Chapter Nine Part Two- Sins of the Father:

"We've got a murder of an unknown female victim that the police cant seem to identify and Lex Luthor is the only suspect…" Paula Kahn looks around at the conference room full of reporters, "I want this story to be our top opportunity, I don't want the Metropolis Journal or the Inquisitor to get any big scoops before we do."

Several of the senior reporters hung onto her words with anxious anticipation with the dream that they could be given the biggest story of the year, "I want fresh blood on this one and I don't mean that as a pun." her gaze sends a shiver down several of the intern's spines.

Just then she looks towards her crowd of interns looking directly at Lois, "You use to live in Smallville, didn't you Miss Lane?"

Lois just nodded confused towards the inquiry, "For a year when I was a sophomore in high school."

"Good, then you've got the story of a lifetime…" Paula's comment shocks most of the senior reporters over her choice of a rookie over them, "You know the lay of the land, which is the type of reporter I need right now. But if you don't get the story on my desk in the next couple days then you'll be stuck in the basement until your retirement or at least until you quit."

Several chuckles are heard amongst the crowd, "However, if you get the story on my desk on time then you will have bagged the biggest story of the year and I'll move you from intern to full fledged journalist."

A large smile appears on the young woman's face, "I'll get it done, Chief."

Torch

Clark stared at the computer screen which showed that his search for the identity of the murder victim was relentless, almost like someone didn't want her to be found.

"Where have you been all afternoon?" Chloe asks curiously while walking towards her desk to put her things down, "And don't say that you were with my cousin cause I just got off the phone with her."

He just spins his chair around, "I went to see Lionel. He thinks that someone is trying to set Lex up for the murder and so far I think he might be right."

"Its obvious that Lionel is trying to divert attention elsewhere, he's the master manipulator even when he's in a orange jumpsuit and behind bars."

Clark just shook his head, "I can't explain it, but something happened to Lionel in prison. I think it changed him."

The blonde haired reporter just stared at her friend skeptically, "I know that you want to see the best in people, but a tiger doesn't change its stripes overnight. What proof do you have that Lionel wants to help?"

Spinning around back towards his desk, Clark pulled out a sheet of paper, "He said that I could probably find the girl's car at the hotel, and I think I did." he hands the paper to her, "There were 22 cars that were checked into the hotel valet that night after 10 PM when Lex said he left the opera. Now, of those cars, all but three were hotel guests, and of those three, two belonged to guys who had too much to drink at the hotel bar."

Chloe read the paper, "Except for the victim's car…" she at him getting more curious about where this was headed, "Did you get a name?"

Shaking his head negatively, "I've searched DMV records but couldn't find anything that would point me in the right direction." he looks from the computer to Chloe, "I'm not exactly good at obtaining private information."

Seeing an opportunity, Chloe pulls up another chair and wheels it towards the computer, "It's a good thing that you have a friend who knows how to access classified information…" she begins typing away until another window popped open, "The victim was Eve Andrews, age 28. Lives in Metropolis."

Clark was ready to rush out of there when he spotted the latest issue of the Daily Planet, whose headline read: LUTHOR SEX SCANDAL EXPANDS.

Seeing the paper in his hands, Chloe rose up from her seat saying, "The police have interviewed over 13 women that have slept with Lex in the last year."

A hurt look crosses the young farm boy's face, "Lex told me that this little one night stand was something that never happens."

"And you believed him?"

Lois had just finished interviewing another dead end source as she started walking towards her car when the nearest phone booth began to ring, she looked around to see if anyone was watching her before walking up to the booth and answering.

The disguised voice cut her off before she could speak, "I hear that your looking for some dirt to dig up on Lex Luthor." there's a pause and heavy breathing, "The girl isn't the first one that's been found dead with Lex Luthor, there are others."

Lois looked around again curiously, "Tell me everything"

The lies between Lionel and Lex was enough to drive any sane man crazy, but for Clark it just caused more pressure on his shoulders knowing that he had to eventually pick a side between both father and son at the cost of the other.

Staring out into the vast darkness that was nighttime, Clark crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the loft window staring up at the moon contemplating what to do.

Just then an angry voice calls out from the stairs, "This isn't the first time that Lex Luthor has been found with blood on his hands" Lois storms up the stairs with an bout of determination on her face as well as that spark of fire in her eyes whenever she got mad, "Roger Nixon, nearly killed a guy named Paul Hayden, may have killed Helen Bryce, and who knows how many other deaths he's been involved in."

Clark took in a deep breath and continued to stare at the night sky, "There's no evidence to support those cases, Nixon was gonna kill my dad and Lex saved him…" he turns around to face her, "I don't really have time for arguing with you right now, Lo. I've got both Lionel and Lex feeding me lies and one of the kryptonian stones was stolen."

Lois immediately drops her angry expression with one of general concern, "You found another stone, how is that possible when you haven't left the state let alone take the time way from chores to learn to fly."

"Dr. Swan sent his daughter to give me the stone that caused my transference with Lionel, I was gonna take it to the caves the day after Chloe's birthday but someone must have swiped it when I was giving my interview."

Running her hands through her brown locks, Lois shook her head, "We have to find that stone before it falls into the wrong hands, I'll call some of my contacts to see if there are any thieves for hire that were released."

He just walks away from the window and starts treading down the steps, "If I don't find the person that's setting Lex up then an innocent man will be going to prison and I don't want that on my conscious."

"Your saying that you'd risk your destiny, the one that Jor-El and Lara risked there lives to preserve will be forgotten because Lex Luthor is being set up…" she leans across the railing shouting after him, "He's a Luthor! It doesn't matter if he's your friend or considered a brother. Lex has the power he's always wanted, I've seen the aftermath of power hungry men like him and I don't want to see you get hurt."

Clark stops taking in her words before turning around, "Then help me prove Lex's innocence, we know each other so well and you already know that I cant turn my back on him."

Lois shakes her head negatively and replied, "I'll help because its you asking and not Lex."

TBC

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