Chapter 5: Lucky Rabbits Foot?

Clark was vigorously typing away at his keyboard in the Torch. He was so intent on his newest article that he didn't hear Chloe come. Actually he didn't notice her till she sat down in her chair spinning around once before sliding up to her editors desk.

Her demeanor appeared to be jovial on the outside but underneath it was chaos. The time had come...again.

"Hey, Clark whatcha working on?"

Clark looked up a little bit startled. It was apparent that he had been concentrating on what it was he was typing.

"Oh...hey Chloe. Just working on my next Pulitzer prize winning expose." He said with a smile on his face.

She loved his smile. It was warm and cheerful and it made her feel dreamy just looking at him.

"Oh really and what would it be this week?"

"I turned all my skills toward digging out what next weeks lunch menu is. It was difficult and I had to go through a number of sources, but in the end I worked my way to the truth."

If she wasn't his editor and she didn't know that he was almost always late with whatever he was writing (including the lunch menu) she might have actually laughed. Instead all he got was an "Uh huh" and a look.

"No really. I am trying to add some spice to it to make it a little more interesting. Right now I am trying to find an alliteration for meatloaf. Luckily for me its on the menu for Monday so that gives me a head start."

It was to weird not to believe.

"So far I have, "Monday's menu measures up to a mouthwatering meatloaf." That one was easy but the corn side dish has me stumped."

This time she did laugh. "Remind me to go over that one really well before I publish it." She said.

Her smile faded though. 'Now is as good a time as any.' She thought.

"Hey Clark listen I..."She started to say

Just then Pete burst in the door "Whoa guys. You got to come check this out!"

'Dammit!' though was what went through her mind.

"What Pete!" She blurted out.

He didn't notice the bluntness. "I think I got the next front page article for the Torch."

Well that peaked her curiosity. There was only one thing that could push the Clark situation to the back of her mind and a breaking news story was it.

"What is it?" She said her attention instantly focused.

"Come on I'll show you." The excitement was palpable.

Pete lead them down the hallway to the science classrooms. As they entered Pete and Clark's biology classroom they saw Mr. Conrad and the Principle in a heated argument.

"How I am supposed to know what happened. The door was open, anyone or anything could have just walked right in and done it." From the tenor of Mr. Conrad's voice they could tell he was upset.

"Pete whats going on?" She was not entirely impressed with watching a science teacher and the principle argue.

"Over there." He was pointing to the row of cages at the side of the classroom.

Chloe and Clark walked over. What they saw took their breath away.

Mr. Bunny lay on his side at the bottom of the cage. It was obvious that he was dead. But what took their breath away was that his throat had been ripped open, actually more like gnawed open.

"What happened?" Clark said staring into the cage.

"No one knows. Mr. Conrad came in and found him that way. At least thats what I heard. I was walking past the door on my way to meet you guys and I heard them arguing. I peeked in to check out what was going on and saw it. I figured this was something you'd be interested in Chloe."

"Damn right I'm interested. Unexplained animal mutilation always makes a good headline." She couldn't take her eyes off the cage though. Something about it wasn't right.

"Ok what am I missing here?" She couldn't put her finger on it.

"There's almost no blood." Clark said and he was right. There was a little bit on the bottom of the cage and on the wound but other then that there was nothing.

"How's that possible? I know that rabbits aren't that big but there should still be blood all over the cage or at least on the floor and table. How does someone rip open a rabbits throat and not leave any blood?"

"An even better question would be why?" Clark said. His watch made a little chirping sound.

"Crap guys I gotta go. If I don't get my chores done my dad is gonna kill me. How about you take notes and then meet me at the Talon tonight and we can go over everything?"

"That's a no go for me." Pete said. "Moms wanted some quality time so she planned a whole evening of things. I try to ditch out and I may end up like our friend here."

"Ok well me and Clark will get started on the article. Don't worry Pete you'll defiantly get your name in this one." She was furiously scribbling notes into her pad. Details about everything, the cage, the blood, the wound. "Well I am going to try and get a comment or two from Mr. Conrad and the principle. I'll meet you at the Talon at like, 8p.m.?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you then. Later Pete." Clark said on his way out the door.

"See ya Clark." Pete waved goodbye to his friend.

"So?" Pete said after making sure Clark was gone.

"So, what?" she said.

"You know what. Clark's all in a tizzy. I hope you guys work whatever is going on out soon cause this is getting annoying fast." Pete looked at her.

She could tell that he was genuinely worried about both of them but she wasn't going to try to explain it to him.

"Don't worry Pete it will all be over soon." She said with a sigh as she walked over to talk to Mr. Conrad.