Title: Vanish
Author: tmjohn72
Rarting: M
Chapter One
Chloe was worried. It had been nearly three days without any word from Clark.
No one had seen him within that time, and the person she figured had something to do with it wouldn't see her.
She sat at her desk at the Daily Planet, unable to get any work done. She was so focused on trying to figure something out that she didn't notice her Editor walk up to her.
"Excellent job on the Fire Fighter tribute, Ms. Sullivan."
"Thank you."
"You look lost. Do you need to talk?
"It's just a friend of mine. He's missing."
The editor seems concerned. "Most people would be lost in a situation like this. But you're a reporter. Go find your friend. If you can't, find someone who can."
An idea suddenly jumps into her head. Exactly.
"Thank you," she says, quickly grabbing her purse and locking down her computer. She makes her way to the elevator and starts to descend the floors.
Back at her apartment, she frantically searches through her closet. Clothes are being tossed onto the bed in piles, until she finally comes across the green blazer. She takes it over to her desk and eyes it carefully.
Taking the scizzors, she slices the collar open, revealing a tiny wireless microphone hidden within the fabrics. She stares at it for a moment, knowing what it can do and who it can contact. The only problem is getting it to work.
After about an hour of looking at the circuitry, she manages to reactivate the power cell that was fried in an electrical storm when Oliver had her tracking down a modern-day mob boss.
She takes a deep breath, hoping it will work. It has to.
"I don't know if you can hear me, but I hope you can. I need your help. Contact me as soon as possible. It's Clark."
She takes a paperweight and smashes the receiver, preventing it from relaying anything without her knowledge. After a moment of sitting and doing nothing, she suddenly rises to her feet. If they didn't get the message, she was going to be on her own. She had some research to do.
Lana walks into Chloe's apartment, finding scattered papers surrounding her on the couch. "Chloe, are you alright? You sounded frantic on the phone."
"I'm sorry for calling you. Clark's missing."
Lana doesn't seem as concerned. "Chloe, he's probably out looking for something, or someone. Trust me, Clark can take care of himself."
There it was again. A moment when Chloe wondered if Lana knew Clark's secret, or if it was just a simple platitude. A vote of confidence. Without knowing, she couldn't let anything spill.
"Either way, I've been trying to track down his movements. His mother said she talked to him early Tuesday morning, when she was getting ready to fly to a meeting in Florida. As far as I can tell, no one has seen or heard from him since."
Worry suddenly washes over Lana, making her wonder if something is really wrong. "Clark has vanished before, though. Almost a handful of times. How can we know if this is something more serious?"
"I'm going to go to the farm and see if I can find any signs of a struggle. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course. What do you need me to do?"
"There's a possibility that Lex may have something to do with this. I've tried to get in to see him, but I just get the typical 'Mr. Luthor is too busy" speech. If anyone can get to Lex, it's you."
"Because I used to be his wife. Got it."
"I know I'm asking a lot Lana, and I know we haven't really been all that close since the whole Lex marriage thing, but Clark needs us. If there's one thing we have in common, it's our love for him."
Lana takes a deep breath. She nods. "I'll call you if I find out anything."
"Me too," Chloe says, walking to the counter to get her car keys and purse.
"And Lana," she adds, "Be careful!"
"Ma'am, I shouldn't have let you in here. I'm going to get fired for this, I know it."
"Relax Adam, I'm not going to fire you for letting my ex-wife into my office. This time," he says, telling his employee to leave with a simple look. Adam nods and heads out of the office as quickly as he can, quietly closing the door behind him.
"I'd like to tell you that it's great to see you, but all things considering. You aren't going to try to kill me again, are you?"
"No," Lana says.
"It's funny. I don't get the impression you regret it, or that you wouldn't do it again. I just don't think that you believe you can."
"I'm not here to talk about us. It's a part of my history I'd prefer to forget entirely. I'm here because of Clark."
Lex takes a seat in his chair. He seems calm. Nothing is going to shake him.
"Did you hear me," Lana asks?
"I heard you. What about him?"
"He's missing. Have you seen him? Maybe in one of those top secret facilities that you own, but know nothing about?"
"I haven't seen Clark, no do I desire to. As impossible as it is for you to believe this, I've given up my special projects research with the government and focused on more humanitarian efforts. Did you ever love me?"
"What does that have to do with Clark?"
"Nothing."
Lana takes a deep breath. "At one time, yes."
"What happened?"
"I realized I loved Clark more. Then I saw you for who you truly are."
Lana turns and leaves. Lex activates a series of security monitors, hidden behind a large map on the wall. The screen shows Lana enter the elevator. She begins to dial a number on her cell. "Chloe, it's me. Where are you, why aren't you picking up? I just left Lex's office. He says that he hasn't seen Clark, but he's lying. He knows something."
Lex looks angry. He taps a series of buttons on his keyboard. The elevator stops suddenly.
Inside the elevator, Lana looks at her cell phone.
"Signal blocked? Lex, what are you doing?"
"I'm keeping you safe, my love," he says, over the intercom in the elevator. The elevator immediately reactivates, going back towards the higher levels of the building.
Lana is worried. She is stuck, and there's only one way Lex would be willing to keep her captive like this. He has Clark.