A/N: As someone pointed out, it's been8 months. I'm sorry. I'm in college and working a full-time job…this got dropped on my list of priorities. Anyway, on with the story.

Chloe picked up her legal pad full of notes and looked it over. "So, I was reviewing my latest "Wall of the Weird article. . ."

At Clark's look, she sent him a wry smile.

"Yah, I'm still doing that. Everyone has to have a hobby, right? This is mine. About a month ago, I came across this girl that had been playing near a pond next to some 'pretty green rocks,' as she had put it, and found out that she could turn anything she touched into a heat source, until it eventually caught on fire. The problem was, she had recently hugged her mom one second too long and the mom ended up in the hospital with a 105-degree temperature."

Lana sighed in sympathy and said, "What a sad situation."

Chloe nodded in agreement and said, "I did some investigating in her room, and found a lead container under her bed. I didn't even notice there was a company name at first, it was so microscopic. But I caught a glimpse of one of the letters when it glinted from the light, and I saw that it spelled 'Glow!'. So…I did some more digging. And found out this girl would have blood taken each month and send it to this company in these weird containers. This 'Glow!' company would pay her family $10,000 a month just for TEST SAMPLES. Apparently, someone screwed up in leaving that container there. I discreetly took it home and did a little research."

She opened up her notebook and showed them the single page of 'Glow!' information.

"And I didn't find much. It's a very secret company that specializes in altering genes through consistent intake of kryptonite. And apparently, this company was receiving over a quarter of a million dollars a month from one source to continue its funding."

She snapped the notebook shut. "The rest was easy. I reasoned with myself on who would have enough money to throw 250 grand away a month. And I came up with Lex Luthor, the richest man in the world. And the one person who was always indirectly attached to Smallville."

Clark leaned forward inhis seat, clearly interested, and asked, "So, after you figured that out, how did you get proof?"

Chloe smiled. "I did a good ol'-fashion technique. I called LexCorp headquarters from a pay phone and told them I was his executive secretary and I needed them to email me his monthly bank statements for the last six months. And they actually did!" She laughed. "Lex is smart, but he surrounds himself with STUPID people."

Ethan held her hand up in the air like the boxer at a winning match, and said, "Chloe, you are the smartest woman I know."

Chloe leaned into him and laughingly polished her nails. "I know, I know."

Clark looked worried and explained what happened earlier that day. "Chloe, I'm really worried for you. I think Lex killed that man for telling us too much. There is no telling what he could do to you."

Lana closed her eyes, as if trying to block what had happened. "That man wasn't exactly sober. I could smell alcohol on his breath."

Ethan frowned. "That's it. You're staying at my house until this is dealt with. That's final."

Chloe was surprisingly touched…but still annoyed. "Ethan, I'm a big girl. I can take care of Lex, and I'm perfectly safe at the hotel."

Lana put a reassuring hand on Chloe's arm. "Chloe, I think he's right. We all know what Lex is capable of. And if he killed that man over one little slip. . ."

Clark interjected, "Doing something that will keep you safe is not conceding to the enemy, Chloe. It's only playing your game cautiously and being one-step ahead."

Chloe let out a huge sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll do it. But only until this is over or I go back to Chicago. Deal?"

Ethan shrugged good-naturedly. "Right now, I'll take what I can get." He then pulled a pencil out from behind his ear and opened Chloe's notebook to a fresh page. "Ok, team. What's the plan?"

Clark said, "I say we split up in to two teams. Lana and I will, uh, 'travel' to Smallville for the day and see what we can find."

Lana replied, "Clark . . . I still have a job to do. I'm not a reporter, remember?"

Clark held up a finger, got up, and strode into Perry's office. He walked back out quickly. "All set. We are all dismissed for the day as long as we've got 'one hell of a story.'"

Ethan nodded in satisfaction. "Ok, then Chloe and I will check things out around here, and see if we can bribe any employees over at LexCorp."

Chloe voiced her agreement. "And then I'll go back to my own hotel for the night."

At everyone's looks of protest, she shook her head in defeat. "I mean, and then I'll go pack my stuff and go to Ethan's."

Ethan gave her a friendly peck on the cheek. "I love it when you're so agreeable." That broke her mood that she was already in the process of working herself up to.

Lana said, "Let's try to meet back around 7 and touch base."

Ethan frowned. "No can do. I'm picking my parents up from the airport tonight. Unless we could make it 9 or so. They'll be settled in by then."

Clark replied, "9 it is. We're outta here."