James paced in the office while he listened on the phone to Phil Anderson, his deputy assistant manager.
"James, we either need you or Ms. Luthor here or at least the permission and a line what to tell. Law enforcement wants to speak to you about Guardian and asks
about Kara Danvers's assignment. But more important there are rumours that Supergirl and Kara Danvers were killed. There are eyewitnesses claiming they saw a lifeless Supergirl being carried in an ambulance and you limping in, too. … Please James, many colleagues are deeply worried about you and Kara and we're getting more and more calls by other media"
"I'm sorry Phil for leaving you without instruction. You are in charge as long you don't hear otherwise from us. … Tell the colleagues that it is true … Kara …she is gone. She was near the centre of the explosion. No remains have been found yet but it's not possible that she survived – the heat of the Kryptonite fire is extreme", James explained. He wished that they could have come up with something less devastating. Again and again telling this story was painful.
"Oh god. That's horrible", Phil exclaimed.
"Well, her mother just arrived. When Kara's sister is here to be with her I'll come over to CatCo"
"Sure. … What about Supergirl?"
"She has been severely injured", James lied.
"But she will survive?" Phil asked.
James paused but then replied "It doesn't look good"
"So we will be busy spreading bad news for the next days. …Will we get it exclusively when it happens?" Phil asked only to be ashamed of himself in the next moment. "Sorry, reflex from my tabloid time"
"We will only publish the obvious – that Supergirl was hurt in the explosion. There should be no speculation about anything else"
"But we have an assignment to report even if we don't like the news. Besides there are rumours that this was a setup for Supergirl"
"I'm in touch with my sources in law enforcement to confirm this. Before there is proof won't report about it. There is so much tension already – I don't to blow up the city with these news before it is safe to say"
"But …"
"No, buts. We will have the whole story and do it right"
"What about Kara?"
"Confirm it. Get me Nia Nal. She shall provide a text about Kara if she's able to – I will cowrite it. Try to reach Cat Grant. If Supergirl dies she shall write the obituary."
"Okay boss. … Oh that again. There's an alien that want to talk to you – only you"
"Okay. Pass it through and give Nia the assingment. Bye"
"Mr. Olsen? Or should I call you Guardian?", the voice asked.
"Olsen is fine. To whom do I speak?"
"Just call me Blue"
"Okay Blue. How can I help you?"
"Well, I thought we could help each other to gain two important things: Answers and justice."
"I don't understand"
"With a little help I was able to get hold of the person who kept me as a slave and hurt your friends!" he paused "Meet Vincent Sinclair!" he said and a buzz announced an incoming mail. James opened the link which was in the message and saw the video of a bruised and terrified man chained to a chair.
James was speechless.
"Olsen are you still there? Please change to conference mod … You see we got the bastard. Now we will hear the whole truth who was with in this slavery scheme and why he did blow up the whole place with us in it … killed Supergirl … You can look him in the eyes, Jimmy, and ask him why he did this. …We will get truth and then justice for all … and you can tell it to the world!"
James had to process what Blue was telling him. To what Blue invited him.
"Supergirl and the Martian aren't dead. And they never would…"
"Of course she is. I'm an empath, Olsen. She left this world minutes after the Martian got her out …. why do you want to sell me that shit?", Blue asked angrily.
"The authorities are already asking for her and as you know not all of them are trustworthy, her family needs time to get here and I fear the criminals parading through the streets when they know she is dead", James reasoned.
"That is very honourable of you. But where's the respect to your friends? To the public? Don't you want to know why he did it, do you?"
"Of course I want. But I do know that Supergirl wouldn't have liked that kind of justice you have in mind"
"Well, if you want to show us another way you have to come down here, Olsen. We'll meet at the dive bar. If you don't show up there within an hour we deal alone with Sinclair. Think about it", Blue said and the screen went black.
For a moment James was frozen but then he took his phone and dialled Phil.
"Hey Phil, please send me my camera and my dictation to the dive bar at 3rd street."
"Do you need a reporter or a photographer with you?"
"You will get a very personal piece from me within the day. See you, Phil"
"You must be kidding me!" Lena yelled suddenly behind him.
James spun around and looked surprised at an angry Lena.
"It is not like I asked for this. But I can't let them kill him. I need to know why Vincent did this, for me, for us"
"I get this. But slipping away without backup? Are you insane?"
"There is nobody left. You and Alex are needed to help J'onn and Brainy has to report to Haley, there is no other way"
"Of course there is. I agree with you to keep Alex out of this but I'm free to go"
"That is not an option, Lena!"
"Either you take me or you call Brainy. He has gotten better in deception"
"If he fails and the DEO marches in there, there will be a bloodbath" James said and tried to pass Lena by.
"You take me with you and before we go we make a plan. Or you are going nowhere" Lena replied.
"There is no time for this discussion. I need to go", James shouted angrily.
"Don't be so fast", Lena said and pulled a gun and pointed it at James.
"Now you are kidding me", James replied "You won't shoot me"
"You get a bullet in every leg to prevent your suicide mission, I swear" Lena said "You know Luthors like to think out of the box" James looked in her face and knew that she meant business.
"So what now?", he asked.
"Call Phil and cancel the delivery. I will make some quick preparations and leave a note for Eliza and Alex. Don't think about sneaking out I put the building under lookdown"
She walked down the floor with quick steps heading to her personal armoury when she heard the sobbing of a woman. She followed the sound to a familiar room and stepped silently in the doorframe. When Lena saw Eliza crying at the side of Supergirl's body she was irritated. She never knew that the oldest Danvers was so close to the Kryptonian. Or did she just project her pain? While she was holding one of the hero's hands she tried with the other trembling one to tug a reluctant strand of hair behind Supergirl's ear. But when Lena neared and watched the scene closely it became clear to her: Eliza Danvers wasn't mourning a close friend … she was crying for her child.