Kent leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and cradled his head in his hands. It just wasn't coming together. That day's city council meeting had gone pretty much as he'd expected -- a 4-3 vote backing the mayor and council president to approve their favorite developer's building plan despite its significant deviation from local building, planning and zoning codes.
But the story he knew waking up that morning that he would write that night wasn't appearing on his computer screen. It wasn't writer's block. It was too much information, too many images, too much moral indignation coursing through his brain. They were cancelling out each other, not transferring smoothly into a comprehensive news story.
He felt a tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes. His city editor, Barry Black, hovered over him.
"Taking a nap there, ace?" Black said. He was not smiling.
"Just doing a little pre-editing, chief," Kent said. "You'll have the story by deadline."
"Before deadline would be nice, for a change." The editor moved on to harass his education reporter. The state had issued its periodic report cards on local school districts that day; none of them made the dean's list.
Kent stared at the computer screen. Hit "control a" and then "delete." Starting over was the only solution. He felt more hands on his shoulders. He turned and looked behind him. Smiled. More welcome hands.
"Having trouble?" Lois Landon grinned down at him. She massaged his shoulders. "You look like you need to clear your head. Come with me."
Kent made it a habit of never failing to follow Lois when she summoned. She was the hottest woman in the newsroom. Soft skin. Long black hair, big dark eyes. A contagious smile. Slim body. He compared her favorably to one of his favorite actresses -- Emmy Rossum, equally delectable as both Christine Daae and Fiona Gallagher. Though Lois had bigger tits.
Lois led him into the seldom-used photo darkroom. The paper maintained a file of old negatives that were pulled out mainly for historical pieces, all other photos being recorded digitally, of course. The photo editor, Jimmy Oldman, had refitted the room with a large arm chair, an ottoman, an office fridge and a flat-screen TV.
Lois pushed Kent down on the chair. She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. He raised his hands to her cup her bra-less breasts in his palms. "Think a hummer will do the trick?" she asked. She loosened his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. His cock was hardening quickly as she pulled it out.
"I've found it's a panacea for many a problem," Kent said.
"Me too." Lois lowered her face to his dick. She licked precum from the tip and slowly wrapped her lips around it. She held his balls in one hand and stroked the base of his cock with the other. He laid his head back and closed his eyes again, the frustration easing out of him with each stroke of her lips on his shaft.
"Hello, kids." Kent looked up. Lois popped his dick out of her mouth and turned to smile at Jimmy.
"I'm just giving our wordsmith here some inspiration. He's going to blow the top off city hall with his story tomorrow."
"If you don't blow the top of his head off tonight," Jimmy said.
Lois turned back to Kent and took his cock in her mouth again.
"Where you been?" Kent asked.
"Apartment house fire," Jimmy said. "Slumlord wouldn't spring for smoke detectors. Got some good shots of firefighters carrying kids and cats from the blaze. Could be my Pulitzer."
"You smell like smoke."
"That ain't me," Jimmy said, chuckling. "That's our favorite environmental reporter. She's smokin' hot."
Lois lifted her head. "With that, you may fuck me."
"You have that on your phone? Just push a button? Or do you have to repeat it multiple times every day?"
She reached around to try to slap his legs in mock disgust. He had backed away, though, to lower his pants and boxers. He lifted his hips, pushed her short skirt up over her ass and yanked her panties down her legs. Her moan vibrated over Kent's dick as Jimmy eased his cock into her pussy.
Lois took pride in three things: (a) Her appearance. She knew she could turn heads walking down a street wearing farmer's baggy overalls. (b) Her professionalism. Nobody knew more about environmental issues or reported on them more thoroughly than she did. (c) Her sluttiness. Anywhere, any time, any hole. The more often, the more variety, the more men -- and the occasional woman -- the better. A DP with two respected colleagues just off the newsroom was among her favorites.
She braced herself on the arms of the chair as Jimmy quickened the pace of his thrusts into her cunt. She took Kent's slender dick balls deep into her throat. Jimmy bent over her. He reached under and unbuttoned her blouse enough to slip his hands inside and jiggle her tits. Kent held her head lightly in his hands, though she needed no encouragement to suck him feverishly.
"Oh, shit, Lo, I'm gonna come," Kent said. She nodded her head, tightened the grip of her lips on his rod. He raised his hips. She pressed her nose into his pelvis, rose up to smack her lips on the tip, then dove back down as Kent unleashed strings of cum into her throat. She gulped it down.
Lois held Kent's cock in her mouth while Jimmy continued to pound her from behind. She reached between her legs and cupped his balls in her hand. Kent slid a hand to her left tit. Jimmy held the right one. She wiggled her ass to encourage Jimmy to fuck her harder, deeper. She shivered with rapture as her pussy juice flowed out over the photographer's cock. He arched his back, clenched his hips and fired jism into her pussy.
As they caught their breaths and straightened their clothing, Lois said, "Well, you two boys still have things to file. I, of course, filed my story early, efficient little bitch that I am."
"So, now, what're you gonna do?" Jimmy asked. "Go home to your husband?"
"Yep. I'm gonna sneak into the apartment and see if I can catch him fucking your wife."
"Ha! He wishes."
"Damn straight he does. When's she gonna let him into that sweet cooch of hers?
"Maybe when you get your head out of it."
"Hmm. Last time I looked, I couldn't get in. Too many cocks in the way."
"It's those fucking college boys upstairs. Always seem to be running out of honey."
Lois finished buttoning her blouse. She stood on tiptoes and kissed Jimmy on the lips. "Go file those Pulitzer winners. And you (turning back to Kent), just remember: Let the facts tell the story. Simple sentences. A period can be the reader's best friend. Be sparing with adjectives. You've done it before, hundreds of times. So go make us proud."
As Kent passed the city desk, Black shook his head. "Well, I hope that break blew the cobwebs out."
Kent moved on to his desk without comment. Just a sly smile. Then the words poured forth. Simple and direct, just like Lois reminded. He read it over, cut a couple adjectives and was satisfied. The just-the-facts report shouted a message loud and clear: At city hall, money rules. He filed the story.
X X X
Jimmy snapped picture after picture as he and Kent watched from half a block away as councilman Berkowitz pulled into the lot at his dry cleaning business in a brand new Lexus.
"Luther moves fast," Kent said.
"Probably had the car parked out front of Fred's house when he got home from the council meeting."
Lester Luther owned half of downtown and an array of office buildings and retail along the main arteries. His profit margins were semi-reliably reported to be huge. He spread the wealth around with "gifts" to various "dear friends" in and out of government. He donated enough to charity to get his picture in the paper frequently.
"You think the rumors about that place are true?" Jimmy asked, nodding toward the dry cleaning shop.
"That Fred's gambling or prostitution or drug-peddling operations, take your pick or picks, are run out of the back room? Yeah, I believe it. Just wish I could prove it," Kent said.
"You think Luther's in on that?"
"Naw. He maintains that patina of respectability, nothing nefarious on the side. Just a lot of cash floating around to make sure there are no obstacles in his way."
Kent pulled his seat belt back around him and clicked it in place. Jimmy started the paper's photo staff car. "Let's go. I think I can prove the provenance of that Lexus, though. That's a start."
The local motor vehicles office was a short walk from the Daily World building. Kent took the steps two at a time and breezed through the front door. There was, of course, a long, long line, but he caught the eye of a supervisor who was seated at a desk behind the counter. She nodded him toward a side hallway.
"Hi, Cindy. You're looking mighty fine today. As usual," Kent said, making sure she knew by his tone that he was mimicking a newshound from a 1930s crime movie.
"Flattery won't work today, Mr. Kent Clark. What brings you here, you dirty dog? I'm sure it isn't solely a desire for my company."
"You underestimate your powers of attraction, Cindy. But, alas, you're right. I do have an ulterior motive."
"Which is?"
"Title search. New Lexus. Currently being driven by a certain city council member."
"What's in it for me?"