The sun rose over Metropolis with the rays of a bright new day filling the city with promise and new hope for the journey that lay ahead. The buildings were shimmering in the glow of the early morning sun as Nell Potter made her way to the Luthor Corps tower from her parked car. It was a journey that she had made many times before. The warm summer air tossed her long dark hair as if it were a train while she walked. She wore a smart summer dress with a pastel flower pattern, which was draped, just below her knees. The sleeves were short and she carried a straw handbag with a large, matching hat and tan open toed shoes with moderately high heels.
Nell made her way into the building and up to the executive floor as if she owned the place. In fact at one point in her life, she thought that her close friendship with Lionel Luthor might put her in that position, but the dreams of grandeur were not to be. Over the years she had grown tired of waiting around for her perceived 'beau' to come around, and her mind moved on to other fancies to occupy her time. The two never became lovers, but Nell had been proud of the fact that they had remained friends, if even at a distance.
"Good morning, Ms. Potter," the woman behind the desk in the LC lobby created her.
"Good morning, Maggie," Nell returned with a bright smile. "What do they have you doing here at such an early hour?"
"Well, Mr. Luthor called me last night and informed me that he would be having a breakfast meeting with you today, and he asked that I have everything prepared for when you arrived," she explained. "Since our regular receptionist is not in yet, I thought I would wait out here for you."
"That is so nice of you," Nell continued with the polite conversation. "Is he in yet?"
"I'm afraid not," Maggie frowned. "There was a wreck on route seventy-one this morning and he's tied up in traffic. He asked me to have you wait for him."
"Of course," Nell grinned. She was the one who called Lionel the night before demanding this meeting, so she was not going anywhere. She even wondered if Lionel had not planned the car crash on the highway just to make her wait for him.
"Could I get you some coffee while you wait?" Maggie asked.
"Actually, I was hoping to get a start on some of those imported Danishes that I know Lionel loves. I am sure he has some waiting for us on the breakfast table," Nell told her. "Would it be possible to just let me in his office so I may wait for him there?"
"Oh, Ms. Potter," She frowned again. "I don't think Mr. Luthor would like that. He doesn't allow anyone in his office without prior approval."
"Come now, Maggie," Nell gushed. "We have known each other for years, and I have known Lionel for even longer. I am sure that the company rules do not apply to me. I mean even if he is hiding some company secrets back there, how would I be able use the plans of a big company like this for my little coffee shop in Smallville?"
Maggie eyed her for a moment. "I don't know."
"Please, Maggie," Nell tried again. "Have a heart. I drove all the way in from Smallville before the sun was even up and I haven't eaten yet. I'm famished."
"Oh all right," Maggie stood up and grabbed a ring of keys. "I'm sure Mr. Luthor wouldn't want me to let you starve to death."
"Thank you, dear," Nell smiled at her own victory. "You are a life saver."
Maggie tilted her head in a comic gesture as they both made their way past the security doors into the office area.
When Nell and Maggie arrived in Lionel's office, they found that a small table had been set up in front of the large, wall sized window with a great view over the city. There was another table setup with a catered breakfast with more food on it than any two people would be able to eat in a week.
Nell walked over and admired the spread. "This was so sweet of him to plan this."
"You would be amazed at how easy it is to put something like this together at a moments notice when all you have to do is wake your personal assistant up from a sound sleep in the middle of the night," Maggie half joked.
"Oh, then you did a wonderful job," Nell smiled picking off a piece of the Danish in her hand. "Would you like to join me until Lionel gets here?"
"I'm afraid I can't," Maggie explained turning back towards the door. "I need to prepare for the rest of Mr. Luthor's morning appointments. Please help yourself, and he should be here momentarily."
"Thank you again, Maggie," Nell called out as she left.
Nell turned back to the table and lifted the lids on the two large, hot, serving trays. One held three different styles of eggs ready for the choosing while the other was stuffed with bacon, Canadian bacon, hash browns, and slices of fried ham steaks. "Good Lord, Lionel," She thought out loud. "With all this animal fat you eat it's a wonder your heart is not one massive, blocked artery."
She put the lids back and twisted around to face his desk. "But food is not my real reason for being here," she whispered to herself. "That reporter who called last night wants to know why you are hunting my niece, Lionel, and so do I."
Making her way over to the desk, she started opening draws and searching through his private papers for any clues to the big mystery that the elder Luthor was hiding that would make him start a manhunt for Lana and Clark. She had always known that he had his dark side, but his secrets had never threatened her family before. If that Perry White person on the phone was right, then Lionel's secrets would put them all in harms way. The kids were already on the run from him, and the Kents were behind bars. Nell knew that they would never have supplied Lex with enough alcohol to kill himself and she knew that these were some of the underhanded tricks that Lionel had been capable of pulling in the past. She had knowledge of the man that too few in Smallville had ever known, and until this day, she had always been willing to put her suspicions and fears aside and remain his friend. Today, however, she would cross the line and search for the real Luthor behind his public image.
After a few minutes, she found her search was fruitless, as she had been unable to crack into his computer. She had decided that her search was hopeless when she sat in his chair and turned slightly to her left. There she saw it: the door leading to Lionel's private living quarters where he spent his nights when he was unable to leave the city for various reasons. The light of hope grew in her eyes again.
She herself had never been invited into his inner sanctum, but she knew if he was going to hide some deep, dark secret, it would be in his most private of private spaces. Nell slowly made her way towards the door and reached for the knob.
Her hands were shaking. She wondered if she should be attempting such a thing when she knew Lionel could walk in on her at any moment, but she knew she had come all this way for a reason, and there was no turning back for her now. Whatever Lionel was hiding, Lana's very life may hang in the balance, so she had to go forth and uncover his deceptions.
Much to her surprise and relief, the doorknob turned as she moved it in a clockwise rotation. Slowly, the door gave way, and she began to push it forward. The rim of her hat hit the frame of the door as she eased her head in slowly, giving her a slight start. Once the door was opened and she stepped into the lavishly furnished living area of the private quarters, she removed her headpiece and dropped it on the sofa.
The room was large and decorated in the same heavy grays as the office was. On the right side was a small kitchen area that Nell was very sure he seldom used, if ever. The window's vertical blinds were drawn shut over the same large, wall sized view as in the other room. The darkness as the morning light attempted to peak through the slits in the fabric gave the room a mysterious glow. At the far end, past the seating and dining areas, were two doors. One was near the center of the wall where she was sure another room was placed behind it, and the other one was closer to the corner near the kitchenette. This would most likely be the private rest room.
Nell slowly made her way across the darken room towards the larger quarters. She was unsure of what Lionel was hiding, but somehow she felt that getting closer to the closed areas of his life would turn up some clues. Even if she herself could not decipher the clues, she was sure that Perry White would. The only trick now was bringing him the right information.
Her nerves were standing on end, as each step became more agonizing than the last. The room was so close, yet so far away. She wanted to rush, but was afraid of what types of security measures Lionel would have set up here in his most private of inner sanctums. Nell did not want to set off any alarms, silent or other wise. So she continued her trek slowly.
She was about two feet from the door and her hand was reaching for knob when she heard a loud thud sound from the inner chamber as if something hard and solid had hit the floor. Nell jumped in her own skin. 'Something' or 'Someone' was in that room.
The silence around her was staggering for the next few minutes as she waited to hear another sound, but none could be heard. So slowly, she decided to advance towards the door, again.
The knob seemed cold and hard beneath her hand. She knew it was her nerves playing tricks on her, but surely the room behind this door was going to be much scarier and dangerous. Every fiber in her body was telling her to back away, but Nell had come too far now. She knew that Lionel Luthor was hiding something from her and the rest of the world, and she could feel it down to her core that the secret would be revealed behind this door.
Her left hand on the knob was shaking as she began turning it. She used her right hand to help steady her left, but by this time her whole body was shaking. She had to discover what ever it was behind this barrier.
Deciding to act quickly as not to loose her nerve, Nell Potter released the handle as she pushed the door open to reveal the inner sanctum. The new room was much darker than the first, and the only light was from the dim glow of the living quarters streaming into it.
Nell attempted to adjust her eyes to the darker quarters, and for a brief second she saw something. "Oh, my God," she gasped taking one step forward to get a better view. "Dear God, no," she gasped again as a hand grabbed her shoulder pulling her back into the living area.
Nell screamed with all her might as she was pushed up against the wall and a hand rose to clasp over her mouth. She looked up with terrified eyes to see who was holding her helpless. To her further shock, her new captive was none other than Lionel Luthor himself.
Tears of fear rolled down her cheek as she realized that Lionel knew what she had done and knew what she had seen. He smiled with an evil grin at her. "Nell," he spoke in low, harsh tones. "I treat you like a guest in my home away from home, and this is how you repay me?"
Nell moaned through his grip over her lips.
"I shall remove my hand, and I hope you have a good explanation for this intrusion into my private affairs."
She nodded her head as the tears flowed freely. Lionel pulled his hand back cautiously and allowed her to speak. "I'm sorry, Lionel," she gasped for fresh air. "I was just waiting for you to show up for our meeting, and I thought I would have a look around."
Lionel released her and took a few steps back. She relaxed her stance and rubbed her neck where he had her pinned to the wall with his forearm.
"Most interesting," he commented. "What I want to know is: who sent you here to spy on me?"
Nell was surprised by his question. "No one," she insisted. "I came here to see if you could help get the police off my nieces trail and maybe get the Kents out of jail," she lied.
"Since when have you been interested in the Kents? And why would you think I would have any influence over the police?" Lionel questioned her.
"I don't know," Nell made her way over to the sofa in the center of the room. "I'm desperate for help, and I want to get Lana home where she belongs."
Lionel watched her for a moment. "Very moving speech, Nell. I would be very much inclined to believe you if it were not for the telephone call that you received from the Daily Planet newspaper offices only moments before you contacted me and asked for this meeting last night," Lionel called her bluff.
Nell turned towards him with a startled look on her face as she leaned on the sofa's back.
"Yes, Nell," he continued as he approached her. "I am onto you and your little reporter friend. What did he tell you? Did he tell you I am behind the Kent's arrest, or that I am the reason the police are looking for Lana and her friends? Perhaps he was so incline to inform you that I was the last person to see Jimmy Haifa alive, so therefore I must be responsible for his disappearance too."
"Don't you dare mock me, Lionel," she turned with an angry stare. "You have no right to question me with that dirty, little, secret of yours in there," She pointed to the room. "Do you know how many people will suffer for this? How many have already suffered?"
Lionel gave her an evil grin. "You are the dramatic one, Nell. What goes on behind my private doors is my business. My life is my own, and so are my secrets."
"You have to tell someone," She warned as she pulled up all the resolve within herself. "You can't keep this hidden for long. Someone will find out."
He pulled her upper arm towards himself sharply. "And who will tell them, Nell?"
She began to shake again looking up at his steel cold eyes. She knew that she had dived into the deep side way over her head. All that mattered now was what he would do to her.
Maggie Butterfold was sitting at her own desk outside of Lionel Luthor's office when her buzzer rang for the intercom. She picked up the receiver. "Yes, Mr. Luthor."
"Maggie," he spoke in a pleasant voice. "Would you call the company nurse and have her come up to my office at once. It seems that Ms. Potter has tripped on something in my office and knocked herself out."
"Yes, of course, sir." Maggie replied with concern. "Should I call 911?"
"No need," he answered. "Once the nurse has stabilized her, I shall have her transported to the hospital in my private limo."
"Yes, sir. I will make the arrangements right away," she said.
"Thank you, Maggie," He returned. "Oh, and one more thing. Once you have handled these matters, clean out your desk. Security will be up in three minutes to escort you out of the building."
"Sir?" She swallowed hard.
"It's quite simple, Margaret," his tone turned harsh. "You're fired. Good day." He then hung up the phone leaving a very startled Maggie to wonder what had just happened.
The sun came up over Gotham City as well that day. It was the first time Clark had seen signs of the yellow object above them since he arrived there the day before. After he stepped out of the shower, he put on a fresh, royal blue t-shirt and pair of well-worn jeans over his Fruit of the Loom underpants. He enjoyed the comfort of the clothes Alfred had given him the night before, but he also enjoyed being back in his own outfit. He placed his dried work boots over his thick white sport socks and stepped out into the hall of Wayne Manor ready to face a new day. Much to his surprise, Alfred was nowhere to be found, but a distinct smell of eggs and bacon was coming up from the lower level of the house. It was there that he knew he would start his morning.
Walking down the steps and up the hall to where he was sure the smell was coming from; Clark passed the opened door of Bruce Wayne's private study. He could see that the darkened flickering of the smoldering embers in the fireplace were making a dull glow in the dimly lit room. As Clark got closer, he could see a set of feet on the sofa with pink fuzzy slippers that he had seen Lana wearing from his telescopic view of her house many times. The sight was rather surprising since he thought she had been asleep in her own room the entire night. He approached the door slowly and peeked his head around the corner where he saw her sleeping on the couch. Much to his dismay, she was not alone. Bruce Wayne also lay in a slumber on the corner of the bench and Lana was leaned against his fully clothed chest in her dream word. On the table before them sat a photo album of Wayne family. A well-worn picture of Lana with her parents was resting next to it.
Clark's heart sank as he realized that the two of them had made a connection and grown very comfortable with each other over the few hours they had been acquainted. So comfortable that she had felt enough at ease to fall asleep in his arms, or so it appeared. The girl of his dreams was again in the arms of another man, and this time the other man was a complete mystery to him.
Clark turned away and tried not to place a mental picture of what he had just seen into his thoughts, but he knew it was already too late. This time however, Clark decided he would not make an effort to sway her mind. Lana seemed to be able to give her heart to just about everyone but him. This was a fact of life he needed to accept and move on. He placed a strong, determined look on his face as he lifted his head. "After all," he thought to himself. "Winning Lana's heart," was not his reason for being here. He would solve the mystery behind Lex's murder first and worry about his high school crush later.
Alfred placed a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and home fries before him when he sat at the large empty dinning room table. Clark smiled up at him politely. "Thank you, sir."
He said grace as Alfred watched, very much surprised. Then Clark dug into his early morning meal with much vigor. The fast food meal they had eaten the night before left much to be desired, so he enjoyed the fresh morning entrée.
"Will you be having coffee?" Alfred asked as he placed another helping on his plate to replace the first he had scoffed down.
"Actually, milk would be fine," Clark swallowed a mouth full. "These eggs are great, Mr. Pennyworth."
"Thank you, young sir," Alfred gave him a smile. "I shall go see if we have any fresh milk in the kitchen. I shall return promptly."
Clark nodded his understanding and scooped up another forkful, as a sleepy Chloe walked into the room. She was wearing a baggy pair of pink sweatpants and white sneakers with a Daily Planet tee shirt.
"Don't you look chipper today, Chloe," he shot her a snide smile.
"Oh, shut up," she fired back. "Not everyone grew up waking with the cows, Clark." She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Besides, I didn't get to bed until four this morning."
"Why," he asked with a mouth full of eggs. "Does your room have cable?"
"No," She sat across the table but leaned over it towards him. "I was on Bruce's computer in the library most of the night," she said softly. "I was trying to figure out his connection to these terrorists."
"Chloe," he whispered back with a cautious look. "What were you thinking? Not only is that illegal, it could be dangerous. We don't know anything about these guys, and there is no telling what they are capable of if they caught you going through their private stuff."
"I didn't get caught, Clark," she slid back into her chair. "Alfred was too busy making sure you were comfortable, and Bruce was wooing Lana in the study all night. No one saw me. It's one of my gifts in life to be able to disappear right before people's eyes."
Clark knew that her last comment was aimed at him for all the months he had not noticed her attraction for him. Clark looked to see if Alfred was coming through the door, but there was still no sign of him.
"So did you find anything?' Clark leaned in to whisper.
"Besides clear evidence that is the obsessed and pathetic life of Bruce Wayne," she commented. "I think so."
Clark glanced at the door again. "Well?" he coaxed.
"Besides the fact that this guy is strung out on collecting crime stories and clippings from every form of the news media, he seems to have very extensive files on a local club in downtown Gotham called 'The Edge,'" Chloe told him. "There have been a lot of rumors connected with the place, but no real crimes have been linked to the sight. Yet, Bruce continues to keep a very close eye on it. Some of the notes were from his personal observations of the place. It's like he's been casing the club."
"Were there any indications that it could be connected to a terrorist cell?" Clark asked in a hushed tone.
"No, but from what I was able to gather from the series of his own reports, Bruce is sure that this place is the belly of hell itself and everything bad in Gotham, if not the country, goes through this place at one point or another," She explained. "He gave no indications of it being tied to a terrorist cell, however."
Just then, the door to the kitchen opened and Alfred came into the room with a fresh bottle of milk in his hand. "It would appear that you are in luck, sir," he held up the liquid as if it were a prize. "It appears that today would be our day for a delivery."
"That's great," Clark smiled, hoping that Alfred had not heard any part of their conversation. He handed Alfred the empty glass that was sitting before him.
Chloe waited until Alfred was done and he turned his attention to her. "I'll just have some coffee," she smiled.
"At once," he grinned back and then left for the kitchen again.
"So," Clark leaned again with a low voice. "Do you think we should check this place out?"
"It would be a good start," she agreed. "It's a comedy club that serves alcohol, so we may have a problem getting in."
"Maybe we can go in during the day and pretend we are looking for jobs," Clark thought out loud.
"And if they are hiring and ask for our ID's?" Chloe gave him a dumb look.
Clark let his eyes drift for a moment as Alfred came back and poured Chloe a cup of coffee in the cup, which was with the empty place setting before her.
Lana came floating into the room still wearing her nightclothes and a large smile.
"Lana," Clark looked up with a surprised expression. "Did you have a good rest?"
"Good enough," she smiled again, pulling her robe tightly shut. "Bruce and I were up until dawn looking over old family albums and just talking."
"How sweet," Chloe commented snidely, as she ripped off a piece of a croissant role and placed it in her mouth.
"Oh, and guess what," Lana gushed excitedly as she sat in the chair next to Chloe. "He wants to take us all out to dinner tonight and then to a trendy comedy club called the Edge."
Chloe and Clark both stared at each other for a second.
"I know we are all underage, but Bruce said he could get us in so long as we don't try to have any drinks," Lana continued. "Isn't that so sweet of him?"
"Yeah," Clark forced a smile. "That's just great."
"Wait a minute," Chloe shook her hands. "What actually happened with you and this Wayne guy last night? When we arrived he told us to pack our bags and get out at first light, and now he wants to take us to dinner and a show? Did I miss something?"
"I don't know," Lana leaned back with a glow in her eyes. "I think Bruce and I just connected on some new level. He's a real nice guy."
"Indeed," Alfred commented as he filled her coffee cup from over her left shoulder.
Once he made his way back to the kitchen, Alfred found Bruce Wayne helping himself to a slice of cooked bacon he was keeping warm on a plate over the stove. Bruce still felt like a small child whenever Alfred caught him doing these types of things.
"Master Bruce," Alfred nodded.
"I didn't feel like having a whole meal and just wanted a slice of bacon and some coffee," Bruce decided to defend himself wide eyed.
Alfred raised the pot of coffee in his hands. "I shall pour you a cup and bring it to you should you care to join the others in the dining room."
"Not today, Alfred," Bruce seemed relaxed again. "I need to make an appearance at the office or Lucas will think I have skipped the country again. Will you explain my absence to our guests?"
"Of course, Master Bruce," Alfred placed the pot back on the stove, handing Bruce a full cup. "I also understand that the four of you have a dinner engagement for tonight."
"Oh, yes," Bruce appeared absentminded for a second. "If you could have the limousine ready by six to drive into town, I would appreciate it."
"Do you think it would be wise?" Alfred questioned.
"These kids are harmless, Alfred," Bruce said stealing another piece of bacon. "They think that by coming to Gotham they can solve the mystery of Lex Luthor's death, but this whole case is way over their heads. Besides, I think there might be a little more to Clark than meets the eye. I swear when I hit him last night that the kid was made of steel."
"That is all well and good, sir, but why would you be taking them to 'The Edge'?" Alfred asked scooping some eggs onto a dish.
"Clark and the girls are looking for a terrorist cell here in the city," Bruce took the plate and began to scoop down the eggs. "They are not looking for an organized crime syndicate. Besides," he pulled a piece of toast from a plate Alfred had placed next to the bacon. "Entertaining some out of town friends is a good reason for Bruce Wayne to visit the club again."
Alfred sighed, dropped some home fries on the plate next to the eggs that Bruce held while he was standing at the stove with him sipping on his coffee. "I do wish you would not refer to yourself in the third person so often, sir. It is almost as if you expect to take on a separate identity at any given moment if given the chance."
Bruce chucked some fries in his mouth and smiled at him. "When you do as much research and undercover work as I have been to solve the mystery of my own severed brake lines, and then to come across the Edge, it's becomes natural to think of yourself as a whole separate person from your original self."
"Indeed," Alfred sighed with a defeated tone.
"Oh, look at the time," Bruce glanced at his watch. "I need to get going. Please tell the others I'll be back this afternoon." He then downed the last of his coffee.
"What about breakfast?" Alfred asked him.
"No time to eat, Alfred, I gotta go," Bruce wiped his mouth and dropped the napkin on the empty plate of eggs Alfred held. "See you later."
As if in a flash, Bruce disappeared out the door.
Alfred sighed once more picking up the empty plate of bacon and the empty plate of toast and placed them over the emptied plate of eggs and home fries he held in his hands topping it off with the empty coffee mug. He turned and walked towards the sink. "Young Master Bruce," he spoke out loud. "I do wish you would make time to eat a nourishing meal from time to time." He placed the emptied dishes in the sink and looked up as his lips twisted into a slight smile.
Jonathan Kent had been refusing to take visitors all morning when he was told that he had a visitor from the Daily Planet waiting for him. He had refused to see the reporter until the guard informed him that the reporter had a message from Clark.
So Jonathan allowed them to escort him to the visiting room where he sat behind a glass partition. It was not long before Perry White appeared on the other side and picked up the black phone receiver. Jonathan did the same with a rather disgusted look on his face.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Kent," Perry smiled. "My name is Perry White with the Daily Planet. You look rather disappointed to see me."
"I was hoping for another reporter," Jonathan sighed.
"Oh I get it," Perry smiled again. "I guess you were hoping I was Chloe Sullivan."
"Something like that," Jonathan leaned back in his chair. "Listen, I don't mean to be rude, but I have had my fill of reporters in the last month, so if you don't mind, I would just rather say no comment and go back to my cell."
"But Mr. Kent," Perry spoke quickly. "I do have a message from Clark."
Jonathan stopped short of placing the phone on the hook and instead returned it to his ear. "I'm listening," he said cautiously.
"You've got a good kid, Mr. Kent," Perry tried to breath a little easier. "He wanted me to tell you that he's sorry he had to run out on you on such short notice, but he got a tip on his Luthor theory and he had to leave Metropolis and Smallville before the police caught up to him."
"The police?" Jonathan said with concern.
"Yeah, they figured out that he was in Metropolis with Chloe and that Lana girl and they told him they wanted him back here for questioning."
"About what?" Jonathan snapped. "Clark is even more innocent than Martha and I, and we didn't do anything. The only plus we have is we know how Lionel Luthor works."
"That may be very helpful on my case, Jonathan," Perry dispensed with the formalities. "I need your input to answer one question for me. Do you think Lionel is sick enough to have his own son murdered?"
"What?" Jonathan was shocked.
"Your son seems to trust you beyond doubt, so I will too," Perry leaned into the glass. "I found evidence that Lex Luthor may have been murdered deliberately. His brake lines were all cut."
Jonathan rubbed his face with his free hand. "Oh, my God," he gasped. "This whole thing just keeps getting more out of hand everyday."
"So," Perry repeated. "Do you think Lionel would have had Lex murdered and when the heat got too close, he framed you on a lesser charge of liability to remove the attention from himself or any further investigations into the condition of the car."
Jonathan rubbed his face again. "With Lionel, just about anything is possible, Mr. White. All I can tell you is that Lionel is running scared right now, and he is willing to hurt anyone who gets in his way."
Perry eyed Jonathan for a few moments. "I think your son and the girls may be in trouble," he spoke softly and deliberately. "I think Lionel is willing to kill to cover up his secrets."
Jonathan's eyes grew large. "What are you not telling me, Perry?"
Perry took a quick look around to see if anyone was listening and then he leaned in again. "When Chloe was in town looking for some leads on who would want to kill Lex, she came across a theory that it was some terrorist cell that had made threats in the past against rich, billionaire kids. The three of them went off to Gotham City to follow a lead on another rich kid. Yet, in the mean time, a very interesting article came across my desk over the wire this morning. A group of Middle Eastern males were found in their Boston apartment yesterday, dead. The report claims they were killed gang land style, and there were no clues linked to any suspects." He paused for effect and then continued. "Now the most interesting part was that three of the four men killed had links to the very same terrorist cell that Chloe was investigating."
"Oh, dear Lord," Jonathan gushed.
"My own personal belief is that Lionel followed the same theory as Chloe did and had these men killed," Perry explained. "The only question is what his true reason was. Did he kill these guys as revenge for his son, or did he kill them to cover up what really happened to Lex? If these guys had lived to clear their names, then the suspicion would have had to fall somewhere else."
Jonathan remained silent as his mind pondered all the possibilities.
"My guess is that you Smallville types have had Lionel on your tails for a very long time now," Perry added. "So you have more of an idea of what he is capable then I would."
Jonathan looked up from his concern. "The Lionel Luthor I have known over the years is capable of just about anything. The only question is, why would he go through all this trouble to cover up his son's murder when he could have pointed the finger at the culprits the whole time?"
"Chloe thinks that Lionel is covering due to family pride," Perry informed him. "She thinks that he is like a lot of these other families that were hit, he was just trying to save family face with the public and not let it be known that someone was able to get to him so easily."
"No," Jonathan's eyes grew red. "Lionel is the vengeful type, and he is not afraid to be more public about it. I think this whole drunk driving rap against us may not only be to cover up something else, but knowing Lionel, he's trying to punish us for letting someone get to his son while he was at our home that night. Lionel is running a very sophisticated show and it's all starting to fall down around him. He's running scared and eventually he will make a mistake."
"So what do we do until then?" Perry asked.
"We wait and pray that Clark uncovers something that will blow the lid off of this whole case," Jonathan said looking directly at his eyes. "If you hear from Clark, give him a message for me."
"Sure," Perry leaned in with great interest.
"Lionel wants me to tell him to come home," Jonathan started. "But you tell my son that he has to follow this to the end. Terrorist cell or father's rage, whether Lionel is the victim or the perpetrator of all this, this whole drama has to come to an end, and whoever did kill Lex has to be stopped."
Perry could tell that Jonathan was very serious about this statement. "I will, Jonathan, I promise."
Pete Ross was in the campground kitchen preparing the serving trays for the supper rush of campers in a few hours. He filled the basins with warm water to heat up even further. The water would help keep the trays of food placed over it warm while they waited to be served. He was busy with his work and did not notice Pastor Springs when he entered the service area.
"Pete," Pastor Springs got his attention.
"Oh, hey, Pastor," Pete looked up. "I was just getting ready for the crowds. I didn't see you standing there."
Pastor Springs had a worried look on his face as he spoke. "Pete, when Clark and the girls were here, did they leave you a number to contact them with?"
"No," Pete leaned on the counter. "I'm afraid not, sir. Is something wrong?"
"I'm afraid so," Pastor Springs sighed. "Someone from the church just called me. It would seem that Lana's aunt has had an accident and is in Metropolis General Hospital."
"Oh, my God," Pete gasped standing to attention. "What happened, is she all right?"
"It would appear that Miss Potter was on her way to an early morning meeting with Lionel Luthor today, and she was mugged getting out of her car in the parking lot."
"Owe," Pete cinched. "Is she all right?"
"That is why we need to contact Lana," He told Pete. "Nell slipped into a coma and they don't know if she will be able to wake up."
A sick feeling came to Pete's stomach. Nell was attacked on her way to see Lionel. Perhaps Clark was right, and there was a lot more to Lex's death than any of them knew. Perhaps Clark, Chloe, and Lana were in a lot more danger than they even knew possible. What ever was going on, he knew it was time to get involved.
The darkness was beginning to fall outside the window of the dark room again. It had been over eighteen hours since the room's sole occupant removed the intravenous needle in his arm. Because of the constant darkness of the quarters, he was able to fool the nurse each time she had come to put more drugs into the tubes. The contents would simply go through the line and drain off his arm. Although he was still greatly weakened and in much pain due to the lack of pain relief medication, he was able to keep his mind clear and waited to make his move.
The nurse had come in and done her job with the medication and then left the room for the night. He waited for several minutes until he was sure that he heard no other sounds in the next room. Then the sheets began to rustle again in the darkness.
Getting out of bed this time was equally as difficult at it had been earlier. The stiffness of his right leg and his left arm only made this task all the more difficult, but he was determined to get up and out of this room once and for all.
A loud groan was heard as he stood up under the weight of his own body for only the second time in four days. The pain from his injuries and the stiffness of non-movement for all this time was making the chore nearly impossible. With all the pain, he still had the resolve to pick up the wooden horse carving he had dropped under his bed earlier with a great struggle, but he was able to retrieve it and cradled it in his good arm as he slowly made his way over to the window again. The task took nearly ten minutes to complete.
Once at the window, he placed the carving back on the sill where he had retrieved it from last night and leaned his weight on it for a short moment. Then, taking a deep breath, he released the statue and raised his hand to the curtains. He was uncertain how long he would be able to maintain his balance, so in a swift motion he clutched the edge of the drapes and pulled them aside, revealing the dusked sky over the city below.
Staggering, he reached back down for the woodcarving and leaned on it. The young man took a long, hard look over the sweltering city below and tried to take in all that he could about his surroundings. The shimmer of the red evening sun began to glow across his hairless head. He kept looking down, and then as if an afterthought, he raised his handsome and slightly bruised face to the brightly lit sky. A hurt look crossed the man face and tears seem to be shining in the sun's ray. Then, in a very frail and crass voice from lack of use and injuries, Alexander Luthor called into the dusked sky. "Clark, where are you? Why haven't you found me yet?"
Lex fell into the frame of the window and rested his weight on the sill. He wrapped his face in his free arm and he spoke again. "Please Clark, you have to help me." Then Lex's fragile form slipped off the window ledge and crumbled to the floor in a whimper of pain. Once settled, his good hand reached up and pulled down the wooden horse that Clark had made him for Christmas last year, and Lex held it tight to his chest again. He drifted off into a pain filled slumber with his hopes set on a rescue by his best friend.
TO BE CONTINUED
***Notes***
Wow, lots of reviews this week and I'm eating them up. Thank you all so much. It's nice to know that my story is hitting the mark, and I thank you all so much for not only reading, but for taking the time to review. Thank you!
To Timberlover360: I didn't get your review in time to post last time, but if you do all those fancy moves you said you would when this story is finally done, then please record it and send me a copy. It sounds like fun.
To Teri: I'm glad you like Bruce and Lana together. I thought it would be an interesting match and will add to the story as we progress. I also loved the Clark and Alfred talk. If the truth were known, Alfred is my most favorite character in the whole DC universe. It's one thing to be out there cracking skulls all night, but to be able to stay behind and be the man behind the man is the real hero to me. He's also the one person who we all more over embody in the real world. Thanks for your kind words.
To Merrie: Merrie, Merrie, Merrie, I can always count on you for a good review. Thank you so much for hanging in there. I have no intention on stopping until this train comes to a complete stop, so have no fear. If all goes well, the train station should be coming into sight at any time now.
To Maureen: Thanks for reviewing. I'll admit that some of the twist and turns along the way have thrown me for a loop every now and again, but I hope you think that I am handling the turns just fine. Thanks for reading and writing.
To Jellybeany: Thanks again and read on.
To Suz: Thanks for the kind words, and I hope you like the new twist.
To MitchPell: Okay, so Chloe is a computer wiz. Please read my comments from last week on how long it took me to figure out the html format and how I did it, and you'll see that computers are one of my week spots. I tried to make it seem like allot of time had gone by without actually dragging the chapter out. Oh well =). As for Lionel, every time his lips move he's usually lying or is he? Yes, again the horse plays a part in the plot. It was actually an after thought, but I have come to like having it around. It has become a symbol of hope for Lex and has even been used as a clue from time to time. Perhaps in this very chapter. Thanks for your constant reviews and kind words. They mean allot to me.
To Elanah: Thanks for your review and the nice words. I am sorry that the mistakes have taken away from your enjoyment in any way. Christin and I try hard and she has been working her tail off for me, so I can't complain. You should actually see what she has to read through some times. Again I'm sorry and we will try to do better. If you do happen to know where these particular mistakes are in the story and you wouldn't mind sending me the list, then I promise to try and clean them up as soon as possible. Thanks for your concern and review.
So that rounds them out for this chapter. I hope I haven't left anyone out. I'm very happy with myself for my last chapter matching up so well with Lineage. I was worried for a while as to why Lionel really did it, but when he has Jonathan talk the Ross brothers into selling, it went right along with my story. Even the 'selling my soul' line was in there to some degree. So now I can breathe again and not have to do a rewrite.
Thank you all again for reading and please keep the reviews coming.
Best Wishes and God Bless you all
Phaze