A/N I wrote this chapter.

But Kelly did edit it. So she deserves a lot of credit for that.

Trust me. Thanks partner!

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

The Plot Thickens

Queen Industries and Luthorcorp Announce Merger

At a press conference Monday morning Oliver Queen, CEO of Queen industries announced his plans to merge with Luthorcorp Inc.

Lois sighed at the computer screen. That was about all she had until a certain billionaire faxed over the details like he promised, yesterday. Hitting save Lois closed her laptop and stretched.

She was grateful Oliver talked her into staying at his pent house. She was going to get a hotel room, but it would have been a complete waste of money judging by the fact this was the first time in three days she'd seen the outside of a hospital.

'Here I go again on my own…"

Lois snatched her phone from her bag and glanced at the caller I.D.

'speak of the devil' she smiled to herself and flipped open her cell.

"Where are my papers, Queen?"

Oliver laughed. "Hello to you to, Lois."

"I'm serious blondie I need those files no later than tonight if I'm going to make my deadline."

"Lois, I'm sure if you wanted me to I could persuade Tess into giving you an extension." He replied suggestively.

Lois rolled her eyes. "That won't be necessary."

"You're no fun." He teased, "And don't worry. I'm faxing them as we speak." Lois hardly believed that.

"You better be." She warned.

There was a pregnant pause of the other end of the phone.

"So." Oliver began cautiously, "How are you? Really." He had to approach the subject as delicately as possible.

"I'm fine. Now that Chloe's safe and sound. I'm completely fine." It wasn't a complete lie.

"Then why are you still in Star City?"

"Wow you get straight to the point, don't you?"

"I don't believe in beating around the bush. Now quit stalling."

Lois bit her lip. She really didn't want to talk about this. And honestly she didn't have an answer for him.

Knock. Knock.

"Lois, it's me. Can I come in?"

Chloe. Lois silently thanked every deity she could think of.

"Ollie, I'm going to have to call you back. Bye." She hung up before he could protest.

"Yeah, come on in, Chlo." She called.

The petite blond bounded through the door.

Lois immediately pulled her into a hug.

"Not that I'm complaining, but you know you don't have to do that every time I walk into a room, right?"

"Sorry. I guess I'm just making sure you're real and not some figment of my imagination or something." Lois replied a bit embarrassed. "So, how's Jimbo doing?"

"One of the nurses had to give him a tranquilizer. He refused to go to sleep. He said he was afraid that if he closed his eyes I'd disappear again." Chloe grinned to herself.

"Yeah, well." Lois didn't really have a response to that.

"Lois. It's OK. I'm OK. " Chloe reassured her. "And thank you, by the way. You've more than fulfilled you cousin-ly duties." Her smiled faltered.

"Wha-" Lois stopped when she noticed the small travel sized suitcase behind her cousin.

"Seriously?" The brunette crossed her arms over her chest.

"Lois, I can't just leave Isis unattended. I'll be back in couple of days. I'm just going to commute back and forth, until it's safe for Jimmy to transfer permanently to Metropolis." Chloe explained quickly.

Lois crossed her arms over her chest. "Chloe I think your clients will understand that you have a family emergency. Don't you have a manager or someone who can watch the place while you're gone?"

"No." The small blonde admitted becoming increasingly interested in her feet. "Lois I'm sorry. But try to understand. Please? For me."

Lois sighed defeatedly.

"Does Jimmy know?"

"Yes. And he's fine with it."

"When are you leaving?"

"In a couple of hours. Why don't you come with me? I mean there's no reason for you to stay."

Why was everyone bugging her about this?

"Uh-Sorry Chlo. I can't. I'm meeting a friend for coffee in a little while. Besides, someone should stay with Jimmy. He still has to undergo another surgery. And since I can't seem to get a hold of his parents-"

"Yeah." Chloe interrupted. "Lois you're not going to be able to get a hold of them." Chloe gave her a meaningful look.

"Oh. I see. I'm guessing that business trip wasn't the real reason they missed the wedding, huh."

Chloe shook her head. "Look, I can-"

Lois held up her hand to silence her.

"No need to explain, cuz. I get it. Not your secret to tell."

There was a brief silence.

Lois glanced at her watch.

"Look Chloe I've got to get going. Have a safe trip. And please, for my sanity's sake stay away from all things scaly and cold blooded." Chloe laughed and hugged her big cousin.

"I promise." She kissed her cheek. "Love you."

"Back at ya" Lois replied grabbing her bag.

***********

Lois was on her second cup of coffee when Amy finally showed up.

"Hey" Lois greeted her "What happened? I was just about to call you."

"Yeah, sorry I'm late," the red head replied quickly glancing behind her shoulder as she sat down. "Something came up." She finished slowly.

"You sounded kind of weird on the phone, earlier. Is everything OK?"

"Mmm-hm" Amy replied flashing her companion a strange smile.

Lois' reporter instincts were tingling. Something wasn't right.

Reaching into her bag, Amy pulled out a manila folder and slid it across the table.

"Here. This is the file on Jimmy you wanted."

Lois looked at the folder before giving her new friend a bemused look. She'd never asked to see a file on Jimmy. But something about Amy's expression made her bite back her questions, for the moment, at least.

"Thanks?" Lois replied taking the document. She was about to open it, when a delicate, pale hand stopped her.

"Not here." Amy whispered shaking her head. The nurse leaned in closer, "it's not safe here. Wait till you get back to your hotel room."

Lois couldn't stop herself this time.

"What's going on?" The brunette demanded.

"Later." Amy assured her. "I promise."

"No. Now! Why are you acting so strange? What is this-"

"Shhh!" Amy's bright green eyes went wide as she skimmed the room. "It's not safe here." She repeated emphasizing each word.

But Lois wasn't backing down. "Why not? What are you so afraid of?"

Sighing, Amy put her hand by her mouth. "Look, I need your help. I can't explain anything now. They have eyes and ears everywhere."

"They?"

"Just be at the hospital tonight. I'll find you." With that Amy rose from her seat. "Well, if that's all you needed." She was talking louder than necessary, "I have to get to work. Have a safe flight home, Miss Lane."

And she was gone.

Lois took a last gulp of her coffee and pulled out her cell phone.

"Ollie? It looks like I'm going to need you to get me that extension after all."

***********

Steven Mandragora.

That was the name on top of the file Amy had given to her at the coffee shop.

Lois didn't know why, but she knew that name. Why did she know that name?

Google was little to no help. It was like the guy didn't even exist. But there he was.

His beady black eyes staring back at her from the picture in his file.

It was time to call in a favor.

***********

"Steven Mandragora? Well I'll be damned I haven't heard that name in nearly 20 years." Frank's booming voice echoed throughout the room. Lois put him on loudspeaker so she could record the conversation.

She was in Ollie's private study, which was probably the most secure place in the entire City, considering it was where he kept his green leather.

"Who is he Frank? I need details."

"Why? Lois? Are you in trouble? What in the Hell have you gotten yourself into, this time!"

"I'm fine Frank. You promised no questions."

"Cut the bull, Lo. I served with your father during two wars. I was there when you came home from the hospital. Now tell me what the Hell you're involved with that has to do with Steven Mandragora. Or so help me I will call the general."

Lois let out an exasperating sigh. Dammit!

"I don't know." She admitted "yet. I don't know yet. That's why I need your help. Please Frank."

She heard the gruff man inhale sharply through the phone. She could imagine him sitting in his comfy chair puffing on a cigar. That's where her dad had picked it up.

"Alright. But you know your father will skin me alive if anything happens to you."

"Thanks Uncle Frank."

"I'll send you the papers tonight."

"What? Can't you just tell me?"

Silence.

"Is your line secure?" Frank finally asked.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." This had to be something big.

"I can't tell you much, it'll all be in the report. But you're playing with the big boys, Lo. Be careful, the mob is nothing to take lightly."

"Mob?"

***********

Lois typed the name 'Amy Saunders' into the search engine.

What did a night nurse have to do with the mob?

Then suddenly she remembered

She looked over at the petite nurse and smiled. "So what about you, Amy? What made you decide to get into nursing?"

"Well, I guess I've been taking care of people all my life. My sister had leukemia when we were younger."

Lois's eyes went wide with realization. She had a hunch. A big hunch. A horrible hunch. For the first time in her career the reporter prayed she was wrong.

Scrolling through the page, Lois finally found the correct 'Amy Saunders,' and clicked on the link.

Her stomach dropped as she read.

"Oh, my God."

Slamming her laptop shut, Lois grabbed the file that Amy had given her earlier and the reports Frank had sent her and raced out the door.

She hoped Ollie wouldn't mind her taking his Jag, she needed to get to the hospital and she needed to get there fast.

***********

Lois tried to act nonchalant as she strolled down the hall of the hospital. Most of the staff recognized her and she nodded to them as they passed.

As she neared the nurse's station, something caught her eye. At the end of the hall two big thugs dressed like they just stepped out of a 1940's gangster movie, were guarding a room.

Steven Mandragora's room.

He was right down the hall from Jimmy's. How could she have missed that? She'd practically lived here for three straight days!

Still annoyed with herself, Lois approached the nurse behind the desk.

"Amy Saunders, please." She said a little more curtly then she meant to.

"I'm sorry miss, but Amy isn't on duty tonight."

"What do you mean she's not on duty tonight?" Lois's heart rate suddenly increased.

"I'm sor-"

"Nevermind!" Lois slammed her hands down on the counter and walked away. Cursing herself and praying the two idiots down the hall didn't get a good look at her.

As she passed the supply closet a small hand reached out and grabbed her.

Lois was so caught off guard that she didn't have time to fight it as she was pulled into the tiny room.

"What the Hell do you-" she stopped mid sentence, realizing who her kidnapper was, "Amy?"

The red head smiled meekly, "sorry about that, I just couldn't risk them seeing me."

"Why did you want to meet at the hospital, when you know those goons are here?" Lois questioned.

Amy smiled grimly.

"You know don't, you? You figured it out. I knew you would. I knew you were the only person I could trust."

"You still haven't answered my question." Lois replied ignoring her accusation.

"This broom closet is probably the safest place in the city, besides Oliver Queens pent house that is."

Lois couldn't help, but chuckle.

"Amy-"

"How much do you know?" The red head interjected. "It'll be a lot easier if I know how much you've figured out already."

Lois nodded. "I know that your father borrowed money from Steven Mandragora fifteen years ago to pay for your sister's leukemia treatments. They killed him. Didn't they?"

Amy nodded.

"Your mother, to?"

"No. The report was correct, she killed herself." Amy answered quietly.

"You've been trying to pay off your father's debt by working as a nurse here at night and waitressing down at that club, 'Bunnies" by day. Which I assume is just a front for the mob." Lois continued. "But you lied to me. You said your sister was in good health that day we talked in the cafeteria, but she's not is she? She's relapsed. Hasn't she?"

The red head nodded, but didn't say anything so Lois carried on.

"You were in med school when your father was killed. You wanted to be a doctor not a nurse. But when you found out about Daddy's dirty little secret you had to drop out and pay off what your family owed."

Again Amy agreed.

"But what I don't understand is why, now? Why after five years are you just now trying get help? "

"You're right. Abby's Leukemia flared up again. It's bad, this time. She's very sick."

"I'm sorry." She meant it.

"I overheard some very delicate information. Information that could potentially take down the entire organized crime community, if placed in the right hands," Amy stated.

"I still don't-"

"They know. " The nurse started to shake, "they know I was there. They know that I know and-" she was breathing heavy, silent tears streaking down her face.

"Shhh. It's OK." Lois pulled her shaking body into a hug, "they won't hurt you, you are the only one who can-" Pause. "Your sister. They're threatening to hurt Abby if you talk." Lois said putting the pieces together.

"Yes!" Amy sobbed into her shoulder.

"I still don't understand why? -"

"They killed my father, Lois. They destroyed my family. Why do you think my mother killed herself? I'll be working off their stupid debt until I'm in my eighties! I did the math. I'll never escape! Abby will never escape! They need to be stopped!"

"But why not just go to the police?"

"They're the mob, Lois!" Amy was nearly hysterical. "They have their thumbs in every pie in the city and in Washington. They own everything. I can't leave. I can't go to the police. I can't even write to my congressman!"

"Amy, calm down."

"You are the only one who can help me, Lois. No reporter in the city will go near a story like this! They couldn't even if they wanted to. But you can."

Lois nodded. "OK. What do you know?"

Amy reached into her pocket and pulled out a small brass key and handed it to the reporter.

"Here."

"What is this too?"

"At the club-"

Suddenly the door burst open. Standing in the threshold was a very nervous looking intern.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just needed to get-"

Before he could finish Amy pushed passed him and raced down the hallway.

Lois tried to follow her, but the stupid kid blocking the door, cut her off.

"I'm going to need whatever she gave you." The so-called skittish intern had suddenly grown a pair.

Lois snorted. The mob really did have their thumbs in a lot of pies.

"Get out of my way." Lois tried once again to get passed him, but he pushed her back.

OK. He wanted to play rough.

Without hesitation she lunged. He wasn't expecting her to retaliate so quickly, if at all and got the wind knocked out of him as the brunette tackled him to the floor.

Lois situated the key between her knuckles making sure the blunt end was sticking out and punched the over confident twerp, "Didn't you're mother ever tell you it's rude to hit a girl! You creep!"

The intern touched his face and groaned, "You bitch!"

She'd split his lip.

"Hey! What the Hell is going on down there!" Lois's head shot up. One of the thugs guarding Mandragora was coming toward them.

Fast.

Scrambling to her feet, she sprinted down the hall, clutching the key in her fist.

She prayed that stupid kid hadn't gotten a good look at her face as she opened the door to the jag.

Amy was gone. She knew that. They had most likely caught up to her.

Lois tore out of the garage and headed north. She had to make a quick pit stop. Then she was going clubbing.

***********

Coming soon: Lois goes undercover and runs into someone very unexpected....

A/N: Please review. Pretty please? I'm not too proud to beg y'know! *gets down on knees*