Chapter Twenty Three
Clark woke with a start. Something just didn't feel right with him but he couldn't place his finger on it. He sat up from his bed and looked around the room. He was at the Luthor Manor, Lex's mansion in Smallville. The place was so huge that Lex had given both him and Oliver a room while they stayed here. And by room, it could have better been described as an apartment. The 'room' had a bedroom, living room, and master bath.
He got up out of bed and pulled on some sweats and a t-shirt. He didn't think it'd be appropriate to walk around in only his boxers. He left his room and wondered down the hall to the main living area of the mansion. Lex's study was there along with the game room. Maybe some pool would relax his mind.
As he walked into Lex's study, he noticed his bald friend sitting at his desk. Lex was typing away furiously at his laptop, his eyebrows furrowed together.
"Lex? Everything all right?" He asked, walking up to Lex's desk.
Lex looked up, "Hey Clark. Couldn't sleep?"
"Not so much," He answered.
"Me neither. Something just doesn't sit well with how that explosion happened at the benefit last night," Lex said.
It didn't surprise him that Lex was still up because of that. The explosion had bothered him, too. Luckily no one had been hurt but it seemed weird that it had happened so close to him, especially with someone watching him. Lex had been thinking about it all day as they had made their way back into town. Oliver said they were just paranoid and that the electronics were just set up badly and some wire caught on fire. But that just didn't seem possible. The wall had blown inward, meaning the explosion came from outside. He'd told Lex that, which had only helped with the compulsive research into the event and the details.
"I'm shaken up about it as well, but no one was hurt. Let's not let it rule our lives," Clark suggested.
"Your not worried about it at all?" Lex asked amazed.
"No one got seriously hurt," Clark said.
"For you to get hurt, that's serious. I can't believe you're not concerned with this," Lex continued.
He knew Lex had a point, and truth was, he was concerned. But he didn't want Lex to freak out over it. Whoever was behind the explosion was after him. He had come to that conclusion. But they were after him, meaning Lex didn't need to get involved.
"I am concerned. I just don't want you and Oliver getting caught up it the middle of this. It's too dangerous," He said.
"Dangerous comes with the territory. You can't protect us all the time. We're friends. An equal partnership. Meaning you protect us and we do our best to protect you," Lex said.
"Still, I can do this on my own," Clark said. He needs to, to keep his friends safe. He'd already lost his mother because of him and he couldn't save his grandfather's life. He just couldn't lose his two best friends because of him.
"Really? Could you have found out the first clue?" Lex asked, leaning back in his chair.
"The awkward explosives," He said.
"It goes back further than that. Let's look at the details. First, we have Whitney who drops the assault charges against you and then shows up in a Hummer. Seems too much like a payoff. Second, we have this Impulse fellow. Someone I can't get any information on at all. All we know about him is his cryptic warning and that he's super fast. Third, the crazy explosion that happened not even five feet from where you were standing. And fourth, the camera feed hidden underneath the surveillance system at the benefit. Which was conveniently focused on the spot where you were standing." Lex said.
"Camera feed?" Clark asked. Impulse had said someone was watching him. Had they arranged that explosion?
"Yep, and I was able to get a copy of it. It follows your every move till the explosion. You disappeared during all the smoke. The smoke covers your super speedy getaway. So you're safe on that angle. But it clearly shows the rubble bouncing off you," Lex said.
Clark walked around the desk and looked at Lex's laptop screen. Sure enough, there was a video of him stepping back from the explosion and the rubble bouncing off. "So whoever saw this, they know who I am."
"Question is, who are they?" Lex added.
"Any way to trace the feed?" He asked.
"None at the moment. I'm doing the best I can with what I've got. But I do have some other answers," Lex said.
Clark stepped back, eager to hear anything that Lex had.
"I was able to trace the purchase of Whitney's H ummer. And you'll never guess who bought it," Lex said.
"You really think Whitney's new car has anything to do with this?" Clark asked.
"So will you when you connect the dots," Lex said.
"All right, who?" Clark asked curious.
"Tex Thompson," Lex answered.
"What? My dad's boss?" Clark asked, shocked. There was no possible way that could be true. What would Tex want with a high school kid and with him?
"I was just as shocked. I honestly don't know why either and it's not like we can ask Whitney or Thompson," Lex added.
"And you still believe he got the Hummer in exchange for dropping the charges?" Clark asked.
"It's the only thing that makes sense to me," Lex commented.
"I just don't get it. Tex has no reason to buy off some teenager. He's a scientist that's looking to help the world with medical breakthroughs and inventions and crap like that," Clark went on.
"Wait, you have a point there. Maybe it's Tex that's behind all this. Maybe he knows what you can do and wants to turn you into a science rat," Lex suggested.
"No. Tex has no idea about me. I had dinner with him and dad before the benefit. If he had known something," Clark started.
"You still wouldn't have known that he did. It's highly possible that he's behind all of this," Lex chimed in.
"He's not," Clark said firmly.
"And why can't you possibly accept the facts that it could be him?" Lex asked.
"He just doesn't send off the mad scientist vibe. I don't think he's a bad guy," Clark defended Tex to Lex.
"He wouldn't send off a bad vibe if he truly believes he's doing the world good by coming after you. Any scientist would look at you and see you as the cure to cancer or the savior of the world. Look at everything you can do, Clark," Lex said, trying to get Clark to see reason.
"You're wrong, Lex. There is some other reason as to why Tex bought Whitney that car. If he really was some evil scientist, he would have been smart enough to not leave a trail," Clark said, continuing to defend Tex.
"I don't get you, Clark," Lex admitted.
"What?" Clark asked, confused now.
"You go on about how you can't trust people. How you can't have friendships because of that and other reasons. But when I have valid reason for you to not trust someone, you defend them to the end. Why are you so stubborn?" Lex asked.
Clark stood silent, confused by Lex's point. But ultimately, Lex was right. Normally, his friends were and it helped him keep a straight head. "I don't know why, Lex. I just can't believe that Tex would be a bad guy," He finally said.
"I love how you can see the good in anyone, even if you don't trust people in general. But I just think you should stay away from Thompson. I really believe he might be behind all of this and if I'm right, it could be very dangerous for you," Lex said.
Clark finally nodded. Lex wouldn't give up unless Clark agreed that he would be careful. After all, it wasn't like he hadn't just stood next to an explosion that was meant for him, or had a late night visitor to warn him. "I'll watch my back. But I need you to look at other answers to this. Maybe you're wrong," He said.
"I hope I'm wrong. If you have someone like Thompson after you, it could get ugly. And fast," Lex said. Lex seemed to be a bit more at ease since he'd agreed to stay away from Tex.
"Alright, so what from here?" Clark asked.
"I don't know. I'll keep looking into the Impulse fellow and see if I get any hits," Lex promised.
"Something will come up and hopefully it'll provide more answers. But I think I'm just tired now. I'm going back to bed," Clark said.
"Good idea. I think Oliver has plans to help you tomorrow with your heat vision," Lex said.