Clark dumped several spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee and took a
deep gulp without bothering to stir it. He loved anything sweet, and even
put extra sugar on his cereal. It drove his mom crazy, but so far it
didn't seem to be hurting him.
Part of his special physiology was an extraordinarily fast metabolism, definitely a good thing considering how much he ate. Then again, part of it might just be being an adolescent-Pete claimed he was hungry all the time, too.
Clark turned his attention back to the stack of newspapers on the table in front of him. He'd picked up a copy of Daily Planet, as well as a couple other Metropolis dailies, to read the coverage of Garner's lecture. Most devoted only a few sentences to the event, but in the Planet it had made the first section, though not the front page.
He briefly skimmed the story itself, which told him nothing he didn't already know, and then focused carefully on the accompanying photos. One showed Garner on stage in mid-gesture; two more showed him standing at the reception with prominent city residents. None of them showed the young woman Clark had seen.
He shoved the stack aside with a sigh. Well, it had been a long shot anyway. He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but he hadn't been able to stop thinking about the incident the rest of the weekend. He hadn't told anyone about it, not even his parents-if he really had started hallucinating they'd just worry, and they had enough to worry about as it was.
"Don't look so glum, Clark," a voice spoke up over his shoulder. "Whatever's in the newspapers can't be that bad."
"Oh, hey, Lana." Clark did his best to smile welcomingly at Lana Lang. The beautiful brunette had a serving tray tucked under one arm, and even in a Talon apron she looked adorable. "Sorry, I was just thinking."
Lana sat down across the table from him and smiled sympathetically.
"About Ryan?" At his look of surprise she nodded. "Chloe told me about Dr. Garner-I hope that's ok."
"Oh, yeah, no problem. It wasn't like we learned anything anyway."
Lana was regarding him steadily from under her dark lashes.
"But it couldn't have been very pleasant to see him again. I'm surprised you didn't slug him-I would have,"
Clark had to laugh out loud. Lana looked so sweet and mild that it always surprised him to be reminded she had a temper. He cleared his throat at her exasperated expression.
"I'm sure you would have, Lana. Believe me, I considered it, too, but it wouldn't bring Ryan back."
Lana shook her head sadly. "No, you're right, of course. But I just wanted you to know I haven't forgot him, either."
"I'm sure wherever he is Ryan knows that, Lana."
Lana leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"Clark, I haven't had a chance to ask you-how is your search for your birth parents going?"
It was a good thing Clark didn't have a mouthful of coffee, or he might have spit it out. He'd forgotten he'd excitedly told Lana he was making headway in finding out about his origins. Even at the time he knew he should have kept his mouth shut, but he'd felt that if anyone would understand his plight, Lana would. Not about being an alien, of course, because he did everything in his power to keep her from finding out about that. But Lana was an orphan, too. She knew what it was like to long for a family you'd never see again.
"I hit a dead end," he lied.
"Oh, Clark, I'm so sorry. But don't stop looking. I'm sure the answers you want are out there somewhere."
Before Clark could formulate the right response Chloe breezed through the front doors of the Talon. Her short blond hair stuck out from her head in several directions at once, a sure sign she was in the middle of something exciting.
She threw her denim jacket and bag on the chair next to Clark and grinned at Lana.
"Hey, Lana, could you make me a double mocha with some whipped cream? I skipped lunch and I'm jonesing for some sugar."
Lana smiled at her roommate.
"Sure, no problem." As Lana walked back to the counter Chloe glanced around the converted theater. The after-school crowd was still a little sparse, but thing would start picking up soon.
"Hey, Clark, you're looking very troubled today. What's up?" She eyed the newspapers. "Ah, catching up on the local rags, huh? The Planet did a nice job with Garner's lecture but the Tribune's coverage was way weak. No wonder their circulation is down." Chloe had spent the previous summer interning with the Planet, and in her eyes it could do no wrong.
Clark shrugged. "I guess."
"Talkative, too. That thing about the girl is still really bugging you, huh?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Chloe."
"Maybe we should. It could be important."
"Chloe, I thought I saw someone who wasn't there. I imagined it, ok? Ha ha, very funny, everyone laugh at Clark. Can we move on now?"
Chloe looked genuinely taken aback by Clark's vehemence. She unconsciously laid a hand on one of his.
"Look, I'm sorry. I know I rib you sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"OK, a lot, but it's just kinda how I am. You know I would never make fun of you deliberately, right?"
Chloe's face held such a combination of concern and hopefulness that Clark instantly relented.
"Yeah, I know, sorry I'm so touchy." He glanced down at Chloe's hand.
When her eyes followed his she blushed and snatched her hand back.
"So, ahem, anyway," Chloe quickly began digging though her bag so she wouldn't have to meet his eyes, "tell me what she looked like. The mystery woman."
Clark drank the last of his coffee. "Chloe."
"I have my reasons, Clark. Go ahead."
The boy was thoughtful for a long moment. "Um, let's see. Older, I guess."
"Older? Like how old?"
"I dunno. Older than us. Lex's age, maybe."
"Hair and eyes?"
Clark sighed. "Uh, reddish hair. Not bright red-brownish red, kinda like my mom's. I don't know what color her eyes were; she was too far away."
"And she was with Dr. Garner for how long?"
"A couple of minutes, that's all-what, do you want to put out an APB on her or something?"
Chloe grinned triumphantly. "I don't need to."
She set a stack of photos in front of Clark. He recognized them as the ones taken at the reception.
Chloe thumbed through the stack as she spoke.
"You were so insistent about having seen her that I had the photo lab do a rush job." She stopped before one photo halfway down in the pile, and held it up for inspection.
"Is that her?"
Clark was dumbfounded. He took the photo and looked at it closely.
There was the scene precisely as he remembered. Dr. Garner and the woman stood half-hidden next to column, the woman speaking angrily, Garner looking at her with an expression of suspicion and something else Clark couldn't quite identify.
Chloe had managed to catch the woman in a series of four photographs: in the last one she was looking directly at the camera with an irritated expression, as if she knew she was being photographed and she didn't appreciate it.
"Chloe, you're amazing," Clark said simply.
"Oh, I know," she grinned. "What I want to know is why I don't remember her at all. I was looking right at her through the camera lens, obviously, but until these photos came back I honestly thought you'd imagined the whole thing."
"Lex said he didn't remember her, either." Clark looked at his close friend with a frown. "But she was there; we have proof. How is that possible?"
"I dunno, Clark. But I'd like to know, wouldn't you?"
Lana reappeared with a tall mug and a refill for Clark. "I added an extra shot of espresso to yours, Chloe, so drink it slowly."
But Chloe had already taken a deep gulp.
"Whoa, you sure did. It's good, though." Chloe smiled warmly at Lana. The two girls were still treading a little carefully around each other, even though Chloe had forgiven Lana for her computer trespassing.
After Lana had gone to check on the next table Chloe glanced back at Clark.
"So you've never seen her before? Do you think she might be related to Ryan?"
"No, I've never seen her before. But that would explain why she's angry at Garner" Clark frowned. "Ryan's mother's dead, and his aunt was a lot older than this woman."
"Maybe on the father's side then."
"That's possible, I guess, but then why didn't she come forward when Ryan was alive?"
"Maybe she didn't know about Ryan until recently. You know, like Lana and Henry Small."
Clark rubbed his jaw. "Well, I need to find her again. I want to know what she's got on Garner. If she knows something that could put him out of business for good she needs to go to the police." He looked hopefully at his editor, who laughed.
"I kinda figured you'd say that, Clark, so I twisted some arms at the university and got them to fax over a list of all the attendees. The university keeps track of who actually uses their tickets so its public relations department can brag about it." She dumped a stack of papers on the table between them.
"But maybe she was someone's guest, like we were," Clark fretted.
"Clark, there's no point in being so negative this early in an investigation. Now there are lots of names on the list, but as you might have noticed that was a heavily male crowd. There're actually fewer than thirty women's names here, and half of those attended with their husbands. Since she looks too young to be married to one of those stuffed shirts-at least I hope so-that leaves us only fifteen names to run down. I figure you can take half, and I'll take half, and we'll see where that gets us."
Clark nodded. On thing he always admired about Chloe: the girl always had a game plan. Always.
At least now he knew he wasn't imagining the whole things. The strange woman had been right in front of his eyes, and one way or another he would find her again. He wasn't sure yet why he needed too, but he did. *********************************************
"So you honestly don't remember her at all?" Clark watched Lex closely as he waited for his friend to answer. He liked Lex a lot, and he spent a lot of time defending him to other people. But even Clark had to admit Lex's track record for telling the truth wasn't exactly stellar.
This time, however, Lex just looked genuinely puzzled as he studied the photograph Chloe had taken.
"No, I don't. Dr. Garner certainly doesn't looked like most men would around such a pretty woman," Lex observed. "Maybe she's an ex-girlfriend or something; believe me, that can ruin anyone's mood."
"No, Lex, I'm sure it's something to do with Ryan."
Lex's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "How do you know that?"
"I'm not sure, but I think she accused him of something, something he wouldn't get away with."
Lex took a drink from the bottle of water on his desk.
"And Chloe doesn't remember seeing her either? Even though she took her picture?"
"No, and that's really strange, don't you think?"
"Definitely."
Clark rested his elbows on the desk. He'd made another trip out to the mansion to confirm the billionaire's son didn't remember the woman any more than Chloe did.
He couldn't help but wonder if the woman had caused that. Clark would have said such a thing wasn't possible, but then Ryan had been able to do a lot of things that weren't possible, either. If he and this woman had been related.
But so far Clark had kept this theory to himself. Instead he nodded. "Yeah, well, Chloe and I have done some leg work and we came up with a name. Jenna Iverson. As far as we can tell this is the only lecture of the series she's attended this year. That would jibe with the idea she went there specifically so she could confront Garner."
Lex was frowning to himself, a sure sign he was thinking.
"What, do you know her?"
"Hmm? No, I've never heard of her. But if this is indeed her," Lex held up the photograph again, "I know who her father is."
This was a new development to Clark.
"Really? Who?"
"Dr. Robert Iverson specializes in genetics research. He was at Princeton the same time my dad was, but instead of going into the private sector he took a job on the government's human genome project. The guy was in line for a Nobel Prize," Lex added thoughtfully.
Clark, however, felt slightly chilled. "That was the project where they tried to unscramble and identify all the genes in the human body, right?"
Lex smiled slightly.
"They're still trying, Clark, but without Iverson's help. About fifteen years ago he quite the project rather abruptly and took a job as a professor out at Star City University. Last I heard he was chair of their Biochemistry Department. Quite a waste of talent if you ask me."
Clark chewed his lip thoughtfully. Garner did brain research, this Dr. Iverson had been-was-a geneticist. It couldn't be a coincidence.
"That would explain how she was able to attend the Future Tech lecture," Lex continued. "I'm sure her father still has connections in Metropolis' scientific community." He looked at the younger man. "Clark, I don't know what you overheard or think you overheard between Dr. Garner and this woman. But I have to say that if she is who you think she is I doubt their meeting was accidental."
"No, I guess not."
"Look, Clark, why don't I see what I can find out."
Clark straightened slightly in his chair.
"No, Lex. Really, all I wanted to know is if you remembered anything else." As much as Clark appreciated his friend's connections, Lex had a way of becoming involved in things and then taking them over. It was a Luthor family trait, but Clark knew Lex meant well.
"Unless she does turn out to be related to Ryan James I'm probably just going to drop the whole thing," Clark added. "Thanks anyway."
Lex smiled. "Of course, Clark. Not a problem."
But Clark recognized that smile, and sighed. It was the smile that meant Lex had become interested in something, and that he was now involved whether Clark liked it or not.
**********************************************
Clark thought long and hard about what Lex had told him all through dinner. While his parents chatted Clark pondered what, if anything, Jenna Iverson might have had to do with Ryan.
On the one hand, there was the possibly, now looking pretty remote, that the two had been related. That would be the simplest explanation, but what Lex had said seemed to rule that out. Of course she and Ryan could be more distantly related, but then why would she be so emotional about his death?
Most of the people Clark met who had abnormal abilities had developed them recently, usually from exposure to the meteor rocks. Ryan had said he'd had the ability to read minds for as long as he could remember. Did unusual powers run in families, like green eyes or curly hair?
Or it was possible Jenna wasn't related to Ryan at all, but somehow knew about what had happened to him. This seemed a little more likely. If she was indeed the daughter of Dr. Robert Iverson she no doubt knew a lot more than Clark did about the kind of human research that Garner was into. Maybe Iverson had even been involved in the experiments on Ryan. But would Jenna have turned against her own father? Not knowing her personally, Clark really couldn't say.
Probably the most disturbing option was that Jenna hadn't been referring to Ryan at all, but to someone or something else. Did that mean Garner had harmed other people in the course of his research? Other kids, maybe? But if so why hadn't anyone stopped him?
Clark pushed away his half-eaten salad and his mother looked at him in concern.
"What is it, Clark? Are you feeling all right?"
All Clark had told his parents was that Garner's lecture hadn't revealed anything about Ryan. He knew he should have chosen that moment to come clean, and tell his parents about the photographs and the strange incident at the lecture, but he just couldn't do it.
The phone rang, and Clark jumped out of his chair to answer it.
"Hello?"
Both his parents were watching with puzzled expressions; Clark turned slightly to one side so he didn't have to look at them.
"Hey, Clark. Sorry to interrupt dinner but I double-checked what Lex told you, and he's right, as usual. It probably is Jenna Iverson: she's enrolled as a graduate student at Metropolis University."
As he listened to Chloe Clark squeezed the phone a little tighter before remembering he'd shatter the plastic if he wasn't careful. "Biology? Chemistry?"
Chloe snorted. "Philosophy, of all things. Talk about your useless majors."
"But then how would she know Garner?"
"It's quite possible they came into contact through her father. Dr. Iverson retired from Star U last year, but he's still got quite a reputation. I got like a million hits on the Internet for his name." Chloe was silent for a moment. "And, Clark? She more than knows Garner."
"What do you mean?"
"I called my contact at the Metropolis Police Department this morning, and he got back to me about an hour ago. Garner has a restraining order out against Jenna Iverson."
Clark hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until that moment. "So then Lex was right. She's probably an ex-girlfriend and they're still fighting about something."
"You have to do more than fight to get a retraining order against someone, Clark," Chloe corrected. "She'd have to have physically threatened him in front of witnesses."
Clark thought for a moment. She'd definitely been angry with Garner, that was for sure. But Garner was taller than she was, and he'd certainly had looked more than capable of defending himself. Had fear been the strange expression on Garner's face in the photo? Was he afraid of Jenna Iverson? Why?
"Look, Clark, I haven't been able to get a copy of the order, but if Garner could convince a judge I'd say there's a good chance this woman is dangerous."
"Garner's a liar, Chloe, we both know that." Clark glanced over his shoulder: his parents were both unabashedly staring at him now.
"Uh, look, we'll talk about this at school, Chloe, ok? I think my parents want me off the phone."
"Sure, Clark. Just don't do anything stupid before then."
Chloe hung up, and Clark reluctantly turned back to the dinner table. He obviously had some explaining to do.
"I thought you said you and Chloe didn't learn anything at Garner's lecture," his father said quietly.
"We didn't, Dad, honest. We're just tying up some loose ends." Clark sat back down and stuffed a fork full of lettuce into his mouth.
"Clark, where Chloe's concerned 'loose ends' can be dangerous," his mother reminded him.
"I know," he nodded, his mouth still full. "Everything's fine, you guys. Please stop worrying."
Jonathan Kent was quiet for a long moment.
"It's a parent's prerogative to worry about their kids, Clark," he finally said. But a moment later he went back to asking his wife about the tomato crop, and Clark breathed a sigh of relief.
His parents' seemed willing to let the matter drop. For now, anyway.
Part of his special physiology was an extraordinarily fast metabolism, definitely a good thing considering how much he ate. Then again, part of it might just be being an adolescent-Pete claimed he was hungry all the time, too.
Clark turned his attention back to the stack of newspapers on the table in front of him. He'd picked up a copy of Daily Planet, as well as a couple other Metropolis dailies, to read the coverage of Garner's lecture. Most devoted only a few sentences to the event, but in the Planet it had made the first section, though not the front page.
He briefly skimmed the story itself, which told him nothing he didn't already know, and then focused carefully on the accompanying photos. One showed Garner on stage in mid-gesture; two more showed him standing at the reception with prominent city residents. None of them showed the young woman Clark had seen.
He shoved the stack aside with a sigh. Well, it had been a long shot anyway. He didn't know why it bothered him so much, but he hadn't been able to stop thinking about the incident the rest of the weekend. He hadn't told anyone about it, not even his parents-if he really had started hallucinating they'd just worry, and they had enough to worry about as it was.
"Don't look so glum, Clark," a voice spoke up over his shoulder. "Whatever's in the newspapers can't be that bad."
"Oh, hey, Lana." Clark did his best to smile welcomingly at Lana Lang. The beautiful brunette had a serving tray tucked under one arm, and even in a Talon apron she looked adorable. "Sorry, I was just thinking."
Lana sat down across the table from him and smiled sympathetically.
"About Ryan?" At his look of surprise she nodded. "Chloe told me about Dr. Garner-I hope that's ok."
"Oh, yeah, no problem. It wasn't like we learned anything anyway."
Lana was regarding him steadily from under her dark lashes.
"But it couldn't have been very pleasant to see him again. I'm surprised you didn't slug him-I would have,"
Clark had to laugh out loud. Lana looked so sweet and mild that it always surprised him to be reminded she had a temper. He cleared his throat at her exasperated expression.
"I'm sure you would have, Lana. Believe me, I considered it, too, but it wouldn't bring Ryan back."
Lana shook her head sadly. "No, you're right, of course. But I just wanted you to know I haven't forgot him, either."
"I'm sure wherever he is Ryan knows that, Lana."
Lana leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"Clark, I haven't had a chance to ask you-how is your search for your birth parents going?"
It was a good thing Clark didn't have a mouthful of coffee, or he might have spit it out. He'd forgotten he'd excitedly told Lana he was making headway in finding out about his origins. Even at the time he knew he should have kept his mouth shut, but he'd felt that if anyone would understand his plight, Lana would. Not about being an alien, of course, because he did everything in his power to keep her from finding out about that. But Lana was an orphan, too. She knew what it was like to long for a family you'd never see again.
"I hit a dead end," he lied.
"Oh, Clark, I'm so sorry. But don't stop looking. I'm sure the answers you want are out there somewhere."
Before Clark could formulate the right response Chloe breezed through the front doors of the Talon. Her short blond hair stuck out from her head in several directions at once, a sure sign she was in the middle of something exciting.
She threw her denim jacket and bag on the chair next to Clark and grinned at Lana.
"Hey, Lana, could you make me a double mocha with some whipped cream? I skipped lunch and I'm jonesing for some sugar."
Lana smiled at her roommate.
"Sure, no problem." As Lana walked back to the counter Chloe glanced around the converted theater. The after-school crowd was still a little sparse, but thing would start picking up soon.
"Hey, Clark, you're looking very troubled today. What's up?" She eyed the newspapers. "Ah, catching up on the local rags, huh? The Planet did a nice job with Garner's lecture but the Tribune's coverage was way weak. No wonder their circulation is down." Chloe had spent the previous summer interning with the Planet, and in her eyes it could do no wrong.
Clark shrugged. "I guess."
"Talkative, too. That thing about the girl is still really bugging you, huh?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Chloe."
"Maybe we should. It could be important."
"Chloe, I thought I saw someone who wasn't there. I imagined it, ok? Ha ha, very funny, everyone laugh at Clark. Can we move on now?"
Chloe looked genuinely taken aback by Clark's vehemence. She unconsciously laid a hand on one of his.
"Look, I'm sorry. I know I rib you sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"OK, a lot, but it's just kinda how I am. You know I would never make fun of you deliberately, right?"
Chloe's face held such a combination of concern and hopefulness that Clark instantly relented.
"Yeah, I know, sorry I'm so touchy." He glanced down at Chloe's hand.
When her eyes followed his she blushed and snatched her hand back.
"So, ahem, anyway," Chloe quickly began digging though her bag so she wouldn't have to meet his eyes, "tell me what she looked like. The mystery woman."
Clark drank the last of his coffee. "Chloe."
"I have my reasons, Clark. Go ahead."
The boy was thoughtful for a long moment. "Um, let's see. Older, I guess."
"Older? Like how old?"
"I dunno. Older than us. Lex's age, maybe."
"Hair and eyes?"
Clark sighed. "Uh, reddish hair. Not bright red-brownish red, kinda like my mom's. I don't know what color her eyes were; she was too far away."
"And she was with Dr. Garner for how long?"
"A couple of minutes, that's all-what, do you want to put out an APB on her or something?"
Chloe grinned triumphantly. "I don't need to."
She set a stack of photos in front of Clark. He recognized them as the ones taken at the reception.
Chloe thumbed through the stack as she spoke.
"You were so insistent about having seen her that I had the photo lab do a rush job." She stopped before one photo halfway down in the pile, and held it up for inspection.
"Is that her?"
Clark was dumbfounded. He took the photo and looked at it closely.
There was the scene precisely as he remembered. Dr. Garner and the woman stood half-hidden next to column, the woman speaking angrily, Garner looking at her with an expression of suspicion and something else Clark couldn't quite identify.
Chloe had managed to catch the woman in a series of four photographs: in the last one she was looking directly at the camera with an irritated expression, as if she knew she was being photographed and she didn't appreciate it.
"Chloe, you're amazing," Clark said simply.
"Oh, I know," she grinned. "What I want to know is why I don't remember her at all. I was looking right at her through the camera lens, obviously, but until these photos came back I honestly thought you'd imagined the whole thing."
"Lex said he didn't remember her, either." Clark looked at his close friend with a frown. "But she was there; we have proof. How is that possible?"
"I dunno, Clark. But I'd like to know, wouldn't you?"
Lana reappeared with a tall mug and a refill for Clark. "I added an extra shot of espresso to yours, Chloe, so drink it slowly."
But Chloe had already taken a deep gulp.
"Whoa, you sure did. It's good, though." Chloe smiled warmly at Lana. The two girls were still treading a little carefully around each other, even though Chloe had forgiven Lana for her computer trespassing.
After Lana had gone to check on the next table Chloe glanced back at Clark.
"So you've never seen her before? Do you think she might be related to Ryan?"
"No, I've never seen her before. But that would explain why she's angry at Garner" Clark frowned. "Ryan's mother's dead, and his aunt was a lot older than this woman."
"Maybe on the father's side then."
"That's possible, I guess, but then why didn't she come forward when Ryan was alive?"
"Maybe she didn't know about Ryan until recently. You know, like Lana and Henry Small."
Clark rubbed his jaw. "Well, I need to find her again. I want to know what she's got on Garner. If she knows something that could put him out of business for good she needs to go to the police." He looked hopefully at his editor, who laughed.
"I kinda figured you'd say that, Clark, so I twisted some arms at the university and got them to fax over a list of all the attendees. The university keeps track of who actually uses their tickets so its public relations department can brag about it." She dumped a stack of papers on the table between them.
"But maybe she was someone's guest, like we were," Clark fretted.
"Clark, there's no point in being so negative this early in an investigation. Now there are lots of names on the list, but as you might have noticed that was a heavily male crowd. There're actually fewer than thirty women's names here, and half of those attended with their husbands. Since she looks too young to be married to one of those stuffed shirts-at least I hope so-that leaves us only fifteen names to run down. I figure you can take half, and I'll take half, and we'll see where that gets us."
Clark nodded. On thing he always admired about Chloe: the girl always had a game plan. Always.
At least now he knew he wasn't imagining the whole things. The strange woman had been right in front of his eyes, and one way or another he would find her again. He wasn't sure yet why he needed too, but he did. *********************************************
"So you honestly don't remember her at all?" Clark watched Lex closely as he waited for his friend to answer. He liked Lex a lot, and he spent a lot of time defending him to other people. But even Clark had to admit Lex's track record for telling the truth wasn't exactly stellar.
This time, however, Lex just looked genuinely puzzled as he studied the photograph Chloe had taken.
"No, I don't. Dr. Garner certainly doesn't looked like most men would around such a pretty woman," Lex observed. "Maybe she's an ex-girlfriend or something; believe me, that can ruin anyone's mood."
"No, Lex, I'm sure it's something to do with Ryan."
Lex's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "How do you know that?"
"I'm not sure, but I think she accused him of something, something he wouldn't get away with."
Lex took a drink from the bottle of water on his desk.
"And Chloe doesn't remember seeing her either? Even though she took her picture?"
"No, and that's really strange, don't you think?"
"Definitely."
Clark rested his elbows on the desk. He'd made another trip out to the mansion to confirm the billionaire's son didn't remember the woman any more than Chloe did.
He couldn't help but wonder if the woman had caused that. Clark would have said such a thing wasn't possible, but then Ryan had been able to do a lot of things that weren't possible, either. If he and this woman had been related.
But so far Clark had kept this theory to himself. Instead he nodded. "Yeah, well, Chloe and I have done some leg work and we came up with a name. Jenna Iverson. As far as we can tell this is the only lecture of the series she's attended this year. That would jibe with the idea she went there specifically so she could confront Garner."
Lex was frowning to himself, a sure sign he was thinking.
"What, do you know her?"
"Hmm? No, I've never heard of her. But if this is indeed her," Lex held up the photograph again, "I know who her father is."
This was a new development to Clark.
"Really? Who?"
"Dr. Robert Iverson specializes in genetics research. He was at Princeton the same time my dad was, but instead of going into the private sector he took a job on the government's human genome project. The guy was in line for a Nobel Prize," Lex added thoughtfully.
Clark, however, felt slightly chilled. "That was the project where they tried to unscramble and identify all the genes in the human body, right?"
Lex smiled slightly.
"They're still trying, Clark, but without Iverson's help. About fifteen years ago he quite the project rather abruptly and took a job as a professor out at Star City University. Last I heard he was chair of their Biochemistry Department. Quite a waste of talent if you ask me."
Clark chewed his lip thoughtfully. Garner did brain research, this Dr. Iverson had been-was-a geneticist. It couldn't be a coincidence.
"That would explain how she was able to attend the Future Tech lecture," Lex continued. "I'm sure her father still has connections in Metropolis' scientific community." He looked at the younger man. "Clark, I don't know what you overheard or think you overheard between Dr. Garner and this woman. But I have to say that if she is who you think she is I doubt their meeting was accidental."
"No, I guess not."
"Look, Clark, why don't I see what I can find out."
Clark straightened slightly in his chair.
"No, Lex. Really, all I wanted to know is if you remembered anything else." As much as Clark appreciated his friend's connections, Lex had a way of becoming involved in things and then taking them over. It was a Luthor family trait, but Clark knew Lex meant well.
"Unless she does turn out to be related to Ryan James I'm probably just going to drop the whole thing," Clark added. "Thanks anyway."
Lex smiled. "Of course, Clark. Not a problem."
But Clark recognized that smile, and sighed. It was the smile that meant Lex had become interested in something, and that he was now involved whether Clark liked it or not.
**********************************************
Clark thought long and hard about what Lex had told him all through dinner. While his parents chatted Clark pondered what, if anything, Jenna Iverson might have had to do with Ryan.
On the one hand, there was the possibly, now looking pretty remote, that the two had been related. That would be the simplest explanation, but what Lex had said seemed to rule that out. Of course she and Ryan could be more distantly related, but then why would she be so emotional about his death?
Most of the people Clark met who had abnormal abilities had developed them recently, usually from exposure to the meteor rocks. Ryan had said he'd had the ability to read minds for as long as he could remember. Did unusual powers run in families, like green eyes or curly hair?
Or it was possible Jenna wasn't related to Ryan at all, but somehow knew about what had happened to him. This seemed a little more likely. If she was indeed the daughter of Dr. Robert Iverson she no doubt knew a lot more than Clark did about the kind of human research that Garner was into. Maybe Iverson had even been involved in the experiments on Ryan. But would Jenna have turned against her own father? Not knowing her personally, Clark really couldn't say.
Probably the most disturbing option was that Jenna hadn't been referring to Ryan at all, but to someone or something else. Did that mean Garner had harmed other people in the course of his research? Other kids, maybe? But if so why hadn't anyone stopped him?
Clark pushed away his half-eaten salad and his mother looked at him in concern.
"What is it, Clark? Are you feeling all right?"
All Clark had told his parents was that Garner's lecture hadn't revealed anything about Ryan. He knew he should have chosen that moment to come clean, and tell his parents about the photographs and the strange incident at the lecture, but he just couldn't do it.
The phone rang, and Clark jumped out of his chair to answer it.
"Hello?"
Both his parents were watching with puzzled expressions; Clark turned slightly to one side so he didn't have to look at them.
"Hey, Clark. Sorry to interrupt dinner but I double-checked what Lex told you, and he's right, as usual. It probably is Jenna Iverson: she's enrolled as a graduate student at Metropolis University."
As he listened to Chloe Clark squeezed the phone a little tighter before remembering he'd shatter the plastic if he wasn't careful. "Biology? Chemistry?"
Chloe snorted. "Philosophy, of all things. Talk about your useless majors."
"But then how would she know Garner?"
"It's quite possible they came into contact through her father. Dr. Iverson retired from Star U last year, but he's still got quite a reputation. I got like a million hits on the Internet for his name." Chloe was silent for a moment. "And, Clark? She more than knows Garner."
"What do you mean?"
"I called my contact at the Metropolis Police Department this morning, and he got back to me about an hour ago. Garner has a restraining order out against Jenna Iverson."
Clark hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until that moment. "So then Lex was right. She's probably an ex-girlfriend and they're still fighting about something."
"You have to do more than fight to get a retraining order against someone, Clark," Chloe corrected. "She'd have to have physically threatened him in front of witnesses."
Clark thought for a moment. She'd definitely been angry with Garner, that was for sure. But Garner was taller than she was, and he'd certainly had looked more than capable of defending himself. Had fear been the strange expression on Garner's face in the photo? Was he afraid of Jenna Iverson? Why?
"Look, Clark, I haven't been able to get a copy of the order, but if Garner could convince a judge I'd say there's a good chance this woman is dangerous."
"Garner's a liar, Chloe, we both know that." Clark glanced over his shoulder: his parents were both unabashedly staring at him now.
"Uh, look, we'll talk about this at school, Chloe, ok? I think my parents want me off the phone."
"Sure, Clark. Just don't do anything stupid before then."
Chloe hung up, and Clark reluctantly turned back to the dinner table. He obviously had some explaining to do.
"I thought you said you and Chloe didn't learn anything at Garner's lecture," his father said quietly.
"We didn't, Dad, honest. We're just tying up some loose ends." Clark sat back down and stuffed a fork full of lettuce into his mouth.
"Clark, where Chloe's concerned 'loose ends' can be dangerous," his mother reminded him.
"I know," he nodded, his mouth still full. "Everything's fine, you guys. Please stop worrying."
Jonathan Kent was quiet for a long moment.
"It's a parent's prerogative to worry about their kids, Clark," he finally said. But a moment later he went back to asking his wife about the tomato crop, and Clark breathed a sigh of relief.
His parents' seemed willing to let the matter drop. For now, anyway.