Disclaimer: Not mine.
Rating: T
Chapter 8 "Interviews, oracles and revelations"
Metropolis. 3rd January, 2021
After the scare and with both Lois and the baby completely checked, Clark, now changed into civilian clothes, left Emil's clinic with Lois. Visibly calmer, he checked his watch. "Come on, hon, we'll take a cab and get home."
He got a snort as answer.
"What?"
"Hospital, Smallville. Now." Clark looked back at the building they'd just left in utter confusion. "To interview Isabel, Clark. There's no way she's gonna dodge me on this one. Coming?"
He pondered his possibilities. "Sure. She'll need protection from Mad Dog Lane."
Lois blinked. "That mixture of mawkishness and quirky humor is a little disturbing, did you know that? I do know who you are behind the glasses and the nerd persona."
He chuckled and raised his arm as he saw a taxi approaching. "Come on, Lane, hospital it is."
Lois smiled, satisfied. "What Lois wants, Lois gets."
OOO
Watchtower.
Chris paced while Chloe and Ollie worked on trying to figure out what had happened.
A scan of a radiography displayed on the screen over an aerial photograph of the square where the shooting had taken place. "The bullet entered close to the proximal humerus and located near the head. Look at the trajectory. It wasn't from a roof, Ollie."
"The square is surrounded with tall buildings, Chloe. Any chance they shot from the inside of one of them?"
"Wouldn't that mean they shot her from a short distance?," asked Chris. "Like from a building with no...building in front of it, I mean."
"It depends on the gun, Chris," explained Chloe. "And the shooter. A first class one could do impossible things."
"But why don't we stay within an approachable framework before crashing our heads on the desk?," proposed Ollie. "Chris' theory seems valid enough, we were actually moving somewhere."
Chloe eyed Ollie. "We're then assuming that Miss Parker was indeed the target."
"You think the bullet was aimed at me?"
"You are a public figure, Ollie, a high-profile target. Maybe they just missed."
"C'mon, Chloe. A professional wouldn't miss the shot." Although this was much, much better than the alternative. "I…Chloe, this bullets aren't something new," he carefully reminded her. Chloe looked at Chris.
"I know," she said quietly.
"I don't really want to open that can of worms, but that woman has a history with him. And Chris has seen those bullets before."
"Ollie, I can't-" She sighed. "I do not want to go down that road."
"Let's just find the shooter, ok? Then we go from there. One step at a time."
"Ok. Let me see." She pointed at the most probable source. "Presuming the shooter was on a mid-close range, I'd say this is the area."
Ollie visualized it and named the buildings. "A gift shop, McLaren's offices and Hotel Steel."
"McLaren has cameras all over the place, plus tight security measures on the entrance."
"Which leaves us the shop and the hotel."
Chloe smiled as she typed a few commands. "Wanna bet our Michael Samuelle is a casual tourist in the city?" As if brought by magic, a list of names appeared on the screen.
"Let me guess. List of the hotel's guests."
"Plus staff. All popping up with a bright and shinny identification name, number and picture."
"But he can fake his id," stated Chris.
"Which takes us to step number two," said Chloe. "Hacking into Mr. Queen's satellite to get a nice aerial view of this morning's event."
"Do you ever ask permission to use them?"
"Do I ever ask permission to use anything?" Ollie rolled his eyes. A batch of images downloaded in a few seconds. "Ok, let's have a look." Chloe opened the files.
"Still, they're all vertical shots, Chloe."
"Ollie, if there's something I've learnt ever since the Torch days, is that you never know what you're going to find, but you should look into it."
"I thought you were going to say to dig out gold from nothing."
"That would be a Lois Lane quote." She smiled. "And we got a prize." She placed a finger close to the screen. "Look."
Ollie squinted his eyes. "Looks like someone taking pictures."
"Yep. And look at the time. A second before Miss Parker got shot."
"But the camera's pointing to the opposite direction," observed Chris.
"Right to the glassy reflecting façade of the Queen tower. Let's see what we can get from here." Chloe zoomed the image onto the photographer. "If we're talking professional, there's a chance the shooter knew the right blind spots and angles from your security external systems, Ollie, so it'll be easier to start with this fellow photographer who has the perfect lens for us."
"Really?"
"Whatever he was shooting was not something close, which means no wide aperture, which means depth of field, which means everything is focused."
"So if the shooter is on this lens' range," said Chris, "there's a big chance the person we're looking for is actually photographed?"
"Let's figure out who that guy is and call J'onn."
"I'm impressed," said Ollie.
Chloe remained silent for a while. The compliment had brought certain memories back. Of the day she had bought him a brand new lens for his birthday and he had spent a whole hour telling her all the things he could do with it. "Dating Jimmy paid off in more ways than one," she said. The memory was warm, and she smiled. That had been Jimmy, warm and a walking smile.
Ollie squeezed her shoulder and gave her a kiss on her temple. "You did a great job, Chloe," he whispered. "He'd be proud of you."
OOO
Lois stopped before entering the hospital.
"What?"
"You're not serious about coming in with me, are you?"
"I am going to pretend you didn't ask me that question."
"Clark!," she protested.
"Lois, I am not after your story, I know the woman, she trusts me." Lois looked at him. "You're cranky, you might scare her off. She's in a delicate condition."
"A shot on the shoulder is hardly a delicate condition, Smallville. You can ask mine for confirmation." She suddenly flailed her left arm. "See? Perfectly functional. She'll get over it."
"You're not going in alone."
"Fine. But I do ask the questions." Clark followed her, smiling triumphantly. "And I am not cranky, goddamit!" Lois got to the door extending her hand towards the handle. It stopped before it reached target. Lois looked at the resolute big hand blocking its way. Then she turned, meeting a pair of very open very blue eyes and a couple of arched eyebrows that traveled even higher when they met her glare. "Good grief," she muttered rolling her eyes. Then she knocked softly and felt a presence near her right ear.
"Good girl," he whispered.
"Go save the planet or something and let me do my job."
In between Lois' grunt and Clark's chuckle, the handle moved and the door opened.
"Can I help you?" A woman in her late thirties opened the door enough to let her outside, closing it again careful not to make noise. She was Lois' height, with a plump figure, unlike Lois' slender form, were not for her current condition. Her hair was pulled neatly on a ponytail, but Lois could see the blue strands coloring an otherwise black hair, and a very distinctive burn scar decorated the back of her right hand.
Lois grinned and extended her hand. "Lois Lane, Daily Planet. This is Clark. We were looking for Isabel Parker."
The woman smiled. "Oh yes, Is has mentioned you quite a few times. I'm Mary." Mary turned and opened the door, motioning them inside. Isabel was sitting on the bed, unsuccessfully trying to read a book holding it and shoving the pages with one hand.
She seemed very unhappy with the rebellious pages. "Como no empeceis a pasar en condiciones, aquí va a haber más que palabras," she muttered.
"I told you I'd help you with that," said Mary.
Isabel was still focused on her mission. "Honey, you'd get the book off my hand and read it to me. That's not helping, that's suggesting I may lack a brain."
"Ooooh I know what you mean," said Lois instantly sympathizing with the woman, who raised her head at the sound of the new voice.
"Lois…"
"What? I can relate."
"Miss Lane." Then she saw Clark and smiled, remembering the journalist who had helped her out of that unwanted encounter with the press and still had helped her contact Queen industries. "Mr. Kent."
"Miss Parker, how are you feeling?"
"Like I was shot on the shoulder. Miss Lane-"
"Lois."
"I still haven't heard anyone saying Isabel, so... How are you feeling?"
"Peachy."
"I got the impression you weren't so peachy out there."
"Oh, just a dizzy spell." She patted her belly. "Baby gets a kick out of bad timing the mother."
Mary talked. "I still didn't thank you for placing her in contact with Oliver Queen himself."
"Oliver's an old friend of the family," said Clark smiling.
"Still, I didn't think she could aim that high."
Lois shrugged. "Ollie is a hands-on manager. He likes to see and know for himself before delegating."
"He was kind enough to come visit," said Isabel. Lois was looking at her smiling and correctly read her. "You do know I am no interview friendly, right?"
Lois seemed to receive the signal all of a sudden. "Oh, nononono, we just came to check how were you doing." Then she prudently let some time pass. A second seemed long enough. "So you didn't see anything?" Clark tried not to shake his head and looked for something fascinating he could study on the floor.
Isabel chuckled. "I already spoke to an officer. Truth is I didn't even notice I had been shot until I was lying on the ground. I'm sorry I can't be of more help, I-" suddenly she winced, and a pair of very protective arms held her before she reacted.
Mary eyed her with concern. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just stretched the wrong muscle," she said caressing her shoulder. "I'm fine."
"You've been shot, you need to redefine your concept of fine."
"It's like getting a mirror of myself," said Lois fascinated by the interaction. "I'm teaming with Mary."
"Why don't you lay down for some time? You think you can do it? Like without dying of boredom?"
"You don't know what you're asking."
Clark started to feel the room was crowded. "Lois, I think it's time we g-" A firm hand grabbed his shirt.
"Stay and listen," she whispered.
Mary kissed her on the forehead. "Mmm? You think you can?," she suggested smiling.
The gesture reciprocated on her girlfriend's face. "What do I get from it?"
Lois frowned completely captivated. "Blackmailing…never thought of that."
"Lois, your picture is under 'bribe' on the dictionary."
"Apparently not enough."
Clark was already blushing. "Lois, they're kissing. In a very private moment kind of kissing."
"And it's working. Look, she's going to lay down. Dammit, if I can't get you off my back at least I should take something from it."
"Like that?"
"Well yeah."
"With all the League too?"
Lois' fist propelled towards his groin. It was the second time this day an intruder hand blocked her. "Cheater."
Clark merely smiled. Mary and a slightly blushing Isabel stopped, suddenly remembering they were not alone. Mary grinned. "Excuse us. Sometimes it's the only way."
"Oh yes," agreed Clark. This time he didn't stop the poke he got from a certain reporter's elbow on his stomach.
"You just get well," said Lois. "Is it ok if we visit again?"
"Of course. See you then."
They walked towards the exit. "So you feel you're not getting enough solicitous attention," said Clark.
"Not the kind I completely don't mind, Smallville," she said as she passed through the door on the street. "So it'd be nice to have y-" before she knew it, she found herself floating with a very warm body enveloping her, carefully avoiding any pressure on her belly and lips silencing her. "How'd you do that?"
He smiled. "Made sure no one was looking."
"So now it's safe to fly."
"I finally have a hang on the safe speed with you and the baby and…" he focused his eyes on her belly and grinned proudly. "Of not waking up the baby."
OOO
Watchtower.
After a short flight on Earth, Chris returned to the Watchtower and entered Oracle's quarters, a new room Ollie had prepared once the former Oracle had accepted to join the League. It had private access, but only Ollie and Chloe knew the code, so he used the common transportation. Chloe was as he had left her three hours ago: in front of the computer, but…arguing?
"Oh, c'mon, Bruce!"
Chris prudently waited by the wall.
"No….No, you listen to me! J'onn was needed here and-…Darn it, Bruce. Yes, Tess and now the shooting." Chloe noticed the presence and motioned Chris to approach and sit.
He did so and opened the paper bag. "Your favorites," he mouthed, dragging a grin from Chloe.
"Just tell me who you need and I'll ask the other…Ok. See you then. I have something, I'll call you back." Chloe looked at the incoming message. "J'onn, you're a jewel." Taking a muffin from the bag she started to open the images. "God, I'm gonna have to move to the gym after this," she said looking at the cake.
"You already have the pictures taken by that John Doe?"
"Not a Doe anymore." She smiled. "The police called him as witness and asked him to bring the pictures as evidence." She saw the files. "Ooooh thank goodness he shots in RAW." Chloe picked a picture and zoomed without loosing quality.
"Wow."
"This just may be our lucky day, Chris. Look at this."
"You were right!"
There it was. A reflection on a window. Only a few things visible. The barrel, a hand on the trigger, and half a face. "Looks like our hit man is a she."
OOOOO
Notes: "Wanna bet our Michael Samuelle is a casual tourist in the city?" In case you never watched La Femme Nikita (1997-2001), Michael Samuelle was a high profile operative and Nikita's love.
Yep, it's where half of my nickname comes from.
Isabel: "Como no empeceis a pasar en condiciones aquí va a haber más que palabras" Either you start flipping properly or we're gonna have more than words here.
