Chapter 50
Lex walked into the large medical lab hidden well-beneath the towering Lexicon building. Dr. Vale was waiting for him. The lead-lined metal walls hid the frightening and bizarre experiments Vale performed there.
Lex got right to the point of his visit. "It's been over twelve hours."
"Yes, well, based on my calculations, I did say twelve to fourteen hours. Something like this has never been tried on a human before." Dr. Vale adjusted his round eyeglasses, blinked, and added, "I'm certain he will feel the effects soon. Very soon."
"You'd better be right," Lex warned with a sneer. "Everything hinges on your nanoprobes working."
"They will." Vale sounded very confident. "I assure you, Mr. Luthor, they will." The doctor cleared his throat and asked, "Are you sure you'll be able to have the body returned to Lexicon?"
Lex's eyes narrowed angrily at the question. "I'm positive." Seeing Vale's expression of doubt Lex smiled mischievously and said, "Why doctor, you'll be the one informing the authorities it is of the utmost urgency to have the body transported here, where it can't infect anyone."
Vale's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Oh."
"You will accompany me to the police station when we get the call." Lex glanced at his watch. "Which, according to your calculations, should be anytime now."
# # # # # #
Lex hurried down the gloomy basement hallway to his private elevator. His newly acquired bodyguard and chauffeur stood beside the door. She stepped forward and asked, "Your office, Mr. Luthor?"
"No Mercy, the penthouse. I have some unfinished business to attend to there."
When young Mercy Graves turned to push the elevator button Lex took the opportunity to eye her backside appreciatively. His gaze traveled up the tall, statuesque body to the short pale-blonde hair cropped around her face, a face hardened by years of living on the streets of Metropolis fighting for her very existence. His Machiavellian smile met her cold blue eyes when she caught him leering at her body.
The elevator door opened and Lex entered. Miss Graves followed and pushed the button for the penthouse. She stared at the door. She could feel his eyes on her again. It was a small price to pay considering the lavish treatment Lex had bestowed upon her. He'd given her food, shelter, clothing, and training. She had quickly become his right-hand man, or in this case, woman. It was a title she intended to keep and reap as many benefits as possible from it.
# # # # # # #
Kitty's hands shook as she rolled the two heavy Armani suitcases to the penthouse elevator doors. She had to get out of there. She'd made her decision last night after surviving the nightmare of yesterday.
She knew Lex was involved in something frightening. She'd heard talk about crazy scientists conducting terrifying experiments in the basement. Then there were the kidnappings yesterday which had prompted what she described as the wrath of Superman. There for a minute, she'd thought Superman was going to kill Lex. Actually kill him. Mr. White and his son had been found here, in the building. Kitty wasn't naïve. She knew Lex had orchestrated the kidnappings. She just didn't know why.
Oh, and how could she forget the giant alien robot Lex had mentioned a few nights ago? Lex had said the robot was to blame for the attack on Metropolis. The city was still cleaning up that mess.
On top of everything else, her Pomeranian was missing. She blamed Lex for that, too. She had to get out of there and fast. No telling what Lex had planned next. He'd been in a blinding rage last night when he'd realized the robot was gone, destroyed, or something. She wasn't sure what had happened to it. Maybe Superman had destroyed it. If so, thank goodness.
The moment Lex left this morning, she'd started packing. It had taken her longer than expected. She'd had trouble deciding which suitcases to use, which clothes to take, and the biggest decision, what jewelry to take. Of course, she wasn't greedy, she just wanted what she deserved and could hawk or pawn.
She glanced at the ornate grandfather clock in the living room and, with dread, realized how late it was. Good God! It had taken her over two hours to pack. How could she have been so foolish? She reached for the elevator button just as the doors slid open. She flinched as if she'd been electrocuted. Lex and Miss Graves stood in the elevator. Kitty opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Lex spotted the suitcases and asked, "Going somewhere?"
"I . . I . . I," Kitty stuttered. A paralyzing fear held her in its grip.
"Cat got your tongue?" Lex's tone was condescending.
She stood there mute, unable to think or move.
"Oh, you probably think I want to stop you?" Lex smiled that awful, devious smile of his. "You're wrong. By all means, leave. I wouldn't want to keep you here against your will."
Lex unbuttoned his suit jacket, removed it and tossed it on the sofa. He was going to stay, Kitty thought. She began to relax a little, Lex never left the penthouse without his jacket. Maybe he was telling the truth and was going to let her leave peacefully.
Lex went to the bar, grabbed a glass, and over his shoulder, said, "Mercy will take you wherever you want to go."
Really? His comment gave Kitty reason to pause. "No. I can call a cab," she choked out as panic and fear resurfaced.
"Please, I insist." Lex turned and looked straight into her eyes daring her to refuse.
Kitty's heart sank. She was trapped. Mercy's cold heartless eyes met hers. The strong blonde woman grabbed the handle of one suitcase and yanked it into the elevator then held the doors and waited for Kitty to join her.
Kitty gave Lex one last, hopeful look. He was pouring dark amber into his glass and didn't even glance her way.
"Do you need help with your suitcase, Miss Kowalski?" Mercy's voice was full of disdain. She didn't wait for an answer, just grabbed the suitcase out of Kitty's hand and hauled it into the elevator. Kitty was yanked in too, and Mercy pushed the button to close the door.
Kitty fell against the metal wall as the elevator traveled down. She saw that Mercy had pressed the button for the parking garage. Good, maybe she wouldn't mind taking Kitty to the airport. Maybe this was going to work out after all. Kitty swallowed back her fears and took a shaky breath.
The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. Lex's limo was parked nearby. Mercy took one suitcase while Kitty got the other. They walked in silence the few feet to the limo. Mercy lifted the heavy suitcases with ease into the limo's trunk and slammed it shut. She opened a back door for Kitty. Feeling a little safer, Kitty climbed in and fluffed her hair. She was almost free.
The engine started and the limo gracefully threaded its way through the parking garage and onto the streets of Metropolis. The morning's bright sunlight was filtered by the limo's dark windows.
Kitty tapped on the glass separating her from Mercy and said, "You can take me to the airport." She slumped back into the soft cushioned seat and watched street signs go by. She counted the minutes until she would be out of this car.
There was the exit for the airport. Finally! But the limo didn't slow down. It didn't make the turn. Kitty tapped on the glass again. "You just missed the turn for the airport!" she shouted.
"I know, Miss Kowalski."
Those were the last words Kitty ever heard. Her world slowly faded to black as the limo's passenger compartment filled with an odorless, poisonous gas.