Chapter 4
"This is Smallville's main street," Clark said. Summer took off her sunglasses and looked around.
"Not what I expected," she replied. Where are the saloons?
Clark rolled his eyes. "Sorry. I'm afraid Wyatt Earp never rode into THIS town."
Summer noticed the town square. It appeared that there were on-going renovations. 'This heritage preservation project is funded by LL Construction, a division of Luthor Corp.'
Why would Luthor Corp., one of the largest corporate empires in the world, set up shop in a place like Smallville, she wondered.
"You're friends with Lex Luthor?" she asked.
"Uhhhhh, yeah. But not like ..."
"You and Bruce?"
You're on shaky ground, Clark told himself. Watch it. "I'm good friends with both of them."
"Lex manages a plant around here, I take it."
"Just outside the city limits. Why?"
"You've heard about the money trail that leads to the Luthors?" Summer nodded her head towards the Daily Planet newspaper box.
This doesn't sound good at all, Clark feared. "Umm, yes I have. But I think Luthor Sr. handles most of their international affairs."
"That may be," she answered, "but, in my experience, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." She looked at her watch. "I'm going to check into the hotel. See you at the farmhouse tomorrow?" She hopped into her car and zoomed off.
"Sure thing." He understood Summer was just doing her job, but why did it have to involve him? Yes, there were some vague links between the foiled Wayne assassin and a Luthor partner in Europe, but what does that have to do with Smallville? Lex. He wanted to believe otherwise.
I'd better head back to the farmhouse now, he decided.
"Who's the red-headed babe?"
Clark turned around. Lana Lang in jeans. I'll get to the farmhouse – later.
[Daily Planet offices, Metropolis, early morning]
Chloe checked the clock. 2 AM. "Look up any archived articles on Luthor Corp. Not the society crap, strictly business." Orders from the night editor. She continued to scan CD-ROM after CD-ROM. 'Luthor lays off 5,000 employees' 'Luthor Corp. acquires aerospace firm.' 'Luthor stocks soar after tech merger'
Chloe's eyes glazed over. "Wall Street is soo boring. All mergers this, stocks that."
She checked her email.
A message from Clark: "... bought a new tractor. It could improve our output next harvest. Bruce says hi."
Chloe remembered the dizzying events of Gotham City. So many unanswered questions. I wonder if Bruce is ok.
A message from Lex. "I'll be in town in a week. We'll do lunch." As if I needed more headaches, she chuckled.
And a message from Lana: "Metropolis must be soooo awesome! ...... store renovations ...... Clark helping with lumber ..... Clark doing work for Bruce – nice work if you can get it ...... Clark and I had coffee ..... needs a sympathetic ear ....... don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him. Hugs, Lana." But who'll keep an eye on you, Lana, Chloe snickered.
Clark. Still coping with the baggage of Gotham. God, he's been shot at. Twice. Needs a sympathetic ear? I should be that ear. My ear should be in Smallville, having coffee with Clark Kent. 'I'm there for you, Clark,' Thanks, Chloe, thanks for being there. Being there often leads to always being there. 'You've made my life complete, Chloe.' Dinner at the Kent farmhouse. 'Will you marry me, Chloe Sullivan?' Bruce lending his private jet for the honeymoon. 'Chloe, I've waited for this moment forever ..."
She woke up. The headline said, 'Luthor opens plant in Smallville. Son to manage.' "Oooo, that look's interesting," she said. You're in the Daily Planet. Less Kent, more Luthor. She gave one last glance at Clark's email: "... not the same without you around ..."
Darn right it's not the same. This fall, everything changes. She switched on the radio. It's Blondie.
'One way or another I'm gonna find ya, I'm gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha ....."
"Clark Kent," she scrolled the mouse to the Smallville article, "look out!"
"This is Smallville's main street," Clark said. Summer took off her sunglasses and looked around.
"Not what I expected," she replied. Where are the saloons?
Clark rolled his eyes. "Sorry. I'm afraid Wyatt Earp never rode into THIS town."
Summer noticed the town square. It appeared that there were on-going renovations. 'This heritage preservation project is funded by LL Construction, a division of Luthor Corp.'
Why would Luthor Corp., one of the largest corporate empires in the world, set up shop in a place like Smallville, she wondered.
"You're friends with Lex Luthor?" she asked.
"Uhhhhh, yeah. But not like ..."
"You and Bruce?"
You're on shaky ground, Clark told himself. Watch it. "I'm good friends with both of them."
"Lex manages a plant around here, I take it."
"Just outside the city limits. Why?"
"You've heard about the money trail that leads to the Luthors?" Summer nodded her head towards the Daily Planet newspaper box.
This doesn't sound good at all, Clark feared. "Umm, yes I have. But I think Luthor Sr. handles most of their international affairs."
"That may be," she answered, "but, in my experience, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." She looked at her watch. "I'm going to check into the hotel. See you at the farmhouse tomorrow?" She hopped into her car and zoomed off.
"Sure thing." He understood Summer was just doing her job, but why did it have to involve him? Yes, there were some vague links between the foiled Wayne assassin and a Luthor partner in Europe, but what does that have to do with Smallville? Lex. He wanted to believe otherwise.
I'd better head back to the farmhouse now, he decided.
"Who's the red-headed babe?"
Clark turned around. Lana Lang in jeans. I'll get to the farmhouse – later.
[Daily Planet offices, Metropolis, early morning]
Chloe checked the clock. 2 AM. "Look up any archived articles on Luthor Corp. Not the society crap, strictly business." Orders from the night editor. She continued to scan CD-ROM after CD-ROM. 'Luthor lays off 5,000 employees' 'Luthor Corp. acquires aerospace firm.' 'Luthor stocks soar after tech merger'
Chloe's eyes glazed over. "Wall Street is soo boring. All mergers this, stocks that."
She checked her email.
A message from Clark: "... bought a new tractor. It could improve our output next harvest. Bruce says hi."
Chloe remembered the dizzying events of Gotham City. So many unanswered questions. I wonder if Bruce is ok.
A message from Lex. "I'll be in town in a week. We'll do lunch." As if I needed more headaches, she chuckled.
And a message from Lana: "Metropolis must be soooo awesome! ...... store renovations ...... Clark helping with lumber ..... Clark doing work for Bruce – nice work if you can get it ...... Clark and I had coffee ..... needs a sympathetic ear ....... don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him. Hugs, Lana." But who'll keep an eye on you, Lana, Chloe snickered.
Clark. Still coping with the baggage of Gotham. God, he's been shot at. Twice. Needs a sympathetic ear? I should be that ear. My ear should be in Smallville, having coffee with Clark Kent. 'I'm there for you, Clark,' Thanks, Chloe, thanks for being there. Being there often leads to always being there. 'You've made my life complete, Chloe.' Dinner at the Kent farmhouse. 'Will you marry me, Chloe Sullivan?' Bruce lending his private jet for the honeymoon. 'Chloe, I've waited for this moment forever ..."
She woke up. The headline said, 'Luthor opens plant in Smallville. Son to manage.' "Oooo, that look's interesting," she said. You're in the Daily Planet. Less Kent, more Luthor. She gave one last glance at Clark's email: "... not the same without you around ..."
Darn right it's not the same. This fall, everything changes. She switched on the radio. It's Blondie.
'One way or another I'm gonna find ya, I'm gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha ....."
"Clark Kent," she scrolled the mouse to the Smallville article, "look out!"