Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
A/N: thanks to all my reviewers and faithful readers. I'm pleased you find this fic interesting and that you're intrigued by the way things are developing. I hope these two new chapters will keep up the suspense and give you some clues to start you thinking on what the heck's going on !
Enjoy ! And don't forget to leave your review, as usual.
CHAPTER 11: The Ultimate Betrayal
Lois had heard of Lex's release from custody thanks to the eight o'clock news. She was getting sloppy and she knew it. Missing an exclusive had resulted in her suffering a half-hour tirade from Perry White, who was starting to regret his decision to give her back her former position.
" What were doing when Luthor left the FBI Headquarters this morning ? Mooning over Blue Tights ? "
" I've got no excuse, Mr White. But I promise you I'll get the scoop on his whereabouts. He can't have vanished off the face of the earth. "
" You'd better, Lane. Else, it's back to Sports or worse, the deaths section. And this time it'll be me who's going to send you there. "
By five o'clock Lois had no clue as to Lex's whereabouts but had developed a splitting headache. Clark had disappeared on one of his secret missions at about twelve thirty, and she got a taxi back home with the idea of taking some aspirin and lying in bed until the following morning. Her plans went awry, however, when the phone rang on her bedside table.
" Shoot ! I should have disconnected the damn apparatus ! " grumbled Lois, turning on the answerphone and getting in bed.
" Good evening, Miss Lane. I'm disappointed in you. I thought I had made myself clear the last time we spoke, " said the disguised voice she'd come to hate so much.
" I've told you never to call me home, " answered Lois, picking up the receiver. " What do you want ? "
" You aren't calling the shots, Miss Lane. You should know better than to play with me. We both know what may happen to a person very close to you if you don't do as I say, " said the voice menacingly.
" Bastard ! I'm done playing your games. Luthor may not be a saint but I'm not a reporter to be the pawn of someone who hasn't got what it takes to do his own dirty work. "
" Lois ? Who are you talking to ? " asked Clark, stepping into the bedroom.
" Remember what's at stake, Miss Lane. "
" We'll be in touch. Goodnight, " snapped Lois, hanging up the phone.
" Who was that, Lois ? What's going on ? "
" How much of the conversation have you heard ? "
" Pretty much. He's blackmailing you, that much I could get. How long has this been going on ? "
" Three months. "
" Three months ! You've been lying to me these three months ! Why ? "
" There was nothing you could do to help. "
" Tell me this hasn't got anything to do with the articles you've been writing on Lex. "
" You don't understand, Clark. "
" What I don't understand is how you could lie to me when you're the one person I don't hide anything from. "
" There are two people I care about that might get hurt if I don't do as he says. "
" So the end justifies the means ? You even had me convinced of Lex's guilt, so much so that I committed the ultimate betrayal. I killed what was left of our friendship by endorsing a libel. What were you thinking, Lois ? "
" Let me tell you why I did it, Clark, before you pass judgement on me. "
" Lex didn't have that chance, Lois. "
" I know and I'd like to turn the clock back, believe me, but I can't. "
" OK. Spit it out ! "
Do you have any ideas as to what might this man be using to blackmail Lois ? Who's she trying to protect ? I, of course, know the answers but you'll have to keep on reading to find out. There's more a click away !
