CHAPTER 5: Revenge
Four years had gone by since Lex's ill-fated marriage and subsequent annulment. Four years for Helen to plan her revenge and this time she wouldn't let herself be diverted by sentimentality. She had made a mistake the previous time, but now she was going to choose the target well to make him suffer.
It was eight o'clock on Thursday evening and Lex was still at his office at Lexcorp. He was going through some private documents concerning a secret plan of Lionel's for a surprise take-over of an avant-garde lab Lex had been planning to acquire. His reading was so absorbing that it took him a minute to realise that his private line was ringing insistently.
" Good evening ? " answered lex questioningly. Only a few had his private number and it was an unusual hour to be phoned at the office.
" Are you Mr Alexander J. Luthor ? " asked a woman's voice on the other side.
" I'm afraid we haven't been introduced. May I know how you've got my private number ? "
" My name's Dr Susan Garland, Mr Luthor. I'm a doctor at Metropolis General Hospital. I found your personal card in a young woman's purse. Her name's Lana Lang. Are you acquainted with her, sir ? "
" Miss Lang's a friend not an acquaintance, doctor. What's happened to her ? " he asked, a note of deep concern in his voice.
" She was admitted to our ICU three quarters of an hour ago. She's in critical condition, Mr Luthor.
She's been assaulted and badly beaten. She needs to be operated on inmediately to remove a clot that's putting pressure on her spinal cord. Do you know who we should contact to authorise the procedure ? "
" Her next-of-kin is an aunt but she isn't living in America, now. There's nobody else, but we're best friends and we've been business partners for five years, doctor. Prepare the papers and the operating room, I'll be there in fifteen minutes with my personal physician. Don't worry about legal matters, my lawyers we'll see to them, " he said in a businesslike manner.
" I agree with you, the patient's life is always first, Mr Luthor. I'll prepare her for surgery. See you on floor two in fifteen minutes, sir. "
" Thank you, Dr. Garland. "
Lex put down the receiver, grabbed his Porsche keys and took the private lift to the underground garage. He'd have to rush to make it in time and if that meant not stopping at the red lights, so be it- Lana's life was worth a hell of a lot more than a couple of speeding tickets or an impounded Porsche.
He arrived at the hospital unscathed- no patrol had crossed his way – and Dr Ferguson stepped out of his car a couple of minutes later. They both went straight up to the second floor where they were met by Lana's doctor. Dr Garland gave Dr Ferguson the patient's record, CATscan and X-rays and left him alone to check the girl over while she joined Lex to have a chat with him.
" Mr Luthor, I want you to know that it's touch and go. She's in coma now. We hope the surgery'll relieve the pressure and reduce the swelling. However, there's the possibility of internal haemorrhage and even if we manage to stop the bleeding and remove the clot, it's not certain she'll survive the operation. And if she does, there's no guarantee she'll walk again. "
Lex found it very hard to breathe, he could feel the blood pumping in his ears and his chest ready to burst/explode. If he hadn't known his asthma was cured, he would have thought he was on the verge of a severe attack. Dr Gardiner looked at him alarmed, regretting her crudeness.She had always been a good judge of character and this young man seemed so cool and composed, she thought he could take the unadulterated truth.
" Why don't you sit down, Mr Luthor ?... Janice, bring him a cup of strong coffee with two lumps of sugar from the nurses' island. ... I'm sorry, sir. I've been too blunt but I thought you'd appreciate my telling you the odds... Hope's the last thing we should lose. "
" Thanks, doctor. You're right, I'm not one who's fond of beating around the bush... but it's just that ...every woman close to me ... has been invariable snatched from my side..., " he said with tears in his eyes.
" Dr Ferguson and I will do our very best to make sure you don't lose her as well but, Mr Luthor, I suggest you pray for all of us. Are you a believer ? "
" I used to pray as a child, when my mother was still alive, but I'm afraid God stopped listening to me by the time I was twelve... Still, I believe in miracles. I've seen them. My own life's been spared so many times..., " he said trying to pull himself together.
" Pray for a miracle, then, Mr Luthor. Miss Lang's in desperate need of one. "
" Couldn't I see her, doctor, before she enters the operating room ? " he entreated her.
" I'll tell the staff to clear the room to give you some privacy. You'll have two or three minutes to be with her at the most. Time's not on our side, Mr Luthor, " she told him placing a caring hand on his sleeve. " And sir, get ready, it's not a pretty sight. "
Lex entered the room donning scrubs, booties and a mask to preserve the sterile environment. Lana lay motionless in the orthopaedic bed, her face battered and bruised beyond recognition. Lex fell down to his knees next to the bedside and, with tears running down his cheeks, took her right hand in his and placed a tender kiss on the crown of her head, afraid of making her hurt by grazing her face.
" Lana, what have they done to you ? I swear to God, whoever's put a hand on you will wish he hadn't been born...You've got to be strong, Lana... You can beat this... I know you can... Don't you dare leave me alone !... I promise I'll be here waiting for you, " he pleaded with Lana brushing her lips with his.
" I'm sorry, Mr Luthor, but it's time, " said Dr Ferguson entering the room with Dr Garland.
" See you later, Lana, " whispered Lex placing a kiss on the back of her hand.