A/N: Here's the next section.

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Chapter 3: Part 2

Once the Luthor Jet landed in Las Vegas, Lana knew her role in the investigation might turn into spectator rather than active participant. Since the case now took them to a new world with new players, Lex seemed to be the perfect person to run the gauntlet in concern to the challenges that would arise before them. Challenges based on money, etiquette, secrecy, and business. And though he would be taking on a much larger role, Lana still took it upon herself to ensure Lex went through with the entire investigation.

He won't give up before I give up …

And I won't give up until Lois is safe.

Via the file Lex gave her at the coffeehouse in Metropolis, Jason Boxer was previously a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. Among other illegal activities, he was mostly known for performing tasks for high profile people. A mercenary, of sorts. Further investigation discovered he came to Metropolis a few months ago, and only recently left when he had Lois Lane in his grasp. From that point, even Lex Luthor's investigators found it extremely difficult to follow Boxer when he already established a four-day head start. But interviews with those who knew him in Metropolis, as well as some unexplained luck, soon led the investigators back to his hometown.

Yet, though they followed him this far, the trail seemed to fade away completely once Lex and Lana finally arrived.

Lex Luthor's involvement, however, already proved to be extremely beneficial, and not just because he led them to the door step of Lois' possible location, but mainly due to his numerous business contacts in Vegas to help them in their search. Though Lana did not want to admit it, without Lex the investigation would be a flop. No matter her own attempts, only Lex could have gotten them to this point this quickly.

So maybe my view of Lex is wrong … premature … maybe what he did with Chloe two years ago was a mistake he chose to forget.

Currently, both Lana and Lex sat at a huge round table in the middle of a meeting room lined completely on the outside by six-foot windows with an extraordinary view of Las Vegas. Though the building they were currently inside was certainly not the tallest, the view of the skyline was breathtaking nevertheless. In the center of the round table stood a small, black statuette of a running leopard, which fit extremely well with the overly gaudy, modern feel of the rest of the room. Are we really in a law office? Lana asked herself skeptically.

Douglas Franklin became one of the top lawyers in Las Vegas years ago, a success that came to him with the subtle help from LuthorCorp. Often he represented the huge corporation in legal, business cases, and remained an excellent contact of knowledge for Lex Luthor. Not only did Franklin have numerous files in concern to almost ninety-eight percent of the criminal court cases in Las Vegas, he also, as per his own criminal past, knew how the illegal underworld of the city operated.

And, according to Lex, would be the perfect person to ask about Jason Boxer. Most importantly, whom he worked for.

Lex sighed slightly, only a minuscule hint of nervous anticipation under his skin. Mainly because he knew whatever they might find here would have a direct effect on the success of their case. To the success of finding Lois Lane. And … well, helping Lana, Lex thought with a small smile. Helping Lana quickly became a consolation price for him, knowing full well the unmistakable gratitude she would feel. Despite what happened in the past, despite what happened with Chloe and Clark, and his unfortunate role in their demise, Lana would have to recognize his selflessness. His self-sacrifice for the safety of Lois Lane. The money he has already spent. Not that money ever mattered much, Lex reminded himself. But Lana must see it … everything I have risked and will risk to see that my best reporter is safe. To see that Lana is happy again.

The latter of which will be a much higher personal satisfaction for him.

As his eyes looked over to the object of his current thoughts, Lex noticed Lana was also a bit nervous. Her hands were folded on the table as her eyes continued to travel the exterior of the room. With a small smile, he reached his hand across and covered hers with his own. In reaction, she turned to face him.

"Nervous?" he asked in a whisper.

Lana nodded and then turned away from him. "I just want Lois to be safe."

In a way, Lex admired Lana's fortitude. Uncompromising fortitude is more like it. Though she has displayed this very trait before, only now did he seem to notice its unshakable foundation. When she wanted something badly enough, Lana did not quit the game until she won. And for the first time, Lex realized how much they really did have in common. "I'm sure Franklin can help us," he reassured her, his smile growing a bit more comforting.

Lana smiled with kindness in return, though it was a mask to the still ever present reservations with Lex's overall involvement in the case. A distant worry in the back of her mind that flickered the same deep red as that of a warning light that brought attention to the explosion yet to come. Did I make a mistake?

"Lois' life depends on it," Lana whispered, her eyes dripping with unresolved concern.

"I know," Lex said.

Without another word, the door to the huge meeting room opened to reveal a clean-cut man dressed in a three-piece suit. His dark hair was slicked back, which only accentuated his slim, yet sophisticated features. Tall, lanky, and carrying an aura of intimidation, his face did not break into a smile until he saw Lex. And it took him ten seconds to cross the room and shake the billionaire's hand. "Lex. This is a surprise."

Lex stood and gestured to Lana, who immediately stood up. "Lana Lang."

"My pleasure, indeed," he said as he took her hand a kissed it, his smile a hint to his immediate attraction for the beautiful woman before him. And Lana could not help the flush of red that rose to her cheeks, more in embarrassment than flattery. Attraction that I don't really want right now.

However, Lex chimed in quickly, ensuring Franklin's moment with Lana would last no longer. "You said you might be able to help us." Back to business, and business only.

Franklin turned to his friend, a small smirk breaking the line of his lips. He gestured for Lex and Lana to sit back down as he shifted to a seat across from his two guests. "You were pretty vague on the phone. I was being optimistic."

Lex leaned forward a bit in his chair, his hands folded on the table, merely to stress the importance of his friend's candor. Anything at this point would be a positive step for the case, especially when someone's life was on the line. And not just Lois' life. "I need some sensitive information concerning a Vegas local."

"Who?" Franklin asked, his brow furrowed in interest.

In a quick motion, Lex reached to the briefcase that sat next to his chair to retrieve the same manila folder he presented to Lana in the coffee house back in Metropolis. And with a small smile, he pushed it across the table to his friend. Though Lex did know the name of the man inside the folder, playing the game cagey seemed the best tactic so as not to influence his friend's thought process. Franklin was a close friend, but friendship, in the face of business, sometimes only went so far. The possibility that his friend would not tell them anything was a true scenario. Maybe the police already spoke to him, maybe this guy already threatened him. Maybe he was working for someone else.

Whatever the reason might be for Franklin to be anything but forthcoming was enough to warn Lex to keep his own hand hidden well.

"You tell me," he finally said, after the second of debate in his mind.

Franklin hesitated initially, as if afraid to get involved at all. But his concern did not last long, and under intense curiosity took the folder and opened it. And almost immediately, both Lana and Lex could tell he recognized the man's face in the file, his reaction a mixture of faint surprise and intrigue. "Where did you see him?" Franklin asked, playing his own game of cat and mouse.

Lana spoke up quickly. "Metropolis."

After a few seconds of silence, Lex finally pressed, "Do you know him?"

"What did he do?" Franklin countered with only a hint of a smile.

Lex smiled back. "Does it matter?"

Franklin laughed softly now, unable to mistake the technique each of them used on the other. Neither wanted to let the other know what they knew, afraid that one slip might show too much too soon. Yet, honestly, what Franklin knew might not be nearly as sensitive in comparison to what Lex might know of this man. Though Lex usually did things when there was something in it for him, this time seemed slightly different. Of course, whatever Lex did was always beneficial for him in someway, but this time much more seemed to be at stake. And Franklin only saw this, as he looked in Lana Lang's eyes, desperate and waiting for him to answer. ITo give them anything./I

He then looked back to the face in the file before him. "This is Jason Boxer," he said finally.

"So you do know him?" Lex asked, continuing to press.

Franklin nodded. "Yeah, I've seen him around Vegas. He's a local, well known criminal."

"What kind of crimes does he commit?" Lana asked, edging slightly forward in her seat.

Franklin almost chuckled at the innocence in the woman's eyes, aware that for her it was that simple. "Jason Boxer is a mercenary. He's hired by some of the richest people in Vegas to do odd jobs."

"Jobs?" Lex asked, his eyes growing in anticipation.

"Right. Usually of the illegal nature, but not all the time. Actually, we've been trying to catch Boxer for months, but we've been unable to locate him," Franklin revealed subtly.

So maybe if Franklin knows, he may be willing to help knowing that we are also looking for Boxer, Lex reasoned to himself. "He's been in Metropolis for the past three months," he offered, furthering Lana's earlier admission slightly.

Franklin pursed his lips. "So I guess I can go back to one of the my original questions, and ask what he did."

Lex sighed, aware he would have to give a bit more to get anything in return. "He kidnapped someone in Metropolis and brought them back to Vegas."

"Who?" Franklin asked immediately.

At that, Lex smiled easily and leaned back in his chair. "I don't think you need to know that, " he said coolly.

Franklin nodded and leaned back in his chair for emphasis. Boy, do I love playing these games with Luthors, he said dryly to himself. "So what do you want from me?" he said, his voice laced with just the slightest tint of surrender. And he only did so because of the eyes of the Lana Lang, which spoke volumes to the nature of their visit. A visit of desperation and need. Constant, unwavering anxiety.

Lex sighed once again. "Well, we need to know who Boxer may be working for."

"I could give you a list. There's no way to truly pinpoint who it may be," Franklin began regrettably, yet in the next second he caught himself. Did they say kidnap and then bring back to Vegas? "Well, it could be Peterson," he added, though more of a whisper to himself.

"Peterson?" Lana asked, her eyes growing. She could feel it now … we're close.

Lex, however, answered for her with his eyes locked on Franklin, "James Peterson. A businessman in Las Vegas. He owns much of the real estate in the city."

Franklin smirked. "That's right. He tends to hire most frequently, especially Boxer. For a big job like kidnapping and transporting back to Vegas, well … that takes money and influence. Something that Peterson has the most of. Plus, he also has the means to hide someone in one of the busiest cities in the world."

"But what reasons would he have to take … ?" Lana began, but then caught herself. That's right …we're not revealing Lois' name.

Lex, noticing the slip, quickly interjected, "Thank you, Franklin. You've been a big help."

He nodded and offered, "Did you still want the list of names related to Boxer?"

Lex shrugged. "Sure."

"I'll have the list faxed to you then."

"Great."

Franklin then stood, and quickly Lex and Lana followed his lead. "Then, I guess this meeting is finished."

Lana reached her hand to him for good measure, and he readily shook it. "Thank you for helping us."

Helping us, indeed, Lex thought quietly as they began to walk out of the room and back into the long hallway that lead to the elevators. He gave us exactly what we needed. A name, a place to start. In fact, Lex thought with a small smile, he gave me exactly what I wanted.

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