Talon used to be one of the finest places in Metropolis, but it wasn't the same after Lionel Luthor was arrested.
Clark Kent made his way to the bar, found a seat and ordered a beer.
Usually Clark tried to avoid Talon - this place brought painful memories. Today he had no choice.
He was told by the new client to meet her at 8 o'clock. Clark had no idea why she couldn't just come to his office, but, judging by their brief conversation, she was very stubborn. Keep pushing, and she'd hung up the phone..
She argues for the sake of arguing? So be it. Beggars can't be choosers.
Detective took his beer and retreated to strategically-chosen table. Now Clark could watch who comes through the door without drawing too much attention to himself.
Сasually drinking his beer, he glanced at the blonde singer. She was a nice girl, and whoever was her music teacher did a good job, but Luthor's ex-girlfriend could beat her without even trying.
Clark took out his pocket watch. The woman was twenty minutes late. No, twenty-two minutes.
Typical. Chloe Sullivan is the only one punctual woman I knew.
"Well, well, well! Clark Kent, long time no see!"
"Jim!" detective stood up to greet an old friend.
James Harper's handshake was as strong and firm as years ago, when Clark Kent just had opened his agency.
Clark wasn't in the Most Popular Person list among Metropolis P.D. His past in undercover unit only messed things up. Everybody knew the story about Lex Luthor's murder. Petite raven-haired womanfooled both her husband and a cop who was supposed to watch after Luthor, but ended up falling in love with his wife instead.
It was a major blow to Clark's pride. He believed that he was a good judge of character, talented detective, but where did his skills go when he flew straight into the web of Lana's deception?
Clark considered leaving Metropolis, but chose to stay and fight. Fortunately, he met Bart Allen, forensic expert who retired and left Keystone City after his lab was blown up. Bart suspected that there was a mole working for Mafia in his precinct, but the explosion destroyed everything he could use as an evidence. Nobody could understand Clark's necessity to prove his self-worth better.
Together they founded "Kent and Allen : Detective Agency". After a few years of hard work Clark and Bart became well-known in Metropolis, but most of the police officers still considered Kent-Allen team a nuisance.
James Harper, though, wasn't biased against former colleagues. They often compared notes and pooled sources when the case was too hard to crack. Their skills complimented each other. Harper had twenty-five years of experience. Clark was good in noticing clues that others missed. Sometimes Harper joked about Clark having X-Ray vision. And Bart Allen could perform real miracles in his new lab, it was amazing how little time it took for him to run tests and get the results.
Harper, brave honorable man with a big heart, reminded Clark a lot of his father Jonathan. And Jim saw in Clark younger version of himself, with the same thirst for justice. So it wasn't a big surprise when their partnership turned into friendship. Mrs. Harper liked "Kent Boy" too.
"I've heard you don't like this place, son", said Jim after they shook hands. "Things changed?"
"No. I'm here to meet with client, that's all", explained Clark. "But she is late".
"She?" Jim winked at him. "Is she pretty?"
"I have no idea". True, but it seemed Jim isn't going to buy it. "No, really, Jim, We only talked on the phone".
"If your mystery woman is late, how about a game of pool?"
"Sorry, Jim, but I have to say "no". You don't play for free, and I'm a bit low on cash. Last job went south, you know, and we just redecorated the office, so..."
Harper snorted "Relax, Kent. I'm cop, not a robber, your wallet is safe. How about a bet?"
Clark raised his eyebrows "Um, what do you have in mind?"
"If you win, I'll give you brand new flashlight. If you lose... hmm... ah, that's perfect! If you lose, I'll point out at a girl and you ask her on a date".
"What's the catch?"
"You must do your best, use that infamous Kent Charm of yours to make her agree", Harper replied grinning happily.
Clark sighed. Apparently it was another matchmaking attempt. Jim Harper was an epitome of family man despite his occupation. And he wanted his young friend to find a good woman to settle down with. Clark already went on several Harper-arranged blind dates.
I'm not ready to settle down yet. And even if I was...
"So? Wanna play?"
Dark-haired man looked at his friend, then took out the watch. The woman was thirty minutes late.
"OK, let's play!"
They grabbed pool sticks and walked towards the table.
"You break" said Jim.
Clark's cue hit the white ball. It broke the formation of balls, and 1-ball was sent straight to the pocket. Clark kept silence, but smiled at his little victory.
Detective walked around the table, checking out the possibilities to get 2-ball, then leaned down, preparing to shoot. He missed.
"My turn" said Jim and easily sunk 2-ball into a side pocket. "That's better". Cue ball bounced off an edge and brought 3-ball into a pocket. "Much, much better". Jim slammed the cue ball, sending 4 into side pocket.
Not my lucky day... thought Clark.
"And now..." 5-ball was pushed into the corner pocket, "...better prepare..." the cue ball bounced three times before sinking 6, "...for your date!"
Clark interrupted him "My "date" just had arrived". Tall dark-haired woman wearing elegant black hat and black dress, veil covering half of her face, just stepped through the door. She looked a bit nervous, and was as out of place in Talon as Jim Harper would be at vintage clothing boutique.
Clark noticed her. He also noticed something else through the half-opened door.
"GET DOWN!"
The woman reacted immediately. She hit the floor, and the bullet whizzed over her head. Clark's revolver went off immediately. He heard yelp of pain, and the man in charcoal-black suit disappeared before detective could shoot again.
"What the hell was that?" Harper stood ready, with his gun looking at the door. "Are you okay, kid?"
"He's gone", said Clark with icy calmness. "Plymouth, dirtied license plates. But he is wounded. We can acquire blood sample, if we are lucky".
Jim looked at his friend and didn't like what he saw. Clark managed to suppress his emotions completely somehow, and this wasn't healthly. But it was neither place nor time to talk, and old cop acknowledged it.
"I'll call Turpin. And you must talk to your client. Find out if she knows something".
"That's exactly what I was going to do, Jim", Clark let out a small smile.
He approached the woman, who was already back on her feet. "Miss, are you..." He stopped dead in his tracks.
She changed her haircut, modest black dress wasn't like the ones she used to wear years ago. But hazel eyes and defiant expression on her face hadn't change, and it was more than enough.
"Miss Lola Dane? What a surprise!" It was a surprise indeed. And not a nice one.
(To be continued...)