CHAPTER 25

"Lois, we need to talk." Clark rushed into Lois's office- well, cubicle really- at the Daily Planet.

Lois raised an eyebrow in mild annoyance, pushed the keyboard to her computer aside and leaned back in her seat. She'd started working at the Planet a little less than a year ago, and even though it had started just as a way to fill in for Chloe during what Lois had identified as a bout of temporary insanity, now she found she actually kind of liked the work, and didn't particularly like being interrupted. Especially by annoying, momma's boy, Farmer Johns. "Shoot, Smallville."

"Chloe's missing. Lex...Lex has been trailing her for the past year and he lost track. Turns out her apartment and her bank accounts are empty, and I can't find anything to trace back to her."

Lois felt her skin begin to tingle as the blood drained from her face. "My cousin is fine, Clark. She probably just didn't want Lex following her around like some sort of billionaire stalker. She'll show up when she wants to."

"Lois, please. I just have a bad feeling about this. I couldn't find anything on my computer, but you have the Daily Planet resources to work off of. Couldn't you just pull some quick searches?"

Lois suddenly began to feel nervous. "A bad feeling? What are you, psychic?" She consciously set aside the fear building up in her chest and leaned over her desk to start typing frantically. "Of course I'll look her up. She's my cousin."

Sullivan, Chloe

NO RESULTS FOUND.

Sullivan, C.

17 RESULTS FOUND IN METROPOLIS, KA.

Lois scanned over the screen. Nothing of any use. She paused for a moment to think before lowering her hands back to the keyboard. "What else could I search?"

Clark's brow furrowed tightly as he racked his brain. "Nellie Bly. She's practically Chloe's idol."

Bly, Nellie

NO RESULTS FOUND.

"Could she have left Metropolis?" Clark asked, crowding Lois awkwardly as he looked over her shoulder at the computer screen.

"She would have told me." She answered between gritted teeth.

"Lois," Clark continued cautiously. "I think we should consider the possibility that Chloe left the city."

"She would have told me!" She shouted, slamming her fingers down especially hard on the keys as she typed. Chloe couldn't have left town. Despite her as of late rejection of normal society, she had to know Lois cared, know she always had a best friend of sorts holding her seat at the Planet. Lois had certainly told her so in numerous letters sent, and even though she had only gotten a few responses, Chloe wouldn't be so irresponsible as to disappear if it hadn't been absolutely necessary. And she would have known that Lois would help. She had to have known. "She's still in Metropolis, Clark. I know it. It's just going to be a little harder to track her down than back when she was in the safehouse. She's a smart girl. Are you sure you want to expose her to whatever dangers are at hand by doing this?"

Clark nodded decisively. "Yes. I have to know she's okay. I can't protect her if I don't know where she is."

Lois stared intensely at him, before granting him a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Well, someone's got a hero complex. Listen, I'll do what I can. But I can't do everything, Smallville. When are you going to get off your farm-friendly butt and enter the working world? I hear the Daily Planet's hiring." She laughed, grinning wickedly at Clark.

"It might be nice to have the extra crime-fighting resources," he tilted his head, feigning deep consideration. "I'll look into it. Thanks, Lois." Targeting her with that trademark, Boy Scout smile, he left, chuckling to himself at the look of utter horror etched on the woman's face.