Chapter 7
Metropolis – 2016
"You're doing it in the early evening when there are people awake and moving around?" Lawrence Lemaris asked Dandridge. "Doesn't that make it more likely you'll be discovered?"
"Think about it, Mr. Lemaris," Randal replied. "If you were doing this, would you think that it would be safer in the middle of the night when nothing else was happening except you and your crew offloading warehouse items?" Dandridge paused. "Or safer when the city is still bustling with activity?" There was no immediate answer and he continued. "We will try to make it look as natural, lights on, people just doing what they were hired to do, no one looking skulking around, no one acting suspicious. No one knows my crew members in this town. Even if they are seen, identifying them would be difficult."
The day after meeting with Lori Lemaris and her boyfriend, Randal Dandridge put the wheels in motion to recover and return the stolen antiquities stored in the Hobb's River warehouse. There were three components to his plan, which had been formulated over a period of three weeks before their location was confirmed. The first was to overcome the security systems in place for the warehouse using a cyberteam. The second was to create diversions to minimize police curiosity. The third was to recover and transport the antiquities to the Florida Keys.
Given what Lori had told him on the way back from the visit, the police arrived quickly when they had poked around the warehouse. That told Dandridge the security cameras were active and being monitored.
Dandridge had assembled a team of 18 individuals with varying skills including cyber intrusion, materiel handling experience, truck drivers, and vessel operations and piloting. Once they recovered the artifacts, the final step in the recovery process was transferring the antiquities to vehicles at four different off-load points throughout the rest of the night. That prevented any single vehicle from being stopped and the artifacts in total discovered, if reported stolen.
He had made note of the security service sticker on the camera, Superior Security Services, LLC. A member of the cyberteam paid a visit to the Superior Security Services to make an inquiry about the services they provided. She learned during that visit that they host a network that receives and transmits signals to individual customers, that they do not provide monitoring services. With their services, a customer with the proper credentials can access the camera system and intrusion alarm from anywhere with an internet connection location. Superior Security Services kept their costs low by hosting the network that a corporation's own security monitored, thereby undercutting their competition.
The cyberteam leader used a simple man-in-the-middle attack to surreptitiously gain control of communications between the customer and the security cameras, and therefore, control of the security monitor and intrusion signals sent from the service to its customer.
The cyberteam could intercept notifications by motion detectors inside the warehouse and replace live feeds from the fixed security cameras with a six-hour broadcast recording made the night before beginning at 9:00 PM. Once the warehouse was cleaned out, re-secured with uncut padlocks, and the shipment safely in Metropolis Bay, the cyberteam leader would return control of the network link to Mickler's client program and remove any trace of the team's intrusion. Fortunately for them, the two interior cameras focused directly on the loading dock doors on either side of the warehouse and not at the contents. Once the looped interior images were cut off, the image would remain unchanged even though all the contents of the small warehouse were removed.
The second component involved organizing diversions. Dandridge wanted two diversions to impact two shifts of MPD patrolmen. He estimated that the recovery would take no more than two and a half hours to execute, and likely less than that. To give them that much time, they needed two shifts of MPD officers occupied in other areas of the city.
Diversions would leverage the well-known gangs in Metropolis. One small group of gang members would begin a series of small disturbances, vandalism and petty thefts, that would require the responding officers to break from assigned patrol areas. There would be enough reports that a large portion of the shift not dedicated to the holiday events would be occupied chasing the vandals and thieves. The second diversion would begin at approximately 9:45 PM, just as the new shift began deploying to their assigned patrol areas. This diversion would begin as reports of gangs gathering in the park near Hobb's River. The gathering would then disperse causing a bit of chaos in the police communications. The groups would re-form by 10:30 PM in a large-scale fight in the massive Centennial Park. That would draw all patrols away from their assigned patrol areas to rally to an assembly point near the park, take assignments, and comb the park grounds at night on foot for gang members. What few patrols remained in vehicles would ring the park to try to contain the incident inside the boundaries of the park or pursue those who were spotted fleeing.
In picking the day for the operation, Dandridge wanted the evening of a workday before Christmas. People would be concentrating on last-minute shopping and holiday activities in Metropolis before Christmas. A workday meant that although some local people would be home by the time they commenced the recovery, those that were not home would not likely be hanging around the riverfront. Having people clogging streets provided cover for their movement. He settled on the 23rd of December, a Friday and a prime day for office and residential Christmas parties, downtown holiday festivities, and last-minute shopping. Plenty of out-of-towners would be present to blend in with. There would be little police interest in, or resources dedicated to, the warehouses along the riverfront the night before Christmas Eve. Particularly in light of the diversions he planned.
The third component was the recovery team. A group of sixteen men on a leased 140-foot fast crew boat floated into Hobb's River from Metropolis Bay would easily be able to breach the rollup door and empty the warehouse of the artifacts in under two hours. The component was to begin at or just before the change of shift for the Metropolis PD. The two diversions would occupy the attention of the outgoing shift and the oncoming shift. By the time the oncoming shift sorted out the second diversion, the recovery actions would be completed and the team safely into Metropolis Bay and headed toward various offload points where their cargo would be transferred onto semitrailers and rental box trucks by the fast crew boat team.
If all worked as planned, it could be weeks before the breach of the warehouse was actually discovered. By then, the antiquities would be safely returned to and secured in the Florida Keys. For three days prior to meeting Lori and her boyfriend, a member of Dandridge's team worked to coordinate with the leaders of the major gangs in Metropolis, offering between ten and fifteen thousand dollars to pull off the diversions. One member of the descendants funding the operation was a licensed ship's captain who volunteered when told about the operation. He could arrange for a one-day lease of a fast crew boat from one of the several shipyards along Metropolis Bay and safely operate it from start to finish. He also helped create bogus bills of lading to present to anyone in the event of exposure at the warehouse.
Twelve days after scouting the warehouse, Dandridge had all components in place and prepared to execute on command. All communications with everyone other than the team leaders of the three components was halted and only burner phones were used.
Two days later, the plan went into motion about a half-hour after Lori and Clark took their places at the check-in tables.
At Met U, Daily Planet employees and their guests began filtering in around 7:45 PM and as they did, the line split into two lines with Lori taking last names beginning with N – Z and Clark checking in those with last names beginning with A – M.
"You have the second best-looking woman here tonight, Jose. I look forward to seeing you later," Clark heard someone say and thought it was odd hearing it. In front of him was Janice Denton and her husband. Behind her was Bob Harley and his wife, Joanne. Clark found their name badges and told them to enjoy their evening.
He looked to his left and Lori was speaking with Perry White, the Daily Planet's editor-in-chief. They chatted for a moment and Clark heard Perry suggest Lori come by the Daily Planet and see about an internship. Lori looked at Clark. "Clark, you remember Mr. White, Editor of the Daily Planet from last year, right?" she asked.
"Yes, I do," Clark said, partially standing and shaking hands with Perry. "It's a pleasure, sir," he added.
"Thank you, Son and, uh, thank you both for volunteering to help out again this year," he said, smiling.
"Lane and Delgado?" a woman's voice said. He looked away from Perry and directly into Lois's eyes and she met his. They stared at one another for an instant that seemed like an eternity, neither one moving nor saying anything, both spellbound.
"Lane," Jose repeated, "and Delgado?" There was an air of annoyance in his tone.
Clark looked at Jose, which broke the spell, and then quickly swiveled around, found their name badges, turned back, and handed them their badges. He smiled. "Sorry," he said abruptly. "Enjoy the party," he added, and his eyes followed hers briefly as they walked into the ballroom. He thought about Lori and glanced in her direction and found that she was just finishing up chatting with Perry and Alice. He felt relieved.
"Well, that was neat," she said. "He asked me to come by sometime to see about an intern position! Can you believe it?" she asked excitedly.
"On my gosh, that's incredible," Clark replied. "I guess you were right about working these events being a good opportunity." He looked up at the next person in line and recognized him immediately. He gave Steve Lombard his name badge. "Thanks for all the good press this year, Mr. Lombard."
"That's easy to do when you have a great season. We'll have to talk later, Clark," Lombard said. "I'd love to get your thoughts on the Georgia Tech team and your team's chances in the upcoming Outback Bowl. Division runner-up in the ACC. That's going to be a tall order."
"We'll be ready," Clark replied. "Once I'm done here, we can talk whenever you have time," he said and looked over at Lori. "Lori, you remember Steve Lombard from last year, right? I'm sure he'll want to chat with you, too."
She smiled sweetly and gave him a thumbs up. "Of course, I remember. Thank you for all the nice stories about the swim team. We don't often expect to have stories written about us."
"You're an exceptional group of ladies and it's only fair we make the exception," Steve replied as he stepped off. "I'll look forward to talking to you both again."
"I remember you from last year," the woman with a husky voice said. "Do you remember me, handsome?"
Clark looked back and saw Catherine Grant standing in front of him. She was wearing a slinky silver sequined dress that seemed very conservative compared to the one she wore last year. "Sure. It was Cat, um…Grant," Clark replied, swiveled around and got her name badge.
"That's right," Cat replied, pleased that Clark had remembered her name.
"Lori," he said, smiling mischievously. "This is Cat Grant. Do you remember her from last year?"
"I do remember you, but I don't think Clark introduced us," Lori jabbed back. "Hi. I'm Lori, Clark's girlfriend and fellow journalism student. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Grant."
"No, I don't believe we were introduced, but I certainly do remember you," Cat replied without saying anything further. She took her badge, smiled seductively at Clark and whispered, "Save me a dance," and stepped off. Clark watched her go by and then turned to look at Lori and smiled.
"My thoughts exactly," Lori said, and they both suppressed snickering.
They continued checking people in and by 8:35 PM, only a few of the badges remained. The clock on the wall read 8:37 when Lori received a text message from her parents. The message said to call ASAP. She told Clark that she had to take the call and he said he would cover for her.
Lori went outside to a quiet corner of the building and called. Her father answered and told her that Dandridge would be starting sometime tonight, but needed to know about an issue that arose with a drop-off location. One of the planned locations where the ground transportation was to be positioned was under surveillance by state police due to drug trafficking activity having been exposed at the location. Her father was adamant that Dandridge needed to be warned or else all or part of the recovered antiquities would end up in the hands of the state police. Since Dandridge had 'gone dark' two days before, the only way to get a message to him was face-to-face. He wanted Lori to go to the riverfront warehouse, see if she could find Dandridge and warn him. He gave her the information about the compromised drop-off site.
Lori said that she would and hurried back to find Clark. "I have to go for a little while," she told Clark. "I'll be back in about an hour or so," she added.
"What's going on? Is everything okay with your parents?" Clark noticed the distress in her face.
"They're fine. It's the thing they're having done," she whispered. "There's a problem and they need to get a message to Dandridge but he's not answering his phone and hasn't for the last two days. They suspect the thing he's going to do is happening tonight. There's only a little time to get word to him and I'm the closest by far."
"Well, I'm coming with you," Clark said.
"No!" Lori was adamant. "You need to stay here and if anyone asks about me, tell them I had to go to my room to lay down for a while because I wasn't feeling right. Okay? Otherwise, we'll have questions to answer that we won't want to answer, you know?"
Clark frowned. "I don't like the sound of this, Lori. Why don't you just let me do it and you stay here?"
"Absolutely not," she replied. "I'm doing this for my people and my family. I'm not going to hand it off. It just wouldn't be right." She sensed his concern. "Stop worrying," she said. "I'll probably be gone no more than an hour or hour and a half, tops! I'll come back and we'll have a few dances before the party closes down."
Clark's jaw tightened. He did not like the idea of her getting involved. "Look," he began, "promise me you won't be involved in any of the entry and recovery activities going on if it happens when you're there."
She cocked her head and then gave him a quick kiss. "Does it look like I'm dressed for unloading a warehouse?" He opened his mouth to respond, and she added, "That's rhetorical. Just cover for me and once everyone has checked in, go in and I'll find you when I get back, okay?"
He begrudgingly accepted. "Just be careful and hurry back."
"I will," Lori said and then hurried out into the darkness.
Clark remained at the desk for another twenty minutes. During that time the remainder of the attendees arrived, and Clark gave them their badges. He was ready to go inside and find something to eat when a young-looking teenager came up to the table.
"I need to get inside to take some photos of the party," the kid said.
"Who are you and how old are you?" Clark asked. "I can't let you in without permission."
"My name is Jimmy Olsen. I'm the nephew of Sally Winfield. She's Perry White's secretary and she got permission from Mr. White for me to come take photos."
"And you're how old?" Clark asked.
"I'm going to be 16 in a couple months." He paused. "Please," Jimmy pleaded, "I'm trying to make an impression on Mr. White because someday I want to work at the Daily Planet. My Aunt Sally suggested this would be a way to get my foot in the door. She told me that she already cleared it with Mr. White, I swear."
"Okay, you stay here. I'll go inside and speak with Mr. White. If he says it's okay, then I'll let you in." Clark left Olsen standing at the desk and went inside the banquet hall to find Perry White. It took him a few minutes to locate the Editor-in-Chief, who was talking to one of the staff. When he finished, Clark approached him.
Perry listened and then nodded. "Yes," he said. "Sally asked me about her nephew coming to take some candid photos. I told her that would be okay because I didn't want to task one of our staff photographers having to do it, you know, asking them to work when everyone else was partying. I thought it might be nice to have photos."
Clark returned to the check-in table and found Jimmy Olsen still standing at the desk waiting for him to return. "Mr. White said it was okay, so you can go in," Clark said, and Jimmy began to move to the door. "Hold up, Jimmy." He rummaged around and found a marker and wrote 'Jimmy Olsen' on one of the spare blank guest badges. He handed it to young Olsen. "Here. Keep this on at all times and stay away from the bars."
"Sure thing," Jimmy said and disappeared into the room full of partiers.
Clark gathered up the last of the blank guest badges, shoved them into his jacket pocket, and headed to the front door to find one of the contracted security guards to move to take his place behind the check-in table.
It was 9:26 PM when Clark finally surrendered the table to the security guard. He was famished. He waded through the group and made it to the buffet table just as the servers were beginning to clear the food. He grabbed a plate and quickly moved through the line, explaining that he was at the check-in table all evening and had not had a chance to eat. He ended up at the carving station and the server there loaded his plate with thick slices of tender roast beef. He had the server ladle to servings of the au jus over the roast beef and then over the pile of mashed potatoes he had scooped. "If you need more, come on back to the kitchen. The staff will be eating what's left and there appears to be plenty."
"Thank you. I may need to make a plate for someone if it could stay covered and kept warm."
The server nodded. "That's easy to do. Just come on back."
Clark glanced around to see if he could spot Lori, but she had not yet returned. He saw the woman, Lois Lane, and her date on the other side of the room at a cocktail table. Something about the encounter he had with her made him feel strange. He was speechless for a moment and in that moment, all he could see was her face and hear her heart begin to race. It worried him that Lori may have noticed but he was not even sure he had thoughts other than she looked breathtaking to him.
Although Lori could hear thoughts, she only heard thoughts when she tried to hear them. Just as Clark had to try to use his heat vision for it to activate, Lori had to try to listen to thoughts. Luckily, the only time she seemed to listen to Clark's thoughts were when he was trying to communicate with her. She had once told Clark she did not know how he possibly drowns out all other noises to focus on a single one. He was grateful that her telepathy worked like his heat vision and not like his super hearing.
He heard Cat Grant purring at some man nearby and decided that he had to move quickly to the kitchen to put a plate together for Lori. While in the kitchen, he was motioned to a small room in the back where the servers and cooks ate, away from the food preparation area. He sat and ate his meal, slowly, deliberately, and savoring each bite while periodically scanning the room beyond for the sight or sound of Lori among the crowd.
Teddy Good, head of the catering group came in as Clark was eating, and asked, "How was the food?"
"Very good. In fact, for a catered meal, I think it was the best I've ever eaten." Teddy was smiling and nodding but said nothing and Clark sensed that perhaps he offended the man by qualifying his comment. "I mean, I have not eaten many catered meals and I guess I had some preconceived notions about what to expect."
"Ah yes, the 'rubber chicken' circuit," Good said. "A lot of caterers give the rest of us a bad name, sometimes. They don't necessarily prepare the food the way it should be and instead, just re-heat food in chafing dishes." He shook his head. "We have some of it pre-cooked, like the steamship rounds, but most is prepared on-site. That's the way it should be done," he said. "Of course, not all caterers have a fully-equipped professional kitchen at their disposal either."
"Well, my meal tasted like I was eating at an expensive restaurant," Clark replied. That compliment seemed to brighten Teddy and he asked if Clark minded that he sat with him.
They talked for a while and Clark, periodically, listened to see if he could hear Lori's voice but did not. He discreetly checked his phone for messages but there were none. Teddy went on for a little while before admitting that he recognized Clark as the team's quarterback and asked for an autograph. Clark obliged him, signing a fresh white apron for the man.
"I have a daughter," Teddy began, "and I'd like her to go to Met U. She keeps talking about Arizona State, but I keep telling her that it's out of my price range or she has to work while going to school to afford out of state tuitions."
"I was fortunate," Clark replied. "Football got me here because I didn't work outside the farm and my folks didn't have the money to send me to college."
"You earned your way," Teddy replied. "Football may be a game but there's a lot of sacrifice that goes into getting offered an athletic scholarship." He looked at Clark. "I respect those who work hard, whether it's at a job or in school. My daughter, Linda, is a straight-A student. Honor roll, every year. I think she must get her brains from her mother," he joked, "but her work ethic comes from me." He looked at Clark. "Farm work along with schoolwork has to be a bitch," he offered. "I respect that too."
Clark nodded. "There are a lot of long days and early mornings."
Teddy rose to leave. "Did you get anything to drink?" he asked.
"I got some water earlier and some pop before I came in, too."
"Nah, I mean a drink, an adult beverage," he said, winking and grinning.
"Well, I'm not allowed for another two months and eight days," Clark replied. "And it's no big deal for me," he added. "No need to get anyone in trouble, either. But thank you, Mr. Good."
"Call me Teddy, Clark," he said as he was leaving, "but I have to say, this is a first for me. Not only have I talked with probably the greatest quarterback Met U will ever have, at the same time I've met the first college student to turn down an alcoholic beverage because he or she was underaged." He stopped. "I admire that Mr. Kent. You could be a great role model for the youth in this town over the next couple years." He paused in the doorway. "Go Bulldogs!" Teddy yelled and he left the little room.
"Thank you, Teddy," Clark yelled back as Good left.
He looked up at the clock outside the small room. 10:35 PM. Wow, time flies. I wonder if Lori went on to the room?
He finished up his meal and looked out to scan the room again. He did not see her, although there were lots of people still left and the voices were getting louder, along with the music. Clark checked his phone once more and decided he should text Lori to make sure she was okay. Everything okay? he texted. He waited.
Finally, a response. His phone rang and Lori's name was on the display. "I'm fine," Lori said when she answered. "I should have called but I figured you'd be dancing with Cat Grant by now," she teased. "I could tell she wanted to do the Mambo with you…the horizontal type!"
"Lori!" Clark roared, and then laughed. "You wouldn't believe it but I'm hiding in a little room in the kitchen area because I heard her getting close as I was getting my food. So, I ducked into the kitchen and they ushered me to a little safe room in the back. No cats allowed." He paused. "Did everything go okay?"
"I saw him, talked to him, and he said that he already knew, and thanked me. I guess it was a waste of time but my parents were relieved when I called them. I think everything seemed to be ahead of schedule. But there's something big happening around Centennial Park and the cops have the traffic re-directed and I'm stuck in it. I'm sorry I didn't call but I had my parents on the line."
"As long as you're okay," Clark replied, "that's the only thing that matters."
"But I wanted you to see how I could top last year's conclusion to the party," Lori whined, playfully.
"I have some thoughts about that," Clark informed her, and she giggled.
"I can't actually read your thoughts over the phone or this far away, but I know exactly what you're thinking," she replied.
"And probably ruining everything you had planned?"
"Well, we'll just have to see about that, won't we?"
Clark was smiling and relieved. "Shall we meet at my place?" he asked.
"Yep, but I don't know how long I'm going to be sitting here. Every once in a while, the traffic starts moving and I think I'm getting somewhere but then it stops, and we sit. I'm sure the party will be over before I get back. Leave the door unlocked," she said.
"I'll see you when you get here," Clark added. "I'm relieved everything is okay." He was getting ready to end the conversation but added, "Hey, before you go, did you have anything for dinner tonight? I have plate of food for you that I can bring back to the room."
Lori thanked Clark and said she was starving. "Get two plates," she said. "Lots of desserts, too. I'll need the extra carbs for all the exercise I'll be having when I get back." She paused and then said, "I love you, Clark. I'll be there soon."
"I love you, too," he said and marveled at how the words came out so easily. They stuck in his throat when talking with Lana and it was not as if he was not in love with Lana, but Clark realized that he was more in lust with her. She was the object on the pedestal, not a real person but an image of purity and goodness that he wanted to possess. It was that which she ruined when she betrayed his love, more than just the love he had for her.
He hung up the phone and picked up his dirty plates and took them back into the kitchen where a crew was washing the plates and silverware. "Just put them in the bin with the other plates," a woman directed.
He did as he was told and looked around at the food that was being packaged up. He told Teddy Good that he needed to make one more plate in addition to the one he prepared for his girlfriend. Teddy gave him a few disposable plastic plates and he transferred the food onto them and covered them with aluminum foil. He also took four servings of desserts and placed them all in a brown paper bag.
He was preparing to leave when he heard the woman, Lois Lane's voice, and heard her heart beating rapidly.
"I think you've had a little too much to drink, Steve." He pleaded with her. "No, thank you," she said, her voice elevated and her heart beating faster. "I don't want to dance. Steve, please let go of me."
Clark could tell by the tone of her voice she was trying to be nice but was running out of patience. He knew he had to do something to help her. He stepped to the end of the food prep area and then dashed and found Lois Lane and Steve Lombard.
Lombard was trying to pull Lois onto the dance floor and Lois was resisting. "C'mon Lois, just one dance," he pled.
He could tell Lombard was heavily intoxicated and Miss Lane was frustrated and growing angry. As Lombard pulled on her arm, Clark saw her ball up her fist and subtly draw it back. "Steve, I said…"
"Mr. Lombard," Clark called out from behind her, and before she could move another muscle, had stepped between them with his back to Lois. "Didn't you want to talk to me?" He turned to look back at Lois and gave her a knowing glance.
Lombard let go of Lois and stood upright. "Clark!" he slurred. "I do want…to talk to you…but maybe now is not the best time…I'm really not in the best condition to talk, you know?" Grinning drunkenly, he said, "Maybe after tonight….or after Christmas, okay?" He patted Clark on the shoulder. "Lois," he said. "This is Clark Kent. He is the quarterback…for the Metropolis Bulldogs. He'll be," Lombard suppressed a belch and then continued, "…in the NFL someday…mark my words, Lois."
Clark turned back to look at Lois who would have, under normal circumstances, taken the intervention as an opportunity to escape but instead, remained in place. He extended his hand, and she took it. "Lois Lane," she said, looking at him and shaking his hand.
He smiled. "Yes, I remember giving you your name badge," he replied. "Nice to meet you, Miss Lane," Clark stared for a moment as if he wanted to say something else but instead, turned back to Steve. "So, how about I get you a ride to make sure you get wherever you need to go safely, okay?" He patted Steve on the back and turned him in the direction of the exit and walked him to their contracted security service team that would ensure he was safely transported back home.
Clark considered going back to find out more about Lois Lane, the woman that he had connected with on some level, but remembered that she came with another gentleman, and he thought it would be a bad move to talk to her anymore tonight. Besides, the moment of attraction made him feel like he was being disloyal to Lori, so he decided to continue on to his dorm room and await Lori's arrival. He slipped back into the party quickly enough to get the brown bag containing the plates of food and headed back out to the lobby. When he got into the lobby and obscured from view, he scanned the room and saw Lois Lane standing where he had left her. She was waiting for someone, perhaps the man she had entered with or perhaps him. But he had decided it was best to leave.
While walking back to the dorms, it seemed to disappoint him on some level that he had decided against returning to the party. He wanted to know more about the woman and try to figure out why she, of all the women that were at the party, had piqued his interest and what that connection was. Admittedly, she was a very attractive young woman. He judged that she was several years older than him by the way she carried herself but physically, she appeared much like Lori, beautiful, athletic, intelligent, confident, and full of life. He wanted to know what the connection was all about with that one woman.
It was just after 11:30 PM when Lori made it back to the room. Clark had changed out of his suit but Lori was still in her dress. She hugged and kissed him just after locking the door behind her. "I'm starving," she said, throwing her coat onto Pete's bed, "but I have to get out of this dress first." She turned around. "Please help me with the zipper."
Before Lori could get out of her dress and into a bathrobe, Clark had pulled the two dinner plates with meat and vegetables on them and heated him with his heat vision. Lori sat at Clark's desk, and he sat at the foot of his bed. She practically inhaled the first plate of food and then took a more measured approach with the second plate. "This is so good," she said.
In between bites, she told Clark how the evening went after she left. She told him that she was a little worried at first because when she arrived at the riverfront area, a lot of police vehicles were there for some reason, but they were dispersing. She said that she first worried that Dandridge had been caught or something had happened. But by the time the Uber driver made it through the police presence that seemed to be heading away from the riverfront, it was about 9:30. Lori told him she waited a while near the warehouse and watched as a boat pulled up, turned 180 degrees to head back out to Metropolis Bay and dock right at the warehouse where the antiquities were kept. Then she spotted Dandridge.
Lori told Clark that she watched a group of men jump into action, cutting locks, rolled up loading doors, and turning on the lights inside the warehouse. She said that more than a dozen men immediately started carrying articles by hand or crates, using a forklift from the warehouse and a mechanical arm on the boat. Once that began, she said she met with Dandridge for a few minutes before calling an Uber again. She walked to the other end of the warehouses to wait and by the time the driver showed up, she estimated that they had already unloaded a third of the objects in the warehouse. "I doubt it even took them two hours to empty it all out," she concluded.
"So, that kept you there until what, 10:00? What else happened that delayed you?" he asked.
"Well, first it was getting an Uber down there. That took about thirty minutes. Then on the way back, I don't know what was going on, but I think every cop in Metropolis was at or going to Centennial Park. Suddenly, all the cars on the road were stopped and we began creeping back to Met U. That's when I called my parents and talked to them. I knew they'd be anxious about Dandridge knowing that one of the offloading sites was compromised." She paused, found a paper towel to wipe her mouth and looked at Clark. "I am so sorry to abandon you at the Christmas party like that."
"I was fine," Clark replied. "I was only worried about your safety. The riverfront isn't the safest area in town, particularly at night." Changing the subject, he asked, "What time do you have to be at the airport tomorrow?"
She got up and dropped her empty plates into the trash can next to the refrigerator that Pete's mom had bought him. She turned and walked back to Clark and straddled his legs and sat on his knees. She put her arms over his shoulders. "About 6:30 in the morning," Lori said to him. "So, between getting cleaned up and getting to the airport, I have about five hours to make it up to you for abandoning you tonight. Will you be able to stay awake that long?"
"I think I could stay awake long enough for that. But what about your dessert?" Clark asked.
"Dessert?" she asked, leaning in and kissing him. "We'll have dessert after the first hour."