Welcome to another chapter of "A piece of home!" Before I get started I wanted to thank my guest reviewer for posting so much contest yesterday. It was great to hear from you and I am glad that you stopped by. Hopefully, you will enjoy my Alternative Universe story even more. I did update the first chapter's opening spew to help clarify some confusion. I hope that this helps.

Let's get on to the chapter!

Once we were away from my family Bruce dropped his facade. He became the same broody and gruff detective that I knew and loved. He made a point to chide me for making it necessary for him to come out all this way. To which I reiterated that this was unnecessary. Lois and I would have headed out an hour or so anyway. By then I would have retrieved the communicator and contacted him. If he was willing to wait an hour or two I would have gone to the Batcave. Saving him all the trouble. A trip to Smallville was both unnecessary and unwarranted. This was my private time. I did not want him here. He did not need to come.

Once we got our grievances out of the way we moved on to the reason why he was here. Bruce decoded the tablet. It was time to find out what it contained.

"It's a catalog of products," Bruce told me. "However, it's a lot of stuff like toilet paper and hand soap. There is absolutely nothing illegal on the tablet."

I shook my head. "That doesn't make sense. Why would Intergang be selling toilet paper? And why all the security?"

"They're not. This is just another code to break. Only this one is more difficult."

"So, toilet paper equals something like guns or tech."

Batman nodded. "Yes, only we do not know what the toilet paper really is."

"Do you have the list?" Bruce gave me a thumb drive. I looked at it for a minute, then said, "I'll take a look and see what I find. I'd hate to say this, but Lois has some of the best contacts within Intergang. I can see if I can get a contact or two from her. I don't want her touching this, but she is our best shot at decoding this list. Without dangling someone off the side of a building."

He gave me a strange look. "Is there a problem with that?"

If he couldn't see why that was a problem then I couldn't help him. One does not need to always terrify people to get information. Of course, he was Batman so maybe he had to. It could be that lack of powers thing. I don't know. Either way I ignored him and continued on.

"Anyway, I'll pursue things on my end. See what you can find out your way."

Bruce nodded curtly. "Fine. I'll update you on what I find."

"By the way, did the suitcase turn up anything?"

He shook his head. "Not really. It was pretty much as you said. A lead-lined suitcase with nothing really inside it. Except for the aforementioned tablet. I took it apart and found nothing."

"Darn it. I was hoping that there was something there."

"It seems that Intergang has become smart enough to not include the key in it. It's all very strange. Not at all like Intergang."

That's when I told Bruce about what Lois had found out. That a new boss had taken over Intergang. This boss seemed to be smarter than the average bear. Who it was still a mystery, but he or she was taking Intergang in a new direction. Which was causing strife and dissension in the ranks. Making information that much easier to get. Not that we have a lot of information, but at least we have a better chance of getting something. Still, I was going to need Lois's help. Intergang was kind of her thing. She could get me in the door. I had a little choice to involve her. I just needed to keep it brief.

I would also pester Luther to see what he knew. If there was something going on in the underbelly of Metropolis then Luther was involved. Hell, he may even be the new boss that they were talking about. Although this secrecy was not really his style. Still, it was worth pestering him about it. I might shake a few things loose. Damn, I was starting to sound like Batman. I am not sure that I like the sound of that. I needed to spend less time around him.

Bruce promised to look into it further on his end. Then took off. He did not like the social niceties. He did not want to chat with me any longer than necessary. Not that I wanted him around right now, but a goodbye would be nice. I suppose that I was asking too much. He is Batman, after all. He needed time to brood in a corner I suppose. I would let him do this thing, after all I had my family to get back to. And a dinner that I didn't know about to prepare for. Oh well, Lois did deserve a quiet dinner with just the two of us. She would get the dinner that she demanded. I am her husband after all.

I dropped Lois off at the apartment not long after Batman left. I made an excuse that I had to follow a lead that Batman gave me and took off. I did need to follow that lead, but that was not why I was leaving. I needed to get a few things for our dinner. Yes, I know that it was a dinner that my wife made up on the spot. I still intended to make it for her anyway. I just needed some time. But first, I had Luthor to pester.

I found Luthor in his office doing god knows what. He was always far too secretive for me to really know what he was up to. What I see is only the tip of the iceberg. His office is the only place in Lexcorp that I could see into. The rest was lined with lead and designed to block Superhearing. I couldn't even hear what was going on inside the office unless I was invited in. Lex had things against me. As I had a thing against him. We hated each other with a passion. He blamed me for Metropolis not loving him. And I, well, hated him for the terrible things that he did in pursuit of money and power. I also hated how he demeaned me as Clark. As well, as how he had become obsessed with Lois. Making a robot that looked and sounded like her was sick. Particularly, if he took advantage of it the way I think he does. Then it becomes unforgivable. If he could that sick bastard would force himself on Lois. I will never let him do that. I will protect my wife if it is the last thing I do. I will not let that son of bitch near Lois if I can help it.

I know that Lois felt the same way about Luthor. She has told me numerous times how she would like to put him away for good. She never mentioned the robot, but she knows about it. It sickens her more than it sickens me. She just doesn't mention it, that's all. She also hated the way he leered at her. I watched her recoil every time he did it. Then once we get home I would be treated to an hour-long rant about Luthor. It frustrated her that she can't do anything about him. Just as it frustrates me. I want him to be put away too. Only I haven't been able to secure that just yet. Trust me, I have tried numerous times both as Superman and Clark Kent. Neither were successful. He just keeps finding ways to get out of hot water. It's infuriating. I hate that man with every fiber of my soul.

The last thing that I want to do right now is to speak with him. After all, Lois is pregnant. I want to be there for her to monitor and protect her. Not have idle chit-chats with Luthor. Alas, he might be the crack in the case that I need. Even if he will not want to cooperate. If nothing else, it will add another player to mix. Which will increase the chances of this mysterious boss slipping up. It was worth a try.

I hovered patiently at his window. Waiting for him to let me in. Luthor hadn't done anything wrong today. So I couldn't burst in. Besides, I wanted him to know that I was there. To feel the pressure before having a little chat. If Bruce taught me anything then I learned this: A little intimidation goes a long way.

After a few minutes, he finally let me in. I stopped a short distance from the window. However, I refused to land. I did not want to be here any longer than necessary and I did not trust Lex. His floor was likely to be booby-trapped. Plus, it forced him to look up at me. Which suited me just fine. "Is there something that I can do for you, Superman?!" He spat the last part. Making sure that I knew how he thought of me. The feeling was mutual, trust me.

"Just came over for a little chat, Lex." I said evenly.

"Lovely, glad to see you, now leave!""

"Not so fast, we haven't had our chat yet."

"Should I point out now or later that you're not a cop, Superman. I don't have to have chats with you if I don't want to."

"You don't want to speak with me? I'm hurt." I said sarcastically.

"I'm sure you are, now leave!"

I continued to hover right above his floor. I refused to move. "Well, I want to speak with you. And I'm not leaving until we have a little chat."

Lex growled, "Fine, what do you want?"

"I want to talk about Intergang."

That seemed to surprise him. I'm sure he thought that I was here to talk about his many clandestine escapades. Fortunately for him, I was not here to do that today. He'll have to wait for another day for that.

"What about them?"

"Rumor has it that they have a new boss."

"And you assume that this boss is me." He scoffed. "I'd hate to burst your bubble, but I have nothing to do with intergang. Despite what your friends at the Daily Planet think I'm an honest businessman. I do not do business with Intergang."

"Right, so that mother box that you were caught with last year didn't come from Intergang."

"I found it fair and square after you messed up and let Apocalypse invade our fair city. The only crime that I committed was not reporting it to the government earlier. I have paid my debt to society. A hefty fine and three months of house arrest. I'm a legit businessman now. No thanks to you and Clark Kent. You can't prove otherwise."

"Now? That means that you did commit illegal business practices."

He seemed annoyed at me pointing out his slip up. "Is this why you came, Superman? To annoy me with accusations?"

I shook my head. "No, Lex I did not."

"Then why are you here? Surely, you really believe that garbage about me and Intergang?"

"With you Lex, anything is possible."

"Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, Superman, but I have no idea who is running Intergang now. I don't deal with them anymore. So, go bark up another tree!"

Lex was through with me. He was not going to speak with me anymore. Not that it mattered. I got what I wanted. I confirmed my suspicion. That Lex Luthor was not the new boss of Intergang. He was being honest about that. He had no idea that Mannheim was out. He was just as surprised as I was when I found out. No, Lex was not the one that I was looking for. I would let him go for now. I had bigger fish to fry. And romantic dinner to set up.

That's it for this chapter. I hope that you enjoyed it. Take care!