CHAPTER 3: Back from the Dead

It had been a busy afternoon at The Talon and Lana was leaving the tables ready for the following morning. She still had to go through the day's numbers but that could wait, she wasn't feeling really up to it. She hadn't been feeling up to much recently.The atmosphere at the Sullivans was strained to say the least. She hadn't forgiven Chloe for lying to her about Clark's whereabouts and she knew that being around Chloe- Clark's best friend and secret inamorata- was only making things more difficult. She dialled Gabe Sullivan's home number and left a message on the answerphone telling him she'd stay over at The Talon.

Lana was in desperate need of a breather but she didn't know what to do. Nell ? No, going to Nell's was out of the question. They weren't on the best of terms for one thing, and she couldn't stand Dean for two successive days. Lana was in the middle of her musing when she heard a bleep announcing a new e-mail in her inbox.

She finished wiping the tables and emptyimg the ashtrays and went into her office to see what useless product they wanted her to buy this time. She got the shock of a lifetime when she opened the message and read:

" Dear Lana,

I don't know how to broach the subject without giving you the creeps but here it goes. I'm alive and well.

Please, enter the chat room.I need your help.

Lex. "

Lana stared at the screen dumbfounded and thought that somebody was clearly fond of sick jokes. However, curiosity and the hope of having someone she could hold on to won. She opened the Messenger and wrote:

" How do I know I'm not chatting with some psycho who has nothing to do on a Friday evening ? "

The answer apeared on the screen almost at once.

" Do you remember the first time we met ? The time we weren't formally introduced ? "

Lana's hope got stronger.

" What do you mean ? "

" Well, let's say I made you blush and it wasn't because of my trademark charm. I think you wanted to check out my swimming pool ? "

Lana's lips broke into a smile and she felt her eyes starting to water.

" Lex ! Where are you ? What's happened to you ? I've been to your funeral. "

" I'm sorry to have put you through that. You wouldn't like to know where I've been. Let's just say it's a place I'd never wish you to be in. I'm alone and I don't know where Helen is. I woke up when the plane was falling down, the door was open and she was no longer on board. I got lucky a week ago when a fishing boat and its crew rescued me. "

Lana took a couple of minutes to frame the answer in her mind.

" Lana ? Are you still there ? "

" Lex, I don't know how to tell you this. I guess I'll just have to say it. Helen's in Smallville. She's living at the mansion. I saw her at the funeral but I haven't talked to her since the wedding. "

" She's alive ? That's the best news I've heard in months ! "

" I think you won't like what I'm going to tell you now. She gave a completely different account of your accident. She said you gave her the only life jacket on board and sacrificed your life to save hers. "

Lex could feel the bile rising up. Not Helen. He could have expected anything from his own father but ... Helen ? She had given him hope. He had thought the happiness that had eluded him all his life was finally there for him to grasp. How mistaken he had been ! Could he ever trust a woman again ? They had always deserted him and left him heartbroken and bitter.

" Lex ? Lex ? Please, answer me. How can I help you ? "

" I'm sorry, Lana. I think this has been a mistake. "

Lana rushed before he had the opportunity to cut their conversation short.

" You can't do that to me, Lex. You can't leave me alone ! Clark's dumped me and I have no one I can talk to. Chloe's doubled-crossed me. I'm tired of lies. I want someone to be straight with me for once ! "

"I wouldn't like to drag you into my problems, Lana. I'm sorry about you and Clark. I truly am but you're right, there comes a time when one should say " enough ". Are you sure you wouldn't mind getting involved ? I must warn you, I'm pretty sure now that both my father and Helen are behind this, and dad doesn't play by the book. "

"I'm here to help you. What would you have me do ? "

" It may sound strange for a Luthor to say this. I'm rather short of cash. I could go to the bank and withdraw some money but I don't want my father to find out I'm still alive yet. I could ask you to make a deposit in my account but he'd trace that too. I know I'm asking you too much. Would you bring all your savings to me here in Canada ? It'll be just a loan. I'll pay you back as soon as I get home."

" Don't worry about that Lex.You can count on me. Besides you rarely take a cut of our earnings at The Talon."

" Very unLuthorlike of me, wouldn't you say ? OK... I'll send you a map with directions to get to the cabin I'm staying in. "

" It sounds good and I needed a vacation anyway. What else shall I bring apart from the money ?"

" I'm going to ask you one more favour, Lana, but it could be dangerous. Do you know if Helen's still working at the hospital ? "

" She is, as far as I know. Why ? "

" You'll have to get into the mansion when she's not there. Don't worry, I'll tell you how to get in without alerting security or being taped by the cameras. There's a secret passage that leads straight into my private rooms. I need you to get there and open my safe. You'll see a laptop, a mobile and a brown manila envelope, take them with you and make sure you leave eveything undisturbed. Do you think you could do that ? "

" I'll manage, Lex. "

" That'll be all then. And Lana ? Thanks. "

" You're more than welcome, Lex. You've always been there for me. It's the least I can do to help. "

Lana shut down the computer, turned off the lights and elated headed to the bedroom upstairs. In the morning she'd go to the bank and pack her suitcase. She would have all night to concoct a convincing story for both Nell and the Sullivans.