A/N: In this next chapter, Luthor's plans become more clear, and Lois and Clark come up with a plan to bring Luthor's actions out into the open. Please R&R. Thanks, everyone.

**~~**

Chapter 8 – Evil Dealings

Previously:

Lois and Clark looked at Perry, both shocked by Lex's question.

Perry looked at Lex and refused to be intimidated. "I know what I said, Mr. Luthor. I said I would take your story to my Board of Directors. It's too big a story and we don't want to make sure it's right for the Daily Planet. Now, I really am busy. I'll be in touch, Mr. Luthor," Perry said as he escorted him out of his office. "Thank you for stopping by."

Lois crossed her arms and smirked at Lex as he left. Clark stared at his life-long enemy, wishing in spite of himself that things could have been different.

"Well, thank you for your time, Mr. White. Lois, Clark, have a good day," Lex said nodding to them as he left, and not at all happy about this meeting and how it had turned out. He left Perry's office and the Daily Planet offices without looking back.

##

Hands on hips, Lois went to the door and watched Lex leave the bullpen. "What an arrogant ass," Lois cracked. "I can't believe he just waltzed in here and expected us to fall all over his 'story' like it was some sort of gift we couldn't wait to open. I can't stand that man."

Clark was thoughtful. "What is he up to? He knew we wouldn't have anything to do with his story. Perry, what do you really think of Lex's request?" Clark asked, trying to figure out Lex's motives.

Perry thought about it for a moment. "Considering your history and all that has happened recently, he had to have known we would not be interested in anything he had to say. He's definitely up to something."

"I just wish we knew what it was," Lois said, feeling frustrated at not getting any answers.

##

Lex left the Daily Planet offices fuming, but no less surprised by their reactions to his request. It was his lawyer's idea to try, but the looks on Lane and Kent's faces were enough to make him want to blow up the entire building. They had been a thorn in his side years ago and they still were. I will find a way to get back into the public's good graces, but how? With all these charges against me, it will be an uphill climb. I've already been tried and convicted in the public's eye. How can I get a fair trial in this town?

He walked into his office, took a seat, and called a personal contact. "Yeah, it's me. How is our special guest doing? Good, keep out of sight and keep him quiet. I'll call back in a few days. I don't know how much longer, just do as I say," Luthor demanded and hung up.

He then unlocked his desk and took out several photographs. One was a photo of Lois and Clark on their wedding day six years ago and the other photo was of their children, Lara and Jonathan in the school yard on their first day of school.

"You have done well for yourself, Clark, very well indeed," Luthor said, as he ran his fingers over Lois' face. He smiled.

##

Lois took Clark's advice and called her sister. Lucy had moved to Metropolis and was attending school there, getting good grades, and living on campus. She was very proud of her sister. It took a while, but she has turned her life around.

"Hi, Lucy. How are you?" Lois asked her sister.

"Hi, Lo. I'm fine. What's up? Are the kids alright? How's Clark?"

"Everyone is fine, Lucy. Have you talked to Dad in the last two days?"

"No, I haven't seen or heard from him, which is weird, now that you mention it. What's wrong, Lo?" Lucy asked, suddenly worried about her father.

"It may be nothing, but he was working on something for me and it could have put him in danger. I'm very worried about him." I'll never forgive myself if he's hurt or in trouble because of me.

"Did you call the base?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, they said he was on some kind of secret mission and unreachable. I'm suspicious about that. I just hope he's alright."

"Now, Lois, you know the military. I don't have to explain that to you. Just how dangerous was this work he was doing for you anyway?"

"I have two words that will explain everything … Lex Luthor."

"Oh, no, I read he was back in town. He's up to his old tricks already, hasn't he?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid so."

"I'm coming down there," Lucy said.

"No, stay there, just in case Daddy tries to contact you. I want him to be able to reach one of us when he can."

"Alright, I will and please call me when you hear from him."

"I will. I love you, Lucy," Lois said.

"I love you, too Lo. Bye."

"Bye, sweetie. I'll call you soon."

##

Things were not going well for the Kent family. Despite their best efforts, Lex had been released on bail. His previously interrupted news conference took place the day after that, and as expected, he vigorously proclaimed his innocence of all charges and vowed to prove that in court. To top that off, no witnesses had come forward to prove any of the charges against him. It was not looking good for a conviction. The evidence was turning out to be all circumstantial. It might prove conspiracy but nothing more.

Lois and Clark were working with the District Attorney's office practically non-stop on Luthor's case, hoping to find leads and witnesses, but nothing was panning out.

Meanwhile, Clark was getting nowhere looking for Sam. He must be in a lead-lined, sound-proof room somewhere. He had circled the globe several times and still no sign of him. Lois' instincts were pretty good, and it appeared her father had been kidnapped. He could be anywhere.

When Lois had told him and Perry her plan to expose the 'kryptonite on the military base' as the lead story in the next edition of the Daily Planet, he could not have been more pleased. It was a brilliant idea and just might flush out the person or persons responsible. Perry had agreed as long as they could get a few quotes from Superman. The story ran in the morning paper as an editorial by Lois. Clark's story appeared on the front page after getting an 'exclusive' interview with Superman.

It was now late afternoon, and the phones hadn't stopped ringing at the Planet and the online paper was abuzz with the story. An online poll indicated 90 percent of the respondents believed the kryptonite should be destroyed, and Superman should be protected from anyone responsible for putting the kryptonite on the base. Clark was relieved and hoped the popular opinion would get people to act and force action on Capitol Hill.

##

Lex read the articles and fumed, paced and immediately called his lawyers. "Dennison, have you seen Lane and Kent's articles about me?" Lex hollered into the phone.

"Yes, I read them. Your name isn't mentioned. You have no case, if that is why you're calling."

"But it clearly states I have a vendetta against Superman, which isn't true. It's a lie."

Dennison decided to ignore that remark. "Mr. Luthor, did you have anything to do with the kryptonite on that military base?" His lawyer asked.

"Of course not!" Luthor said raising his voice.

"I just don't want any surprises when we go to trial." Dennison paused. "I'm glad you called, Mr. Luthor. Your trial has been set for six weeks from today."

"What? Six weeks? So soon? What evidence do they have against me anyway?"

"The discovery hearing will be in two days. Then we'll know what we're up against."

##

Lois had finally gotten headway with the possibly of finding her father. He had been kidnapped. After speaking to a family friend in the military, she found out there was no military mission. Her instincts had been correct after all.

It was time to go full throttle against Luthor, and with the plan she had in mind, she was sure it would definitely get Luthor's attention, but she needed Superman's help to make it work. She called her husband. "Clark, I need Superman's help."

##

Samuel Lane went over and over the past four days in his mind, and he couldn't figure out how these thugs had gotten the jump on him. I've trained for all kinds of missions, been overseas in conflicts where my life was in countless situations where I didn't know whether I live or die, but this, this is not what I thought would happen to me.

He was driving back to the base, when he was sideswiped and run off the road. It wasn't far from the base, just a few miles. At first, he thought someone must have had an accident or lost control of their car, so he got out without thinking it was some kind of a trap. Then, he knew nothing after he opened the passenger side door. He was hit over the head from behind from a back seat passenger who must have gotten out of the car. He didn't know anything until he woke up in a dingy room with no windows. A light in the corner was all he was allowed, a mattress on the floor, and barely enough food everyday to stay alive.

He asked questions of his captors but got no answers. No one came to see him, except to give him food. It wasn't until several days had passed, that he realized it must have been the kryptonite problem he was trying to solve. That was the only thing that made any sense. He was getting too close to whoever was responsible. It had to be Lex Luthor. After he had called Lois and Clark with the news about Lex coming back to town, he had made a call to his assistant to set up a meeting with his superiors that afternoon about the problem.

Well, the rest was history. He had been kidnapped a few hours later. What is Lex up to and how do I fit into all of this? He knew no ransom would be exchanged. No, there was something more sinister going on here. But what could it be? He went over and over all that had happened in his mind and there seemed to be only one explanation. It had to be Superman, of course. Lex had a vendetta against Superman. Why else would he stockpile kryptonite on a military base where it could be discovered, but why his base, and why now? But that was just it. No one knew about it, except someone on the base and Luthor himself. Some of it must have come too close to his office, where my grandchildren came in contact with it. He felt terrible about that. I'm just glad they're alright.

The only thing that makes sense is that Luthor must have had a contact on the base. Who would be stupid enough to make a deal with the devil? How desperate do you have to be? It must have been his assistant because he was the only person who knew about the phone calls he had made over the past several days. He knew everything and he had given Lex information about the kryptonite, where it was, and what he was planning. He felt like a fool, a stupid old fool.

With his hands tied to his feet like this, he didn't see a way to get out of this place. His captors untied him only so he could eat but his feet were still tied when he ate his food, and they watched his every move. From what he could tell, there were only two of them. They had weapons and he didn't. I would be dead now if that was their intention, but I'm still alive. Maybe I can try talking to them again. It may just be time for another meal.

Just then, the door opened and Oscar came in with a tray of food. Buster was right behind him. He had the gun. "It's time to eat, general," Oscar said, emphasizing the word 'general.' Sam noticed that this was the first time they had both come in together. Buster usually stood by the door watching, but he came inside this time. Sam tried to distract them by asking questions.

"What's on the menu for today, Oscar?" Sam asked, trying to stay calm with visions of finally getting out this place running through his head.

"Well let's see what we have here. We have bread, rice, water, and … sorry, that's it for today, tomorrow and the day after that," Oscar said.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Sam said.

"It's not on the schedule," Buster said.

"Come on, guys, who has schedules to go to the bathroom? You go when you have to go. I'm older now, and I can't hold it," Sam said. "Have a little compassion, will you?" He pleaded to his captors.

"No way, old man," Buster said

Sam looked to Oscar, who seemed to be wavering a little. "Please Oscar, you have me tied up in this filthy place, I haven't seen real sunlight in days, and I really have to go … right now," Sam said pleading with him.

Everything happened so fast. Oscar attempted to untie Sam's feet, but Buster tried to stop him. Sam saw an opening and jumped on Buster's back trying to grab the gun. It went off, striking Oscar in the leg, but Sam managed to get the gun. He then knocked out Buster and tied him up. You still got it, Sam. That was easy, now to get some answers.

"It's alright, Oscar, I won't hurt you. That's a bad gunshot wound you have there. You know leg wounds are the worst, you could bleed to death. Now, first question, who told you to kidnap me, and second, where the hell are we?"

"Please help me," Oscar pleaded clutching his bleeding leg.

"Time is running out, Oscar, answer me … now!" Sam demanded of the whimpering man on the floor.

##

A/N: Alright, Sam!! I haven't forgotten about the twins. I wanted to set Luthor up firmly within the story. Please tell me what you think. Thanks for reading.