Chapter XII
We Need a Plan!
When Clark and Lex got back to the Kent Farm, Jonathan Kent was still up. He was in the barn working on an engine that Pomeroy had asked him to take a look at. When the boys drove up, he went out to greet them, wiping his hands on an oily rag.
"Well? You two just about got this mystery solved?"
Lex was affronted, but Clark easily replied, "Not yet. Chloe's got a theory, though."
Clark and Lex followed Jonathan back into the barn while he put away his tools. "What's that?" Clark's dad asked.
"It appears as if organized criminals from Gotham City may have infiltrated Hakes Air Transport Company in order to obtain access to LexCorp and LuthorCorp banking records and perpetrate fraud in Metropolis," Lex explained.
"And we think maybe Mrs. Hakes was murdered as the start of the scheme," Clark added.
"That's some theory." Jonathan finished stowing away all his things, and the three men headed into the house. "Do you have any proof?"
"Not really," Clark said, getting the jug of milk out of the refrigerator. He took a swig from the bottle and handed it to his dad, who drank also. Then Clark took another swallow and offered it to Lex, who declined with a tiny shudder of distaste.
"I'll go online right now," Lex volunteered, "and see what I can find out from my bankers." He left the kitchen quickly, before Clark could offer him a mouthful of regurgitated squid or anything, and booted up his laptop at the living room table.
Lex could hear Clark and his dad still talking. "Chloe said she'd check out the investigation of Mrs. Hakes's crash, and we're all supposed to meet again tomorrow morning at eight." Clark's voice became quieter, but Lex could still just make out what he was saying. "I was thinking I might try to get some of the morning's regular work out of the way tonight, so we can get an early start. Is that okay?"
There was a fairly lengthy pause, as if Mr. Kent were considering. Lex looked away from his screen, and found Jonathan's faded blue eyes looking at him from the kitchen. He returned to his computer, wondering hungrily *what* exactly was up with the Kents. Finally he heard Jonathan's voice again. "I reckon that'd be all right. Let me make you out a list."
Clark came into the living room while his dad rummaged around the kitchen looking for a pencil. "Find anything funny?" he asked Lex.
"I think perhaps I have. There are several questionable transactions in the past two weeks, none large enough to raise immediate warning flags. I've notified the bank, and they should be on the lookout now." Lex closed his laptop and looked up at Clark. "Nothing that screams of proof, though."
"What we need," Clark said, "is some sort of a plan."
Jonathan Kent came in and clapped Clark on the shoulder. He handed him a little slip of paper. "Here you go, son. This should cut down on the chores in the morning. We'll do the two-man jobs early tomorrow, so you can still make that appointment with Chloe and Pete."
"Thanks, Dad," Clark said. He got up and went out, carefully not pouring on the speed until he was out of sight of the house.
Jonathan turned to Lex. "You look tired, Lex. Better get on up to bed. Clark'll be up pretty soon -- I didn't give him much to do."
We Need a Plan!
When Clark and Lex got back to the Kent Farm, Jonathan Kent was still up. He was in the barn working on an engine that Pomeroy had asked him to take a look at. When the boys drove up, he went out to greet them, wiping his hands on an oily rag.
"Well? You two just about got this mystery solved?"
Lex was affronted, but Clark easily replied, "Not yet. Chloe's got a theory, though."
Clark and Lex followed Jonathan back into the barn while he put away his tools. "What's that?" Clark's dad asked.
"It appears as if organized criminals from Gotham City may have infiltrated Hakes Air Transport Company in order to obtain access to LexCorp and LuthorCorp banking records and perpetrate fraud in Metropolis," Lex explained.
"And we think maybe Mrs. Hakes was murdered as the start of the scheme," Clark added.
"That's some theory." Jonathan finished stowing away all his things, and the three men headed into the house. "Do you have any proof?"
"Not really," Clark said, getting the jug of milk out of the refrigerator. He took a swig from the bottle and handed it to his dad, who drank also. Then Clark took another swallow and offered it to Lex, who declined with a tiny shudder of distaste.
"I'll go online right now," Lex volunteered, "and see what I can find out from my bankers." He left the kitchen quickly, before Clark could offer him a mouthful of regurgitated squid or anything, and booted up his laptop at the living room table.
Lex could hear Clark and his dad still talking. "Chloe said she'd check out the investigation of Mrs. Hakes's crash, and we're all supposed to meet again tomorrow morning at eight." Clark's voice became quieter, but Lex could still just make out what he was saying. "I was thinking I might try to get some of the morning's regular work out of the way tonight, so we can get an early start. Is that okay?"
There was a fairly lengthy pause, as if Mr. Kent were considering. Lex looked away from his screen, and found Jonathan's faded blue eyes looking at him from the kitchen. He returned to his computer, wondering hungrily *what* exactly was up with the Kents. Finally he heard Jonathan's voice again. "I reckon that'd be all right. Let me make you out a list."
Clark came into the living room while his dad rummaged around the kitchen looking for a pencil. "Find anything funny?" he asked Lex.
"I think perhaps I have. There are several questionable transactions in the past two weeks, none large enough to raise immediate warning flags. I've notified the bank, and they should be on the lookout now." Lex closed his laptop and looked up at Clark. "Nothing that screams of proof, though."
"What we need," Clark said, "is some sort of a plan."
Jonathan Kent came in and clapped Clark on the shoulder. He handed him a little slip of paper. "Here you go, son. This should cut down on the chores in the morning. We'll do the two-man jobs early tomorrow, so you can still make that appointment with Chloe and Pete."
"Thanks, Dad," Clark said. He got up and went out, carefully not pouring on the speed until he was out of sight of the house.
Jonathan turned to Lex. "You look tired, Lex. Better get on up to bed. Clark'll be up pretty soon -- I didn't give him much to do."