"Joiner confessed." Aptil said walking into Alex's office where Alex and Supergirl were sitting talking.
"To what?" Alex asked.
"Everything. He provided a written statement via his lawyer." Aptil said.
"You don't look very happy." Alex pointed out.
"The statement was very thorough. It detailed everything, including the setting up of the Kai gang, creating the contact lenses, making weapons, making the virus. He even gave the location of a warehouse where the chemicals that were in the cannisters that were used for the virus, before the virus went in, and all the other alien weapons are kept. Not to mention the recruitment of Tait, McGuire and Rogers. And he gave names of previously unidentified moles."
"Again you don't look happy." Supergirl said.
"Joiner committed suicide shortly after his lawyer handed over the statement." Aptil said.
"Was the statement legitimate?" Supergirl asked.
"No way to tell for sure." Aptil said. "But the lawyer said it was. And IRS have verified all the hidden accounts that were listed in the statement."
"Who paid for the lawyer?" Alex asked.
"Technically Joiner, but how he found that lawyer we don't know. But seeing your history you may be interested in some of the other names that lawyer, or his law firm, has represented."
"Who?" Alex asked.
"Lex Luthor. But there is no evidence to suggest any link between Luthor and Joiner. Apart from the lawyer. And let's face it good lawyers attract the worst clients. Another of their big clients is Morgan Edge."
"What about Tycho and Stagg?" Alex asked.
"Neither are mentioned in the statement and both use different law firms." Aptil said. "As far as the seniors go, this is all wrapped up in the best possible way and the task force is being stood down."
"You disagree with that decision?" Alex asked.
"It just feels too neat and tidy. But I can't find anything false in the statement. Plus I have to follow orders so for me this case is over."
"Fortunately it isn't over for us. We can still investigate the virus and the Red-K and the weapons." Alex said. "And if someone is trying to cover their tracks, then there can't be any retaliation, as if there is it will give the game away."
"That doesn't mean they won't go after you or your family, and this time I won't have any resources I can throw at you." Aptil warned. "But seeing I thought you would keep looking at this I have sent you a copy of Joiner's confession. All five hundred and thirty two pages." With that he left the two women alone.
-00-
"James? What are you doing here?" Alex asked looking up from Joiner's confession that she was still working her way through.
"Not that you aren't always welcome." Kara added as she stood and hugged him.
"I had to come down for the Sloane Syndicate debrief and thought I'd check in with you guys. But if this is a bad time I can go."
"No, it's fine." Alex said. "How long are you in the city for?"
"A couple of days at most." James said.
"Then why don't you come for dinner tonight?" Alex offered.
"You sure?" James asked. "I heard what happened to Eliza."
"Well she is recovering and she'll probably enjoy the distraction." Alex said. "Of course she won't be cooking so it'll probably be take out."
"I'm fine with that. I can even pick it up if you want." James said.
"Thanks." Alex smiled before looking at her sister and saying. "Shouldn't you be at CatCo?"
"No the meeting doesn't start for an-" Kara started before seeing the way Alex was looking at her and saying. "Um yes, you're right I have that thing, that important thing, I need to do. I'll see you both tonight."
"She has got no better at lying." James chuckled as Kara left.
"No she hasn't." Alex agreed.
"So what did you want to discuss?" James asked before guessing. "Kelly?"
"Kind of." Alex said.
"Have you found something?" James asked.
"I know you have doubts about Kelly's death, so do I. But recently I realised I don't have the luxury of digging into it. The kids need me to be focused on them so I've let it go. You should too. Kelly wouldn't want us sacrificing the present. Plus I am pretty sure she would be a little ticked with everything we have done over the last few years. So let's leave the past in the past and move on. Starting with dinner tonight."
-00-
"Do I have to? I mean there is the chess tournament tomorrow. I should be practicing." The teenage Alex protested when Kara filled her in on dinner plans.
"What you need is a good meal and an early night. You can get both of those and see James." Kara said earning an eye-roll from her daughter.
"But you'll just tell me off." The teenager said trying a different tactic.
"Not if you are nice." Kara countered. "Look, I understand you wanting to defend your cousin and I am proud of you for that. But if Kara has forgiven James, shouldn't you do too?"
"And if she hasn't forgiven him? If she is just saying she has to make things easier for Alex?"
"Then you could do the same." Kara said.
"You want me to lie to you?" The teen asked.
"No. I want you to be nice to James."
"Why?"
"Before I left James was a close friend. No matter what your cousin told you, he's a good guy. So please give him a chance."
"Fine." The teenager agreed, although Kara feared she was in for a long evening.
"Thank you." Kara said opening the apartment door and signalling for her daughter to move.
-00-
"Hi James." Eliza smiled as he walked into the lounge carrying bags of food.
"Hi Eliza. How are you feeling?"
"I'm getting there. I will miss all the attention when I go back to Midvale."
"You're going back to Midvale?" The teenage Alex asked looking disappointed.
"Not just yet, but soon." Eliza replied before adding. "You can always come and visit me."
"I guess." The teen said.
"Let me take that." Kara said taking the food off James before looking at her daughter and saying. "Why don't you help set the table."
As the pair walked off MJ hurried into the room, his sister following less enthusiastically behind.
"Uncle James." MJ greeted.
"Hi MJ, Kara." James smiled.
"Did you see the game last night?" MJ asked.
"I did." James confirmed. "It was a great comeback." He said as the teenage Kara slipped off to help her cousin and aunt.
"It's ready when you are." The adult Alex said coming into the lounge a few minutes later before helping Eliza get to her feet and supporting her moving to the table.
As the group sat down James said to the teenage Alex.
"So your mom told me you have joined the chess club."
"Yes." Alex said.
"She has a match tomorrow." The adult Kara added when her daughter didn't forward any more information.
"You know Clark tried to play chess?" James said.
"He wasn't very good." Kara recalled. "I mean he lost to me."
"He was convinced he'd win, that's why he suggested that match." James recalled. "You should let him win at something sometime."
"Someone has to keep his ego in check." The adult Alex shrugged.
"How's Kal doing?" Kara asked.
"Good. Lois is keeping him in check. But we were thinking of getting together soon. You should come." James said before looking at the teenage Alex and saying. "Clark would love to meet you."
"So are you taking us to the game tomorrow?" MJ asked after a slight awkward silence.
"I'm afraid not." James said. "I have to get back. But next time I'm over how about I take all three of you out."
"That's fine." The teenage girls said in almost unison.
"You don't like basketball?" He asked.
"Not as much as MJ." The teenage Kara said.
"It be a good game for you to play, it is one of safest to use powers in without anyone noticing." James said. "I played a little one on one with Clark, before I knew who he was, and he actually used his powers to win." He recalled before noticing the teenage Alex wasn't eating any potstickers. Confused he looked at Kara and asked. "Have you lied about what they taste like?"
"Alex doesn't like them." Kara shrugged. "I'm guessing it's just a teenage thing."
"I don't know. Clark doesn't like them either." He pointed out.
-00-
As the three teenagers went upstairs to the den following dinner, the teenage Alex asked.
"Does he have a squeeze on Superman?" The questions confusing her cousins who stared at her blankly for a moment before MJ asked.
"Crush?"
"Yes that." Alex agreed. "I mean he has talked non stop about him all evening."
"Perhaps he was looking for a topic you could relate to?" The teenage Kara suggested.
"I have never met Superman." Alex countered.
"Perhaps he wants to use you as an excuse to go see him?" The teenage Kara said.