Chapter 20 [Ten Minutes Earlier]

Chloe rocked back and forth in her seat. Paranoia locked her in place. Potential hack kept her from the laptop. Coffee left behind at the Inn. Security demanded raised tinted windows. Scenario seemed like something out of Spy Novel's intrigues. Mr. Luthor or Mr. Arighatto? Which is worse? She bit her lip. I just had to fall for Mr. Luthor's line. Dad's going to pay. Mrs. Kent will never speak to me again. I have a target on my back now. How can I go to school or do anything without being a target?

Lex raised an eyebrow. Red Flags raised in his mind. Arighatto's not so veiled threats echoed in his ears and mind. What's so important about that woman on the carpet? About Clark and Lana? He took his mistake out on Peter Parker this morning. Memoria recalled the Dubois' family's murders decades earlier. Just like that. "It is a lot to think about."

"What is? The threats on my life? The threats against my friends? Your father's potential vengeance against my Dad and me? I had a weak moment? ALL RIGHT? And what does this all have to do with Miranda? She's a really cool friend! Now we find out she has more hidden issues than Rolling Stone? That this guy is a murderer?"

"I'm not touching that at least not here." Lex shook his head at her. "I know that doesn't help much. Unfortunately, that's what we're in the middle of. I'm here."

She shrugged. "Yeah. That's great. It doesn't help Peter Parker or those people in the building. You think…?"

"I don't know for sure. I have a suspicion though." Lex heard his phone buzz at him. "Great." He checked the phone's display. His eyes rolled. "Hi, Dad."

"Lex! What are you doing in New York?" Lionel barked in his ear. "Do you know what you're doing?"

Lex cleared his throat. "Wow. Two questions AND concern for my welfare? I feel so complete. Guess the insurers won't want to touch me now. By the way, Hansei Arighatto sends his regards. He's had a busy morning. Thanks for putting Chloe Sullivan on the radar. She appreciates it."

Chloe stared at him. Her eyes went wide. And you bring me up? Thanks, Lex, A LOT! She threw her hands up in the air.

"Yes well, the girl does not understand what it means to swim with the sharks, Lex. What a shame. She had such potential." Lionel frowned. "And now I understand she was taking pictures that she shouldn't have last night? She put herself on Arighatto's radar not me. Well actually, you did. I wonder what Gabe Sullivan would think? Miss Sullivan and you in the same hotel?"

"We were in different rooms, Dad. You know...it's like you sleeping with Victoria when she and I were together. At least I treated Miss Sullivan properly. So, Arighatto talked to you too this morning? Wow. Phone calls to Clark, me and you too? Maybe that bombed building too? As I told him, he was sloppy last night and this morning. He threatened me again."

"Yes. I am aware of that." Lionel sucked in a deep breath. "Lex, please! Whatever you feel is so important is not worth risking your life for! He will kill you both!"

"I imagine he is. He doesn't want to let go of his prize. He warned me not to come between his daughter and him. Miranda's not his daughter. You know…that bombing this morning put the last piece in place for me. I don't care if Miss Sullivan hears this or not. Steve Petersen's and Garth Singleton's reactions to Miranda at the Met raised eyebrows. Do you know that Miranda's been a missing person's case for the past fifteen years? Well now, Arighatto is on the FBI's radar! And what did he do? He made an international incident! He ends up on the front page of the Daily Bugle! And he takes it out on Parker for doing his job? He threatened Clark Kent and Lana Lang this morning apparently. He threatened me. Please, Dad, tell me that you didn't poison that pilot."

Chloe slumped back in her seat. Are you kidding? He… Her mind connected the dots. Crashes and poisonings. He actually poisoned Lex too? He tried to kill the Kents? REALLY? Arighatto killed Miranda's real family and kidnapped her? She opened her laptop. Her fingers typed a search in her browser.

"Lex, is Miss Sullivan sitting there? Son! Don't let her hear…." A grimace twisted Lionel's mouth. "She's dead. If she…Please tell me she doesn't have that damn laptop…."

Chloe stared at the screen. FBI's long-standing alert blared her in the face. "Miranda Dubois?" She gaped. "I've watched this on those shows like dozens of times! I've…that bastard!"

"Ouch! Dad, too late. You know those research skills you made light of?" Lex stifled a cough. "I think she just made paydirt." The driver lowered the window. "Yes?"

"We're pulling up there now, Sir. There's a police cruiser out front." The driver pulled in a good distance behind Jean's car.

"Dad, something's coming up. Arighatto might have more to deal with shortly. Now I'll tell you to stay out of it. I'm checking things out." Lex disconnected the call. "Let me guess. You found the FBI's cold case page?"

"Look at the date. Lana said Miranda showed up in Smallville when she was six." Chloe turned her laptop to reveal the page and date. "See that?"

Lex sucked in a deep breath. "That's some detective work. Great work. I'll be back." He stepped out of the car's back seat. He saw Gwen waiting by the car. Jean ran down the front walk. The latter shook him off. Then, the two ladies got into the police cruiser and sped away. Siren wailed and strobes flashed until they were well away. Now what happened? Arighatto, so help me. Did Dr. Swann have anything to do with this? "Chloe, come on."

Chloe slid her laptop into its bag and edged out. Her eyes surveyed the area. Despite Asphalt's hard surface, the ground felt akin to Eggshells. Instinct pressed her toward the curb and up the front walk. She kept twirling for a better view. "Lex?"

He frowned. "Keep an eye out, Haskins." Then, he hustled up the walk after her.

Stacy opened the door. "Mr. Luthor?"

"Sorry, Mr. Stacy. Are you all right?" Lex watched Stacy turn his back and rush toward the phone. "Wait!"

Stacy signaled them both inside. "Close the door please." He called into the phone. "May? May, this is George Stacy again. Say something. There's an ambulance coming! Stay with me!"

"Mr. Stacy? Hello? My name's Ralph. I'm an EMT. Sorry but I have to help with Mrs. Parker. All right? Got to take care of her." The line went dead.

"EMT's just arrived. Thankfully." Stacy hung up the phone. "I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor. I need a minute." He limped over to his chair. "That was about Peter Parker's aunt. My daughter was talking to her just now. She had an attack of some kind. They can get her the attention she needs. I was about to call the Bugle to find out about today's edition."

"You mean this?" Lex handed Stacy the newspaper. "I knew Arighatto had issues but nothing like this. As I was telling Miss Sullivan, those pictures explain a great deal."

Chloe went to put her purse down on a chair. "This is really nice, Mr. Stacy. It reminds me…." She sniffed the air. "You've got to be kidding me! He really?" Her eyes went wide. She grabbed her purse and computer. Then she threw open the door. "LEX! GAS!"

Lex ground his teeth. "Come on!" He put Stacy's left arm across his shoulders. He hustled Stacy out of the home. "Miss Sullivan, other arm!"

"Right here." Chloe took Stacy's other arm. She helped Lex hustle themselves and Stacy down the walk and on the other side of the sidewalk. "Sorry. We're going to get out!" She yanked the back door. "Sir, get in! Sorry." She rubbed her forehead. Gas' stench numbed her thinking. Her feet stumbled.

Lex pounded on the car's roof. "DRIVE!" He yanked his own door open and dove in. He saw Stacy and Chloe get in the other way. "GO! GO! GAS LEAK! GO!"

The driver sped down the block. He turned the corner and headed three blocks away. "Sir? What's going on?"

A loud explosion shook the neighborhood. Sound shattered windows in nearby windows. Flames shot into the sky. Burning debris smoldered into other yards. Stiff breeze pushed flames toward adjoining structures.

"Good heavens! My house!" Stacy glared at the tinted glass. "Mr. Luthor? That Arighatto you mentioned…that wouldn't happen to be Hansei Arighatto?" Memories and Experiences…home previously shared with his deceased wife…Gwen's growth and coming of age….service given and homecomings received….

…gone all gone…

"That's him. Why? He didn't threaten you. Did he?" Lex rubbed his forehead. Pain and stress throbbed at his forehead. "Chloe, call 911."

"He threatened Peter and us last night right out in front of the house. Peter said that if he didn't show up at the museum, there'd be consequences. Why? Peter risked Gwen and himself! Now we have nowhere to go. Peter's lost his apartment. Norman Osborne will be beside himself." Stacy bowed his head.

"Don't worry about that, Mr. Stacy. I know Norman. I'll explain what happened." Lex rubbed Stacy's forearm. "Sorry. We've had our threats too."

"May I speak to whoever's on that line please, Miss?" Stacy held his hand out. "I'm a retired Captain."

"Sure! Maybe you can make some headway. Thanks." Chloe handed him the phone.

Stacy nodded. "Good morning. Can I be directed to Commissioner deWolff please? This is George Stacy. We have an emergency at my residence."

"One moment."

"Stacy? Good lord! Now what?" deWolff fumed in his ear. "Jean's on her way to the Parker House. May Parker's on her way to the hospital. Why else would you be calling me? That's the emergency!"

"With due respect, Mr. Commissioner, no it is not. My house is gone. Someone set off a gas leak. My house just exploded. Fortunately, Lex Luthor and a friend smelled the fumes and got us out of there. We're in a car about three blocks away. We have a serial bomber on our hands. I know who it is." Stacy set his jaw.

"Stacy, calm down. Without proof…." deWolff bristled. Previous night's accusations against Arighatto still remained firmly in his ears.

"Mr. Commissioner! We have motive. We have opportunities. He threatened Peter Parker last night in front of my home. The front page of this morning's Daily Bugle puts him at the scene last night. Then, Peter's apartment and my house blow up? I don't have gas even though my neighbors do. And yet my house has the gas leak? Good lord! How much more mayhem do we need? Can you let Lieutenant deWolff know please? I know you need the incident report and such. I'll be at the Daily Bugle if you need me. Can you bring FDNY to my property?" Stacy tapped his fingers across the armrest.

"Of course. Stacy…George…I'm sorry. I…." deWolff went silent. "I'll get the Chief and Arson on it right now. The Parkers and now you?"

"There was Lex Luthor as well from what he tells me. I know who this is, Mr. Commissioner. We have to deal with him. I'll be there in a few minutes. Thank you." Stacy disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Chloe. "Let's go to the Daily Bugle. I wish to speak with Jonah Jameson and Joe Robertson."

"That's fine. Maybe they can help us find Mr. Parker." Lex tapped on the window. "Daily Bugle please, Haskins. Thank you." He felt the car start back toward the bridge and Manhattan beyond. Titans loomed on all sides. Questions hovered over them. Issues remained.

The game seemed to intensify….