mouth.

Helena adjusts her position.

“Good enough?” she asks.

“Full marks.” Cheshire snorts. “Cut it, print it, ship it.” She hesitates, then grabs the pad from the table beside the bed and the hotel-branded pen. “You will, in this order, trim the video file. Send a copy to this email address. Put a copy on the thumb drive in the backpack. Go back to the apartment and collect the equipment. Give Riley Beaumont this antidote.” She tosses a vial to Helena. “Dispose of the equipment. Take the thumb drive to the Iceberg Lounge and deliver it. You need merely say that you have a package for the owner; they will be expecting it. Then you’ll be paid. No questions.”

Cheshire yawns, then stands up and stretches, arching her back.

Without another word, she leaves the hotel room. Helena is alone.

There is an opportunity here to become involved in consequential events. Delivering the package will position Helena to directly influence or meddle with the mayoral race.

Or, she could apprehend Cheshire. But she can’t do both; Cheshire will be long gone by the time she’s finished with her tasks for the night. To stop her, Helena will have to burn her ‘Mags’ persona. If Cheshire is taken out, Noonan and the Penguin will know that the operation tonight was compromised.

Deliver the video and keep ‘Mags’ in play?

Or take down Cheshire and get rid of the compromising video?