Chapter 7
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New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.
"Jodi, hi!" Abby said on the phone as she called her very first friend in Smallville. "So, how is your new high school?"
"Oh, Abby, school is going great." Jodi replied on the other end of the line. "No one knows me here. It's like starting fresh."
"Well, technically it's the case. You are starting fresh." Abby poured herself a glass of orange juice. "Have you made any friends?"
"There's some people in my history class. I spent most of my time with them but I wouldn't call them friends, yet." Jodi replied. "It's not the same."
"I know what you mean." Abby sighed. She had Clark, Chloe and Pete but…she really missed Jodi. The young girl held a special spot in her heart. "How's the treatment going?"
"Well, I still need to take it but I'm doing much better." Jodi explained. "I'm just hungry for normal food."
"That's great." Abby exclaimed. "Tell you what, during break, I'll come and visit you."
"You would do that?" Jodi asked her.
"Yes!" Abby replied. "I can tell you everything that's happened in Smallville. And you can tell me all about your new life in Metropolis."
"Oh, Abby, that would be wonderful. I would love to see you again." Jodi said excitedly. "You have no idea how great it is to be able to talk to you."
"I know how that feels like." Abby smiled. "It's like taking a breath of fresh air."
"Exactly." Jodi retorted. "Abby, I got to go. But we call each other later."
"No problem." Abby replied. "I'll call you this week end."
"Perfect." Jodi agreed. "Bye, Abby."
"Until next time." Abby said before hanging up the phone.
"How is Miss Mellville?" Myrtle asked as she placed a plate in front of Abby.
"Great. She's finally able to go to school. Still on treatment but only feeding on regular human food." Abby answered. "Chorizo, yummy."
"This is good news." Myrtle commented.
"Awesome news!" Abby corrected with a mouthful of pizza. "She's almost back to normal. And I'll be able to visit her soon."
Abby rushed to the hospital in the morning. There was a robbery at the Luthor's mansion and Chloe was hurt. Injured badly.
"Abby." Clark stood up when Abby stepped in
"Clark." Abby said quickly walking towards the bed. "I came as I could. How is she?"
"I don't know." Clark answered sadly. "Lex is talking with the doctors right now."
Abby took Chloe's hand in hers. Her friend looked in pretty bad shape. A black eye, a broken arm. Those were visible injuries. What if there was more that couldn't be seen. Abby always prided herself in being tough. But that was easy for her, she wasn't like anybody else. Chloe Sullivan, on the other hand, was completely human and Abby knew for a fact that her friend was tougher than she would ever be. Seeing her like hurt her terribly. She couldn't lose Chloe. She didn't want to. Not like that.
"Clark. Abby." Lex said stepping into the room. Abby looked up at him. "Don't worry. I brought in the best doctors from Metropolis."
"Is she gonna be alright?" Clark asked him.
"Doctors aren't sure." Lex answered. "The fall was pretty bad. She broke her left arm and has a concussion. They want to make sure there's no brain swelling."
"I should have gotten to her."
"I don't mean to belabor the obvious, Clark. But this isn't your fault."
"I just don't know what happened." Clark continued. "One minute the room is empty. Then, they appeared out of thin air. Do the police have any leads?"
"They don't think I'm the first that's been hit." Lex informed them. "There's been a dozen of these robberies all over the counties. This gang, somehow, get in and out without busting a single lock. They even try to hit the Smallville Savings alone."
"I didn't hear about that" Clark shook his head.
"Banks don't publicize attempted robberies, Clark. It's bad for their image."
"If nothing was taken, how do they know they were robbed?"
"Apparently, they tripped an alarm inside the vault. Although, no one knows how they got in there in the first place."
"Was anything taken?" Abby finally asked. "Can the police trace it?"
"I didn't report anything stolen, Abby." Lex replied.
"Why not? I saw them walk out with two bags." Clark told him.
"I don't care about that. I just want to find the people who did this to Chloe." Lex said back. "When I do. I promise you they will be dealt with accordingly."
"What does that mean?" Clark frowned.
"It means you should let me worry about it." Lex retorted. "Now, why don't you go home and get some rest." And he left.
Abby did not believe that Lex really wanted to find those people because of what they did to Chloe. She strongly believed that Lex wanted to find them for something else. Something that he did not declare as being stolen. She turned her gaze back on Chloe. No matter what Lex's plans were. Hers were simple. She was going to find out who were those guys. She would stop them and make them pay for what they've done to her friend.
"All I know is that Lex did not report anything stolen" Abby explained to Myrtle as they both sat down at the kitchen table. "There's nothing in those reports that I don't know already."
"I am sorry, miss Abigail." Myrtle apologized. "But it seems that the police are as lost as we are."
"I bet they are. Especially if the thieves appear out of thin air." Abby sighed closing another file. "They don't even need to pick a lock." Abby put her glasses back on.
"Where are you going?" Myrtle asked her as she stood up.
"Well, it doesn't seem like the police are doing much." She replied putting her jacket on. "So, I was thinking that I should probably lead my own investigation." She shrugged grabbing her bag.
"Miss Abigail, this could be a dangerous ordeal." Myrtle followed her into the hallway.
"Don't worry, I'm gonna ask for help." She smirked getting her phone out. "Clarkie?"
"Lex said the people that hit the mansion, also tried to rob this bank." Clark explained to Pete as they walked with Abby towards the Smallville Saving and Loans bank.
"Look, I got three words for both of you." Pete said to his friends. "Official Police Investigation."
"The police haven't done a thing." Clark argued as he stopped in front of Pete and Abby. Facing them both.
"A dozen robberies in the past six months. Same MO. No signs of forced entry. Jewels and the cash just vanished. Except for this one place." Abby explained to Pete pointing to the bank.
"Lex said that they triggered an alarm inside the vault." Clark continued. "Question is how did they get inside?"
"I don't know." Pete shook his head. "Now stop channeling Chloe, come on." Clark stared intently at the bank. "Oh, no. Not the Kent thousand yards stare."
"What's the Kent thousand yards stare?" Abby asked Pete observing Clark.
"He does that sometimes." Pete explained. "I don't know what it is. Wallowing or he's seeing something that we don't." Abby hummed non-committedly. "Clark!" Pete called him; bringing him out of his one-side stare down with the Bank. "Come on, man. I know you feel bad. We all do. But we are not cops."
Pete was right. They weren't cops but that wasn't about to stop her from trying to find out the truth.
"Reading this all night won't bring you any answers." Myrtle walked into Abby's bedroom.
"And not reading it won't give me answers I'm looking for." Abby countered. She closed the file on her lap and put on her bed table. "She could have died, Myrtle. Surely, there's something I can do."
"And there is." Myrtle assured her. "For now, you need to go to sleep. And who knows, a clear mind may bring you the answers you need."
"I hope so. Because so far, I got nothing." Abby exhaled deeply.
"This is also a part of investigative work." Myrtle said wisely. "It takes time to find answers. But eventually it all work out in the end."
"Myrtle, are you really just a nanny?" Abby asked her.
"In this life, I am." Myrtle chuckled. "Now, it's time to go to sleep, Abigail."
Chloe has woken up in the night. Mr. Sullivan had called all of her closest friends to let them know. Abigail left early this morning with a book under her arm. A book she intended to offer to Chloe.
"Hey, Clarkie!" Abby greeted the tall brunette. "Are these for Chloe?"
"Yes." Clark answered with a smile. "I thought it would cheer her up after she's been through."
"I'm sure she'll like them." Abby smiled back at him. "I'm just happy she's awake."
"Me too. She still needs rest but at least she's safe." Clark agreed.
"That's the spirit, Clarkie."
"Hey." Chloe greeted them as they appeared at her door.
"Your dad called and told us you're awake." Clark greeted her back.
"You're officially my first visitors." Chloe said as Abby stepped into the room towards her friend.
"I always knew you were tough." Abby commented as she hugged Chloe, as tightly as she could without hurting her. "So, how are you feeling?" She asked nonetheless pulling away.
"Like a million bucks…thrown in a washing machine and set on spin." Chloe replied.
"Everyone was real worried about you." Clark told her.
"Yeah, I noticed." Chloe retorted looking at the array of bouquets that were filling her room. "Looks like Nell's flower shop's been strip clean." Clark and Abby looked around us, noticing only now the multitude of flowers: "I especially like the one from Lex. It makes me feel like I won the Kentucky Derby." Clark awkwardly handed his own bouquet. "They're beautiful, Clark. They're my favorite."
"I—I just want to say, I'm sorry." Clark apologized sitting down on Chloe's bed. Abby rolled her eyes at Clark's apologies. There was nothing he could have done to help Chloe.
"For what?"
"Letting you get hurt."
"I am perturbed with you, Clark." Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'm also mad that you didn't put out the Chicago fire of 1871." Clark frowned up but Abby was containing her smile. "Or prevent the fall of the Roman Empire; making you directly responsible for the Dark Ages."
Clark smiled and Abby snorted. "Thanks." Chloe smiled back at him. "Do you, uh, do you remember anything about those guys?"
"There was one thing. The guy that grabbed me, he had a tattoo on his forearm:" Chloe answered trying to remember. "An octagon, maybe. What's going on, Clark?"
"I don't know." Clark replied. "Let me do some digging."
"I'll help you with that." Abby said.
"Clark Kent and Abby Jackson, investigative reporters." Chloe joked. "Has a nice ring to it."
"Not." Abby scrunched up her nose.
Clark rolled his eyes at her. Then he leaned in and laid a kiss on Chloe's forehead. "You get some rest."
"I'll try." Chloe smiled at him: And with that Clark walked out of the room. "Thank you."
"And wait for me." Abby called after him. She then handed a science fiction book to Chloe. "For when you get bored out of your mind."
"Space Revelation." Chloe read out the title. "Thank you, Abby."
"I know it doesn't top Clark's kiss on your forehead." Abby teased. "But, I'm sure you'll love it."
"So, why are we here?" Abby asked Clark as she followed him through Fordman's. A store owned by Whitney's dad.
"Yesterday, I was here to pick up something my mom." Clark started. "There was guy with a tattoo, just like what Chloe saw."
"Alright. So, what? You hope you'll find him here?" Abby asked him.
"No" Clark replied "Whitney!" He called. "You have a minute?"
"I'm kind of busy." Whitney replied shortly.
"You remember the guy who came in here, yesterday? Looking for these shoes."
"Doesn't ring a bell. A lot of guys come in here." Whitney answered turning away from Clark and Abby.
"Whitney, this is serious." Clark held him back by the shoulder only for Whitney to wince.
"Take it easy." Whitney hissed, rubbing his shoulder. Shoulder on which he was sporting a tattoo.
"Where did you get that?" Abby asked him.
"Mind your own business." Whitney spat at them before walking away.
"Look, did those guys give it to you?" Clark stopped him. "Whitney, they're bad news."
Whitney took off his sunglasses. "You spend all your time trying to steal Lana." Abby rolled her eyes at that. "Now, suddenly, you want to become my own personal boy scout."
"This has nothing to do with Lana." Abby told him. "Those guys may be the one who tried to rob Lex Luthor and sent Chloe to a hospital. They mean trouble. Just stay away from them, Whitney."
"You're not my mother, Jackson." Whitney looked down at her. "Now, get the hell out of here. Both of you."
Clark and Abby both left the store. "You think you can recognize them?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I got an idea." Abby told him. "Come on."
Abby had pulled out high school yearbooks from a few years ago and some archives from the Torch. She and Clark were currently flipping through the yearbooks together.
"Why are you doing this?" Clark asked Abby after a while.
"Why are you asking the question?" Abby looked up from the yearbook in her hands.
"I mean Pete wasn't really up to do it." Clark continued "But it was never an option to you. Why?"
"Because Chloe is my friend." Abby answered. "And I need to find out who did this to her. Stop them from hurting more people." Abby shrugged. "It's as simple as that." She smiled at Clark and Clark smiled back.
They both went back to their readings when Clark finally identified the people who hit the Luthor Mansion. "I think I found them." Abby got up and went to look over his shoulder.
"Wade Mahaney and Scott Bowman." Abby read out. She went to her bag and pulled out her laptop. "Let's see what I can find about them."
She typed in their name. "Football, baseball, basketball. Those guys were the stars of high school." Clark continued reading. "Why are they doing this? I mean they could have gotten into any college they wanted."
"Not if they lost their scholarships." Abby announced. "The Ledger had a few articles about them. Wade Mahaney blew out his knee and had to undergo several surgeries. Consequences of that is the loss of his scholarships. As for Bowman, let's just say that college boards don't like it when Star Athletes gets into drug."
"So, now they're stealing?" Clark asked standing behind Abby.
"Still, doesn't tell us how they're doing it, though." Abby looked up at him. "I mean not everyone can walk through walls. Why would Whitney hang out with them?"
"I think he's just lost." Clark exhaled.
"Look, I'm gonna try and find more about them." Abby said getting up. "Maybe something more will come up."
"I'll talk to Lana and see what she knows." Clark told her.
"Cool." She nodded. "I'll call you if I find anything"
"I'm asking you to be careful." Myrtle warned her. "Don't let them see you."
"I won't." Abby put on a dark leather jacket and grabbed the helmet Myrtle was handing to her.
"This is not a game, miss Abigail." Myrtle continued.
"Have a little faith in me, Myrtle."
"If your parents find out. I'm fired." Myrtle hissed at her.
"They won't." She put on the helmet and climbed on the back. "Wish me luck."
Her plan was quite simple. Follow Whitney. If she was lucky, he would go and join his new friends. If not, she might end up following him to his home. Whitney closed the store and was about to walk home. When a red car stopped in front of him and he changed his plans. She followed them on her motorbike. While doing so, she had to hold back a few times., just in case. She didn't want them to notice her. Also, she needed to learn more about the shortcuts in Smallville. Especially, if she was constantly putting herself in that sort of situation.
Whitney and his new friends reached their destination. Abby climbed off of her bike and took off her helmet. The gang had stopped at a meat locker, why? She couldn't say. She rushed to the old building, hidden in the shadows. A hand shot up in front of her and pulled her towards a dark entry. She panicked and started throwing punches but her arms were blocked. Held by a strong grip. A very strong one.
"Abby?" She recognized that voice.
"Clark? What the hell?" Abby hissed at him. "What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" Clark asked back.
"I asked first." Abby countered.
"Abby, this isn't a game. This could be more dangerous than you think." Clark reasoned with her.
"You think I don't know." Abby pulled away from him. "I want to find out what's really going on. As much as you do." She started to walk away from him. Towards the meat locker. "You're the one you should stay here, Clarkie."
Clark exhaled deeply, annoyed at Abby's attitude. But followed her nonetheless. They walked through the old building, quietly. Clark and Abby walked side by side. Whatever happened, Abby was worried about Clark being hurt. She was trying, as she scanned the room, to come up with some sort of plan. A plan that would allow her to use her powers without Clark noticing.
Muffled shouts could be heard nearby. Abby and Clark exchanged a look as they rushed towards the sound. Before them stood a metal door. Clark pushed Abby behind him. And he pulled the door open. Clark was the first to step into the room. There were four masked men and Lex Luthor on his knees. One of the masked men, grabbed a meat hook and pushed him towards Abby and Clark. But Abby stopped it before it could hit any of them. She pushed it back in his direction. But it just went through his head. Some of their gang had already vanished through the wall. The others followed.
"Whitney?" Clark called and the last one turned to look at him. One of his friends came back to get him and they, too, disappeared through the wall.
"Do I even need to ask?" Abby turned to Lex.
They all stopped in front of the Fordman's store. Abby took off her helmet, as she stood next to Clark. Both of them facing Lex.
"Alright, Lex. What were you doing with those guys?" Clark asked him.
"They were blackmailing me, Clark." Lex answered. "I went there to make a drop."
"Why I'm not surprised?." Abby scoffed. "This noble sentiment of doing justice to Chloe was total bullshit."
"They stole a computer disk that contains confidential information, Abby." Lex retorted.
"What was on it?" Clark asked him.
"Nothing illegal" Lex said defensively. "But it's not something I want in the public domain."
"That's why you didn't want the police involve."
"So, he could cover his ass." Abby snarked.
"Look, I told you I'll handle it." Lex answered. "Question is what were you doing there?"
"I was following Whitney." Clark told him
"You?"
"Same." Abby replied.
"He'd been hanging out with those guys. We wanted to help."
"Is it because of Chloe?" Clark did not answer. Abby looked up at him and remained quiet. "Listen you two, you can't save the world. All you end up with is a Messiah complex and a lot of enemies."
"We saved you, didn't we?" Clark countered. "That turned out alright."
"What will you do now?" Abby asked him.
"They gotta learn that it doesn't pay to rob Lex Luthor."
"What about Whitney?" Clark asked.
"A man is measured by the quality of his friends. If the quarterback is with them, he'll have to face the consequences"
"Hey, guys." Abby greeted her friends as soon as she stepped into Chloe's hospital room. "I thought we were all supposed to meet at the Torch. Not here."
"That's what I thought too." Clark answered her.
"Like I just said to Clark, Chloe wanted to help with the investigation." Pete explained.
"And don't tell me that I should be resting." Chloe cut Abby off. "Clark already scolded me for that."
"Okay." Abby drawled. "What do you get so far?"
"So, I was surfing the net. Doing some research." Chloe started.
"How did you get online here?" Clark asked Chloe.
"Pete hijacked a phone line for me." Chloe replied. And Pete looked really proud of himself.
"I'm impressed." Abby commented. "What did you find?"
"What if those guys are using meteorized tattoos to speed up their metabolism?" Chloe suggested. "I mean, their molecules are literally moving at hyper speed."
"That's how they're able to go through solid objects?" Clark said.
"That's crazy." Pete remarked.
"Well, they're doing it." Chloe retorted.
"It's like the ultimate rush." Clark commented.
"The human body can't handle that sort of stress for long." Abby frowned up. "Eventually, their little trick will stop working. Or their bodies are just gonna shut down."
"You take the ultimate rush, you pay the ultimate price." Chloe added.
The source of their power could very well kill them. It was worse than she originally thought. Even though, she considered Whitney to be some sort of douchebag, she couldn't let him get hurt. He wasn't that bad, after all. But where to find him? And how to find him?
However, it was over before she could even figure out where Whitney was. Clark was making a habit of being at the right place, at the right moment. Just in time to save the day.
"I've heard that Whitney's new friends were in prison." Abby said climbing the stairs to Clark's loft. "And somehow you're to thank for this."
"I didn't do much, you know." Clark shrugged.
"I don't believe it." Abby raised her eyebrows. "But I'll take it." She took a deep breath. "I just wished you've called me. I thought you and I were working on this together."
"Abby, I didn't want to put you in danger." Clark explained. "Not after what happened to Chloe."
"I get it. You want to protect your friends." Abby said. "I understand. Believe me. And that's very honorable."
"But?"
"But, who's protecting you?" Abby asked him. "You're not okay with us getting hurt. But somehow it's okay for you to risk your own life."
"I'm alright. I didn't get hurt." Clark said back.
"This time, you didn't." Abby shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket. "Just-I won't tell you to not get involved anymore. It's not my place but next time, make sure that someone's got your back."
