Mercy

Chapter Nine

Lena Luthor loathed flying, but it was the fastest and supposedly safest way to travel— she ignored thinking of the last time she tried to fly by helicopter and had nearly been blown to pieces. Mostly she hated the landing and taking off, especially when it was windy and her pilot's gaze was tense as he worked the control and guided them onto the helipad. The landed jolted them and she tightened her jaw, wondering if she could split her muscles from her skin with the strain of how tightly it was clenched, and closed her eyes. Her heart was thudding in her chest, she could feel it trying to break free and sighed in relief as they settled onto the ground and the pilot shut the machine down.

She was more than eager to get out of it, and her legs were a little unsteady as she clambered down from the seat, but she could just as easily blame that on the size of her heels. A hotel employee was waiting outside the yellow circle and darted inside as she got closer, offering her a customary welcome. She waved him off, telling him to fetch her bags and bring them to her hotel room. He stammered for a moment as she brushed past him and jumped after her to hand her key card and then bolted for the helicopter and for her luggage.

She shifted her handbag over her shoulder and dug out her cell phone, checking to see if she was still on schedule as another employee directed her towards her suite, through the doors on the roof and into an exclusive elevator. She was less in awe of her than the other young man but was still highly professional as she directed Lena to her suite and she made a mental note to tip the young girl well on her departure the next day.

The elevator journey was swift and soon she was in her room and disappearing in the direction of the bathroom, leaving her bag on the large bed as she passed by. She'd stayed in this particular hotel before, back when reporters had been camping outside her house during Lex's trial and she had been impressed with the security and general manner the hotel staff had treated her with, it seemed that her wealth did compensate for her last name, at least a little. Either way, the hotel, and suite had become a place for her to relax after a long day with judgemental eyes on her and she was very familiar with it.

It was a Sunday, very early in the morning but that was the best she had been able to manage to get away from L-Corp for, she'd be back in National City by noon the next day if everything went as planned. She also felt relieved to get away from the eyes on her and of course, her wonderful DEO Agent bodyguards. Alex Danvers was a fool if she thought Lena Luthor was unaware of who she worked for and what she did, and she knew that the Agents were to guard her as well as keep an eye on her, so she had been very careful about arranging this little trip.

A sudden trip to L-Corp in the middle of the night, a helicopter on the roof, and a signal jammer, a switch at a local airfield where another two helicopters joined the third and flew off in different directions. She knew if they really wanted to find her they could, but hopefully by the time they caught up with her she'd have done what she wanted. A car would be picking her up outside the hotel, code-word 'Pandora's Box' and the responding phrase 'A crocodile sheds no tears over its meal.' Whoever had come up with the code exchange was an idiot, but, she had to admit as she stepped into the shower, no one would ever guess it.

The rest of her morning passed with her exiting the shower and making sure the outfit she'd ordered and had tailored and delivered was perfect. Where she was going required armor, she wished for a moment she was bulletproof, and fireproof, and unbreakable, but settled on her pantsuit. It consisted of black slacks, a black buttoned vest over a white blouse, and a black jacket. It was something that belonged on a run-way or a red carpet, but she needed to look the part. She'd paired it with one of her favorite pairs of heeled boots, she could use the height.

She spent over an hour and a half on her hair and make-up alone, and when it was time for her to leave she slipped on an elegant watch and checked her phone one last time. Though it was only mid-morning there was a text from Kara asking her to lunch, and she quickly flicked off a reply declining, before leaving it on the bedside table to charge. Where she was going she wouldn't be allowed to take it.