Chapter 9
Metropolis
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Lois felt butterflies in her stomach as she primped for the 'not dinner date' with Clark. She wanted to look better than she had the week prior. She had to continually remind herself that tonight would be about the Avenging Angel of Mercy and trying to get Iris Carmen Bell-Madden to give her access to the witness.
AAM. In all the drama, the heartache, the excitement, and longing for a real relationship to build on, getting an exclusive interview with the witness who claimed to have seen and spoken with the entity had been overshadowed. Lois forced herself to keep their plan in view and tonight was for cornering radio show host Iris Madden. She had rehearsed what she wanted to say so that if Iris began to cut her off, she could squeeze in the most important parts.
The interview was happening in a week and Lois desperately wanted to talk to the witness. Even if it was after the show, Lois would ask questions that the regular listeners would never think to ask.
Am I rushing into a relationship with Clark?
The thought had crossed her mind on several occasions and each time, she ended up feeling unsure. They had only been co-workers for about a month. But they had a history too. The odd first eye contact, the moments at the party when Clark intervened with Steve Lombard. Then there was the meeting in the park and the tragedy on the bridge. And it was not until February of this year that she knew he resurfaced but had thought about him during that interlude. But since then, it was their banter at the Emjay awards, the moments he beat her to the Angel of Mercy stories, pulling him out of the street at town hall and then sharing a quiet moment with him afterwards as they learned more about one another. Then it was Clark sharing bullpen space with her and then his intervention at the park and her hijacking his story and rewriting it as her own, and his covering for her with Perry.
She knew his backstory and he knew hers. She knew his parents and genuinely liked them a lot. In fact, Lois thought they liked her too, based on their reaction at the senior center. Clark met Lucy and she thought he had a hot nerd on steroids thing going on and had encouraged Lois not to discount him. He had not met her father but in all honesty, she did not like her father and did not care if Clark liked him or not.
In retrospect, a lot had happened in three years' time, and they had an undeniable connection. If there was any doubt before, last weekend erased it. And Lois was certain that Clark felt it too. A week ago, she was in his arms and her brain was screaming for her to make the first move and the rest of the barriers would fall like dominoes. She was inches from that happening. There was something that was just right about the two of them and they had been circling each other for three years.
But they had to work together, too. And while she did not feel like she was rushing into a relationship, Lois knew that having an office romance could be complicated and tumultuous if it was not rock solid.
And then there was Lex.
Her love life felt like a game of chess being played on a cosmic scale by unseen forces and the pieces kept shifting. But every time they did, it seemed to bring her nearer to Clark in some way or another. Forcing the situation was not the way the game was supposed to be played, she decided.
Lois decided that Maggie's advice was best. She would do whatever it took to keep him in her world and not let him retreat into his own because that is where Lana lived.
She believed the best way to keep him in her world was to send discreet signals that she was open to a closer relationship with him but not out of desperation because there was no one else for her. That meant keeping the appearance of a relationship with Lex but more plutonic. If what he had said about having no one in his life was factual, then Lois could keep him interested in staying in her world.
Clark was also anxious about what the night would hold for them. He knew this was a work event, but it felt awfully similar to a date. He wanted to show Lois that he was not the clod from Smallville she regarded him as and he would do that by upscaling his attire for the evening. He left the collared plaid shirt and sweater at home. Tonight, Clark opted for an open collar white dress shirt, new charcoal sharkskin dress trousers with ghost pin stripes, brown Nunn Bush loafers, a gray suit vest, a camel wool car coat with plaid woolen scarf, and a pair of brushed titanium wire-rimmed glasses. He liked the way he looked and wished he could dress like that more often.
He thought about where the night might lead, and the issue of making love to someone who did not know he was a different species emerged. He could not do that to Lois of all people, and if the evening appeared to be headed that way, he knew he would have to find a way to extricate himself from that situation.
Lana was out of his love life now. Last weekend, he saw a side to Lois that he had never really seen before. She was funny and fun without being silly. She was vulnerable without looking weak. She was sweet and kind, not bossy or pushy. And physically, she was attractive in a way that Lana would never be. And like Lana, she had a good heart that she never revealed to those in the office. That side of Lois excited him, and he knew what he saw last weekend was the real Lois Lane, not the Daily Planet version.
He looked in the mirror. He shook his head and sighed. Most guys my age are scheming of ways to get a beautiful woman like Lois in bed; I'm scheming of ways to avoid it without ruining our relationship.
Clark arrived in his truck shortly before 9 PM. He wanted to be prompt and did not want to keep Lois waiting. Little did he know that she had arrived about 10 minutes before him, and he spotted her Jeep in the parking lot. He texted her. I'm here. Are you inside?
No, she replied, in my car. Clark stepped out of his truck as Lois emerged from her Jeep. The bright lighting outside of the Bottoms Up illuminated her as she walked toward Clark. She wore a long, three-quarter length olive wool coat over a black lightweight knit sweater, black skinny jeans with black fashion boots that she walked very deliberately in. She had long black leather gauntlet gloves that pushed her coat sleeves up to her forearms and from one arm dangled a black leather purse adorned with studs and silver braided rope handles. On her head she wore a charcoal gray and off-white cashmere knit cap and her hair was down.
"Lois! You're…breathtaking!" he exclaimed. "Apart from the Emjay ceremony, you've never looked so beautiful."
"Wait," she said, stopping no more than four feet from him. "Who are you and what have you done with Clark Kent?"
He smiled. "It's the glasses, right?"
She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "That's not all, Farmer John. You look like you just stepped out of a GQ shoot."
"And that's a good thing?" he asked jokingly, but Lois was not certain he was joking.
"Yes, and tonight it's a damn good thing," she said. "C'mon. Let's get inside."
They found a booth and ordered cocktails. Lois ordered a Cosmopolitan martini and Clark ordered a scotch on the rocks. "I know we're here to work but it kind of feels like a date to me," Clark said, smirking.
She suppressed a smile. "Let's compromise and call it a working date," Lois replied.
"I like that," he said. "If it works out, we'll have to schedule more of them."
The waitress came by, and they ordered dinner and Lois ordered another martini. After she left, Lois asked, "Clark, why don't you wear those glasses instead of the black plastic rimmed ones?"
"The prescription is better in the other ones. These are okay for this type of use but if I'm reading or working on the computer, I've got to have the other ones." He took a sip of his scotch that had absolutely no effect on him. He looked around. "Hopefully we'll be luckier tonight than we were last week."
"Let's hope so," Lois said, "I need to get that interview."
"You mean, 'We' need to get that interview," Clark corrected, smirking.
Their dinner arrived and it was nearly 9:50 when Iris walked through the door. She spoke briefly to the hostess, laughed, and stood at the front door. Lois quietly said that she hoped Iris had not ordered a take-out meal. But that concern was dashed when her husband, Bryan, appeared and they followed the hostess to a table just within sight of Lois and Clark.
Lois looked at the clock on her phone. "It's 9:51," she said. "An hour to eat and relax or plan her show, and that would give her over an hour to get to the station before the show began. It's a twenty-minute drive from here. So, they'll probably be here for an hour. One of them is bound to use the restroom before then. If he goes, you should follow him in and start talking to him to give me time to talk to her."
Clark frowned. "That's not really bathroom etiquette for men. It might be for women, but men don't strike up conversations in the bathroom with strangers, Lois."
"Oh, well, let's hope she goes then."
They ate their meals and ordered some dessert. "Oh my God," Lois said breathlessly when she took a bite of her molten lava chocolate fudge cake. "I'd weigh five hundred pounds if I had access to this every day."
Clark smiled, watching her cut the slice into slivers so as to savor every bite. "I need some coffee with this," she added and waved down their waitress. She did not take another bite until the coffee arrived.
She finished her cake long after Clark finished his apple pie a la mode. They sat and made idle chatter until Lois saw Iris get up from the table. "It's showtime!"
She got up and followed Iris into the ladies' room. Clark listened to Lois trying to convince Iris that it would be in her best interest to let Lois sit in on the interview. "I'm an award-winning investigative reporter," Lois insisted. "I can spot a fraud a mile away. I know the questions to ask, and I know when someone is lying to me. If she defrauds you and your listeners on the air, it will be embarrassing for you and disastrous for your show, Iris."
"It's why I'm having a polygrapher sit in at the studio, Ms. Lane," Iris countered. "This isn't the first person I've interviewed. I've been doing it as long as you have so if there's nothing else, please quit blocking the door and let me re-join my husband."
"Look! There was a big fire in Metropolis back in the middle of November. I was there covering it and I saw AAM that night," Lois blurted out. "I saw it blast through the roof of the building and up into night sky," she added. "It wasn't a gas bottle, air tank, or a fire extinguisher. It went up and through the smoke, Iris, and it never came down. Swear to God." She paused. "I obviously don't know who your guest is, what he or she is going to say, or how or where your guest ran into AAM, but I know what I saw with my own two eyes that night. If your guest says anything radically different than what I saw, I'll discredit him or her and if your polygrapher doesn't catch it, I'll be discrediting you by extension."
"Is that a threat, Ms. Lane?" Iris asked.
"Just the opposite, Iris," Lois replied. "I hope it's reassurance that I will happily debunk anything that your witness might have to say that would call into question his or her truthfulness. It would lend credibility to your format." She paused. "With that level of credibility, I could easily get an exclusive one-on-one with Cat Grant for you. She's great at getting publicity for everyone she highlights in her columns."
There was silence. "You make good points, Ms. Lane. Let me have one of your business cards now. I'll tell you what," Iris began. "Step aside, let me go back and finish dinner with my husband so we can get to my show on time, and I'll consider it and give you a call if I decide to bring you in. Is that fair enough?"
Lois apparently stepped aside because Iris Madden bid her a good evening.
"You wouldn't regret it," Lois called as Iris emerged from the bathroom, shaking her head.
Iris told her husband, "Let's go," and he frowned, rose, and together they left the restaurant.
Lois emerged from the ladies' room twenty seconds after Iris left the restaurant and walked to the table.
"How did it go?" Clark asked.
She winced. "Maybe. But I think we'd better have a plan B up our sleeve just in case."
She looked a bit deflated, and Clark suggested that they have another drink. Lois ordered a Bailey's on the rocks and Clark ordered a Kahlua. They sat and drank the heavy after-dinner liqueurs and Clark yawned. "Boy, it's getting late," he said.
"Is that your way of saying it's bedtime, Smallville?" Lois said, shaking her head.
"I guess it is," he replied. "I've had a really nice time tonight, Lois. And you?"
"If it wasn't for the suicide squeeze play in the ladies' room, it would almost feel like a date."
"A working date?"
Lois chuffed. "Exactly. A working date." She reached across the table and took his hand. "So, I'm heading home to listen to Iris Madden's talk show and see if she gives any hints on next week's show other than what's been advertised." She paused. "Can I be honest with you?"
"Yes, always."
"On one level, I've enjoyed tonight. You're okay to spend time with, when you're not being so…Smallville, Smallville." She smiled. "But on another, I think it's probably better for now if we just maintain some boundaries between us." She paused. "You know what I mean?"
Clark nodded and smiled, relieved at what Lois had said. "Absolutely, Lois," he said. "And I think last weekend made that pretty clear."
"Yeah," Lois said. "I was a little buzzed and admittedly, not thinking clearly." She looked down and then back up at him. "Clark, you're such a good and decent man, and that's a rarity these days. I can count on one hand the men I've known who would not have taken advantage of the situation last weekend and one of them is my dad. That makes me feel safe in your presence and that's important to me.
"I had a funny thought when I was getting ready tonight. You know, we've known each other for about three years. We keep coming together, then pulled apart for some reason, then fate pushes us back together again, but other things keep us apart. But each time we come back together, we get a little closer. Do you know what I mean?"
He nodded.
"Maybe fate is trying to tell us something. That thing what we talked about in the park three years ago, I can still feel it at times." She looked into his eyes. "And sometimes it's more than some cosmic connection. Not all the time, but sometimes I think I feel it."
"So do I, Lois."
"And I'm pretty sure it was more than just the drinks last weekend, but I think for now we just need to slow down, keep our focus on work, you know?" She hesitated. "I'm in a relationship right now that I need to sort out, Clark. I'll never be 'the other woman' for some guy and I don't want to be in a relationship where there is 'the other man' to constantly compare against. Okay?"
"I agree," Clark said. "I think it takes the pressure off if we both just focus on getting closer together as friends and coworkers for now. I don't want you to ever feel like I don't care about you or your feelings. If we do that, I think the rest will sort itself out over time."
Lois smiled.
Monday, December 14, 2020
The Monday assignment meeting was drawing to a close and Perry White had covered several subjects. "Last thing. Just a reminder, Friday is the Daily Planet Christmas Party and I expect to see y'all there," Perry roared and smiled. "It's always a good time and it's the company's way of saying 'thanks' for all your hard work." He looked around and they stared at the chief. "Oh! And the bonus checks, too," he added, and people chuckled. "8:00 at the Met U Banquet Hall. The journalism students work hard to make it look nice so remember to thank them when you see 'em."
He stood in silence for a moment looking at his staff reporters and editors and then barked. "Well, what are you sitting around for? There's work to be done! Let's get to it."
They rose almost in unison and began filing out of the door. All except Lois. "Chief, I need to talk to you," she said.
"Great! I need to ask you something. So go on, what is it?"
She looked around and waited until the room was empty. "Ron gave me a story and I'm looking into it but I wanted you to weigh in on it."
"So, it's not about that mystery being running around Metropolis at night," Perry offered.
"No Chief. This is about a competitor, Telstar Communications. There's something strange going on and I wanted to see if it's something you think we should be looking at." She explained the background and her interview with Kestler, who believed it was a case of profiteering. Lois admitted that it could be something that simple but she had a hunch there was more to it. "What do you know about Dale Rennick?"
"I've met him a few times at various social events. He's a nice enough fellow. But I don't know him that well."
She frowned. "Do you know or have you heard anything about him that might lead him to doing what Mr. Kestler is accusing him of? Is he just greedy or something?"
Perry stared at her for a moment. "I've heard he plays cards but doesn't do it very well."
"For money?"
Perry nodded.
"Maybe he's covering losses?" she said. Perry shrugged. "Is this something you want me to follow up on? Are you okay with me digging in their trash?" Lois asked. "I don't want to start a food fight between rival companies."
"You do what you do best, Lois. Sniff out what you can. I'll check with Mr. Stern to see if he has any qualms and let you know later today."
"Thanks Chief. By the way, do you know where he gambles?"
"In and just outside of Gotham," Perry replied. "There are a couple casinos there that I've heard he frequents."
"Okay," she began to get up and then stopped. "Oh, did you want to ask me something?"
"Yeah, it's kind of a favor I'd like to ask you. There's a journalism student at Met U who was offered an internship here beginning in January. Her lease ends on December 31st and her family can't afford to renew it. She's been holding down a job somewhere and sending her family money. According to the dean at the university, she was going to drop out and he asked me if anyone here could give her a place to stay so she could finish her internship and get her degree.
"I know it's a big ask, Lois, and I'm fine with you if you say no. It's a hell of an imposition. But you and Cat are the only two single females here on staff and asking Cat..well." He rolled his eyes.
"How long does she need a place to stay, Perry?" Lois asked.
"No more than four or five months."
Lois considered it and thought about what she had said to Clark on Saturday. This could be another person who could help keep Clark solidly in her world. A friendship with this girl who will not be here for long would definitely keep him nearby without it being a romantic attachment. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea, and the thought made her suppress a smile.
"Sure, why not? That should be fine, Perry. I have a second bedroom and bath and the only time they're used is when my sister comes." Lois chuffed. "That happens about every five years, and she just left three weeks ago. What's her name?"
"Oh, Honey, that's so sweet of you! I know she'll appreciate it and the dean will too. Her name's Jenny Jurwich. She's from Pasadena, Texas, somewhere around Houston I was told. Transferred in from University of Texas to Met U this semester, I believe and was on a three-month lease in her apartment."
"Will she be assigned to me too?"
"No," Perry said and chuckled. "I've dumped on you enough this year. But you'll probably have the same schedule most of the time so if she could ride in with you, that would probably be helpful to her too." Lois nodded.
"Do you think she'll be at the Christmas Party?" Lois asked. "I'd like to meet her before I give a definitive yes or no."
"Maybe, but she'll be coming by right after lunch if you want to meet her then. She is coming to give me a declination letter for the internship in person. I'll have Sally call you when she arrives. So, if you think she's okay, give me a nod and I'll rip that letter up."
She took the elevator down and when the door opened, the familiar buzz in the bullpen called to Lois and she was anxious to get started. She rounded the frosted glass partition that walled off the bullpen from the hallway. "Good morning, Clark," she said as she breezed past him and plopped into her chair.
"Good morning, Lois," he replied. "And how was your weekend?"
"It was just splendid. And yours?"
"About the same," he replied, both smirking.
Since Saturday, both of them had felt more at ease. Clark was not worried about having to make excuses to avoid Lois's advances and Lois felt like she had a plan to keep Clark interested without worrying about the influence of Lana Lang. She had begun to believe that Clark had been straight with her when he said he had no one in his life. Although she had not seen much of him last week, there appeared to be no calls, no texts, no emails from anyone hitting Clark's cell phone.
It was like a veil had been lifted and there was clarity from Lois's perspective. The game was afoot, Sherlock Holmes would say, and Lois was the top player. Her first order of business was to reach out to Lex and invite him to squire her to the Christmas Party. She dialed and Michelle answered. "Good morning, Michelle. It's Lois. Is Lex in?"
"One moment, Miss Lane. I'll connect you."
"Lois! It's great to hear your voice," Lex opened with. "How have you been?"
"Great, Lex," she replied. "How was your trip to the Pacific?"
"Exhausting! Nothing but meeting after meeting and tour after tour of warehouses and factories. Three weeks of it was about all I could take!" He paused. "I'm sorry I didn't call the moment I got back. I've been truly jet-lagged for the last couple of days."
They chatted for a bit and Lois informed him about the Christmas Party and asked if he could accompany her. Clark listened and it was apparent that Lex had other plans and he was secretly pleased. He was growing irritated with Lex and Lois's relationship after her revelation about his unannounced appearance but after Saturday night, he did not want Lois to sense that.
"No," Lois replied, "I'm busy Saturday night." There was a delay. "Sunday is possible, depending on how the night before goes," she said. "Sure, Thursday would be much better. Let's meet at a restaurant and give Chef Charles a break," she suggested. "Oh, that place is perfect. Seven PM? Sure. I'll be waiting just inside the doors for Ronald. Thank you, Lex. See you Thursday, then."
As soon as she hung up with Lex, her phone dinged and she had a message from Maggie. Call me, please, the message said. Lois dialed and Lieutenant Sawyer answered. "What's up?" Lois asked.
Maggie was straight to the point. "Do you think you and Clark could meet me at the district attorney's office around 11 this morning? Mayson Drake wants to meet with you both about the Mickler case."
"Let me check real quick!" she said. "Clark? Are you free to go to the DA's office at 11 this morning? The DA wants to meet with us about the Mickler case."
He stood and looked at her from over the monitors. "Sure," Clark replied. "I should be done with the piece I'm working on in a few minutes."
She winked at him, and he sat back down. "It's a yes, Maggie." She paused and then said, "Okay, we'll meet you in the hallway. Bye."
"We'll meet with the new DA at 11. Maggie is going to introduce us." She paused. "Why are you wearing those glasses? I thought you needed the TEDs."
"The what?" Clark asked.
"TEDs. It's what the soldiers called those ugly government-issued glasses. You know, like the ones you wear?"
"What does that mean, TEDs?" Clark asked.
"Tactical Eye Devices. It's a joke acronym for the cheap, crappy-looking nerd glasses they issue and the ones you normally wear."
He chuckled. "I only had a few things to finish up so these are fine for that," he said. "Someone told me that I looked much better in them."
"That someone was right," Lois said. "Jimmy!" she called out. "Can you come here for a minute?"
"Sure, Miss Lane," he replied and scurried over. "What do you need?"
"What are you doing Saturday night?"
He hesitated, unsure of his plans. "Relax Jimmy. We're going on a mission to catch the witness to the Angel of Mercy and I need a few shots of him or her. We'll sit outside and see if we can catch whoever it is."
Jimmy nodded. "Sure Miss Lane," he said.
"Well, make plans to get some sleep. We'll be up all night, okay? I'll pick you up here at the office around 10:30 PM. Clark will meet us at the radio station, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Lane. I'll be ready. I have some HP5 plus high-speed film I've been waiting to try. It's supposedly the best out there for nighttime photography. Black and white is okay, right?"
"Sure Jimmy. As long as the photos are sharp enough to see details, that's all that matters."
Clark finished up about 10:00, snuck out and got Lois a couple donuts and got back about ten minutes later. He handed her the white sack with two maple donuts inside. "When did you get these?" she asked, puzzled.
"Just now."
"Oh!," she said, frowning and shaking her head quickly. She opened the sack and looked inside. She looked back at him, smiling. "You're just the best, Smallville." She reached inside and got a donut. "I know that you know I missed my breakfast."
He smiled and went on to the coffee pot.
They left forty minutes later and met Maggie outside of the Metropolis District Attorney's office. Maggie shook Clark's hand and she surreptitiously watched the two reporters as they all sat, chatted, and waited in the DA's outer office. Just before 11, Mayson Drake emerged from her office and they all stood.
Maggie made introductions. "This is Lois Lane and Clark Kent from the Daily Planet. Lois, Clark, this is District Attorney Drake."
They shook hands. "Please, enough with the formalities. Just call me Mayson." She looked at Clark and smiled. "I remember seeing a picture of you," she said as she led them into her office. She closed the door behind them and motioned for them to have a seat on her couch. Maggie and Mayson sat in chairs on the opposite side of a coffee table. "Can I get you anything to drink before we get started?" she asked.
"No," Lois said. "We had coffee before we arrived."
Mayson looked at Clark and smiled politely. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Thank you but no," Clark said, and she stared at him a moment longer.
"You look different from the picture," she said. "I'm trying to place it."
"Probably the glasses," Clark said. "And maybe the hair."
"That's it, glasses!" Mayson said. "I'm not sure I would have recognized you if you hadn't been introduced." She glanced at Lois. "Anyway, I want to talk to you both about the Alvin Mickler murder. There have been some startling developments and I have been asked about a more lenient sentence in exchange for some information about who may have ordered the murder of Mr. Mickler."
They talked for nearly thirty minutes and in that time, Mayson Drake determined a few things.
First, neither Lori Lemaris nor Clark Kent had any involvement in the murder of Alvin Mickler. She never believed they did to begin with, but the meeting convinced her of it.
Secondly, Lois and Clark would be solid witnesses and could provide very good supporting information should the case go to trial.
And lastly, she fully understood Lori Lemaris's attraction to Clark Kent because in the short time they spent together, she was attracted to him.
"I'd like to depose you each individually to get you on the record under oath about the things we've discussed. Are you willing to do that?"
"Sure," Lois said, and Clark echoed that reply.
"Are you available this afternoon?"
"I'm not," Lois said. "I have someone I'm meeting with right after lunch."
"And you, Clark?"
"I can be available whenever you need me to, Ms. Drake."
"Excellent! And it's Mayson," she added. "Maybe we can get it set up right after lunch. I have no cases that I need to be in court on, but I do have a meeting with a judge at 3. Would 1 PM be too soon for you?"
"As I said, I'm available whenever you need me, Miss….er…Mayson."
Lois looked at the clock on the wall. "Clark, that's a little over an hour from now. You're not going to have time to go back to the Planet, get your truck, drive over here for a deposition and still have time for lunch."
"Would 1:30 be better?" Mayson asked.
Lois nodded and Clark said it would probably work out better.
"Okay. We'll plan on that," Drake said. "And if necessary, we can continue the deposition tomorrow, too." She looked at Lois. "If you can be available tomorrow," she added.
They all parted and Lois, Clark, and Maggie headed for the parking lot. They said their goodbyes and Clark and Lois headed for the Daily Planet. "This is going to be interesting," Lois said. "If this guy Flint spills the beans on who ordered the hit on Mickler, we're going to have a front page exclusive."
"That's what I think, too." He then added, "It might take the sting out of missing out on the AAM witness interview."
"Well, this will unfold a bit later and we still have a chance at the first interview of the AAM itself," Lois said. "And if anyone can get that interview, it will be me…us," she corrected and glanced at Clark.
He grinned. "Who are you meeting this afternoon?"
"My new roommate, possibly," she said.
He frowned. "What? When did this happen?"
"This morning. Perry asked me if I could put up an intern who lost her lease and was going to have to drop out of the university with one semester left. She needs a place to stay."
"For how long?"
"Four to five months, according to Perry," Lois said.
"Wow," he said and sat silently as she sped through downtown Metropolis. "What if we decide…" he began and stopped.
"No," she said. "You started. Go on."
"I mean, I know we discussed putting the brakes on and not forcing things. What if all that changes?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, having a roommate doesn't give you much privacy. What if you want to have…"
She looked at him and made a face. "Have what? Someone over?" She exhaled her exasperation. "I don't date homeless men, Clark. Lex has a home, just like you do."
"Yet just a week ago, he snuck over to your apartment early Sunday morning and woke you up. You told me that yourself."
"And I told him that he was lucky I didn't wake up and put fifteen rounds of 9-millimeter in his ass," she replied. "That was just before I made him return the key I had given him," she added.
Clark said nothing further, and Lois said, "Look, it's just for four or five months and then she'll be gone."
"By then, this case will have unfolded, we may know the identity of this mystery being, and who knows, maybe you'll have learned enough from me to still be employed at the Daily Planet!" She looked at Clark and smiled.
They ate lunch together at the corner deli not far from the Daily Planet building and as Clark headed for Mayson Drake's office, Lois got a call from Sally. "Lois, Mr. White has someone he says you'd like to meet in his office."
"Thanks Sally. I'll be right up."
Lois stepped into Perry's office and saw a young lady who was about her height with tanned skin and very short black hair with reddish accents. She wore small round blue-tinted glasses, and seemed very quiet and nebbish. She shook hands with the young lady that Perry introduced as Jenny Jurwich.
"Jurwich," Lois said. "What nationality is that? Polish?"
"Well, my great grandparents and great-great grandparents were from Poland, but my roots are apparently Palestinian," she replied. "But l live in Pasadena, Texas just outside of Houston."
"Texas! Where's your Southern accent?" Lois noticed Jenny wore Invisalign braces that were correcting an overbite and they caused her diction to be slightly impaired.
"My dad is a mechanical engineer and we moved around quite a bit when I was growing up. I didn't stay anywhere long enough to get an accent, I guess," she said meekly.
"Anyone special in your life?" Lois asked.
Jenny looked away and down. "No, not really," she said. "Only my family."
Lois evaluated the girl and she seemed polite and quiet. She looked at Perry and nodded.
Perry said, "Well, the reason I asked Lois to come up here is because I am not accepting your declination."
"Mr. White," she began. "I have to leave Metropolis. My apartment lease is up and…"
"Well Jenny, we know all about that. Lois has a spare room that she has graciously offered for you to stay in while you finish your semester and internship." He smiled at the girl whose eyes widened. "That is if you want to stay and intern here at the Planet."
Jenny glanced back and forth between Lois and Perry. "Are you being serious?" she asked excitedly. "Yes, yes! I do want to stay." She looked at Lois and back at Perry. "I don't know what to say. Just, thank you!" She turned to Lois and hugged her, and tears ran down her cheeks. "This is going to help me and my family more than you know, Miss Lane. I can't thank you enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"So, I guess I can just tear this up then," Perry announced, and Jenny looked at him with tear-streaked cheeks and nodded furiously. He then ceremoniously ripped the letter up and threw it in the trash.
"Lois will give you her address and you two can work out when you'll move. I'm sure some folks here can help you do that."
"Clark has a truck, Perry. I'm sure he'd be happy to help. He's that type of guy."
Meanwhile, Clark was waiting for Mayson Drake to finish her phone call. When she did, she came out and smiled. "Thank you for coming right back, Clark. I know it was a hassle for you."
"It's fine, Mayson. I want to see this case solved and people responsible get punished for what they did."
"I'm happy to hear you think that way. Come into my office." She led the way and closed the door behind them. "I know you just came from lunch but is there anything I can get you before we get started? I had some fresh coffee brewed if you like," she offered.
"Coffee would be great. Thank you."
"How do you like it, Clark?"
"Black with two sugars, please," he replied.
Mayson got the coffee herself and brought it to him. She brought herself a cup as well. Clark sat on the couch where he had sat earlier, and Mayson sat in a chair directly across from him. She had a digital recorder that she set on the coffee table between them. "Tell me a little about yourself before we begin, Clark."
When Clark finished, Mayson smiled. "You know, I was Lori's lawyer, right? She asked me if I would defend you if MPD tried to drag you into this investigation and yet here you are. She seemed to be a sweet young lady and it was tragic what happened."
"She was and I still miss her a lot," Clark said. "If this case can clear her name in all that happened, it would be a small victory in her memory," he added.
Mayson continued to talk to Clark and in the back of his mind, he wondered why, if she had a meeting with a judge at 3, she was spending so much time chatting with him. But eventually, the conversation came around to the interview and the sworn deposition he was going to make.
She finished deposing him by 2:45 PM and she turned her recorder off. "I'll have the deposition transcribed and typed by noon tomorrow. Can you come by the office at that time and I can swear you to it and then you can sign it?"
"Sure," Clark replied. "I have a meeting with Perry White in the morning, but I'll be done long before that. I can come and finish this up."
"Good," she said. "Maybe we can grab a bite to eat after that," Drake said, "if you have no other plans that is."
Clark did not answer that. "How about Lois? Can I tell her what time her deposition will be? Maybe we can all go together and then you depose her after lunch."
Mayson gave that idea a tight smile and nod. "Maybe so. I'll check my calendar and let her know in the morning."
He looked at the clock and it was 2:50 PM. "I guess I'd better go so you're not late for your meeting with the judge." He stood and she walked him to the door.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow and tell Lois I'll let her know about her deposition. Thank you for coming in, Clark. Have a good evening," she said and walked back to her office.
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
"So, what was your impression of the district attorney?" Lois asked.
Clark had just left Perry's meeting and it was 9:43 AM. He joined Lois at their desks. "She seemed nice in a lawyer sort of way. Does that make sense?"
"Yep! So, how long did your deposition take?"
"Maybe thirty-five minutes at most," Clark replied. "But we talked for quite a while before we started the deposition."
"About what?"
"About Lori and what I did during the two and a half years I was gone from Met U. She asked if I missed football and I told her no, that I really liked what I'm doing now." He paused. "She was pretty easy to talk to and I think you won't have any problems in your deposition."
Lois cocked her head. "I'm sure she was very easy to talk to." Then she added, "Yeah, I don't think it will be a difficult process. What did she ask you?"
"Probably the same things she'll ask you," Clark replied, "but I'm not supposed to discuss the content of the deposition with anyone but her."
Lois remained quiet for a moment. "I guess that makes sense."
"She told me to tell you that she'll be reaching out to you to set yours up," he replied. "She asked me to come by around noon to sign the transcribed deposition."
"Noon? So, I guess we won't be going to lunch together."
"Did we make plans? I must have forgotten."
"No, but I thought it might be nice," Lois replied. "Just a friendly lunch that we don't have to wolf down because we have something else going on, you know?"
"Sure, I'd like that," Clark said. They chatted a little longer and then went back to working on stories. Clark kept an eye on the time. He had to leave at 11:35 to get to Mayson Drake's office by noon.
"By the way," Lois began, "my new roommate's name is Jenny Jurwich and she's going to need some help moving out of her apartment and into mine. I said you'd help. You don't mind, do you?" Clark replied that he would be happy to help.
"He's over here," they heard Jimmy say. "Right in here, Ma'am."
Clark turned around and Mayson Drake was standing just beyond the partition alongside Jimmy. "Mayson!" he said. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled. "The transcriptionist finished your deposition early and I had an appointment nearby. I thought I'd save you the trouble of driving over and have you sign it here."
Lois stood from behind her desk. "Good morning, Mayson," she said.
She glanced up from watching Clark sign. "Oh, good morning, Lois," she said. She then looked down and told Clark to raise his right hand and she read the jurat statement and he swore to it. "Perfect." She bent down and collected the document and put it in a manila envelope. Then she looked at Lois. "You two share desk space? How does that work for either of you?"
"Well, we each have our own schedules, but we also work some stories together. Actually, it works pretty well," Lois said, sitting back down.
Mayson made a noise and a face. "Okay. So, would you be available next week, Lois?"
"Any day but Thursday after 10 AM," she replied. "And not Friday, of course."
"Good!" Mayson said. "I'll text you the time and day once I check my calendar again." She looked down at Clark. "Um, Clark? Would you like to grab some lunch with me today? I thought maybe since we're over here, it might be more convenient to you."
"That was really thoughtful of you, Mayson," Clark began and looked at Lois. "But I already have lunch plans today." He winced. "Could we maybe make it for another day?"
"Of course, absolutely," Drake replied. She glanced at Lois and Lois recognized the look and knew what the DA wanted. "I'll call you soon," she said and turned. "Have a good day, Clark. Lois, I'll be in touch."
When the elevator doors closed, Lois stood up and looked over the monitors. "Wow! Could that have been any more obvious?" she snarked.
Clark grimaced. "Yeah, even I picked up on that." He paused. "She's a nice lady and under normal circumstances, I would take her up on her offer."
"I have to give her credit; she goes hard after what she wants. But she's about as subtle as a hand grenade."
Friday, December 18, 2020
Although they had not specifically coordinated a joint arrival, Lois lingered in the reception area waiting on Clark to arrive for the Daily Planet Christmas party. She tried to avoid Cat Grant knowing that showing up without a man on her arm meant at least four months of enduring her snide comments.
Lois thought about her dinner the night before with Lex. It was awkward for her. She talked about AAM and he talked about his overseas Asian trip. She was not particularly interested in anything he was saying and she was not certain he had any interest in what she had to say either.
While she casually waited around for Clark to arrive and also trying to avoid Cat at the same time, she thought about her meeting with Maggie the day before. Maggie said two things that kept echoing in her mind. She said she thought the two of them, Lois and Clark, made a cute couple. That was something Lois never thought about, being part of a cute couple. She wondered if Maggie said that just because of her low opinion of Lex or if she was being completely honest.
The other thing that echoed in Lois's mind was Maggie cautioning her to keep an eye on Mayson Drake whenever she was around Clark. Lois recounted Mayson's visit to the bullpen and Maggie replied with an 'uh-huh' and a nod. It was not just Lois's imagination and she thought it was interesting that Maggie picked up on it in Mayson's office.
Clark arrived about twenty minutes after the party began and Lois fell in beside him as he got his name tag. "I was waiting for you," she said. "I didn't want to walk in and see Cat without someone by my side."
"Well, that's certainly confidence builder right there," Clark quipped. "I'm thrilled to see you too, Lois."
Lois stopped and looked at him. "My God, Smallville, that was almost witty!"
They hung together all evening and although they were not together, others believed they were. Cat made a comment to Lois in passing that it looked like she had finally done something right, alluding to her perceived connection to Clark. To Lois and Clark, it just felt natural hanging around together.
"People think we're together," Lois told him near the end of the evening. "I forget that they don't know how long we've actually known one another. They think it's only been a little over a month."
They left the party together and he walked Lois to her car. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," he said.
"I had a nice time tonight," Lois replied and gave Clark a quick hug before getting in her car.
He watched her as she backed out, waving to her as she pulled away.
Keep him in your world, Lois.
Sunday, December 20, 2020
It was cold sitting in Lois's Jeep Grand Cherokee for hours after midnight outside of the WJOB radio station without the heater on, listening to the broadcast. Robyn Williams' story was fascinating, and it seemed like Lois had witnessed the end of that engagement when she saw something fly out of the roof and disappear into the night.
Jimmy had gotten pictures of several people coming in and out of the building. Clark was on the opposite side of the building watching the only other exterior door to the building. Lois would occasionally turn on the engine to reheat the car, but it lasted only a few minutes because she needed to keep the windows down to prevent them from fogging up.
"What do you keep texting CK about?" Jimmy asked.
She chuffed. "I want to make sure he's still awake. It's nearly 4 AM!"
As the show was winding down, she hit the ignition once more, knowing the show was ending soon. "Be ready, Jimmy." The last caller was allowed on and as she was closing the show out, Iris said there was yet another caller that her husband said she would want to take. The last caller was allegedly the Avenging Angel of Mercy.
Lois and Jimmy both sat mesmerized by the call. They stared at the radio as though it was actually talking to them. A minor thump on the back of the car startled Jimmy and he instinctively reached to steady the camera and as he did, he inadvertently pushed the shutter button on the camera. A breeze blew past the window and the camera automatically took ten ultra high-speed photos of the front door as it mysteriously swung open and then closed. The security guard emerged from the door a few moments later.
"What the hell was that?" Lois said.
"Sorry, Miss Lane," Jimmy said. "Whatever that sound was kind of startled me. I didn't mean to do that."
"No, Jimmy!" Lois exclaimed, "That's not what I meant. I'm glad you did. Did you see the front door?"
"Um, I saw it swinging, I think it must have been the wind caught it or something because I didn't see anyone come in or out," he replied. "It happened so fast."
Given the excitement from the radio and the descriptions by Iris Carmen Bell-Madden, an ICBM had just hit the radio station.
She punched the button to call Clark. He answered. "Wow, whatever happened in there sounds pretty incredible," he said.
"Did you see anything?" Lois asked, excitedly.
"No, why?" he asked. "Did you?"
"No," she replied. "We saw the front door fly open, but Jimmy thinks it might have been the wind. I don't know what to think."
"It's not that windy," Clark replied. "Well, not on my side of the building at least."
They waited until Lieutenant Williams emerged from the station. By that time, the sun was beginning to crest the horizon and Jimmy caught very clear images of the woman. They would be able to easily identify her.
Clark pulled up next to her.
"That was sort of a bust, huh?" he said.
She frowned. "Well, we got some pictures of the witness so there's that. But yeah, I had hoped there might be something else. If that wasn't her real name, at least we know what she looks like and we'll be able to track her down."
Clark told her to get some rest and he would talk to her tomorrow and pulled away.
Lois drove home, dropping Jimmy off on the way. As she parked her car and exited, she walked behind her Jeep and noticed a small envelope tucked beneath the rear windshield wiper. It had her name on it.
She took it out and waited until she got in her apartment to open it. When she did, she could hardly believe what she was seeing. It was a note card that simply read, "Miss Lane, we need to talk. I'll be in touch soon. – AAM". At the bottom of the note was a symbol that was an S inside a pentagon. It looked like a manufacturer's watermark of some sort.
Lois stared at the note. Was this real or was she being punked? Her mind reeled with the various ideas running through it. She looked at her phone and it showed 5:05 AM. He won't be asleep yet, she thought and dialed Clark.
"Lois? What's up?"
"This is going to sound crazy, but can you come over here, like right now?"
He sighed. "I just got to my apartment. Can it wait a few hours? I'm really beat, Lois."
"Hold on, I'm sending you a text," she said, took a picture of the note and sent it to Clark. "Let me know when you get it." She paused.
"Got it." There was a pause. "Where did that come from and when did you get it?"
"Clark, please come over. I'm too excited to talk about this over the phone. Please? I really need for you to come here and see this." She paused. "Please?"
"Okay."
She squealed with delight. "Yes! Thank you! I'll have fresh coffee ready when you get here."
Fifteen minutes later, Clark was knocking on her door, and she threw it open. "You've got to see this!"
He sat at the dining table and looked at the note. "I don't know what to think, Lois," he said. Clark turned it over and examined the envelope. "And you're positive this wasn't on your Jeep before you went to the station?" He appeared dumbfounded and handed it back to Lois. "So, what are you going to do?"
She was as excited as a child anxiously waiting to open presents on Christmas day. "I don't know. That's why I wanted you to come by and see this. What do you think?" She patted his hand nervously.
"I don't think you have any option other than to wait for him to contact you. Do you?" he asked, handing her the note back.
"I guess not," Lois replied, dejected that there was not a better answer from him. "I'm thinking that it still may be a prank. Maybe Cat or Lombard did Friday night and I just didn't see it until this morning."
"Well, it can't be a prank, Lois," Clark said, matter-of-factly.
She cocked her head. "Why do you say that? How can you be so sure?"
"The symbol at the bottom of the note. That's exactly the symbol they described on the radio less than two hours ago," he said, pointing at the \S/ watermark.
In all the confusion over Jimmy activating the automatic shutter on the camera, Lois did not hear Iris's description of the mark left on the studio window. "What?" Her eyes grew wide. "When did that happen?"
"Right after the call. You didn't hear it?"
"No. Jimmy's camera started snapping pictures automatically. He hit some setting and he couldn't stop it before it snapped a dozen pictures or something. He kept apologizing and talking and I kept telling him it was okay, and he kept going on. I heard her sign off and I turned the radio off and started the car to warm up." She looked at Clark and clearly had an idea. "Let's go back to the station and see if they'll let me in to look at the symbol left there!"
"Right now?" Clark said, making a face.
"Yes, right now!" She grabbed his hand. "Look, what if they clean it off? We'll have no proof other than to take it to Iris for her to verify. I'm not going to do that after she shut me out. If we go now, we'll be able to confirm this is an authentic note." She stared at him, pleading. "C'mon Clark. We're partners, here. I won't be able to sleep thinking about this."
"And if Lois Lane can't sleep, no one gets to sleep," Clark said, feigning a surrender. "Okay, let's go."
Lois squealed. "I have a travel cup. I'll put some coffee in it for you. I'll drive, obviously."
Within forty-five minutes, they were at the station. Lois showed her press credentials, and the security guard called the station manager, apologizing for waking him up. Initially, the manager said no, but Clark talked to him sensing Lois might be too aggressive. He convinced the man that Lois was doing a story on Iris Madden's interview and needed to see the mark left to verify the accuracy of her story in the Daily Planet. The manager conceded and Clark handed the phone back to the security guard who was instructed to escort them.
"Have you seen it?" Lois asked.
The guard nodded. "I saw it and I couldn't believe it. I was on duty when it happened."
"Would you mind if I quote you?" Lois asked, excitedly.
"Not at all, Miss Lane," the man said.
She stared at the symbol that had somehow been burned into the thick window between the small studio and control room. It was exactly the same symbol that was on her note. Lois snapped several pictures.
Lois went on to ask the guard some questions, get his name, and some background information on him to use in her story. The guard told her that other newspapers and a TV station reporter had called the station but she was the only one who had driven out.
On the way back, Clark asked Lois if she would send him the story before she submitted it. She assured him that she would. They made small talk on the way back to her apartment and before they arrived, he asked her what she was going to do for Christmas.
"What do you mean?" Lois asked.
"Are you going to see your father or something?" Clark asked her.
"Are you kidding?" She shook her head. "That would be like the opposite of opening a Christmas present."
Clark laughed. "What about Lex?"
Lois made a sound. "Lex. I haven't really thought about him and Christmas. I think he probably celebrates Christmas day by auditing his financial holdings," she said and snickered. "What about Lana?"
"Her mom is coming to Metropolis, I'm pretty sure," he said. "But I'm going home to Smallville to spend it with my folks." He paused. "If you have no plans, why don't you come to Smallville with me? No one should have to be by themselves on Christmas because they have no other options."
"Clark," she replied, frowning and giving him a dismissive tone. "That's really sweet, but that's your family's time," Lois said. "Your parents wouldn't want me there interfering in the holiday, would they?"
"Well, you don't know my parents. If you don't come, they will ask about you and when I tell them you're here by yourself, I'll never hear the end of it, especially from my mom. They'll make me drive back to Metropolis and convince you to come back to the farm with me."
She winced. "Really?" She said nothing for a moment, then, "I'll tell you what. You call them and ask first. Don't beg or make them say yes. If they say it's okay, then fine, I'd love to come. But I don't want to get there and feel like you've forced them to letting me barge in on your family time."
"Hold on," Clark said and pulled out his phone.
"Don't call them right now!" Lois exclaimed.
"No, wait," Clark replied. He texted his parents' mobile number. "Lois told me she's spending Christmas alone in Metropolis. I thought I might ask her to spend it with us but ONLY if it's okay with you. Just let me know." He showed her the text and she read it, smiled, and nodded. He pushed the Send icon. "Now wait and see how long it takes them to respond."
Within four minutes, Lois pulled into her parking space and Clark had received his answer.
"Kidding, right? Don't you dare leave her there alone."
He showed her the screen and smiled. "I'm pretty sure that was mom answering that text." She looked at the reply and tears filled her eyes. "Told you."
Lois sniffed and chuffed. "I guess it's a yes, then."