A/N: I posted two chapters today, chapters 34 and 35.

Chapter 34

Across town in a lead-lined room Ernie, the Town Car's driver, glared at the man tied to a chair. Although the room was cold and bare, beads of sweat trickled down the forehead of the man in the chair and onto his blindfold. His ankles were tied to the chair's metal legs and his hands were bound together behind the chair's back.

Another bead of sweat rolled down Richard's forehead. Of course he hadn't meant to get caught. His plan had been to pretend he was lost and maybe get a peek inside some of the warehouses. However, things hadn't worked out that way. The warehouse workers instantly suspected he was snooping and 'BAM! He was hit hard on the back of the head. Next thing he knew he was here, wherever here was, with an aching head and two goons hovering over him.

"You know people are going to miss me," Richard said hoping to reason with his captors.

Ernie gave Richard a nasty little half-grin. "Right. Sure. Why were you snoopin' round the docks?"

"Hey, guys," Richard tried to sound calm. It wasn't easy. Not when you were tied to a chair and completely helpless. "I work for the Daily Planet. I'm investigating the rash of fires on the docks."

Mick, the Town Car's passenger, sneered. "That's BS. Those fires are old news and the suspect was caught. You were looking for something else. What was it?" Mick smacked the back of Richard's head.

Richard gritted his teeth and remained silent. He needed to think, although the pain in his head made it difficult. Dwell on the positives, he told himself, dwell on the positives. You're going to get out of this, for yourself, for Jason, and for Lois.

"What was it? What were you looking for?" Mick snarled, his face close to Richard's. Richard could smell cigarettes and coffee on his breath.

Richard put his head down and kept quiet. It seemed the best course of action. Actually, it was a non-action, he supposed.

"I think it's time to call the boss," Ernie said.

Richard heard a heavy door open and slam shut. One man had left the room. Richard heard the remaining thug's footsteps and then a heavy plop of vinyl as he sat down in a nearby chair.

Richard ran theories through his head. If there was nothing to hide at the warehouses these thugs and their boss wouldn't mind Richard snooping around. Sure, they would have stopped him, asked what he was doing and if they didn't like the answer they would have sent him on his way. Or call the police. Either way, Richard certainly wouldn't be here, in a sealed room tied to a chair being asked questions and hit.

Richard heard the thug light a cigarette and take a deep breath. The sound of another deep inhale and the smell of cigarette smoke, then the door opened.

"Hey, the boss wants to see us," Ernie told Mick. Then his voice was directed at Richard, "But don't worry, we'll be back."

A few seconds later the heavy door slammed shut and the room fell silent. Richard's body relaxed. It was actually comforting to be alone, except for the lingering cigarette smoke. If only he could lie down. The tight ropes cut into his wrists and rubbed the skin raw. His knees and legs ached from lack of movement and his head throbbed. He tried to relax, to calm his racing heart. Once he was calm he would work on loosening the binds around his hands.

# # # # # #

Jason ran into Lois' embrace. She hugged her son tightly, glad to have him safe in her arms. She kissed the top of his head and asked, "How was your day?"

"Good," Jason said. "I had fun on the swings at recess and we're learning about pumpkins."

Lois looked into Jason's blue eyes as she pushed his soft brown hair off his face. "That's great, sweetie. Let's go home and have dinner. Mommy's tired." For the sake of her son, Lois put on a happy face.

As they walked hand-in-hand to the car, Lois thought of all the phone calls she'd made that afternoon trying to locate Richard. Richard's doorman confirmed that he'd left for work at his usual time at morning, but had not returned home. She'd taken Richard's picture to several of the local hospitals. No one matching Richard's description had been admitted. She left a copy of the photo. The hospital staff promised to call if he showed up.

What should she do next? She'd thought about calling the police, but Richard hadn't been missing twenty-four hours yet. And at best she only knew she couldn't locate him. She certainly didn't have any proof he'd been kidnapped .. or worse. Although, in her heart she was positive that's exactly what had happened, and she was just as sure, that Lex Luthor had a hand in Richard's disappearance.

Lois buckled Jason's seat belt and kissed his head again. "Are steamed vegetables and rice okay for dinner?"

"Can we have Jell-O for dessert?"

"Of course, sweetie." She started the car and headed home. After dinner she would call the hospitals again. With any luck, Richard would show up before the night was over. But Lois knew not to get her hopes too high.