AN: Those who read earlier versions of this story may notice some drastic changes to the storyline but, please, hang with me. It works better this way, honest! And I think you'll like where the story goes from here.

PART THREE

The next day.

The Talon was packed with customers, most of them students from Smallville High. But Lex Luthor was barely aware of the activity around him. He sat at one of the coffee house's most secluded tables, both his cup of coffee and his copy of the Smallville Ledger untouched. At the moment, the screen of his laptop had his full attention

The Fact Seekers site was run by conspiracy theorists. While they had some…creative ideas about what really happened to Elvis, Lex was interested in one of their other projects. It seemed the Seekers had documented proof, going back decades, of headless corpses being found all over the world. In each case, the wound was cauterized, so there was little blood at the kill site. There were also reports of broken windows and strange electrical displays near the scenes of the crimes.

This last fact made Lex's heart leap in his chest. He remembered, in vivid detail, the windows of Smallville High exploding. Lightening pouring out of the building, and stabbing at the sky.

The Seekers had several theories about these killings. They were part of a government conspiracy. Or proof of alien activity on Earth. Or the work of a centuries old cult, whose members possessed mystical powers. But, while Lex thought the theories were pure fiction, the sheer number of decapitation killings, the similarities between each one, couldn't be written off as coincidence. Nor could the swords found near so many of the bodies.

The information Lex bought from a Smallville PD employee didn't mention a sword being found near Merrick's corpse. Still, all the rest…

"Hi, Lex."

Startled, the young millionaire looked up to find Clark Kent standing in front of him. And standing next to him, looking more than a little uneasy, was Chloe Sullivan.

Lex smiled. "Hello, Clark," Lex smiled. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show today." He nodded towards the young reporter. "Miss Sullivan."

"Mr. Luthor." Chloe's smile was friendly but reserved.

Clark glanced at the computer. "We aren't bothering you, are we? It looks like you're working."

"I was, but I could use a break." Smoothly, he folded down the screen of his laptop. "I've just about had my fill of expense reports."

"Hmmm," Chloe murmured as she and Clark sat down. "Kind of a weird place to work, isn't it? I wouldn't think you could concentrate with all of this noise."

"Well, I needed a break from the quiet of my office." He looked around the busy room. "And being surrounded by activity actually helps me focus on what I'm doing."

"Expense reports?" she said, with just a hint of skepticism. She glanced at the closed laptop with open curiosity. "Uh huh."

"So, Lex," Clark broke in, casting a warning glance in Chloe's direction. "I heard you were playing in some kind of charity softball game next weekend."

"Yes, I am," Lex admitted with little enthusiasm. "The organizer caught me in a weak moment."

Chloe grinned. "I bet a lot of people are paying good money to see that. Lex Luthor in sweats and a baseball cap."

"We're wearing uniforms, actually. As for the baseball cap, I've been told they look very good on me."

The two teens were still laughing when the waitress arrived at their table. As they gave their orders, Lex's thoughts returned to William Merrick. He was convinced Clark and Chloe knew more about his death than they'd told the police.

Lex had observed them carefully since the murder. The change was subtle, but the two seemed much closer than they'd been before. That tended to happen when two people shared a secret.

It was a secret Lex also shared. At least, in part.

_________________________

When Clark made a delivery to the mansion, it wasn't unusual for him to hang around for a bit to chat. But, this time, Lex sense the younger man was on a mission.

"So,"
Clark began as he shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "I guess you're wondering why Chloe didn't tell the police she knew Merrick."

"The thought had crossed my mind," Lex admitted as he softly closed the door of his study.
Clark looked edgy enough to jump out of his skin at the first loud noise. "And, I must say, I'm surprised. As a reporter, I'm sure Miss Sullivan knows that, in a murder case, the police are always eager to talk to anyone who knew the victim."

"But she didn't know him all that well,"
Clark insisted. "Chloe met Merrick right after he got to Smallville. He overheard her talking about the Wall of Weird, and I guess he was really interested. In fact, Chloe said he'd had some unusual experiences himself. So, every once in a while, they'd meet to talk about one of Chloe's investigations or something. And that was pretty much it." Clark shrugged. "Chloe thought about telling the police. But she was afraid her dad would freak if he knew she'd spent so much time alone with an older guy he didn't know. Besides, it wasn't like she knew anything that could help find the killer."

Lex was impressed. It was a plausible explanation. Although it did sound a bit rehearsed. Like something two nervous teens made up and went over several times.

Lex donned a thoughtful frown. "You're probably right. Just because she talked to him a few times doesn't mean she knows anything that could help the investigation. After all, you can talk to someone every day and never really know them."

"Exactly,"
Clark agreed. If he detected any hidden meaning behind Lex's words, he didn't show it. "So, uh, if you wouldn't mind, we'd, uh…" Stuttering to a halt, he ducked his head. "Well, Chloe and I, we really don't want…"

"Don't worry about it,
Clark," Lex interrupted. He placed a reassuring hand on the teen's shoulder. "If the police find out Chloe knew Merrick, it won't be because of me."

Clark sighed, his relief palpable. "Thanks, Lex."

_________________________


"So, Lex," Chloe said once the waitress had left. "Do you think you can get us some tickets to the game?"

"You don't like softball, Chloe," Clark said.

"But this is a celebrity softball game. It would make a great story for The Torch. And since I know one of the players personally"—she gave Lex an ingratiating smile—"maybe I'll have access to some of his famous team mates?"

"I'll see what I can do," Lex promised. "About the tickets."

The young reporter's smile turned into a grimace. "Thanks. I guess."

As the conversation wandered off in other directions, Lex again considered coming right out and asking what was going on. He could explain that, whatever the truth was, he didn't want to use it to hurt them in any way. He just needed to satisfy his own curiosity. To understand what he'd seen that night.

But he knew Clark. Young Mr. Kent might not be the best liar in the world, but he was an expert at keeping secrets. If there was something he didn't want to reveal, he wouldn't. And, while Lex didn't know Chloe as well, he imagined she'd shut down if he confronted her directly.

No, it was better if Lex pretended not to be the least bit interested in William Merrick. Then perhaps Clark or Chloe would let down their guards enough around him to let something slip.

Suddenly, a loud gasp came from Chloe's side of the table. She was staring down at his copy of the Ledger. Her were wide, and the color had drained from her face.

"Miss Sullivan," Lex said, his voice both curious and concerned. "Are you alright?"

But she didn't answer. Just kept staring down at the paper.

"Chloe," Clark chimed in with a worried frown. "Are you okay?" And, when she still didn't answer, "Chloe!"

The young woman jumped in her seat. Her head snapped up. "What?"

"Are you alright?" Lex asked again. He glanced down at the newspaper, wondering what she'd seen that upset her so much.

Chloe blinked rapidly, as if just coming out of a dream. "Yeah. Y-yeah, I'm fine. I, just, uh…I've gotta go!" Abruptly, she stood. Without a backwards glance, she all but ran towards the exit.

And she took Lex's paper with her.

Looking both startled and confused, it took Clark a moment to react. Finally, he looked towards Lex.

"Sorry, Lex," he said in an apologetic rush. "I'll talk to you later." Then he jumped up and hurried after his friend.

Lex watched them leave in silence, his gaze thoughtful.

Just then, the waitress arrived with Clark's and Chloe's drinks.

"Sir?" she questioned, noticing their absence.

"My friends had to leave suddenly, so I'm afraid you'll have to take those back," Lex smoothly explained. "But could you bring me a copy of the Smallville Ledger? Someone borrowed mine."



*****

"Chloe!" Clark called, hurrying after his friend. "Chloe, wait!"

But she didn't stop. Not until she'd reached his truck.

"Oh, my God," she muttered as she paced back and forth across a six foot stretch of sidewalk. "Oh, my God."

"Chloe?" Clark asked, starting to get a little worried. "What's the matter?"

"This!" Chloe stopped in front of him and held up the newspaper. The headline screamed, in bold letters:

BYSTANDER KILLED IN METROPOLIS BANK ROBBERY SHOOT-OUT.

Included were pictures of the bank in question, and a Latino man who seemed to be in his late twenties.

Clark frowned. He hated stories like that because he knew that, if he'd been there, he probably could've saved that man. But he didn't understand why the story had Chloe so worked up.

"Do you remember that guy I told you about?" she began. "The one who came to my house to deliver the sword Merrick wanted me to have in case he died?" Newspaper clutched in her fists, she gave it a shake. "Well, that's him!"




(TO BE CONTINUED)