Riddled With Bullets
Chapter 3
"The Dead Carrying The Living."
"Huntress.Helena are you there?"
The impatience in Oracle's voice told Huntress that evidently her time out from patrol had not gone unnoticed.
"I'm a little busy right now!" She responded assessing the oncoming threat.
In front of her thug number one swung wide attempting a roundhouse punch from the right. This always made Huntress smile, why did guys feel it necessary to punch at such a wide arc? It left very little power at point of impact, not that he would get the chance as Huntress struck first with a straight-line punch to the middle of the chest thus teaching thug number one the error of his ways. He paused temporarily surprised at this unexpected turn of events, leaving Huntress the opportunity to finish him off with a left uppercut to the chin. Thug number one went down as Huntress heard the satisfactory click of a displaced jaw.
That just left thug number two behind her. This one was not so clumsy; he tried a pretty graceful foot sweep, which Huntress was easily able to avoid by leaping.
Whilst she was in the air she went for a roundhouse kick catching Thug number two at a forty-five degree arc to his testicles. He had left himself wide open with his right leg still outstretched from the attempted foot sweep.
Landing lightly on her feet Huntress faced her helpless prey, clearly now in excruciating agony. Both his hands clutched the afflicted area in a futile attempt to ward off the pain spasms that were shooting up his nether regions.
Staring pointedly towards his crotch Huntress quipped, "you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs!"
If ever there was a cue for a punch line this was it. Oracle waited as the sounds of Huntress's knockout blow resounded through her headset.
"Are you done?" She asked.
"Sorry," Huntress voice came back, "A minor smash and grab in the diamond district."
"Okay never mind that did you get anything out of Nygma?"
Huntress, Helena Kyle stopped dead. How did Oracle know where she had been? Was there a tracer planted on her someplace?
"Reese told me you asked for his address." Oracle's voice came back by way of explanation.
Helena decided avoidance was her best tactic, "you spoke with Reese?"
"He's on his way over, The Riddler fed exe'd his first clues to the New Gotham PD. As per his usual M.O. the riddles contain clues as to the where's and when's of his next heist all we have to do is figure it out."
"I'm on my way!" Helena replied bluntly and leaped up a fire escape and onto the rooftops.
Something screwy was clearly going on, and there was no way you could explain to "Batgirl" that one of her former nemesis was on the straight and narrow. Helena ran to the edge of the roof and leapt. She needed to do a small flip about midway across in order to bridge the gap to the next rooftop. Tucking her legs in Helena recalled Barbara once telling her that back in the day whenever any of the old man's rogue's gallery were paroled, he would show up on their doorstep and deliver the same grim warning;
"Remember I'm watching you! Sooner or later you are going to slip, and when that time comes, I'll be waiting!"
Obviously Oracle thought she was carrying on the family tradition and Helena saw no reason why she should not go on thinking just exactly that.
She performed the flip and rolled out ready to land. There was an accompanying rush of wind causing her coat to flare out like a cape, and with outstretched arms The Huntress cruised down to the awaiting rooftop.
The Clock Tower loomed in the distance, and Huntress took another leap for the next roof. Whatever was going on out there, either someone trying to copycat, or frame her Uncle, they had made a very serious mistake.
"Whoever you are," Huntress mused, "you've picked the wrong family to mess with."
And somewhere deep inside, where the dark, cold, part of Helena Kyle lived, a little piece of her psyche gleefully looked forward to tearing that someone apart.
****** Reese had moved quickly, and following his recent run in with explosives (surprisingly for a guy who lived breathed and ate do-nuts) so did McNally. As soon as Reese cried "Bomb!" They were both out of the door just before the package went off.
Except it were not so much of a boom, but rather more of a giant pop. And what exploded from the package was not nitro-glycerine but a wildly colourful blitz of confetti.
McNally looked at Reese with disbelief, "Is it your birthday?"
But Reese if he heard didn't respond there was something else that had been in the package. Several cards lay strewn amongst the mess of confetti on his desk. And as he drew nearer Reese noticed that the cards bore messages whose letters had all been cut from newspaper.
Discreetly pocketing the cards, Reese managed to pass the whole thing off as another joke to McNally and the rest of the gaping Department. Promptly making his excuses to his colleagues and promising to get even with "whichever one of you buttheads did this," he headed straight for the car checking his cell phone as he went, for the contact number recently given him by Oracle.
*****
Helena was the first to arrive at the Clock Tower. Barbara and Alfred were puzzling over some data and neither of them looked up. Deciding it best to get the chastisement over with ASAP Helena headed over to them, "Hey guys I'm sorry."
"Why didn't you clue me in that you were onto Nygma?"
The voice came from behind, and it didn't belong to Barbara. Helena turned to face a very angry Dinah.
"We're supposed to be a team."
"Yeah but sometimes I work alone." Helena retorted dismissively she was so tired of this old argument!
"Girls!" It was Barbara, "not now!"
"Fine," Dinah continued regardless, "but you should've told me."
"What's it to you anyway?" Helena shrugged.
"Because when I'm on duty I'm responsible! That means I have to know what's going on in the field, teamwork!"
The buzzer went and Alfred moved off to let Reese in.
"Dinah enough!" Barbara turned to Helena "Did you get anywhere with Nygma?"
"I just got the sense that he wants to get on with his life." Helena shrugged.
Barbara looked at Helena for a long moment. "Really?"
Helena nodded.
Barbara looked at Dinah and some small signal passed between them, it was subtle but Helena caught it.
"What?" She said defensively.
"There's something else isn't there?" Dinah prompted.
Helena turned to face her again, "Are you trying to psyche me?"
"No," Dinah said awkwardly, "I can just sense things sometimes."
"Oh really? Well can you sense what I'm thinking now little witch?"
"Yeah part of it rhymes with witch," Dinah returned determined not to be intimidated, "I guess I'm supposed to be scared now right?"
That was it! Helena advanced on Dinah but a whirling sound stopped her dead in her tracks. Barbara had thrown a "rang" their customised version of a boomerang. It whistled passed Helena's head planting itself in the wall behind.
"That's enough from both of you!" Barbara's voice was sharp.
"Er ladies, is this a bad time?" Enquired Reese awkwardly.
"May I suggest we turn to the matter in hand?" Alfred said during the awkward pause that followed. He gestured towards the monitor screen that had held both his and Barbara's attention since Reese's telephone call. "In my experience a puzzle can only be solved with a clear head."
With that said everyone went over to have a look at the monitor.
"Er Miss Helena," Alfred called. "I wonder if I might have a quick word?" He gestured for Helena to follow him out onto the balcony.
Barbara looked quizzically at Alfred, who just gave one of his "Superior smiles." Now what was he up to? A cool breeze went through the room as they both moved out into the fresh air. Whatever it was it would keep for now.
"Have you got the cards?" Barbara queried turning to Reese.
Reese took them out of his pocket "here they are just as I told you." He looked up at the data typed on the monitor screen, "I see you've got them up word perfect."
"Since you read them out to me I've had the computer looking for any cross references." Barbara explained examining the cards.
"Any luck?" Reese was totally out of his depth.
"Not sure, let's take them one by one."
Barbara brought the first message up on the screen.
Question; What Doesn't Get Wet When It Rains?
They all looked blankly at the screen.
Dinah shrugged, "that's gotta be water!"
Barbara ran a hand through her hair, "Yes but I think it's referring to a specific type of water let's look at the next one."
The next one simply read;
Whilst I was engaged in sitting
I spied the dead carrying the living.
"No idea," Dinah stated, "What's the last one?"
Barbara punched it up.
I go around in circles
whether you be Rich or Poor,
I go around in circles And leave you wanting more.
"Well don't look at me," Reese shrugged, "All this is supposed to tell us when a robbery is gonna take place?"
Barbara nodded, "Irritating isn't it?"
*****
"Well?" Helena turned to Alfred.
"Ms Helena please understand that I do not wish to pry."
"I sense a but coming," Away from the others Helena seemed far more relaxed; her earlier hostility had all but disappeared. "What's on your mind Alfred?"
Alfred paced towards the edge of the balcony and peered out at the grim architectural monstrosity that wasNew-Gotham.
"Throughout the many years I spent in your father's service, I have been required to keep many secrets." Alfred began.
Helena nodded not sure where this was going.
"He kept very detailed files on all his associates, whether they be friend or foe." Alfred paused, "shortly after Miss Barbara began operating as Oracle we transferred
the data from the cave beneath the manor," (Alfred could never bring himself to refer to it as the BatCave.)
"I remember it was all uploaded to the servers here at the clock tower," Helena acknowledged, "It was a technical nightmare."
Alfred gave a wry smile, the data had been heavily encrypted and rigged to trigger a particularly virulent virus on any would be hackers trying to upload. It had taken Barbara days to find a way to circumvent it.
"Well almost everything was transferred," Alfred confessed, " I thought it prudent to edit certain information." He looked meaningfully at Helena.
"Alfred," Helena shifted uneasily, "what are you inferring?" But deep down she knew perfectly well.
Alfred took a deep breath, "I know about your Uncle Edward." He stated.
"Okay." Helena shrugged.
"When your Father was a little younger than you are now, we spent some time in Japan he and I."
"Training?"
"Indeed, whilst young Master Bruce spent his days absorbing the way of Bushido under Sensei Yoru, I passed many a happy hour conversing with a Buddhist monk named."
"Alfred I don't wish to be rude but is there a point to this?"
"Yes of course my dear, forgive my ramblings but I was simply recalling an appropriate passage from one of the Buddhist sutra's which say's "even a heartless criminal loves his family."
"I know he's tried to go straight before Alfred, but this time it's for real."
"Ms Helena, whilst I've no doubt that you know Mr Nygma better than any of us, and have seen a side to him that none of the others even knew existed, deception nevertheless was one of The Riddler's main traits." Alfred cautioned. "Just be careful child."
Helena nodded "Alfred thank you for being discreet."
"Why my dear child think nothing of it," he smiled reassuringly, "now perhaps we should return or else face further awkward questions."
*****
The only awkward questions to face as it turned out where those posed by The Riddler it seemed. The mood inside the clock tower was very sombre, with everyone racking their brains. Dinah steadfastly refused to look in Helena's direction and Barbara's attention as usual lay in the cyber realm.
Reese on the other hand was only too glad to tear himself away from the riddles and ran over to Helena.
"How've you been?" He asked.
"Better," Helena sighed admiring Reese's rugged countenance, "I've been better."
They hugged for a long moment neither one of them wishing to break off the embrace.
"So what are the riddles?" Helena finally asked now feeling just a tad self conscious around the others.
Reese showed her the cards.
"Well the first one's water!" Helena said.
Dinah rolled her eyes.
"That's what we thought." Barbara acknowledged without looking up.
Helena joined her at the monitor, "The dead carrying the living," she mused.
"If you reverse that i.e. living carrying the dead you have pall bearers," Barbara said, "I need coffee," she sighed, "these things give me a headache."
Alfred took his cue and headed off for the kitchen.
"Pallbearers carry coffins," Helena continued following the train of thought.
"Which are made of wood," added Reese.
"So are boats!" Dinah said triumphantly, "Dead carrying the living, which must mean that the water referred to in the first riddle must be the sea!"
"It could be a river," Barbara said, "The third one doesn't fit that pattern boats don't go round in circles."
"Unless you're crossing the globe." Reese mused.
"Forget the boats for a moment," Helena said, "I go round in circles", it's gotta be a wheel, and what wheel do you associate with being rich or poor, and wanting more?"
"Roulette!" Everyone said in chorus.
"Okay, so how does this tell us the where and when?" Reese queried.
"If I may," said Alfred, suddenly reappearing bearing a tray of coffee, cream and sugar, "an invitation arrived in the morning post at the manor."
Setting down the tray, Alfred removed an envelope from the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Here we are, an invitation to a charity casino night on board "The Princess Rouge."
"It say's dinner is $500-00 a plate!" Exclaimed Helena looking over Alfred's shoulder.
"The proceeds are for famine relief and medical aid," Alfred explained, "It's an annual event, invitation only to the cream of New Gotham's elite."
"That's our where and when," Barbara confirmed.
"Great," said Dinah, "what are we gonna wear?"
"We?" Helena looked at her.
Dinah glared back, "yeah, we!"
"Er Dinah, you can't go to a casino your underage." Barbara reminded her.
Helena tried not to look too smug, but she couldn't help herself. Avoiding Dinah's gaze she helped herself to coffee.
"That's tomorrow!" Barbara exclaimed looking at the invite. "Do you know what the security arrangements will be?" She asked looking at Reese.
"I can find out." He confirmed.
Helena meanwhile was helping herself to cream when the jug mysteriously tipped itself forward, spilling its contents onto her clothes.
Helena cursed.
"Whoops!" said Dinah with a mischievous grin, trying not to look too smug.
*****
Chapter 3
"The Dead Carrying The Living."
"Huntress.Helena are you there?"
The impatience in Oracle's voice told Huntress that evidently her time out from patrol had not gone unnoticed.
"I'm a little busy right now!" She responded assessing the oncoming threat.
In front of her thug number one swung wide attempting a roundhouse punch from the right. This always made Huntress smile, why did guys feel it necessary to punch at such a wide arc? It left very little power at point of impact, not that he would get the chance as Huntress struck first with a straight-line punch to the middle of the chest thus teaching thug number one the error of his ways. He paused temporarily surprised at this unexpected turn of events, leaving Huntress the opportunity to finish him off with a left uppercut to the chin. Thug number one went down as Huntress heard the satisfactory click of a displaced jaw.
That just left thug number two behind her. This one was not so clumsy; he tried a pretty graceful foot sweep, which Huntress was easily able to avoid by leaping.
Whilst she was in the air she went for a roundhouse kick catching Thug number two at a forty-five degree arc to his testicles. He had left himself wide open with his right leg still outstretched from the attempted foot sweep.
Landing lightly on her feet Huntress faced her helpless prey, clearly now in excruciating agony. Both his hands clutched the afflicted area in a futile attempt to ward off the pain spasms that were shooting up his nether regions.
Staring pointedly towards his crotch Huntress quipped, "you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs!"
If ever there was a cue for a punch line this was it. Oracle waited as the sounds of Huntress's knockout blow resounded through her headset.
"Are you done?" She asked.
"Sorry," Huntress voice came back, "A minor smash and grab in the diamond district."
"Okay never mind that did you get anything out of Nygma?"
Huntress, Helena Kyle stopped dead. How did Oracle know where she had been? Was there a tracer planted on her someplace?
"Reese told me you asked for his address." Oracle's voice came back by way of explanation.
Helena decided avoidance was her best tactic, "you spoke with Reese?"
"He's on his way over, The Riddler fed exe'd his first clues to the New Gotham PD. As per his usual M.O. the riddles contain clues as to the where's and when's of his next heist all we have to do is figure it out."
"I'm on my way!" Helena replied bluntly and leaped up a fire escape and onto the rooftops.
Something screwy was clearly going on, and there was no way you could explain to "Batgirl" that one of her former nemesis was on the straight and narrow. Helena ran to the edge of the roof and leapt. She needed to do a small flip about midway across in order to bridge the gap to the next rooftop. Tucking her legs in Helena recalled Barbara once telling her that back in the day whenever any of the old man's rogue's gallery were paroled, he would show up on their doorstep and deliver the same grim warning;
"Remember I'm watching you! Sooner or later you are going to slip, and when that time comes, I'll be waiting!"
Obviously Oracle thought she was carrying on the family tradition and Helena saw no reason why she should not go on thinking just exactly that.
She performed the flip and rolled out ready to land. There was an accompanying rush of wind causing her coat to flare out like a cape, and with outstretched arms The Huntress cruised down to the awaiting rooftop.
The Clock Tower loomed in the distance, and Huntress took another leap for the next roof. Whatever was going on out there, either someone trying to copycat, or frame her Uncle, they had made a very serious mistake.
"Whoever you are," Huntress mused, "you've picked the wrong family to mess with."
And somewhere deep inside, where the dark, cold, part of Helena Kyle lived, a little piece of her psyche gleefully looked forward to tearing that someone apart.
****** Reese had moved quickly, and following his recent run in with explosives (surprisingly for a guy who lived breathed and ate do-nuts) so did McNally. As soon as Reese cried "Bomb!" They were both out of the door just before the package went off.
Except it were not so much of a boom, but rather more of a giant pop. And what exploded from the package was not nitro-glycerine but a wildly colourful blitz of confetti.
McNally looked at Reese with disbelief, "Is it your birthday?"
But Reese if he heard didn't respond there was something else that had been in the package. Several cards lay strewn amongst the mess of confetti on his desk. And as he drew nearer Reese noticed that the cards bore messages whose letters had all been cut from newspaper.
Discreetly pocketing the cards, Reese managed to pass the whole thing off as another joke to McNally and the rest of the gaping Department. Promptly making his excuses to his colleagues and promising to get even with "whichever one of you buttheads did this," he headed straight for the car checking his cell phone as he went, for the contact number recently given him by Oracle.
*****
Helena was the first to arrive at the Clock Tower. Barbara and Alfred were puzzling over some data and neither of them looked up. Deciding it best to get the chastisement over with ASAP Helena headed over to them, "Hey guys I'm sorry."
"Why didn't you clue me in that you were onto Nygma?"
The voice came from behind, and it didn't belong to Barbara. Helena turned to face a very angry Dinah.
"We're supposed to be a team."
"Yeah but sometimes I work alone." Helena retorted dismissively she was so tired of this old argument!
"Girls!" It was Barbara, "not now!"
"Fine," Dinah continued regardless, "but you should've told me."
"What's it to you anyway?" Helena shrugged.
"Because when I'm on duty I'm responsible! That means I have to know what's going on in the field, teamwork!"
The buzzer went and Alfred moved off to let Reese in.
"Dinah enough!" Barbara turned to Helena "Did you get anywhere with Nygma?"
"I just got the sense that he wants to get on with his life." Helena shrugged.
Barbara looked at Helena for a long moment. "Really?"
Helena nodded.
Barbara looked at Dinah and some small signal passed between them, it was subtle but Helena caught it.
"What?" She said defensively.
"There's something else isn't there?" Dinah prompted.
Helena turned to face her again, "Are you trying to psyche me?"
"No," Dinah said awkwardly, "I can just sense things sometimes."
"Oh really? Well can you sense what I'm thinking now little witch?"
"Yeah part of it rhymes with witch," Dinah returned determined not to be intimidated, "I guess I'm supposed to be scared now right?"
That was it! Helena advanced on Dinah but a whirling sound stopped her dead in her tracks. Barbara had thrown a "rang" their customised version of a boomerang. It whistled passed Helena's head planting itself in the wall behind.
"That's enough from both of you!" Barbara's voice was sharp.
"Er ladies, is this a bad time?" Enquired Reese awkwardly.
"May I suggest we turn to the matter in hand?" Alfred said during the awkward pause that followed. He gestured towards the monitor screen that had held both his and Barbara's attention since Reese's telephone call. "In my experience a puzzle can only be solved with a clear head."
With that said everyone went over to have a look at the monitor.
"Er Miss Helena," Alfred called. "I wonder if I might have a quick word?" He gestured for Helena to follow him out onto the balcony.
Barbara looked quizzically at Alfred, who just gave one of his "Superior smiles." Now what was he up to? A cool breeze went through the room as they both moved out into the fresh air. Whatever it was it would keep for now.
"Have you got the cards?" Barbara queried turning to Reese.
Reese took them out of his pocket "here they are just as I told you." He looked up at the data typed on the monitor screen, "I see you've got them up word perfect."
"Since you read them out to me I've had the computer looking for any cross references." Barbara explained examining the cards.
"Any luck?" Reese was totally out of his depth.
"Not sure, let's take them one by one."
Barbara brought the first message up on the screen.
Question; What Doesn't Get Wet When It Rains?
They all looked blankly at the screen.
Dinah shrugged, "that's gotta be water!"
Barbara ran a hand through her hair, "Yes but I think it's referring to a specific type of water let's look at the next one."
The next one simply read;
Whilst I was engaged in sitting
I spied the dead carrying the living.
"No idea," Dinah stated, "What's the last one?"
Barbara punched it up.
I go around in circles
whether you be Rich or Poor,
I go around in circles And leave you wanting more.
"Well don't look at me," Reese shrugged, "All this is supposed to tell us when a robbery is gonna take place?"
Barbara nodded, "Irritating isn't it?"
*****
"Well?" Helena turned to Alfred.
"Ms Helena please understand that I do not wish to pry."
"I sense a but coming," Away from the others Helena seemed far more relaxed; her earlier hostility had all but disappeared. "What's on your mind Alfred?"
Alfred paced towards the edge of the balcony and peered out at the grim architectural monstrosity that wasNew-Gotham.
"Throughout the many years I spent in your father's service, I have been required to keep many secrets." Alfred began.
Helena nodded not sure where this was going.
"He kept very detailed files on all his associates, whether they be friend or foe." Alfred paused, "shortly after Miss Barbara began operating as Oracle we transferred
the data from the cave beneath the manor," (Alfred could never bring himself to refer to it as the BatCave.)
"I remember it was all uploaded to the servers here at the clock tower," Helena acknowledged, "It was a technical nightmare."
Alfred gave a wry smile, the data had been heavily encrypted and rigged to trigger a particularly virulent virus on any would be hackers trying to upload. It had taken Barbara days to find a way to circumvent it.
"Well almost everything was transferred," Alfred confessed, " I thought it prudent to edit certain information." He looked meaningfully at Helena.
"Alfred," Helena shifted uneasily, "what are you inferring?" But deep down she knew perfectly well.
Alfred took a deep breath, "I know about your Uncle Edward." He stated.
"Okay." Helena shrugged.
"When your Father was a little younger than you are now, we spent some time in Japan he and I."
"Training?"
"Indeed, whilst young Master Bruce spent his days absorbing the way of Bushido under Sensei Yoru, I passed many a happy hour conversing with a Buddhist monk named."
"Alfred I don't wish to be rude but is there a point to this?"
"Yes of course my dear, forgive my ramblings but I was simply recalling an appropriate passage from one of the Buddhist sutra's which say's "even a heartless criminal loves his family."
"I know he's tried to go straight before Alfred, but this time it's for real."
"Ms Helena, whilst I've no doubt that you know Mr Nygma better than any of us, and have seen a side to him that none of the others even knew existed, deception nevertheless was one of The Riddler's main traits." Alfred cautioned. "Just be careful child."
Helena nodded "Alfred thank you for being discreet."
"Why my dear child think nothing of it," he smiled reassuringly, "now perhaps we should return or else face further awkward questions."
*****
The only awkward questions to face as it turned out where those posed by The Riddler it seemed. The mood inside the clock tower was very sombre, with everyone racking their brains. Dinah steadfastly refused to look in Helena's direction and Barbara's attention as usual lay in the cyber realm.
Reese on the other hand was only too glad to tear himself away from the riddles and ran over to Helena.
"How've you been?" He asked.
"Better," Helena sighed admiring Reese's rugged countenance, "I've been better."
They hugged for a long moment neither one of them wishing to break off the embrace.
"So what are the riddles?" Helena finally asked now feeling just a tad self conscious around the others.
Reese showed her the cards.
"Well the first one's water!" Helena said.
Dinah rolled her eyes.
"That's what we thought." Barbara acknowledged without looking up.
Helena joined her at the monitor, "The dead carrying the living," she mused.
"If you reverse that i.e. living carrying the dead you have pall bearers," Barbara said, "I need coffee," she sighed, "these things give me a headache."
Alfred took his cue and headed off for the kitchen.
"Pallbearers carry coffins," Helena continued following the train of thought.
"Which are made of wood," added Reese.
"So are boats!" Dinah said triumphantly, "Dead carrying the living, which must mean that the water referred to in the first riddle must be the sea!"
"It could be a river," Barbara said, "The third one doesn't fit that pattern boats don't go round in circles."
"Unless you're crossing the globe." Reese mused.
"Forget the boats for a moment," Helena said, "I go round in circles", it's gotta be a wheel, and what wheel do you associate with being rich or poor, and wanting more?"
"Roulette!" Everyone said in chorus.
"Okay, so how does this tell us the where and when?" Reese queried.
"If I may," said Alfred, suddenly reappearing bearing a tray of coffee, cream and sugar, "an invitation arrived in the morning post at the manor."
Setting down the tray, Alfred removed an envelope from the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Here we are, an invitation to a charity casino night on board "The Princess Rouge."
"It say's dinner is $500-00 a plate!" Exclaimed Helena looking over Alfred's shoulder.
"The proceeds are for famine relief and medical aid," Alfred explained, "It's an annual event, invitation only to the cream of New Gotham's elite."
"That's our where and when," Barbara confirmed.
"Great," said Dinah, "what are we gonna wear?"
"We?" Helena looked at her.
Dinah glared back, "yeah, we!"
"Er Dinah, you can't go to a casino your underage." Barbara reminded her.
Helena tried not to look too smug, but she couldn't help herself. Avoiding Dinah's gaze she helped herself to coffee.
"That's tomorrow!" Barbara exclaimed looking at the invite. "Do you know what the security arrangements will be?" She asked looking at Reese.
"I can find out." He confirmed.
Helena meanwhile was helping herself to cream when the jug mysteriously tipped itself forward, spilling its contents onto her clothes.
Helena cursed.
"Whoops!" said Dinah with a mischievous grin, trying not to look too smug.
*****
