Chapter 23 [Five Minutes Earlier]
Lana walked up to the counter. She glanced back toward Peter and the others. "I hope he's okay. He seemed all right until we walked in here. Weird." She noticed that the line had abated for the moment. "Hey, Miri, Sandra, we have a good crowd."
"We sure do, Boss. Word must've spread about Samantha's performance tonight. Mr. Luthor and you are cleaning up," Miranda assessed.
Lana started a cappuccino on the press. "I need two more. How are the pastries holding up?"
"With what Clark and you brought from Granville, we'll make it through tonight." Miranda started a fresh pot of coffee perking. "Rumor has it that a ghost showed up at the airport." She tapped her fingers on the counter.
Lana stiffened. "You heard?" She glanced around.
"Glowing white woman with dark hair and a long white dress appearing right at sunset." Miranda fixed the cappuccino and started another one. "Uncle Dave and Auntie Angie aren't even here for twelve hours and that garbage is starting again."
"Wait! You know who she is?" Lana grabbed onto her friend's arm.
Miranda fixed the second cappuccino and started on the third. "I don't know that much. Just that she harassed my uncle and his friends back east. She scared me as a kid. Your shadow man is the Child."
"Child? What?" Lana set up the cups on a tray. She went to slice a piece of chocolate cake for Peter.
"Remember how Uncle Dave was when he first got here this morning? That wasn't him. That's the Big Kid. The lights blinking? The chill? He brought Mr. Luthor, Auntie and himself down here. He was talking to that guy too." Miranda's eyes swept the room. "Crap! That guy doesn't know how to take no for an answer."
Lana followed her friend's stare. She saw Dr. Octopus sitting in the same seat. "We need to call Sheriff Adams. He's wanted back in New York." She saw the official in question saunter through the door. "I'll be back. Maybe you can take these out to Clark?" She poured a coffee and put it on the tray next to the other drinks. "I'll get the other desserts."
"I got it." Miranda collected the cake slices. "Go and get Barney Fife." She took the serving platter and headed across the room. She noticed that her uncle was already watching the situation. Just keep cool, Uncle Dave. We really don't need a fit.
Lana wound her way through the crowd. She waved to Adams. "Sheriff!"
Adams stopped. She smirked. "Well now! Good evening, Miss Lang! You sure do have a bondiggity crowd for a Friday night! Any chance I can get one of them great cappuccinos?"
"Definitely. There's umm…something we need you to do first." Lana grimaced. She lowered her voice and leaned close. "We think there's a fugitive in here from New York."
"Fugitive?" Adams narrowed her eyes. "You sure, Miss Lang?" She looked around the area. "This is going to be a real mother of an arrest."
"We didn't want to confront him. That's why I came and got you," Lana explained.
"You did real good. Maybe you're rubbing off on Mr. Kent as well." Adams saw Lex snaking his way toward him. "And now Lex?" She shook her head. She gripped her belt on either side of her belt buckle. Her eyes narrowed. "Evening, Lex. Lemme guess? You saw this supposed fugitive too?"
"Not supposed, Sheriff. Two people from New York just IDed him. And a third overheard him on the phone here this morning. Does the name Otto Octavius mean anything?" Lex explained.
Adams pursed her lips. "Mmm…yeah. Yeah it sure does. Ain't he…?" Her eyes went wide. "He's the SOB that killed that police captain."
Lex pointed toward where Ock sat with his coffee. "He's right there. Maybe we should get back up from Metropolis?"
"If we had time, then yeah. I ain't lettin' no murderer get off Scott free. No sir!" Adams squeezed the pistol's handle. She cut her way through the customers.
"I wish she'd let us clear out first." Lana grimaced.
"You and me both." He sighed. He'd heard Responsibility in her talks with Clark. Now Liability weighed on him. "And no backup either." He glanced at Dave who was already tensed up. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed.
"LexCorp. This is Williams."
"Williams, this is Lex Luthor. Get the security team over to the Talon. We're about to have a situation," Lex informed him.
"We'll be there, Mr. Luthor." Williams hung up.
Lex stuffed the cell phone into his pocket. "Lana, let's start getting these people back." He checked his watch. Williams, get here now.
Clark stiffened. He saw Lex speaking into the phone. Lana stood beside the billionaire. He noticed Adams approaching the man in the trench coat. "Guys, maybe we should start for the door?"
"Clark, perhaps we should let the good sheriff do her job?" Byron supposed.
"I'm with Clark. I'm not letting happen to Sam…or any of you. We can always come back when it blows over." His eyes met Clark's. He motioned toward the door.
"One sheriff against him?" Gwen stared. "She's out of her mind!"
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't seem like much. A fat guy in an overcoat. I know you guys talk but…."
Clark x-rayed the villain in question. He saw the four metal arms coiled like snakes ready to strike out. "Uh, Chloe. I think Peter might know what he's talking about."
"He's photographed the guy. Yeah but…and hey, where is he?" Chloe looked around the café.
Clark took his cue. Seeing the others' eyes turning toward the spectacle about to happen, he edged into the crowd. He secreted himself into a corner away from prying glances and just watched.
This was about to get really interesting….