Author's Note/Suggestion: this is long. this is *very* long. this is 20 pages on my computer. do a Save As joint and download this chapter to your computer. read it slowly. this chapter took a lot out of me and i don't know when the next one will be done, so savor this one. come, wave your hands over the pot and take a deep yummy breath.....
Shake your whammy fanny
(or How would you like that? In $100s or $1000s?)
*
Thursday, Oct. 31, Halloween
It was obvious his father was . . .unhappy the moment Clark stepped foot in the kitchen. "Hey Mom." He kissed her cheek.
"Morning Clark. Chores done?"
"Yup. I'm starved."
"Sweetheart, you're always starved."
"Hey, Dad. What's wrong?" Clark ventured after his father's very welcoming grunt.
Jonathan frowned at his morning paper, wondering whether or not to tell his son. But if what they were saying was true Clark would know one way or another. If he didn't know already.
Jonathan folded back the paper and handed it to Clark. "This is."
"What?"
"Left. Below the fold."
Martha poured her son another glass of orange juice and sat down to breakfast as he scanned the paper. She and Jonathan had already talked about it while their son did his morning chores.
"Is that Isis with Lex?"
His father nodded. "Read the caption.
" 'Billionaire playboy Lex Luthor spotted leaving swank downtown restaurant with new leading lady.' So?" Clark looked up at his dad. "I don't understand what's so bad about that. They went to Metropolis University together. They were probably just, you know, catching up," Clark reasoned.
"Read the article."
Clark scanned through the gossip column, half wondering why his father had been reading it of all things, for Lex's name in bold print. Isis didn't even register to the Metropolitan Daily Planet. " 'Annulment seems to be treating Lex Luthor well. He was seen making goo goo eyes with a Miss Isis Ross, daughter of a Gotham's resident tree hugger Malcolm Ross, at a very long dinner followed by ice cream cones. Sources say the chauffeured car was Smallville-directed when they left the soft-scoop parlor. There's even a hot rumor of an absolutely lish hand-kiss from LL to IR -- who's red/gold/russet dye-job nearly overshadowed all -- during the meal. Nice to see you bouncing back, Lex, but maybe our next date can be a little less, shall we say, bright?'" Clark looked at his father. "Dad. This doesn't mean anything. I'm sure whoever wrote this is blowing everything out of proportion."
"Will Pete see it that way?"
Clark had forgotten all about Pete.
"And it looks like Isis has too." Jonathan stood, empty plate in hand. "I hope for both their sakes he doesn't see this," he said, sincerely.
*
"Call for you, miss."
Isis more firmly tied her braids back, away from her a face, before taking her cell phone. "Thank you, Matthews. Could you just drag that into the foyer. It's heavy. And my coat too. I'm just a bit hot."
"Yes, Miss."
Isis put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Have you seen The Planet's gossip column?! Isis, you and Lex are practically top story. I mean you even--"
"Afternoon to you too, Chloe."
"That won't work with me."
Isis stopped her pacing. "What won't work with you?"
"Trying to put me off."
"Put you off? Me?"
"And admit it, you were avoiding me at school today, weren't you?" Chloe accused.
Isis sat down in the foyer. "I wasn't avoiding you . . .I was avoiding Pete. Who happened to be with you. He hasn't seen the papers, has he?"
"Me and Clark and Lana have been giving him the run-around all day. You owe us."
"I know."
"Big time."
"Chloe, I know."
There was a pause on the line. "So . . ." Chloe trailed off.
"'So' what?"
"Ugh! So what happened? I want to know everything. In detail."
Isis laughed. "I'm actually a little busy, Clo, so I can either give you a teaser and tell you the rest when I see you tonight, or you could practice that patience thing and wait for the whole shebang."
"I'm not exactly known for my patience, Ice."
"Okay, but you've got to promise to keep this secret."
"I'm already keeping secrets from Pe--"
"From everyone, Chloe. For right now this one is between you and me." Isis took a deep breath. "If you think you can handle it."
" . . .You promise me the full story. The second I see you at the Ball."
"The nanosecond."
"And its an exclusive."
"I'm counting on it," Isis breathed.
"But you're going to tell everyone everything eventually, right? 'Cause I honestly don't know how long I can sit on this, depending on how good it is--"
"Yes Chloe! Yes. Do you wanna know or don't you?"
"Yeah."
"I just moved in with Lex Luthor. Actually I'm in the process of moving right now."
"You what?!"
*
"Chloe would you stop bouncing around," Pete pleaded. "You're giving me and Clark here nausea."
Chloe frowned. "You're exaggerating." But she made an effort to be still.
"What's gotten into you?" he asked, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
Her kohl-lined eyes were wide and innocent. "Can't a girl be anxious to get to the ball so she can show off her two Prince Charmings?"
Even Clark tore his eyes from the road to look at her.
"All right, so admittedly I'm not usually that girl, but I've . . .had a change of heart since last year's prom. These things aren't a complete waste."
"Just a minor one?" Clark asked.
"Something like that," Chloe murmured as Clark parked.
The party was just getting off the ground when the entered. "Let's take a picture," Pete suggested.
After a few silly poses, and Pete forking over the cash for the pictures, they wandered over to the refreshment table. Chloe took in the Harvest Ball Committee's efforts. "You guys did good, Pete." Clark added a "Yeah, great job, Pete," of his own.
"Thanks guys. Actually it--"
"Oh no," Chloe cried, wincing.
"What?"
"Dylan Strauss is coming this way."
"The same Dylan Strauss you, me and Lana were talking about?" Pete asked which was quickly followed by Clark's "You guys were talking about Dylan?"
"Yeah," Chloe answered them tersely. "Long story. Anyway, after you left us-- er, after Pete left us, Dylan came over and asked me out."
"I guess you said no."
"Sometimes, Clark, your powers of observation are downright uncanny," Chloe said more harshly than she otherwise would have.
Clark understood.
"Ever since then I've been seeing him everywhere," she continued. "I mean, it's bad enough-- Uh oh guys, we gotta move. Clark you stand there and Pete, you over here. Okay . . . Walk!" With the boys acting as cover, Chloe, Pete and Clark wove "inconspicuously" through the thickening crowd to the bleachers across the gym.
"Like I was saying, it's bad enough he's in our English class, but he's been popping up everywhere. I even dreamt about him last night. I swear the only place I probably haven't seen him is in the girl's bathroom and that's probably 'cause he's not allowed."
"Hey, it could be worse," Clark said.
"How?"
Pete answered: "His name could be Tina and he could be a lesbian, then even the bathroom wouldn't be safe."
"Pete! Ew!" But she was laughing as she playfully shoved him. He shoved her back, knocking her into Clark who pushed her back into Pete.
They went on like that for a while, laughing as only best friends doing something stupid can, until Chloe stood suddenly. The boys fell into each other. Chloe called and apology over her shoulder as she ran lightly down the bleachers. "I just spotted my next exclusive!"
"Which do you think she loves more," Pete asked Clark, "us or a good news story?"
"Right now? The story, hands down."
Chloe didn't know why she hadn't spotted Isis earlier: the woman was only wearing a shimmering pumpkin-peach dress that matched her braids a little too perfectly. Well that answered the hair-color change question. Good. Now Chloe had just cause to skip the small talk and get right to the heart of the story. Just the way she liked it.
And what before her wandering eyes should appear? Not just Isis, but Isis holding Lex's arm no less. That was one way of coming out the proverbial closet.
"Hey guys."
The couple turned to her. "Miss Sullivan." "Hey, Clo. What's the dish?"
"You are. Excuse me Lex, but I have to borrow your, uh, date?" Chloe looked skeptically from Isis to Lex.
"For tonight he his," Isis answered with an easy smile. "I'll be back soon. Just keep on ...chaperoning." Linking arms with Chloe, the girls walked off.
Lex watched them go -- Isis in her full-skirted, two-piece ensemble and Chloe lovely in an embroidered, red on red Manderin-style dress. He scanned the crowd for Clark.
"Okay," Chloe turned on Isis as soon as they were out of every possible earshot, "give it to me. Everything. The article, the moving, tonight's 'date' -- which you didn't warn me about. The whole kit'n'kaboodle."
Isis laughed. "Shouldn't you have a notebook?"
"It wouldn't fit in my purse."
Isis eyed the tiny thing. "I see. All right, here goes. It's not like you can print any of this," she threw in.
"Yet."
"Yet," Isis agreed. Then she told Chloe everything. Or mostly everything -- she left out the third degree burns. But she did tell Chloe that she had been kicked out and not left the Ross house under her own steam, despite popular belief.
"And Lex offered you a wing all to yourself, just like that?"
"Well it's not a wing," Isis chuckled. "It's just a really nice room. That's about the size of the entire floor my little room at the boarding house is on. Besides, I think Lex meant what he said, he wants to show me he can be a nice person despite our history. He wants to make me a believer," she added cheekily.
"And what history would that be?" Chloe pressed.
"Uh uh, you said you wanted to know everything about the picture, moving in and tonight's 'date'," she said ticking off the items on her fingers. "You never said anything about Lex's past, Chloe."
"That's all right. Next time I'll just be less specific. I can cover more topics that way."
"We should probably go back in, Clo. And maybe you can explain why this is a Harvest Ball and not a Costume/Halloween Party?"
Chloe made a face. "Something about the meaning of Halloween changing, becoming darker, and wanting things to be as normal as possible this year," Chloe said as they entered the gym. "I wasn't really paying attention when Principal Kwan announced it at the opening assembly," she cried over the music. The gym had filled considerably while they were gone. "As if anything in Smallville could be normal!"
"What?!"
"She said," Lex murmured into Isis' ear, "'As if anything could be normal in Smallville.' Shall I have this dance?"
Isis turned in Lex's light embrace, "Sir, I believe you shall." Catching her full skirt in hand, Isis and Lex joined the writhing teenage bodies.
Chloe rolled her eyes and looked for her friends.
"Wanna dance?" someone asked behind her.
She turned. "Dylan! I, um, I . . . It's just that, you know --"
"Sorry Dylan," Pete said, appearing quite suddenly, "but Chloe already promised me this one, right Chloe?"
She nodded mutely.
"Maybe next one, guy," he said with a friendly pat on Dylan's arm before swinging Chloe onto the dance floor.
She pressed her forehead to Pete's chest. "Oh my God, you are my new hero, Pete. I was totally speechless. I don't know what I was gonna do."
"I saw. And Chloe Sullivan speechless? Heaven forbid," he teased.
She pinched his arm.
"You know, Dylan's not such a bad guy."
"You're right. I guess," Chloe conceded reluctantly. "But he is kinda creepy . . .with those strange green eyes. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with eyes like that before."
"They don't seem all that special to me, but I can see your point. Dylan has his weird moments."
"Very weird," Chloe agreed. "So what'd you do with Clark?"
Pete peered over her shoulder. "Left him mooning over Lana. What else?"
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Hey, what did you expect? Don't get me wrong, I love Clark like he was my fourth brother, but the boy's blind as a bat."
Chloe laughed imagining Clark in Coke-bottle glasses. "We probably wouldn't even recognize him."
"It wouldn't be that weird. But . . .for real . . ." They were working their way to the edge of the dance floor -- the better to hear each other. "I mean, Chloe, just because Clark can't see what's standing right in front of him doesn't mean no on else can."
"As if any of the guys in this school see me anyway," Chloe retorted with a snort. "Not including Dylan of course. It only counts when you like them back."
"Yeah," Pete sighed, "I guess so."
Elsewhere Lex and Isis were refining the fine art of rhythmic gyrating. It was possible, Isis was learning, to forget what one was supposed to be doing when one had Lex Luthor's full attention. They were nearly pulled over twice themselves by Principal Kwan.
"I'm gonna hear it in the mor- Oomph! Hey!" Isis cried as she was pushed into Lex.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Not sure. I should probably follow, though. You stay. Have fun," she said before tearing off after her assailant.
Lex was close behind. He still hadn't found Clark and this was bound to be more interesting than hunting down his 16 year old friend.
"Just leave me alone!" a young man leaning hostily against the lockers snarled.
"Mr. Strauss . . ."
So Isis' assailant had a name.
" . . .you're obviously upset. If there's something I can do--"
"Like you would even understand. Look at you. You came here with him," he accused, pointing over her shoulder.
Isis turned, finally noticing Lex. "Him? Lex is here as a favor 'cause he's my friend. I'm essentially dateless."
"Essentially, but not really," Dylan spat back, pushing himself off the lockers.
Lex edged closer to Isis, sensing the implied threat. She didn't seem to notice, however, as she snorted and started a soft tapping. "So you nearly ran me over because you didn't get a date? Mr. Strauss, if you haven't noticed you're here already. Ask some pretty girl to dance and enjoy--"
"I already asked Chloe Sullivan and she turned me down. Apparently she's here with Pete," Dylan added darkly.
"Oh. Oh. Hmm. Here with Pete? My Pete?" she demanded, surprised and wishing that her aunt and uncle had come up with less generic names for their children. There were only a dozen or more "Petes" at Smallville High.
"Yeah. They completely brushed me off. I can't believe they made me look so stupid in front of everyone!" he snarled.
Lex finally voiced an opinion: "You know, the lady does have the right to refuse. It's all in the way--"
"I knew you would take her side," Dylan cried. He pushed past Lex and Isis, and ran out the school.
"-- you approach the situation," Lex finished wryly. "Apparently I need to take my own advice," he said as he wondered whose side Dylan was talking about: Chloe's or Isis'? Who happened to be snaking her hand into the crook of his elbow. With a shake of her head she muttered, "Kids these days. No common sense."
"You know, I'd heard that had died," he answered, leading her back to the gym.
"Really? Now that would explain a lot. How was the funeral?"
"Pretty low turnout from what I gather."
*
Whitney stood patiently by as Lana exchanged farewells with her friends . . .even that strange Chloe Sullivan, and Clark Kent who was always mooning over her. But if Whitney didn't know anything else -- like how to get out of a claustrophobic town like Smallville -- he knew who Lana's heart belonged to. Him.
She was even saying goodbye to Ross' sister! Whitney unstuck his hands from his pockets and made strides to get to his girl.
"Well if I had known that the chaperones had to wait till all the kiddies were gone I wouldn't have signed up for the job," Isis was saying when he reached Lana's side. "Hey Whitney."
"Yeah . . .hey. Uh, Lana, we should really get going."
"I'll meet you at your truck, Whitney," she answered with a kiss to his cheek. "Just give me a second, 'kay?"
There wasn't any real way to protest that, even if Whitney was sure her 'second' was going to turn into another half-hour. But hey, wasn't that Jordan standing next to Kyle Lantice? Whitney double-timed it to his friends.
"So I thought I saw you and Pete actually have a conversation?"
Isis nodded tentatively. "Nothing deep or really long. I mean, it was bound to happen eventually, right? Anyway, it was kinda ruined when Lex came back with our drinks." Lana sighed appreciatively. "It could have been worse." Isis reminded her. "The boys were civil."
"But words were spoken."
"Whole sentences."
"I'll have to tell Chloe, if she doesn't know already. She's made you guys her pet project."
Isis' brows furrowed. "I thought weirdness and meteor rocks were her pet projects."
"Usually, but due to the weirdness draught, her words not mine," Lana added when Isis chuckled, "she's had to take up a new cause."
"So long as we don't end up on the Wall."
"Just keep your eyes from glowing and I think you'll be fine." They shared a parting hug and a few gethomesafes, then Lana went to track down Whitney before he got any deeper into his football talk. As if she needed to hear about football all the way home.
Isis too went in search of her ride. And found him leaning against the hood of his new silver Porsche talking to Clark. "Hey guys."
They turned to her, smiling . . .or smirking.
"Now what are two beautiful men doing out all alone in a parking lot, hmm?"
Clark flushed but Lex merely pushed off the car and strolled to her side. "Waiting for a beautiful woman to woo," he said as he leant over her hand.
"Mmm, twice in almost as many nights, Lex?" Isis murmured. "Someone might think you have plans."
"And if I do?"
"As long as they include accompanying this beautiful woman to La Reve for their Halloween party, I think we'll be all right." She winked at Clark over his shoulder.
"You guys are going out?"
Lex turned to his young friend. "Yes. We're planning to pain the town . . ." He glanced at Isis. "Pumpkin."
"And navy," she added with a laugh. "If your parents wouldn't kill me I'd invite you all to come. But they would and you're underage . . . It gets messy." Isis opened the passenger side door. "Although I did see you dance with lots of pretty girls."
"Yeah . . .well . . ." Clark tugged at his collar.
"Didn't you know, Ice," Lex said on the other side of the car, "my friend Clark, here, is quite the lady's man."
"Aah. Well that would explain several dances with one Miss Sullivan then, wouldn't it?" she asked.
"Chloe and I are just friends. We tried the whole relationship thing last spring and it didn't work out," Clark corrected politely.
Isis paused midway into the car. "Oh. Really?"
"Yeah. We decided we were better as friend friends than as boyfriend/girlfriend."
"Hmm. Both of you? Decided, I mean."
"Well Chloe said so," Clark protested weakly.
"Ah, she said so, but I wonder if she meant so. Oh well. Another time. Toodles Clark!" She blew him an air-kiss before sliding into the car.
They left Clark gaping at them like a fish, wondering how he was going to be able to drive Chloe and Pete home without wondering if maybe . . .maybe . . .
"You do remember how to do this, right?!" she teased, shouting over the music, through her peaches and cream mask.
"Do you?!" he roared back. Even his midnight mask smirked.
She threw her head back and laughed as he pulled her close, fitting his legs between hers, finding the rhythm of the grind: a side to side swinging motion that rocked them into other bodies, other masked couples in their own swing groove. Someone joined them. Made them a threesome. A foursome. A line, until they were no one and everyone.
They had become movement, rhythm. Sweat, need, desire. The had become lust. Sex. Joy sweat love sweat ecstasy sweat movementrhthmdance
*
Friday, Nov. 1
Matthews handed Lex his coat as he went out. That his young employer looked like death on ice wasn't Matthews' particular concern. Mr. Luthor had his coat, his coffee -- black -- and seemed relatively pleased despite an obvious lack of sleep, and that was really all that concerned Matthews.
"Has Miss Ross gone for the day?" Lex asked as Matthews helped him into his coat.
"Yes, sir. She left very early this morning to retrieve the last of her belongings."
"If I haven't said so already, Miss Ross is an honored guest. Except for the obvious exceptions she is to have the run of the house."
"Yes, sir. I will inform the staff."
"See that you do. Good day, Matthews," Lex said through a yawn. Distracted. Already thinking business. Hoping that there was a fresh pot in the employee break room and that Gabe didn't comment too much on Lex's bleary eyes.
There was a package waiting for him in Gabe's office after the 2:30 tour. Gabe scratched his head. "Well it's got your name on it, so it must be for you. Someone from the mailroom must have delivered it."
Lex was reluctant to take it and sat down instead. "This must seem like a foolish question, but are packages inspected?"
"Your right," Gabe said, sitting himself, "it is foolish. After 9/11 and the anthrax scares security in the mailroom was tightened considerably. I sent you a memo."
"Gabe, you send a lot of memos."
The big blond smiled. "I do. Anyway . . .this thing's been sniffed and X-rayed so while it might be mysterious looking . . ." Gabe snatched a yellow post-it note that was attached to the box, glancing at it before handing it to Lex. " . . .it is not a mystery."
"A letter and audio-video equipment? Is there a return address?" Lex asked.
Gabe examined the box. "Nope. Nothing I can-- Hey sweetheart!"
Lex turned to see Chloe standing in the doorway.
"School let out early?"
"Dad, it's almost four. Hey Le- um, Mr. Luthor. Didn't know you were here. Am I interrupting a meeting or something?"
Only when he saw them together did it really strike Lex that Chloe was Gabe's daughter. Gabe Sullivan had one, he knew. That Chloe Sullivan was she, he also knew. But when they weren't together he could easily forget that they belonged to each other. If only he could forget his own family as easily.
"No sweetie. Me and Lex were just finishing up, I think." He looked inquisitively at Lex.
"Yes. We were. Thank you Gabe." He stood. Coat and package in hand he turned back to his employee. Chloe was sitting in his vacated seat. "Think about what we talked about."
"You think about it, Lex. You have as much at stake as we do. Maybe more."
Lex paused in the doorway. "I will." He left.
Chloe rose suddenly. "Excuse me, Dad. Message to relay," she called over her shoulder as she ran after Lex. "Hey! Have you seen Isis?"
"Hmm?"
"You know, Isis: kinda curvy brown girl whose middle name is Style, has a penchant for color, particularly hair, boots . . .last seen wearing peach--"
"I get it, Miss Sullivan. What about Ice?"
Chloe sighed, exasperated. "Have you seen her?"
"Not since last night. And what gives you the idea that I might know where she is?" he asked evasively.
"No need to be so trickytricky. I happen to know--" They edged around a dead-end corner as traffic in the hall picked up. Chloe dropped her voice an octave. "I happen to know she's staying at your place."
Lex quirked an eyebrow. "And how did we become privy to that information?"
"I have my sources," Chloe answered with a twinkle in her eye. "But seriously, have you seen her? I don't think she was at school, although Kwan didn't blow a gasket so I can't be sure. Anyway, I think Pete's ready to admit he's been an almost complete and utter jerk. So if you see her tell her to call or something 'cause, much as I love them, I could actually use a new hobby."
"What, you don't like fixing people's lives?"
Chloe just rolled her eyes as she turned back to her father's office.
Three and half hours later Lex was in the Ross' driveway trying to figure out exactly what to say. Hey, just thought I'd let you know you're niece/cousin has been kidnapped. Enjoy your
dinner!
Mmm . . .no.
He'd actually forgotten about Isis by the time he pulled into his garage. There was a hot shower and a small mound of paperwork waiting for him. It wasn't until Matthews brought his dinner in on a tray that it came back to him.
"I'll have the cook set something aside for Miss Ross," Matthews had said. "Will there be--"
Lex looked up from his chicken rollatina. "Isis hasn't come back then?"
"No, sir."
"Has Miss Ross been here at all during the day?"
"Not to my knowledge, sir."
Lex was instantly on his feet, headed for the forgotten package lying on the couch. "Find out for certain," he said as he cut into the brown box with his dinner knife.
And now here he was, standing at the Ross' front door, about to make himself their enemy in fact and not just theory.
"What are you doing here?"
Wishing desperately that I weren't.
"Pete!" a female voice called from inside, "I didn't just hear you . . ." An attractive older Black woman, from whom Pete must have gotten his wide smile, appeared behind him. "Ah. I see. I'm sorry, you aren't welcome here."
"I know," Lex said, quickly inserting his foot into the closing door, "but this concerns Isis." He handed her the letter from the opened box.
"Mark!" She cried, running down the hall.
"What did you give my mom?" Pete demanded.
"The ransom note for Isis' release."
The door swung open. "You're not joking, are you?" Pete asked as Lex passed.
Lex turned to him. "Kidnapping isn't funny. Ever."
"Lex," a familiar voice called, "what are you doing here?" Standing over a coffee table covered in open books, pencils and loose-leaf, Clark looked at his fiend confused. Lex sighed. Things were supposed to simple in Smallville, but he seemed to make people's lives more complicated just by being near them.
Lex told Clark what was happening.
"Do we know who took her? Where they're keeping her?"
"Hold on a moment, Clark. There is no 'we.' The kidnappers want my money. I think."
"You think?"
"If one of the Ross men has hooked up the camera and receiver the kidnappers sent, we should know any second." Lex took in the well-appointed, if messy, living room. "Studying?"
"Yeah--"
"Lex!"
"That's my cue," Lex said turning on his heel.
Clark stepped over his schoolwork and followed Lex into the den. One of the Rosses had, indeed, set up a webcam and some kind of transmission device. Mr. Ross was standing by the camera, leaning over the back of the television to do so. "Are you sure this isn't some kind of hoax," he asked as if accusing Lex of being the hoaxer.
"If it is then it is a very elaborate, very unfunny one. Either way they will pay, I promise," Lex said as he took a seat in front of the camera. "She was last seen by my butler, early this morning, on the way to pick up some things from the room she's renting. I stopped by on the way here. Her car's across the street and her handbag's on the passenger seat."
Lex gave everone a hard, appraising look. "I'm afraid this is all very real."
There was a pregnant pause following Lex's speech. It was Mrs. Ross who finally broke the silence: "Pete, Clark, I think you boys should leave. This probably isn't something you should see and--"
"I'm not going, Mom. Isis is more than just my cousin, and if they let her come on camera even one time I want her to know . . .to know that we're here. We haven't abandoned her," Pete finished softly.
Another thick pause before Pete asks his dad to turn it on. There was a moment of fumbling with the tuner -- Mike, Pete's older brother finally had to step in -- before, suddenly, a blindfolded Isis came into view.
"I hope you recognize her," a male voice purred from off-camera. "Although how you'd miss her . . .? I didn't know your tastes ran to the exotic, Luthor."
Isis straightened in her chair, making it painfully obvious for everyone in the room that she was restrained in some way. "Mr. Luthor . . .I tried to tell them I was just your personal secretary--"
A hand flashed out of the gloom and caught her cheek. Her head snapped back. Stayed there a moment as if she were in shock. A dark spot formed near the bottom of the blindfold.
"What do you want?" Lex asked pleasantly, almost as if asking for sugar in his coffee.
"I thought the note was fairly explanatory."
"It seemed rather vague to me."
Clark put a steadying hand on Pete's shoulder just as his friend was about to do something foolish. He understood that it all seemed too civil, but they had to believe Lex knew what he was doing.
"A half a million dollars for the safe return of your girlfriend. And a few key access codes for your father's computer systems."
Lex's smile was admonishing as he shook his head. "My father doesn't bargain--"
"We aren't talking to your father."
"--and therefore his holdings are out of the question," Lex continued as if the man had not spoken. "As for my relationship with Miss Ross, it's strictly business."
"The Daily Planet doesn't seem to think so."
Lex silently cursed the paper, vowing to become a stockholder. An important one. "Both the article and the picture are misleading."
"Then why haven't you sued for libel?"
"Until now they were also harmless," Lex said acidly. "Really this is pointless. While I appreciate Miss Ross' hard work, it's hardly worth a half million dollars. No one's seen you. If you'll . . ."
"Pete," Clark whispershouted.
"Clark, now is not the time."
"But Pete, I think I hear a train passing in the background."
Pete turned to his friend. "Coming from the kidnappers?"
"No, coming from outside your door," Clark hissed.
"There are three different lines that run by town."
They had moved into the living room. "But only one that still has structures," Clark reminded his friend. "I could have Isis out of there in seconds. I know I could."
"What if they're not in town? There are trains all over Kansas. And if you're the only person that heard it then they can't be that close to the tracks."
Clark thought it over. "Or maybe they're someplace really insulated. You know, against noise and stuff. They might even just be really far inside the building. I have to try, Pete."
"What's with this 'I' thing? Isis is family, you aren't going anywhere without me."
"But--"
"Peter, Clark! There you are." They turned to Mrs. Ross who embraced her son tightly. "Don't you two go wandering off, all right? Things are very tense right now. Mr. Luthor just passed your father a note saying that he's already contacted the police."
"Are they still . . .negotiating?" Pete hated the way it sounded like they were trying to buy something -- like a new car.
A look of understanding passed between Clark and Pete as they were herded into the kitchen. They'd get to rescuing after Mrs. Ross stopped babying them. Pete understood where it all was coming from, but still found it disconcerting to have his mom the lawyer and judge so... "thrown for a loop" seemed a bit like understatement. It didn't change the fact that Pete's mom had always been the steady, really steady, practical one. Pete guessed he had never seen his mother be so . . .mothering.
Not that Janet Ross wasn't a good mother, Pete thought to himself quickly. But neither did Janet Ross smother her children, or milk&cookie them to death. His dad was the one who ranted when one of their kids did something off the wall, but his mom was the one who came at them with the very calm, one-sided discussion of what had been done wrong and how it was going to be fixed. Once when Clark had mentioned how cool it must be to have a judge-Mom Pete told him not to forget scary.
He had been wrong. This . . .this was scary. And try as he might he couldn't help but feel partly responsible for Isis' kidnapping. If only he'd talked to her, apologized like Chloe kept badgering him to do. Maybe if he had they would all be sitting down to dinner now . . .and Isis would be with them.
But he and Clark were gonna fix that. Assuming his mother ever let them out of her sight!
They wandered into the doorway, Mrs. Ross hovering over the boys, as the volume in the living room climbed.
"I don't think you understand, Luthor," the unseen man snarled. "You don't have a choice. We'll kill her," he assured them.
"No!" Pete whispered.
Lex shook his head as if he knew Isis' captor could see him. "I don't think you will. I think--"
"I think you don't understand how serious we are. But let me help you with that. We've been going around this mountain long enough, Luthor. Me and your girlfriend . . .we discussed it too. Oh, I'm sorry, she's your secretary. Right, 'cause, you know, the last time I checked personal secretaries didn't move in with the boss."
"I have an entire castle-full of personal staff, Mister-- I never did catch your name," Lex mentioned pleasantly.
He ignored it. "I'm sure you do, Luthor. Just like I'm sure you're going to give me a quarter million dollars and your father's security codes."
Lex's voice had acquired a hard edge when he said, "I don't bargain."
"I think you will." A picture of what appeared to be a temporary tattoo suddenly replaced Isis onscreen. To Pete it looked like an old fashioned sea-captain's hat. "You were a club kid, Luthor. I bet you know what this is."
"Captain Tripps," Lex murmured.
The could hear the nameless man's sneering smile. "You know I've also heard that you're something of the chemistry whiz. Well for those in the audience that don't know, Captain Tripps is the street name for the watered-down version of a very powerful hallucinogenic. Actually it's pretty powerful itself. Very addictive too, isn't it Luthor. Isn't it," he pressed when Lex didn't answer.
"Yes. It is."
Pete found himself edging into the room as the screen reverted back to the live feed of Isis.
"Well wouldn't you know, I just happened to get my hands on some nearly pure, practically uncut stuff." Isis was struggling although no one had touched her. "Even if your girl has Tripped before. . . I suggest young children and those with weak stomachs leave the roo--"
"Enough with the games," Lex spat out hotly.
"That's just it, Luthor, I'm not playing." Then, to someone else: "Hit'er up."
Pete charged into the room. "NO!"
"Pete?!" Isis cried out as she struggled against a man they could only see from the waist down, and she couldn't see at all. Her head was forced down and a patch with the sea-captain's hat was slapped to the back of her neck. An angry scream tore from her, followed by a string of inventive curses. If it weren't all so terrifying it might have been funny.
Until the moment Isis stopped swearing-- her curses being replaced by a soft litany of Oh Gods. Lex feared she might hyperventilate. But then the drug began to take effect. She stiffened, took a deep shuddering breath as a tremor ran visibly through her body.
"It always seems to work fastest from the neck," the nameless man commented almost absently. "You've got two hours to give us what we want, Luthor, or I slap another dose on your playgirl here. That one will kill her, I promise. Even a street dose. Take the blindfold off!" he ordered.
The same faceless torso came into view. When it was gone Isis stared back at them. But it was obvious within moments that she didn't see them.
"Two hour, Luthor."
"I can't consolidate that kind of cash in two hours," Lex answered calmly.
Only Clark's restraining hand on his arm kept Pete from slugging Lex. How could the man just sit there? Didn't he feel anything?
"Three then. I'll just make sure to up the dosage if you fall through," Isis' captor said almost jovially. Pete imagined that he was rubbing his hands together with a cartoon villain's glee. "But no more than three hours, Luthor."
"Where are we making the exchange?"
The man named an abandoned factory less than two miles out of town. "And no cops, Luthor. You can bring the family if you want, but if I sniff a badge your little miss' blood is on your hands, not mine. Oh and--"
"I have all the information I need," Lex said, holding onto his control tightly. "Thank you." At some unspoken command, Pete's brother, Mike, killed the sound.
Pete was immediately in Lex's face. "How could you just sit there like that, seeing what they're doing to her, and feel nothing? Do you even have a heart, Luthor?" he sneered.
"Peter Sinclair Ross!" his mother snapped.
"No, Mom. He drags us all into whatever . . .problem he has with these guys and who gets hurt? Isis! It's time someone stood up to him!"
Lex smoothed his jacket, which he'd never removed, as he stood toe to toe with Pete. "I don't know if you've noticed but this has less to do with me than with my father," he said slowly, carefully.
"Then maybe you should have left Isis alone. She was doing just fine without you around. We all were."
"I think if Isis were here right now she'd be disappointed in you, Mr. Ross." Lex didn't add that she'd probably slap her cousin, or perhaps slug him. "She thought that you of all people understood that she's an adult and can make her own decisions. Who Isis chooses to associate with is her business. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Pete spun around as Lex passed him. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To get the money for your cousin's safe release."
"Lex!" Clark called. "Wait!" He ran after his friend. "Lex, Pete didn't mean what he said."
Lex sighed. "Yes, Clark, he did."
"Okay, maybe some of it, but he's feeling really bad about the kidnapping. So it all just came out . . .worse."
"Clark, there's no good way to tell someone you think less of them than pond scum," Lex said with the faintest hint of amusement. "But thanks anyway. And I understand. I kinda want to hit me too," he said, sliding into his car.
"Are you really gonna give them everything they want?"
"Hopefully not, but if it comes down to it Isis' life is worth more than a few thousand dollars and company secrets. Go home Clark. Someone should get some rest."
Clark's parents were on the phone when he went back inside the Ross house. "We were beginning to worry," were his mother's first words.
"They have Isis," were Clark's.
"Who has Isis?" Jonathan wanted to know.
Clark filled them in on the last hour and a half. "I can get to her, Dad. I know I can."
"This is a job for the police, son. Let them handle it. Didn't Lex say he'd already called?"
"Well then why aren't they here?"
"Maybe they don't want the Rosses to worry any more than they already are." That from his mother.
With a sigh Clark conceded to his parents, apologizing for not calling earlier. "Would it be all right if I stay at Pete's? I don't feel right just leaving him and his family like this."
"We understand, sweetheart." His mother.
"But you've got to promise to stay out of trouble." His father in a Meaningful Tone.
"But what if I can help. Mom, Dad, I'm not just gonna let-"
"We know you won't, son. We wouldn't expect anything less from you. Just . . .be careful no matter what happens."
"And call!"
"I will Mom."
Pete burst in on him just as Clark was saying his goodbyes. "Her eyes are green."
"What?"
"Mike's been watching the screen to see if maybe one of the bad guys slips up and walks on camera or something. He said that Isis' eyes just turned green." They went back into the living room. "Mike, her eyes still green?"
Pete's brother nodded. "Yeah and they're really dilated too. Sometimes they shift around real fast, like she's in REM." Mike looked from the television to the boys. "You know, Mom's right, maybe you guys shouldn't be watching this. I've heard about Captain Tripps. If Isis has a bad trip this could be real ugly."
To Mike's surprise neither Pete nor Clark fought him, just mumbled in agreement and ran upstairs. "What'd your parents say?" Pete asked as soon as the door was shut. With Mike keeping an eye on Isis they were safe in the room Pete shared with him.
"They're letting me stay for as long as I want. And they told me to be careful."
"Clark, man, you told them? Why the--"
"I didn't, Pete. They sorta figured it out."
"What do you mean, sorta?"
Clark shrugged. "I told them what happened and, you know, they put it all together. Next thing I know Dad's telling me to let the police handle it."
"But they're okay with it now?"
"Yeah. I guess. Like I said, they told me to be careful."
"And we will."
"Now hold on a sec, Pete."
"Look, man, Mike's keeping an eye on Isis, Lex is handling the money and the cops, and my parents have got the family and the legal thing."
"Family thing?"
Pete smile for the first time all night. "Yeah, my dad called Uncle Malcolm while you were on the phone with your parents."
"Isis' dad?" Pete nodded. "So where do we start looking for Isis?" he asked Clark.
"If it's what I'm thinking then we're going to the south end of town, down where Mr. McLeans granary used to be."
Pute pushed off his desk suddenly. "I have an idea. Come on, I bet they practically told us and we just forgot."
"What?" Clark was close behind as they raced downstairs, totally lost.
*
Contrary to very popular, albeit equally cover, belief, Lex Luthor was not completely hairless. Like nearly ever other human being on the topside of the Earth, he had a fine covering of down on most of his body. Scarcely visible, it was nevertheless very sensative.
Which he reminded the tech taping him through gritted teeth every time the man arbitrarily moved the wire. The wire he was going to be wearing when they went to rescue Isis.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor," the tech apologized quickly, seconds before he ripped the taped wire from Lex's chest.
"I'm sure you are," he growled. "Where are you moving it now?"
"Back of your neck." The man was nervous, pushing his glasses up his nose whenever he spoke to Lex. "Just realized there'll be too many layers betwen you and the mike if it's on your chest. Unless we want to know how good your heart is," he said with a small laugh. "Which-which we don't. Uh," another glasses-push in the face of Lex's glare, "on your neck there'll only be your scarf. Which you'll need to conceal it."
"Not to mention bleeding cold."
The nervous tech stopped his rewiring. "Well, yes, I suppose so."
"Just get on with it," Lex snapped. He was tired of standing like a tailor's mannequin; tired of the cold faces of the police; tired of the way Matthews didn't look at him. Lex was tired of somehow being able to be wrong without trying -- of being drawn into it like a hapless swimmer caught in a whirlpool. If the world was going to fall apart around his ears, Lex decided, then he wanted his hands to have done some of the pulling. Because if he wasn't going to sit back and let Lional Luthor dictate to him, then he certainly wasn't going to let Fate and Circumstance take his father's place.
And just like that he realized he had come to the decision Gabe had told him was already lurking in his brain. He'd have to call the big man in the morning. If morning ever came. And if it did, Isis would be the second to know. Because she was drawing up the business plans.
The officer heading the operation, a suprisingly whip thin man named Narning, strode across the study cum war-room. "You remember the plan, Mr. Luthor?
"Quite well, Officer Narning. It seems simple enough."
"If you don't mind, I'd just like to hear it back from you one last time before we go out."
Lex did mind but: "I drive to the drop-off point alone, get out and let myself be check for listening devices. Or not. Either way after they scan me I give the signal--"
"Which is?"
"You know, Narning, I actually don't have time for this," Lex snapped, pulling his shirt on with a sharp snap.
"I understand you're anxious, Mr. Luthor, but I'm the expert here. Now I know how my men will perform under stress but for me you're the wild card. To me you're just as dangerous as the bad guys 'cause I just don't know what you'll do if it gets rough out there. Now don't get me wrong, I trust that you have Ms. Ross' best interest in mind, but hearing you go over things one more time puts my heart at ease just a little bit."
Lex let out a breath. He really really didn't like being out of control.
*
"How are we gonna get out the house?" Clark asked. "Your parents've got 24/7 guard patrol."
Pete frowned. "I hadn't actually worked that part out." He kicked one of the kitchen cabinets. "I hate th--"
"There's a police car pulling up."
"What?" But Pete was already leaving the kitchen even as he asked. The car had to be approaching fast because, within seconds, he too heard the sirens.
His dad was at the door talking to Sheriff Ethan. Then he was pulling on his coat and calling for his wife. Soon they were both out the door with hasty instructions to Mike to keep an eye on Pete and Clark, not to let them out of his sight for any reason, and make sure they didn't starve. Did he understand?
"Sure Mom. Don't worry, we'll be fine."
"We'll be back with Isis in a few hours."
Mike waved from the door as they pulled off in the squad car. Hastily shutting the door against the cold, he turned to the empty hallway. He walked back to the kitchen. Not only was watching Isis trip painful, depressing and horrifyingly fascinating, but it was hungry work too.
"Pete! Clark! Want some frozen pizza? I'm putting one in the oven!"
There was no answer.
"Pete! Clark!"
Mike ran into the den. He checked the dining room, the living room, upstairs, the basement and even the shed. As a last resort he even tried his sister's old room/Mom's study.
Then he noticed Clark's truck was missing. They were gone.
*
Cold as Lex was, he was careful not to pull his hat down around his ears. No sense giving the signal when he was still walking across this impromptu parking lot. No, if someone screwed this up it certainly wasn't going to be him.
So long as Isis kept up the wild hallucinant act everything would go off without a hitch, Lex reassured himself. She knew just as well as he did that a second Trip just wasn't as good, or as long, as the first. And that it took Captain Tripps a month or more -- depending on the dosage -- to completely leave the body. It was nothing if not a pernicious drug.
He stopped at the meeting place. And kept one hand very firmly on the briefcase, the other clutching itself tight in his pocket.
*
"There's Lex," Pete hissed. "They'll probably come from over--"
But he was cut off when an entourage of three men and Isis, unmistakable even in the dark, came from an entirely unexpected direction: nearly over their heads. Pete and Clark pushed themselves further into the ditch besides the train tracks. When they had passed Pete hit Clark. "Why didn't you tell me they were coming?"
"I didn't hear them!" Clark hissed back.
"You didn't . . .! You heard a background train that was nearly a mile away from a building, from a television! How could you not hear four people tramping up behind us?"
Clark shrugged. "The hearing's still kinda new. It doesn't always work like I want."
With a roll of his eyes and disgusted mutterings about alien puberty, Pete asked if Clark could get it to work "so we can find out what they're saying?"
Clark concentrated.
"Well?"
"They've stopped. Isis is a handful. Wait, two of them have got her and now they're mov-- Pete! Get up!" Clark was already on his feet.
"What? What's wrong?"
"They plan on killing Isis after they take the money, and then they'll take Lex hostage."
"But you heard what Lex said, his father doesn't deal."
"Yeah, but Lex is giving them some codes or something." They were trotting up behind the small group, trying to stay out of sight. Clark wondered if he should just speed there, get Isis and protect Lex. As he and Pete hid in the shadows of an oversized derelict machine, he decided to wait. And hoped that it was the right decision.
*
Lex was proud: Isis convulsed at all the right moments. "I have the money."
"And the codes?"
The speaker wasn't the man Lex had been negotiating with. But that would be dealt with later. "In the briefcase." Lex pulled his hat down over his frozen ears. "With the money. Might I ask what you're going to do with my money?"
"We'll meet halfway and exchange the goods."
Lex let his question drop. Besides, the Bad Guys only gave up their plan for world domination in comic books and on cartoons. This was eerily like real life.
As he got closer he could hear Isis' mumblings: "Aren't red spiders poisonous? That thing's poisonous. Red and big. Red and big. Bald. Bald spider? Is it poisonous? You're trying to kill me!" she shrieked, bucking against her captors. They held fast as if they were used to it. Just as suddenly it was over and they were walking again.
Almost there. It was almost over. Lex took a slow deep breath and counted his steps.
"LEX!"
Everyone turned.
"Lex, it's a trap!" Clark yelled, running toward the small party, Pete in tow.
"PETER!" Isis ducked under her captor's arms, head-butting one as she came up while the other fumbled with the protective plastic cover of a Captain Tripps patch.
Lex was racing toward her when he heard the distinctive click of a gun safety going off. And a shot being fired.
"Are you all right? Lex, are you okay?"
"If you get off me, Clark, perhaps I'll be better able to breathe."
All two hundred and fifteen pounds of sixteen year old savior scrambled off Lex. "Sorry." Clark offered him a hand up.
There were sirens in the distance. "Go help Isis," Lex ordered, listening to their approach.
"Pete's got it. I saw him tackle the guy trying to get Isis when I knocked you over." Clark didn't bother to clarify that he'd sped his friend into the middle of the fight.
They were sprinting toward the cousins when the squad cars swerved into the open area, an ambulance close behind. Pete's parents were let out of a car and raced to meet them.
"Hey Clark, could you undo these?" Isis turned to show her bound hands. "Pete's not strong enough or his hands are frozen and, well, so are mine," she groused. "Hey Lex."
There was only time for a nod before Officer Narning, the Rosses and EMS swarmed their small party, pushing and pulling Lex away. "The tracer in the briefcase . . .?"
"It's been activated," Narning assured him. "You did good out there, Mr. Luthor. Although my guy listening in could have sworn there was a shot fired. Anyone hurt?"
Lex gave the ant hill behind them one last look before motioning Narning to follow him. "No. No one was hurt, though I think it was meant for me." At Narning's raised brow Lex clarified: "Clark pushed me down. Probably just in time." Lex idly scratched his skull-capped head. "He seems to have a knack for doing that."
"Where did the boys come from?"
"If you think I had anything to do with their being here, Officer--"
"No, no, just curious. I"m sure after they're hailed as heroes their parents will light into'em."
Personally Lex didn't share Narning's opinion, but he kept that to himself. "Actually I was going to ask them how they got here when you and your men showed up. They were out of the room for most of the negotiations and, as I understand it, had no contact with Mr. and Mrs. Ross. . . Someone will figure it out." Lex opened the car and slid inside, reaching into the glove compartment.
The cell phone, slender and rounded, was in Lex's pcoket almost before Narning had time to register what it was.
"Will you be needing a statement in the morning?"
"No," Narning answered, "but we'll be in touch. And we'll let you know as soon as we find the men behind this."
Lex stuck out his hand. "Please understand when I say I hope we see very little of each other in the future," he said with a professional half-smile that hid his weariness.
"I do." Narning took his hand and shook it. Twice. Firmly. "Mr. Luthor."
"Officer Narning."
Then Lex was off, striding back toward the anthill: to the Queen's chamber itself. He took the cell phone out of his pocket, flipped it open and dialed from the phone book. "Hello. No sir, this is Lex Luthor, but if you'll give me a moment . . ."
Pete had been pushed to the fringes of the small crowd attending and dissecting Isis. But he forced his way through them when Lex handed him the cell.
"For the trill-zillionth time I'm fine! Okay, so I'm a little thirsty but they didn't really do much to me. Just the-- Pete, what's this?"
He forced it into Isis' hands before he was pulled away by his parents. "For you!" he called over the EMS, police, and uniforms he didn't even know. "From Lex!"
Isis gave the phone in hand a quick hard look before putting it to her ear. She didn't know Lex had a phone like hers; she could have sworn his was a Motorola. And, okay, she knew she was telling everyone she was fine, but really she had been kidnapped. Business couldn't wait until--
"Lex Luthor, are you still there?!" an upset voice demanded. So familiarly.
Isis' hand flew to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes. "Daddy?"
"Izzy? Oh sweetheart . . ."
Lex had turned his back on the scene when the Ice Princess melted. So he wasn't prepared for her attack. Hearing his name mere seconds before she launched herself at him was his only warning, although later he would suspect it had merely been a ploy to make him turn around. But except for taking a few steps back on impact, it was okay. Isis had time to wrap her arms around his neck and murmur a watery Thank You into his ear before she was pried away. No one could get the cell phone out of her hand, though they tried. Pete would later tell Lex that she actually snapped her teeth at someone. . .
And Lex will remember that he managed to hug her back before she was taken away.
*
Tuesday, Nov 5
Knock Knock
"Matthews, come in," Lex said without looking up from the reports in front of him. The quarterlies were on the right flat-panel and his comments on the left.
"I'm not Matthews."
Lex looked up.
"But he did let me in. Hope you don't mind."
"Isis."
She gave him that guarded smile she had at the restaurant. It felt like weeks ago. "Hi."
He stood and came around the desk. "Hi. They finally let you out to visit?"
"One day of observation at the hospital, another two at the family house. Mmm hmm, just let me out."
"So you're moving back in with your Aunt and Uncle."
"They want me too," Isis admitted, "but . . .I'd rather stay here. If your offer still stands."
"It does."
Isis' smile finally became wide and sunny. A little dangerous. Genuine. "Great. Now I can finally get the rest of my crap in here."
"Is your family okay with this?"
She sighed. Lex was the last person she'd expected to ask that one. "Aunt Jan and Uncle Mark aren't, but my cousins are. Actually we had this big fight last night and Mike, Pete and Bobby stood up for me."
"That's pretty amazing."
"I was pretty amazed," she said with soft wondering laughter. "Pete says thanks, by the way."
Lex felt his eyebrows climb. "Really now?"
"Yes, really."
He went into the little refrigerator by his desk and pulled out two bottled waters. "And what do you say?" he asked over his shoulder.
She was there, in his space, when he stood up and turned around. They were halfway into the kiss before Lex knew they were kissing; that he'd put the bottles down behind him and was kissing her back. It didn't register that she was holding his face in her soft hands at all until she stroked his lower lip with her thumb.
"Thank you."
*
Dedications: to Black Pearl, kimi, Cam (a lovely writer herself), and darlene. this chapter was going to get written anyway, but you gave me the drive to finish it and finish it well. i'm *not* just writing for myself. feedback *does* keep a story alive. and here's the proof.