Heaven Sent - Part 8

Those chilling words were all Lex needed to hear. The urgency in the recorded voice spurred him into action and he virtually dragged Chloe out of the apartment in his rush to get her to safety.

Outside, he hurried towards the silver Porsche where he practically threw Chloe into the passenger seat. An eerie sensation of being watched engulfed him and he forced himself to act nonchalant as he glanced around. Nothing. No one was about and yet he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.

Not liking the vulnerable position they were in, he rounded the car quickly. Jumping into the driver's seat, he raced off as speedily as possible leaving scorched marks from his screeching tires behind. As the street slowly quieted, the dark figure stepped out of the shadows. Dark brown eyes quickly scanned the fleeing car and noted the license plate numbers.

'LEX 1...this may be easier than I thought.' the figure silently murmured as he disappeared down the darkened streets.

Inside the car both occupants were lost in their own little worlds for a few minutes. Chloe wondered what in the hell Lois had gotten herself into while Lex, on the other hand, was trying to shake the uneasiness he had felt out on the street.

"Before you play it, perhaps you should give me some background."

"She's my cousin. Lois Lane. Like myself, Lois is an investigative journalist. She's terrific at what she does." The corners of her mouth turn upwards slightly at this last comment.

"I see. Well at least that explains the 'I'm in deep dog shit' part. Play the CD. Let's see what kind of 'dog shit' she's in and why she wants you to help her." Lex muttered.

"Lex, she's my cousin."

"Play the CD." Lex repeated trying to mentally brace himself for whatever that CD was about to disclose. Chloe looked at the CD in her hand wondered if she should play it now or wait. Her journalistic instincts and impatience finally won over and Chloe popped the CD into the player. Lois voice filled the tense air.

Chloe...if you're hearing this message then that means I'm in deep dog shit and I desperately need your help. If you are listening to this message in my apartment, then I need you to get the hell out of there and to safety.

YOU HAVE TO LEAVE NOW!

Okay, here's the scoop. I'm in serious trouble. While researching a piece for the Met U paper, I stumbled upon a source that tipped me (mistakenly) onto a story about the unusual comings and goings regarding a prestigious law firm in Metropolis. This law firm apparently opened up offices here months ago and rumors are trickling out about their nefarious (I just love this word) practices and clientele. I'll tell you, Chloe, when I first heard the story...I thought it was some kind of joke and I brushed the whole thing off as insanity. But the more I tried to push this story away, the more it began to eat away at me. I did some research into the firm. Amazingly this firm had been around for hundreds of years. That particular piece caught my curiosity.

"You'd think your would remember what happened to the damned cat." Lex interjected.

"Lex, shhh!" Chloe hushed him quickly.

"And, cous, I'm sorry for what I'm about to say but I may have put you in the middle of the whole situation.

The statement caught Lex attention fully. And a dawning as to what was going to come next immerged.

"Chloe, remember when we were younger and we both ah—acquired those fake Ids. You know the one where I had a blond wig and called myself by your name and you did the same with dark brown wig.

"Oh.My.GOD!" Chloe gasped grasping at what her cousin was about to say.

Yep! You guessed it. I used it to get into this firm. I didn't realize that my actions would put you directly in the middle of this shit. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry.

"She did what!" At this point, Lex reached over and turned of the CD console. His eyes blazed with murderous rage as he pulled his car off the road.

"I will wring her damned neck for this." He growled clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Lex..." Chloe began

"NO! She carelessly put your life in danger and didn't bother to mention it until now. You were almost kidnapped and God only knows what would have happened tonight if I hadn't come along –"

The heated words died as Chloe gently palmed his cheek. "I totally agree with you. But understand, I can see why Lois did it."

"Chloe..."

"Lex, I probably would have done the same thing myself. I'm a reporter. She's a reporter. Getting into scrapes like this is in our blood. Right now, we've got to figure out how to get out of this mess. Please, let's just hear the rest of this CD. I need to know the how's and the who's."

Lex stared the beautiful woman before him in awe and wonder. How can she be so calm? He reached out to her and pulled her towards him. Their lips clashed in blazing kiss that knocked the breath out of her. Their slick tongues collided and danced with one another repeatedly. Lightning ignited the hungry couple as their lips devoured one another. When the need for air became painful, Lex reluctantly pulled away from her. Chloe opened her dazed eyes to meet Lex's intense silver blue orbs.

"I will protect you. Nothing will happen to you. I swear it."

"I know." Chloe whispered taken aback by that vow. She didn't know what to say. What could she say? Thank you...somehow that seemed so small. Lex took the option away by turning on the console once more. Once again Lois's voice filled the car.

"You know how it is, cous. You of all people should know what it's like when you're onto a major story. The rush! The exhilaration! I was onto something... I was onto a lead and I managed to get into...Damn! What was that? Shit! Cous, I have to go...find out what you can of Wolfram & Hart...

At the mention of the firm's name, Lex's jaw in an anger.

...That's the firm. Just find out what you can. Do not get directly involved. These people are very dangerous and they will stop at nothing to get back what belongs to them. Which, unfortunately, they think you have. Cous, they want you dead. Don't give them that option. I wish I could tell you more but I have to go. I promise to call you when I am safe. I'm meeting my source in an hour and I think everything will be all right. PLEASE STAY SAFE! And don't do anything stupid.

Lois

Chloe stared at the CD console while she digested the information she received. Who was this source? Wolfram & Hart? And why did Lois say everything will be fine? What did she know?

"Damn. Why does she have to be so damned cryptic? Is she afraid I'll fucking steal her story?" Chloe barked as she replayed the message again hoping to gleam some more information.

"At least now I know who's after me and why. Now all we need to do is find out everything about this law firm." She began making a list in her mind about what the next steps were to be.

"Wolfram & Hart is not going to be easy to take down. They pride themselves on absolute secrecy."

Chloe turned towards Lex suspicion clouding her features. "Are they your lawyers?" she asked. Lex turned towards her and smiled slightly at her.

"No. I'm happy so say they are not my lawyers." Chloe's shoulders relaxed at the response. A feeling of elation swept through her. Realistically it would have helped if Lex did have an in with the firm but nevertheless she was happy that he was not one of it's clients.

"Chloe...Wolfram & Hart are not my lawyers..." Lex replied again. Chloe looked at him in confusion wondering why he was repeating himself when the full meaning of his words hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Ugh! Of course! Your father would be one of their clients! I really should know better considering the many illegal activities he has been involved with." Chloe shook her head in mild disgust.

"Don't worry...Dad still manages to surprise me once in a while."

"Okay, we need a plan of action. Perhaps we can use this new information to our advantage." Chloe's face lit up with glee at the rapid-fire images floating before her eyes. Lex looked at her with a mixture of desire and caution.

"I'm not going to like this idea very much, am I?" Lex asked hesitantly. Chloe's notorious brainstorming ideas were to be feared.

"Well, you're a Luthor and Lionel is your father..." Chloe grinned cheekily. Already noting the direction this conversation was going to take, Lex decided it was time to put his foot down.

"NO! Not on your life!"

"Come on. What's the harm? They are all looking for a blonde reporter. Who's going to suspect Lex Luthor and his 'chauffeur'?" Chloe asked cajolingly.

"No! Have you lost your mind? Do you realize what could happen if we were caught? No! I will not put you life in jeopardy. It's bad enough that you're in this mess because of your foolish cousin." He shook his head.

"Do you or do you not know the name of your father's attorney?"

"Unfortunately I do but I don't –"

"Lex, this is a perfect time to pay a visit to dear 'old' dad's attorney. No doubt your father is probably involved in some vile scheme?" The look he gave her at the comment all but confirmed her suspicions.

"NO!" Lex stated firmly. Chloe was not one to give up on an argument easily.

"You can mask this meeting. Your father's always so damned suspicious anyway. You can make it look as if you're trying to find out about you father's latest plot."

"And, God help me, what will you be doing?"

"I'll be looking around. If I get caught I can always say I got lost on my way to the bathroom or something like that."

"Well, since you put it like that...HELL NO! We are not going and that's final!"

TBC...