Chapter 3

"…but you didn't see that, Mr. Kent?"

"No, I hadn't arrived yet."

"What were you doing out there anyway? Kind of out of the way, isn't it?"

"Uh, our farm is not too far from there, sheriff." Clark had tried his best not to let any hint of a lie slip into anything he'd said during his questioning, but he just couldn't say, "I was trying to save Lois' life."

"Well, I think you've given us enough, Miss Lane, to possibly hold Mr. Luthor until morning, but I'm not even sure of that. I've been told his lawyers are on their way already, and the press from Metropolis will be right behind them."

"Oh great! So you're saying it doesn't matter if you commit a crime if you're rich!"

"Lois, the sheriff is doing what he can."

"Sure he is, and I'm —"

Clark got up quickly and pulled Lois after him toward the door. "Lois! Thank you, sheriff, we'll be going now."

"No! I'm not finished! I —"

"Yes, you are." Clark shot an apologetic look toward the sheriff from the doorway and pushed Lois through it.

"Clark! You realize Lex is going to get out and come after me and —"

"I know that better than you do, Lois. That's why you're staying at the house until he's behind bars for good and maybe even after that."

"What do you mean by—?"

They had come to the truck and as Clark reached to open the door for her, a long line of sleek, black cars screeched to a halt in front of the jail. Men in expensive business suits jumped out carrying brief cases and went inside as the two of them watched.

"Looks like Lex will be out in no time at all." Clark said glumly. "Get in." Lois was somber as she sat there in the truck. Clark was studying the growing crowd of onlookers gathering outside the jail. "We should have known they wouldn't be able to keep him in there. It's a small town jail. It's no match for his Ivy League bunch of lawyers."

"Uh, Clark?" He turned at the softer than normal sound of her voice.

"Yes?"

"Did Lex see you …you know…fly?"

"No, I'm sure he didn't. Is that what's worrying you? Lois, there's no need to worry about me. It's you Lex is going to be after. You're the one who broke the story." He stared across the street where another fleet of cars had just arrived carrying an assortment of reporters, newsmen and cameras.

"Lois, your seatbelt on?" When he saw her nod, he started the car, peeled out of the parking place, and did a U-turn directly across the increasing traffic, deftly dodging every car and pedestrian in sight.

"Clark!" Lois looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Why on earth—?"

"Lois, those reporters are going to be after you the minute they hear the details. Do you want to answer their questions?"

"Well, no, I don't, but…Clark, they're going to know I'll be at the farm. Maybe I should go back to my apartment?"

"No." He was thinking of all the possibilities. Finally he pulled out his phone and dialed. "Mom?"

Lois listened as Clark made the plans, first with his mother, then Chloe, then with several others, some of whom Lois didn't even know. Once she delivered some clothes and supplies from the farm to some man, his mom was going to be staying with their preacher for a few days until everything died down. A neighbor was apparently going to watch over the farm and feed Shelby. The sheriff's deputies were going to swing by and check on the place. The only thing she didn't understand was where they, she and Clark, were going. She waited as patiently as she could for him to stop the incessant dialing and talking.

"Clark?"

"Yes?" He was dialing yet again.

"You mind telling me my future here?"

"What? Oh, yeah. We…um…are going to take a little trip."

"A trip? Clark, I have a job. You have a job. We can't just take a trip to…where?"

"Oh yeah. The Planet." He dialed again. "Tess? Clark here."

"Tess? Clark, I can tell her myself that —"

"Uh, there's a situation. Oh, you heard. Well, Lois and I are…oh…ok. I won't then."

"Won't what?"

"Sure. We could do that."

"Do what?" Lois was starting to get frustrated. "Do what?" she repeated, but Clark ignored her.

"If you could, that would be great." Then to Lois, "Lois, do you have another set of keys to your apartment?"

"Why?" Then it dawned on her. "Are you out of your ever loving mind?" She changed to a violent whisper. "Tess?" He gave her an impatient look "Ok, ok. Yes. In my desk. Second drawer on the right. It's in the bottom in the little jar of pushpins."

"Did you hear that, Tess?" Then to Lois, "And your research on Lex?" She started to balk again and he gave her another stern look. "Lois?"

"On my computer in a file marked …wait. Before I left yesterday, I printed it all out and stuck it in a file in Jimmy's file cabinet under the name of Blofeld."

Clark's raised his eyebrows. "Blofeld?"

"The bad guy in the 007 movies? Sheesh, Clark, do you never watch any movies?"

"The notes are in a file in Jimmy's cabinet marked," he had to hesitate; it just sounded a little too crazy, "'Blofeld', Tess…yes, that's it. Can you bring them as well?"

Lois buried her head in her hands. Her fate was now in the hands of Tess Mercer, her boss, someone she wasn't entirely sure she even trusted. No, darn it, she was sure she didn't trust her. She had to push away the strong twinge of jealousy that sprung from somewhere inside of her when she realized that Clark apparently did.

"Let's say seven-fifteen…twenty at the most. Tess, be careful. He'll have my phone records in no time. From another one, yes. I will."

Two more calls later, she felt she finally had his attention. "Clark, mind telling me where we're going?"

"I can't."

"Hmf."

"Lois, I don't know myself yet. But if those files are as explosive as you claim, Lex can't afford to let you live. You can send him to prison for life or worse." Do you not remember how far reaching Lionel's hand once was? Lex is only going to be that much worse. Especially now. He's cornered. He knows—"

"No! You said he didn't know you could fly." Her voice got a little higher.

"He doesn't, but he just might know enough other things about me that flying might seem an insignificant fact."

"Insig—? Clark, can you hear yourself? I doubt there's another person on this entire planet who can fly. It's the most incredible…unbelievable…"

He cut right across her praise. There was no time for this. "Are you sure there's enough proof in those files? Do we need more?"

"No, there's enough, as long as it's a fair trial and not a farce of one. I suppose he could pay off enough jury members or judges, but he'd leave a trail if he did, so... But, Clark, what does he —?"

"Tess is going to bring some of your clothes, other things you'll need." He checked the rear view mirror yet again. Nothing. "Here we go," and with that, he steered the truck to the right, down a narrow dirt road leading off through the trees. Lois held on as the truck bumped and skidded over the poorly kept road, if it could be even called that. It was more like a track. Five minutes later, Clark applied the brakes as the dust swirled all around the truck.

"Where are we?" she asked, but again Clark ignored her and jumped from the truck. It seemed like he was opening her door before she had time to blink. "Clark?"

"Come on." He led her a few yards through the trees to another dirt road almost parallel to the one where they'd parked. Darkness was falling quickly and Lois held onto Clark's hand with a fierceness that surprised her. She saw Clark turn his head as if he was listening for something. "This way," he said quietly, and she followed him once more into the thicket of trees. After a few minutes walking, she saw car lights flicker on and off just ahead of them. Clark raised a hand and gave a low whistle.

A few seconds later, she heard the rustling of someone coming through the trees toward them. "Kent?" The whispered name carried in the cool night air.

"Here, Mr. Whitmore." Clark also spoke in a lowered tone.

The man approached and Lois registered at once that he held a rifle. He was elderly and walked with a decided limp. His clothes had definitely seen better days and there was a wariness about him that was disturbing, but the man smiled as he came forward and shook Clark's hand.

"She's about a mile up the road, all gassed up and ready. The things Mrs. Kent brought are in the trunk with the gear." The man handed a set of keys to Clark as Clark did the same with the keys to the truck. "She's not much any more, but she'll get you where you need to go. Don't you worry none about bringing her back neither. I reckon she belongs to you as much as me. Your dad gave her to me when I was in dire need. If there is ever anything I can ever do for his son, you only have to ask."

"I can't thank you enough already for this."

The man nodded. "The Mrs. put a little something in there for you too. It ain't fancy, but it's fillin'. You take it easy, you hear?"

Clark opened his mouth to begin another round of thanks but the man held up his hand.

"Your mom gave me enough hints what you're up to. That's good enough for me. Just watch your back."

"I will." Clark hesitated. "Mr. Whitmore? Don't drive the truck for a few days, okay? They'll be looking for it."

"I'll hide it well. You can trust me, son."

"I know I can. Thanks again."

Lois nodded to the man even though he had never really addressed her. She had a feeling he knew perfectly well who she was and the whole story anyway

As they walked down the path to the old blue car that awaited them, Lois bombarded him with more questions, most of which Clark ignored.

"Tess? I can't believe you. She worked for Lex, for Pete's sake! For all we know she was just keeping the seat warm while he came back from the dead. Why do you trust her?"

"I just do. And if it turns out I'm wrong about her, I'll fix it. I promise. Is that good enough for you?"

"No, but do I have any choice in any of this?" Her hands were stuffed inside her pockets, another bad sign he recognized.

"Not really." Clark smiled and he held open yet another car door for her.

To be continued….