A Death In The Family Part Two: Chapter Seven:
It was early the next morning when Jonathan was working on the tractor preparing it for yet another day of hard farm labor. He was preoccupied when Martha informed him that she would go up to the loft to wake Clark since he had not come into the house last night like he had not been sleeping in his own bed since Lex's death.
She made her way slowly up to the loft to find that the Sofa had not been touched when Clark first left it after the phone awoken him the night before.
"Jonathan," she called out the open door to her husband.
It was a few seconds before He made his way up the steps to stand at his wife's side. "What is it, Martha?"
"Clark," she turned to him. "I don't think he slept here last night. I thought I heard him in his room in the middle of the night, but I checked earlier, and he wasn't there either. Now he's not here."
Jonathan scanned the room. "Maybe he got an early start out in the fields today."
"With out telling us?" Martha took a few steps forward. "Oh, no."
"What?" Jonathan rushed to her side to see her eyes were fixated on a piece of paper on the makeshift desk across from the sofa where Clark often did his homework.
He approached the table slowly and picked up the note left for them.
Martha's forehead creased with worry. "What is it Jonathan?"
He turned back to her with a concerned look on his own face now.
"Metropolis?" She questioned with one word.
Jonathan picked up the note and read it to her. "Dear Ma and Pa, I know you won't be happy when you get this letter, but I had to follow up on my suspicions and I am going to look for Lex. I don't have much to go on right now, but I know something happen with that phone call last night, and I owe it to Lex to find out what has happen. I think Lionel Luthor is hiding something, and he seems to be the best place to start looking for answers. So please don't be mad. I'll call you when I find something and I will be home as soon as I possibly can. Sorry about the farm work, but I am figuring I helped to get us at least two weeks ahead of schedule, so you should be fine until I return. Please don't be mad and know that I love you both and will be back soon." Jonathan took a quick glance at his wife. "Your son, Clark," he finished.
Martha placed her hands over her mouth. "Oh God, Jonathan what is he thinking?"
"I think he thinks he can find Lex, alive," Jonathan placed the note back on the desk.
"But he can't, can he?" She walked over to the open door and looked out towards the deserted road. She turned back. "Lex Luthor is dead."
Jonathan walked over and pulled his wife into a hug. "I honestly don't know anymore, Martha. Whatever Clark is looking for, his instinct has never miss lead him before."
It was a few hours later when Clark entered the large Lobby of the Daily Planet Building. The room was very spacious with a large Globe shaped object directly in the center with a ring around the parameter of the large sphere spelling out the name of the new paper. Clark could not help take a moment to admire the object. The thing had to be over ten feet in diameter and equally as tall. The small town farm boy stood in the big city looking over a literal world.
"Wow," his eyes lit up.
His thoughts were interrupted by a known voice calling from the bank of elevators a few feet away.
"Clark!" The familiar sound called out.
Clark broke away from his gaze and turned to see his good friend Chloe Sullivan making her way through the crowd to find him.
"Chloe," he opened his arms and hugged the strikingly lovely blond girl.
"I was so stoked when I got your call last night," she hugged him back. "And of course Clark Kent shows up in the lobby at the precise moment he said he would."
"Well, you know me," he pulled away with a large smile. "Ever the punctual one."
"It is so nice to see someone from back in the milk capital of the world," she patted his arm. "I miss hanging around with you and Pete. As much of a big city girl I might be, I still miss my small town home boys."
"I really miss you too, Chloe," Clark told her. "I just wished this were more of a social visit."
"I understand, Clark," she gave him her concern look. "If you have any questions about Lex's death, and then I would be more than honored to help you in anyway I can. The fact that I have the entire research facilities of a large metropolitan news paper at my disposal, only make the task all the sweeter."
"I knew if anyone could help me with this, you would be the one to call," Clark smiled again.
"Well lucky you, Mr. Kent, because I am here at your disposal," Chloe took his arm and walked side-by-side back to the elevators.
"There's one more thing," he stopped to allow her to stand face to face with him again. "I didn't want to upset you on the phone, so I didn't tell you about..."
"Lana," her words stopped him short as she looked pass him.
"Hi, Chloe," Lana approached them.
The smile that had been beaming on Chloe's face was lost like the many sounds in the room around them.
Clark gave her his best humble eyes. "Lana kinda volunteered her aunt's car for the trip, so I took her up on it."
"Of course, Clark," Chloe forced a grin. "I should know well enough by now that where ever Clark is, Lana couldn't be far behind."
He wanted to say something, but chose not to. This was not the time for him to pick a fight.
"I plugged the meter with all the change I had," Lana told them. "I think we have a good three hours if I'm reading the stupid thing right."
"Good," Chloe added in a much-toned down voice from her earlier giddy one. "That should give us more than enough time to go over the information my partner and I dug up this morning. Then we can go from there."
Chloe turned quickly and lead through the rush of people walking in both directions. Clark and Lana took her cue and followed.
The elevator ride to the tenth floor was silent and unease for all three of them, but no one knew what to say, or if even a simple spoken word would start a larger threat of an argument between them. Clark knew the moment he saw Chloe's face at the sight of Lana being with him, that he had made a mistake by bringing her. Ever since the spring formal had gone wrong for his date with Chloe, the two women seemed to be more at odds even if it were an unspoken feud.
Clark actually heard himself saying a silent "Thank you Jesus," when the doors to the elevator finally open. The car open to a large bullpen styled room with rows of desk and office furniture all around with no apparent organization. As Chloe lead then down the opened isle between the furniture, Clark noticed that just about every desk had the latest in high tech computers on them. He followed silently while all the while his eyes were taking in the full sight of the scene around them. With the exception of the small makeshift pressroom for the Touch at Smallville High and a few random visits to the equally small offices of the Smallville Ledger, this was the first time he had ever been in a real newspaper office.
"My partner is here in the research office," Chloe finally spoke stopping before a glass door leading to a much smaller room off to the side of the large one. Her speech was simple and to the point, Clark noticed, and with out her usual Chloe like comments or comparisons.
The research office was about a ten by ten size room that seemed to be set up like a library with a door on the opposite wall leading to a much larger room which seemed to be lined with file cabinets and books of all size. The first room had four tables with four-computer terminals facing in each direction of the surface. There were two chairs on each side and each terminal had a small stockpile of disc, pads of paper and writing instruments.
Chloe lead them to the table in the far right corner where one man was busy tapping on the keyboard. She stopped before him and cleared her throat.
"Chloe," he looked up from his work. He was a healthy looking man in his early thirties with a full head of chestnut brown hair and eyes to match. He wore a striped vest over a simple button up white shirt with the sleeves rolled up one quarter of his arm's length. He wore a pair of cheep blue dress pants that match the same thin stripes of his vest and brown Patten leather loafers with scratch marks. Clench in his teeth was the remains of a short stogy cigar that was not lit, but instead he seemed to use as a pacifier of sorts.
"Perry," Chloe smiled at her new partner who was showing her the ropes at her summer intern job. "I want you to meat the friends I was telling you about."
Perry stopped what he was doing and stood up with a half smile revealing that he was wearing white gym socks under his loafers.
"Perry White," she then turned to Clark and Lana. "Meat Clark Kent, my some what reluctant assistant at the torch, and our good friend Lana Lang."
Clark could not help notice her introduction of Lana. Perhaps things were not as bad between them as he allowed himself to believe.
"Please to meet you kids," Perry held his hand out.
"Same here," Clark shook his hand with a smile. "I have read your by line a few times. You are one of the Planet's hottest reporters."
"Why thank you, Kent," Perry grinned. "You got a good eye for a story."
"You'll have to excuse me," Lana then took her turn with the handshakes. "I am not the literary buff that Clark and Chloe are, but I am very impressed to be in the actual Daily Planet Building."
"She is impressive," Perry returned. "I've been here since my first day out of journalism school, and she hasn't steered me wrong yet. My only complaint would be solved if they revoked this stupid no smoking policy while inside."
"Don't go there," Chloe raised her hand jokingly. "As long as I have to work with you, you will not light that stupid little cancer stick of yours."
"Do you see this?" Perry turned to Clark. "In my day, an intern respected their mentors and remained respectively silent."
Clark laughed at his little joke. "Well, I have to admit that we live in different times now, Mr. White."
Chloe took the opportunity to look down at the computer screen. "So have you uncovered anything while I was gone?"
A serious look came to Perry's face as he returned to his seat and stared at the monitor. "There are a few things to be questioned about this whole case," he told them.
"Like what?" Chloe asked taking the seat to his right while Lana pulled up a chair and sat to his left while Clark leaned over the back of the seat.
"It seems like your mechanic friend was right, Miss Lang," Perry started. "The smashed car was transferred directly from crash sight to the Luthor Corps impound lot here in Metropolis with out ever following proper procedure to be gone over by the local law enforcement of Smallville. The official report was also filled out by the Luthor Corps car pool mechanic and faxed to the Smallville police with out so much as a follow up to double check his findings."
"Did they determine a cause?" Clark asked.
"The official filed report claims there were no prior problems with the car, and the accident was most likely caused by driver's failure to maintain control of a speeding vehicle," Perry continued. "This goes along with the doctor's confirmation that he was three sheets to the wind when he came in for treatment, and closed the book on probable caused. It was listed as driving while intoxicated."
Clark left out a huff of frustration and pushed himself away. "But he wasn't drunk," he insisted. "I mean for God's sake, Lex left my house a little after eleven after several hours with no alcohol intake what so ever, and he was found less than a half hour later about a mile from house driving in the direction of his home and the nearest bar, and he was suppose to have gotten tanked in that short time."
"Are you sure that he didn't have any bear in the car?" Lana asked looking up.
"Yes, I'm sure," Clark, said with a frustrated huff. "I met him at his house to make sure he would come over to dinner, and we drove to my house together. There was nothing in the car or the trunk because that's where I put the movie rentals for the ride."
The three of them looked at Clark with a puzzled look.
"I swear, guys," Clark spread his arms in a mock defense. "There was no Alcohol, and Lex would be way too smart to drink and drive especially to this excess."
"Lex Luthor is capable of a whole lot of things, kid," Perry warned with a worried eye. "I met up with the guy several times on my beat. He almost always had something to hide, and if he couldn't burry the truth, his old man's money usually took care of the rest."
"I can't except that this is the real story," Clark told him leaning against the white wall lined with news clippings. "There is so much about this whole thing that doesn't make sense."
Perry stood up and walked over to Clark. "Listen Kid," he placed a careful hand on his shoulder. "I've had a few more years in this crazy word than you have, and I have to tell you that your friend Lex Luthors types are a dime a dozen. They are rich spoiled brats, who believe that their Daddy's money will buy them some type of immortality, but eventually this wild life style catches up with them, and the land of the real word hits them hard. Unfortunately for your friend, the real world came with a car spinning out of control."
"Lex wasn't like that," Clark said with pleading eyes. "At least not any more. He was responsible and serious about his future. He wouldn't do anything to risk it just to go on a binge."
Perry took a deep breath, removed his hand and turned away. "You know what they say about absolute power, Kent. It seems the Luthor are pretty much the personification of that here in Kansas."
Clark rubbed his face with both hands.
Chloe stood up and approached him. "Why are you bringing this up, Clark?" She asked. "I thought you were trying to make peace with Lex's death. Even with the pieces that don't fit."
He stared into her eyes not sure what to answer next.
Lana turned from the computer screen back to Clark. "You need to tell them, Clark."
A suspicious look took over Chloe's face when she looked at Lana. By the time she had turned back to Clark, it was replaced by a hurt one.
"You'll think I'm crazy," Clark tilted his head with a frown to make his point.
Chloe's eyes drifted down mid way to his chest. "Apparently Lana doesn't think so. I thought we had fingered enough freaks of the weeks to be pass thinking each other nuts."
Clark turned his gaze skywards. "This is over the top, Chloe. My own parents think I need to see a shrink."
Chloe inspected him one final time and decided he would not be forthcoming with her, so she turned and began to walk away with what she hoped was a hidden pout. She knew that Lana always had his affection, but now in the short time of her absence, she had also collected Clark's secrets as well.
Clark pulled his hair back with his right hand as he watched her walk away.
"He called me last night," Clark finally said after a long moment of silence.
Chloe stopped dead in her tracks and looked up again. "He?" She questioned as she turned back.
Clark took a deep breath and said the words. "Lex called me last night."
Even Perry, peered up from his place at the terminal screen.
Chloe gave a face of disbelief. "Lex Luthor called you last night? From where?"
"I told you it sounded crazy," Clark raised his arms. "I'm not fully sure I believe it myself, but I am sure I heard Lex's voice on my phone last night."
"Whom have you told this to?" Perry asked.
"My folks, Lana and now you," Clark replied. "My Mom and Dad think I was dreaming or something."
"Did you trace the call?" Chloe added.
"It was a dead end with a telemarketer, but I think it was suppose to end that way," Clark explained placing his hands in his jean pockets. "Lex didn't say much, but he did say that he was in trouble, before the phone went dead."
"This is so X-Files," Chloe commented. "If Lex is still alive, then who was it that died in your arms at the hospital, Clark? And who did we burry a few days later?"
"There are allot of things that need to be explained about this whole mess," Lana piped up. "Yet a body can be switched in a closed coffin at any time, but the death has a little more to it."
"I'm sure if someone could find a way to steal Lex Luthor away right under his own father's nose, then they can find a way to fake his death," Perry told them.
"So do you think it was possible that with all of the suspicious stuff around his accident, that someone could have faked his death and kid napped Lex?" Clark asked.
"The real question would be; was there any ransom demands made since the funeral?" Chloe spoke from her stand near the table.
Clark replaced his concern look with one of determination. "There is only one person who can answer that. And I think it's time I paid Lionel Luthor a short visit."
"What are you going to do, Clark?' Chloe asked. "Walk into Daddy Luthor's office and asked if he is aware that someone might have his supposed dead son stashed away somewhere?"
"Chloe has a point, Clark." Lana added. "For all we know, Lionel Luthor has a much bigger role in all of this than he are aware. Going to him with questions might tip him off or someone close to him who might be watching him to make sure he doesn't tell anyone."
"Lionel was willing to let us all die, along with Lex back at the plant when we were being held hostage last year," Clark reminded. "I'm not sure he would pay a ransom even if there were one."
Perry ran his left hand through the hair on the side of his head as he listen to them talk. The wheels in his mind were turning, and finally he spoke up. "I think you kids are onto something here."
They all turned and listened attentively.
"What ever is going on here," he continued. "It's allot bigger than what Luthor is telling us. There is a story here, and I think you owe it to yourselves to follow up on it."
"What do you suggest?" Chloe asked.
Perry stood up and walked over to Clark. "I think it's time that you do pay Lionel Luthor a visit, Kent."
Clark looked puzzled. "Under what pretence? If he knows anything, I am sure that he won't give me the whole story."
"That much we can bank on," Perry rubbed his chin.
"There is the police case against your parent's," Lana reminded them. "You can be a concerned son and size him up at the same time."
"That's good," Perry pointed at her. "Meanwhile, I think it would be a good thing if a couple of us paid the Luthor Corps motor pool a visit. I would like to get a personal look at that car myself."
"I'll go," Lana said. "I think I know how I can be helpful getting you in."
Chloe gave her a rye look. "And what do I do while you guys are all out chasing Lionel's tail?"
"Research," Perry said with a big smile. "What ever has happen here may not be a Luthor exclusive. I need you to check on the leads on any similar cases of rich playboys suddenly meeting their maker in the last few months."
Chloe let out a sigh.
"Please," Clark spoke up. "We all have to work together on this Chloe." He walked over to her and stared down into her eyes taking her forearms into his hands. "If Lex is still alive, then he is asking for my help. I owe him to follow this wherever it will lead. Please say that you will help us."
She wanted to melt at the warm touch of his hands on her. His deep green eyes were piercing her soul as he pleaded for her help.
After a few short moments, a small smile came across her lips. "We all owe it to Lex to get to the bottom of this."
Clark pulled her in close for a hug as Lana involuntarily turned away.
TO BE CONTINUED
***Notes***
Thanks again for all the kind words. It's nice to know that my stories are entertaining someone.
Thank you Marrie and Ingrid-matthews. Just a word of warning IM, this is story is not slashy on any level. My Clark and Lex are very close. I hope you will continue to read, because I think there is still more to the relationship to watch even without sex.
To MitchPell, yup, that's me. The horse was an idea I came up with for my first story and has played a part in two others since. Watch for more on the horse in future chapters. Oh, and if you could remember where you saw my story on a page other than FF.net, could you please send me the address. I have given permission for my story on other sights, but never on a slash sight. So I would like to check it out and see what they might be doing with my stories. Thanks.
To Robyn, shout out!!! Thanks for your kind words and I hope I am making the specail trip worth while.
Finally, I have given my Bata reader Chritin the chapter off and I edited this baby myself, so I am sorry for any mistakes and I'll try not to let it happen again.
Thank you to all of your, and please keep reading and reviewing.