Chapter 45
X-ray vision scanned the penthouse. No Lex, no Katherine. He really hadn't expected Lex to be there. His vision continued down the building, penetrating walls, doors, floors, and ceilings. Searching and searching for Luthor.
Plenty of lead-lined rooms. Not really a surprise. Lex had to be in one of them. He wasn't visible anywhere else.
Superman swooped to the pavement and landed with a thud at the building's entrance. He stood in front of the large spot-free glass doors, framed by shiny silver, that read Lexicon Corporation in elegant script. Not for long though. Superman grabbed the silver handle of one glass door, ripped the door from its hinges, and tossed it aside like a paper plate. The sound of shattering glass drew pedestrians' attention. They stopped in their tracks and gasped in awe and shock. Superman's ripped the remaining door from the crumpled frame and dropped it on the sidewalk. Broken glass bounced along the pavement. People backed away from the bouncing glass and Superman. Some hastily crossed the street, others frantically dialed cell phones. Many held up cell phones to take pictures and videos.
Superman strode into the building. His dark brows knit together as his x-ray vision searched the halls, offices, elevators, everywhere. Super-hearing peeled through the layers of office noise and chatter. He listened for specific voices.
No trace of Lex, or Jason, or Richard.
Security guards approached with weapons drawn. He'd heard them coming.
"Hold it right there!" the lead guard commanded, his rifle aimed at Superman's head.
Subordinates fanned out on a hand gesture from the leader and surrounded the imposing figure in blue and red.
X-ray vision revealed kryptonite bullets. Heat-vision quickly solved the problem.
Weapons hit the floor clattering loudly. Men moaned holding out painful hands. Thin wisps of smoke rose from the molten, fused barrels preventing any possibility of firing. Rifle magazines were a melted mess that encapsulated the kryptonite bullets with their deadly radiation.
At the information desk a young woman whispered into a phone. Superman's hearing tuned into the conversation.
The woman whispered, "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir, but he's already taken care of the guards."
"Be specific!" Lex's voice raged at the other end of the line. "They had kryptonite bullets."
The woman glanced at Superman, her eyes wide with terror. She swallowed and whispered into the phone, "He melted the guns, sir. The guards are down."
The lead guard took out a pistol and aimed, his blistered index finger curled around the trigger.
SWOOSH!
Superman flew straight up the center of the grand, spiraling, staircase. His flight created a small vortex that pulled the guard off his feet and sent papers flying at the information desk.
Honing in on Lex's voice, Superman searched, listening for his breathing, his heartbeat. And found him. X-ray vision couldn't penetrate the lead walls, but super-hearing confirmed who stood behind the heavy metal door on this long wide hallway.
Guards were covertly positioned along the hall. Superman heard the click of their weapons from safety to auto, and their cautious breaths. Kryptonite bullets again no doubt.
His hand reached for the metal door and instantly the hallway filled with guards to the left and to the right. Some on bended knee, some standing, some partially concealed, all with weapons drawn and ready.
One guard stepped out of the pack. He inched closer, keeping his rifle trained on the super-hero, and said, "Step away from the door, Superman." He motioned with his rifle and repeated, "Just step away from the door."
Superman lowered his hand and heard a collective sigh of relief. He gave the guards a long icy glare then lifted his arms and bolted straight up, crashing through the ceiling and landing on the floor above. Bullets whizzed through the jagged hole he'd created and pinged off walls. His lead-lined cape provided shielding while his heat-vision vaporized the bullets, leaving a gaseous stench. Super-breath dispersed the gas and its lethal chemicals.
Superman made a fist and smashed the door in front of him. Wood splinters flew everywhere. He stepped into the empty office and peered through the floor to the office below. No lead-lining in the floor? Clearly, an oversight on Lex's part.
But there Lex was, beneath him, leaning back in a cushy leather chair staring up at the ceiling with raised eyebrows. No doubt he'd heard the destruction of the door above him.
Rising from the chair, Lex kept his eyes on the ceiling while putting out his cigar.
Kitty cowered in a corner clutching a squirming Pomeranian.
Superman got on his knees, made a fist, pulled back, and struck the floor. This was just a warning blow to the occupants below.
The ceiling cracked and sent Lex scampering into the safety of the corner with Kitty. With one hand on his hip and a whimpering Kitty at his side, Lex surveyed the damaged ceiling as the blows and crack intensified.
A large chunk of ceiling crashed to the floor followed by the appearance of an angry figure in blue and red.
A slight grin played at the corners of Lex's mouth as he stepped out of the corner, fanning the cloud of dust created by the fallen chunk of ceiling.
Blue eyes bore into the well-dressed business man. Superman, hands curled into powerful fists, demanded through gritted teeth, "Where are they?"
Lex ignored the question and calmly walked to his desk where he reached for a decanter and glass. He poured himself a drink, turned, held up the glass and asked, "Care for one?"
The Man of Steel remained silent. His angry eyes never left Lex's face.
"No. Fine. Let's see. Oh, first you should know, I will sue you for all the damage."
Lex took a long sip of the drink. He was stalling for time. Holding the glass up and eyeing it, he said, "Very good, sure you don't want one?" Thinking of what he'd said, Lex chuckled and waved a hand, "Oh, you probably don't drink while you work." His head swiveled as he scanned the room. He twirled a finger and said, "Or in this case, while destroying other people's property." Lex placed the glass on the desk, crossed his arms, and glared at the formidable figure before him.
Superman heard guards gathering outside the lead door and used his heat-vision to fuse it shut. The room's temperature shot up. Kitty slid to the floor, sweat beading on her forehead, and released the frightened dog so she could fan herself.
"More damage!" Lex snarled, eyes narrowing.
Superman tipped his head back and used his freeze-breath to form an impenetrable ice block over the jagged hole in the ceiling. That effectively sealed all three people in the windowless room.
Lex looked from the ceiling to the door. "If you think this little display of powers is going to get you anywhere, you're wrooonnng!"
The heat caused Lex to loosen his tie and the top button of his shirt. "I have you right where I want you, Superman. And you know it." An sly laugh escaped his lips. It was all a matter of timing. Lex figured the guards had moved Jason and Richard to a more secure location by now.
Changing moods quickly, Lex pounded the desk with his fists and glowered like a madman. He stuck a finger in Superman's direction and repeated in a low, menacing voice, "I have you right where I want you."
Kitty's whimpering drew Lex's attention. "I should have taken care of you long ago."
"Where are they?" Superman demanded, drawing Lex's attention away from the quivering, hysterical woman sitting on the floor, legs stretched out in front of her.
Superman wrapped a steely hand around Lex's throat and slammed him against a metal wall.
Shocked, Lex groaned in surprise. He wrapped his hands around Superman's wrists.
Superman held Lex pinned against the wall, and with bared teeth, said, "One more time, where are they?"
Lex let-out a strangled chuckle and rasped out, "We both know you won't kill me." The steely hand tightened around his neck. Straining for air, Lex spit out, "You're too weak. You don't kill. Even when it's in your best interest."
Lex pulled on Superman's wrists. There was no way he could possibly pry Superman's hands off his neck. The tips of his polished shoes barely touched the floor. A thin, red beam scorched the metal wall beside him, missing his smooth head by an inch.
Lex sneered in defiance as the smell of singed metal filled his nostrils. "You can't kill me." He eyed the super-hero with the first signs of doubt and trepidation.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Superman's tone was unnervingly calm, but his eyes blazed with fury.
A terrified Kitty crawled behind a chair and trembled uncontrollably as she stared in wide-eyed fear at the drama playing out before her.
Super-hearing picked-up the overlapping sounds of alarms, police sirens and radios, SWAT team discussions, and security guards scrambling to arm themselves with additional fire-power. Layer upon layer of voices all making plans to confront a super-hero. But one voice broke through the din, a woman speaking a language only one person on Earth could understand.
"I've found them," Valia reported.
A minuscule smile crossed Superman's lips and he loosened his hold on Lex.
Lex took the opportunity to suck in a breath. Then Superman drew back his hand completely and Lex dropped to the floor. The business man coughed and wheezed. He also noted the change in Superman's demeanor. Between coughs, Lex croaked, "Wh . . . what?" He pushed to his feet and grabbed the corner of his desk for support. Then snarled, "I knew .. I knew you couldn't kill me. Or .. or anyone for that matter!"
Superman moved to the door, plunged two mighty fists into its thick metal like it was butter and yanked the door from its frame. He set it aside, creating a narrow exit.
A guard in the hall called out, "Mr. Luthor? Mr. Luthor, are you and Miss Kowalski okay?"
Lex was leaning on his desk, still struggling to regain his equilibrium and didn't answer.
Superman shot one last glance at Lex and Kitty and then zipped through the narrow opening and up through the jagged hole he'd created earlier. Gunfire followed, but far too late.