Chapter 17
Richard sat at a table for four in the cozy little Italian restaurant. He had taken the initiative of ordering wine for Lois and himself. The waiter was pouring the first glass of wine when Lois and Jason arrived a few minutes after six. Over the years Richard had learned to accept the fact that Lois was not the most punctual person on Earth. It's just one of her many endearing habits he told himself as he rose to greet Lois and Jason.
"Hi buddy! How you doing?" Richard said and scooped Jason up for a hug.
Jason's small face shone with excitement. "Daddy you were gone a long time!"
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that buddy."
"It's okay," Jason said then told Richard about his day. "I went to the Museum of Natural History. It was fun. Have you been there?"
"Sure. I went to the Museum when I was your age!" Richard smiled. "It's really neat. It has dinosaurs doesn't it?" Richard ruffled Jason's hair and pulled out a chair for Lois.
The waiter returned with a basket of warm bread, placed it in the center of the table, and poured olive oil on a plate. After the waiter departed, Lois tore the bread into small pieces for dipping.
An hour later the waiter cleared away the last of the dinner dishes. By now, Jason was rubbing his tired eyes.
"Looks like someone is ready to go home," Richard said and signaled the waiter for the check.
Seeing Richard signal the waiter, Lois said, "Hey, I invited you to dinner, I'm paying."
Richard smiled. "Okay, then I'll take Jason to the restroom and get him washed up while you pay."
"Thanks," laughed Lois. She searched her purse for a credit card.
A short time later Richard, Lois, and Jason gathered outside the restaurant and exchanged hugs. Richard thanked Lois again for dinner. He only wished he could truly express the happiness he'd felt at being together as a family.
"Richard, you have been there for Jason and me the past five years. Dinner is the least I can do," Lois said sincerely. "You still mean a lot to me." She gave Richard one last hug before slipping into her car.
Richard closed Lois' car door and waved good-bye. Slowly, Lois backed the car out of its parking spot and pulled away. A feeling of loneliness crept over Richard as he watched Lois and Jason drive off. He slipped into his car and drove to his small apartment without realizing a dark blue Town Car had pulled out behind Lois' car.
The Town Car's occupants were careful not to follow too closely. They knew where Lois lived, so they didn't need to worry about losing her and they were sure she was headed home. At the restaurant even they could see Jason was getting tired.
"She's got to put the kid to bed. Then what?" asked Ernie, the driver of the Town Car.
"She could get a late night visitor, you know. Maybe one that literally drops in." Mick, the passenger grinned at his witty remark.
"You mean the fly-by-night type?" Ernie said and chuckled at his own joke.
Mick smiled at the joke, too. "Yep, that's the kind I mean. Wouldn't mind seeing that myself. So, far this job has been easy."
"Way too easy. I'm sure it won't stay that way. They never do." Ernie turned down a different street than Lois. She was heading straight home, so he would drive around the block and park outside her house after she and Jason were inside.
By ten-thirty the Lane house was dark. Ernie and Mick sat outside watching with binoculars. They had smoked, drank coffee, and relieved themselves in the neatly manicured bushes lining the street. They quietly snickered each time they 'watered the plants.'
At midnight, Ernie and Mick got out of the car for a stretch break. Ernie took out a cell phone. Ernie, a former marine, was known for his punctuality and at precisely five after twelve he dialed a number as previously instructed. Mick, an ex-con, leaned against the car and enjoyed another cigarette.
"Yes," said a stern voice over the phone line.
"Hey, boss," Ernie began, "we followed them to dinner and then home. No late night visitors tonight. The lady went to bed by ten-thirty. It's all quiet here."
"Are you positive there were no visitors? The kind I'm interested in wouldn't be using the front door," the voice warned.
"We're sure," Ernie said. "We were checking the sky, the deck . . . and the door, you know, just in case."
There was a pause so Ernie asked, "Do you want us to stay? Or call it a night?"
"Call it a night," came the answer. "But follow the Lanes again tomorrow night. Same plan as tonight. I'll be waiting for your call." Click, the phone went dead.
Ernie and Mick hopped into the dark blue car and headed to a local bar for a nightcap.
Across town, Lex Luthor sat behind the desk in his penthouse office pondering the call he'd just received.
"A day without Superman," Lex mused. "We'll see what happens tomorrow." He laid the cell phone on his desk and stood to stretch. Unexpectedly, the door to his office opened a few inches.
"What the . . . ," muttered Lex, but no one was there. A slight noise caused him to look down. He found Kitty's Pomeranian staring up at him.
Lex glared at the dog and snarled, "Your hide would make a perfect doormat."
The dog sniffed around making its way to the leather easy-chair in the corner. It looked at the seat and then at Lex.
"Don't even think about it," Lex warned in a low, menacing voice. "You would be a doormat by tomorrow morning if so much as a paw touched that seat."
As if it understood, the dog sat down in front of the chair and bit at an itchy spot on its side.
"Hm, you're not as dumb as you look," said Lex. "Actually, quite the opposite. If I remember correctly you'll do whatever it takes to survive." Lex remembered that this little dog had survived being left in the Vanderworth mansion by eating its mate.
"But the bigger question is . . . why are you here?" Lex frowned at the dog now comfortably curled up in front of the chair. "Where's Kitty?" He was irritated and his voice showed it.
Kitty's voice wafted through the doorway as if in answer to his question, "Lexxx! Lexxx!" She pushed open the door and frantically looked around. She didn't enter, entry was forbidden. A thick white cream masked her face and a brightly colored cloth covered her head.
"Lex, I'm sorry, but I can't find . . .," Kitty said breathlessly, placing a neatly manicured hand to her chest. Then she spotted the dog curled up in front of the chair. "Oh, my god! I'll get him."
She stepped into the office, hoping to quickly retrieve her pet and leave before upsetting Lex any further. But the little dog wanted nothing to do with her. He got up quickly, whimpered, and scampered behind the chair. Peeking out, he yelped and cowered at the sight of Kitty's cream covered face.
"Now I understand why he's here." Lex's face twisted in disgust at the sight of Kitty.
"He's seen me like this lots of times," Kitty whined. "He's never run away before!"
"Maybe he's gotten smarter," Lex countered with a sneer.
"I'll just take him and go." Kitty stepped toward the chair.
"No!" Lex ordered. "The dog can stay. However, you must go." Lex strode to the entrance, placed his hand on the door and pointed to the hall, indicating Kitty should exit immediately.
"But, but I . . . I don't understand," Kitty sputtered as Lex forcefully shoved her out and shut the door in her face.
Returning to his desk, Lex opened a box and selected a cigar. After cutting and lighting it, he gently puffed, enjoying the rich blend of flavors. Lex reclined comfortably in his cushy chair and propped his feet on the rich mahogany desk. Devious thoughts played through his mind as he slowly rolled the cigar between his fingers. Another puff of the expensive cigar helped Lex relax, taking away some of his irritation with Kitty.
The sandy brown Pomeranian returned to the front of the easy-chair. Lex watched as it curled up, rested its head on its front paws, and closed its eyes. It seemed quite content to be separated from its over-indulgent owner.
Lex exhaled a circle of smoke and told the dog, "You really are smarter then I realized."
He leaned back in his chair, took another puff, and stared at the ceiling. After a moment's thought, he said, "Children like dogs don't they? Especially, cute little dogs."