Disclaimer: see chapter 1.

CHAPTER 23: Little Sister

" Lois ? "

" Chlo ? What time is it ? " asked Lois, turning on the lamp on her bedside table and knocking down the alarm clock.

" Two o'clock in Gotham. Were you sleeping ? "

" I was flying over Metropolis in the arms of a man wearing a red cape, Chloe. "

" Sorry to wake you up in the middle of a romantic dream, Lois, but I had to talk to you. "

" Is everything all right, cuz ? Is the baby OK ? "

"We're both fine. Have you heard of Lucy lately ? "

" Lucy ? What's up, Chloe ? You can't have called me at two o'clock in the morning to ask me how she's been doing. What is it that couldn't wait until later ? "

" I've been working on the files I downloaded from Lucas' laptop, and I retrieved some e-mails he sent to her. "

" And ? "

" I wasn't aware they knew each other. I'd mentioned her, but I don't know how he got her address. I didn't have it, do you ? "

" No. She sends me an occasional postcard and phones me whenever she's got in some sort of scrape. But the last time I heard of her, she ran away with one of Lex's sportscars. "

" She stole from Lex ? "

" Yes, it's a long story. Cue ball took it like a man. In fact, he didn't press charges. Now... what would Lucas want with my sister ? "

" Lois, I need to know what she stole from Lex. "

" She needed money. She came to Smallville running away from debt collectors. "

" What kind of debts had she incurred, Lois ? "

" Gambling debts. "

" Gambling debts ? My husband and Lucy had an expensive vice in common. Lex and I found out he was in trouble with the Chinese mob. "

" The Chinese mob ? How did he get involved with them ? "

" Poker. He was a regular at the poker tables in a Chinese gambling house called ' Yang ' here in Gotham. They're connected with the mob. "

" God ! What is Lucy mixed up in now ? She'll never learn. What am I supposed to tell the General ? He'll eat me alive. "

" Lois, he can't put the blame on you for whatever Lucy's doing across the Atlantic. "

" Tell him that when you see him next, Chlo. "

" Listen, I've got to decode some of the messages yet but, in the meantime, I'd like you to see if you can trace her. You know who she usually hangs out with. Make some calls, Lois. It won't sound suspicious if it's you who's trying to contact her. "

Chloe's call had left Lois restless and, after tossing and turning in bed for an hour, she got up to look for her telephone index. Switzerland was in a different time zone after all, so she wouldn't disturb any of Lucy's jet set friends while they were sleeping. Her first nine phone calls were fruitless but she got lucky with the tenth girl that picked up the phone. Sarah MacAllister was the only friend of Lucy's who had seen her recently. In fact, she confessed to Lois, whose voice she had immediately recognised on the phone, that Lucy was hiding in a cottage Sarah's family had near Gstaad. She didn't know for certain what Lois' sister was involved in, but she had realised Lucy was in real trouble. Sarah was the only friend of Lois' sister who was aware of her gambling compulsion and had helped her more than once to pay off her poker debts. Despite claiming she didn't know much about the predicament Lucy was in, the MacAllister girl provided Lois with a valuable tip- she had seen the younger Lane with Marcus Becker, a well-known debt collector who worked for a German Crime syndicate. Marcus Becker, that name brought back some memories Lois wished to forget.

" Mr Luthor, please. This is Lois Lane. No, lady, he's not expecting my call, but tell him who it is on the line and make it clear it's a life or death situation. He'll pick up the phone. Thanks, " said Lois to the Wayne Enterprises' receptionist.

" Lois ? Good morning. I was in the middle of an important meeting. What's the emergency ? "

" Have you talked to Chloe this morning ? "

" Chloe ? No, I haven't seen her today yet. "

" You're no longer staying in her apartment, Lex ? "

" Vicki stayed with her last night. I had things to do. What's all this about, Lois ? "

" We must meet. "

" Listen, Lois. I don't know what Chloe told you but whatever problems we might have, we'll solve them ourselves. "

" This isn't about Chloe. Well... not exactly. I must see you. "

" Does Clark know you're asking me out on a rendez-vous ? "

" Clark ? I'm my own woman, Luthor. Smallville's just my co-worker and I don't owe him any explanations. Besides, I'm not asking you out on a date. This concerns both our families. "

" OK. Where shall we meet ? Are you in Metropolis ? "

" The Daily Planet chopper'll take me to Gotham in an hour. I've just sold Perry a story about an exclusive, so brace yourself because you'll have to give me an interview. "

" We'll discuss that later, Lois. I'll wait for you at Wayne's helipad. "

" Fine. See you in about an hour then. "

Lois' call had taken Lex by surprise. The first thing that had come to his mind was the conversation he had had with Chloe two nights before. He definitely didn't feel like discussing his private life with Chloe's obnoxious cousin, least of all listening to her lecturing- he could do that better himself. However, her urgency and her claim that she wanted to talk about a serious matter that concerned both their families put his mind in a whirl. What might have The Daily Planet's star journalist dug up now ?

Mm... interesting, isn't it ? This isn't over yet. More findings still to come. Go to the following chapter.