Lois and Chloe were at the Daily Planet. Chloe pounded furiously at the keys, while Lois just watched. Every now and then a mechanical voice would say, "Access Denied."
At last, Lois rolled back in her chair and complained, "This is getting us nowhere."
"Hacking into the computer of the biggest crime boss in Metropolis is not an easy job."
"But it's so boring and what kind of story does it get us?"
"Exposing the biggest crime boss in Metropolis? Are you kidding?"
"I know we agreed to work on this story together and don't get me wrong, Chlo, you're good at what you do. You're a computer genius and you snag the story, but it's not my style. I like to get my hands messy and put myself in the action."
"But my way is less dangerous."
"How about we both pursue the story our own way but then we combine our stuff and still write it together?"
"Your way is going to get you killed. What do you plan to do?"
"We need hard evidence that John Alberto is a crime boss, right? Well, where's a better place to look than his house?"
"Are you crazy? You're going to break in and enter his home?"
"Of course not."
"That's a relief. I was worried for a second."
"I'm going to get a job there."
"Lois!"
"He's always looking for new servants."
"For a good reason, they always mysteriously leave the country or something like that, but everyone knows they end up swimming with the fishes. They find out too much and he doesn't want to take a chance."
"But by the time he's ready to dispose of me, I'll already have the evidence we need, so relax. I've done made up my mind. I'm applying for a job today," and Lois left the office.
Chloe sighed and picked up the phone. She swore Lois needed to have her head examined. "Hi, Clark. You won't believe what Lois is up to now."
sss
Lois stood before the mansion. It was very pretty. The house was white and the garden was blooming with colorful flowers. It looked so picturesque, it was hard to believe it belonged to someone so evil, but maybe that was the idea. Lois had on old clothes, she'd messed up her hair a little, and she'd used a little makeup to give herself dark circles under her eyes. She wanted to give the impression that she was a poor, unemployed girl that nobody cared about. She pressed the talk button on an intercom that was perched on the white wall next to the gates.
"Yes?" came a gruff voice.
"Uh, I really need a job. I heard that you might be looking for a maid?"
"Come in," the voice said.
The iron gates creaked open ominously. Lois took a deep breath and walked up to the house.
A rough-looking character opened the door for her, "You're lucky. A girl just quit yesterday. Do you have any experience in this line of work?"
"No, sir, but I'm a fast learner."
He scrutinized her closely. "I bet you are. Go up the stairs and to the right and the room at the end of the hall is the one you want. You should find Mrs. Rodgers. She'll see to it that you get cleaned up and get a maid's uniform. She'll also inform you of your duties. I'm warning you now, girly. Mind your own business and stay out of Mr. Alberto's way."
"Yes, sir," Lois answered in a purposely timid voice.
"What's your name?" he asked her.
"Lola Cane."
"Remember what I said, Lola."
"Yes, sir," she said and then she headed to find Mrs. Rodgers.
sss
Later that evening, Lois was going down to the kitchen for supper. She had gotten a tour of the place, but it was so big, it was easy to get lost. In the kitchen, there were a lot of servants, at least 20. Mr. and Mrs. Alberto ate in the dining room, of course.
Lois almost gave herself away when she saw Clark among the servants. She so desperately wanted to yell and question what he was doing here. She had to bite her tongue. Mrs. Rodgers introduced her and then went around telling her each servant's name. She paused at Clark. "I'm afraid I don't know this young man."
"Chuck Flint, ma'am. I'm the new butler."
Then she continued the introductions, but Lois wasn't paying attention. She was seething. She couldn't wait to get her hands on 'Chuck' and Chloe, who surely put him up to it.