Chapter 49

Richard poured himself a cup of coffee and added cream.

Lois entered the kitchen wearing her robe and stifling a yawn. "Morning. Why are you up so early? It's Sunday. I thought after all you've been through you would've slept in."

"There are things I need to take care of and I don't want to over-stay my welcome." Richard stirred his coffee. "Thanks for letting me spend the night."

Lois snorted. "Like I could get out of it." She poured herself a cup of coffee. "Jason was so excited to have his daddy back I don't think I would've been able to get him to bed if you weren't here. After all, he did help rescue you," her tone was teasing. She lifted her cup to her lips. "How was the guest bed?"

"Not bad. Glad I still had a few clothes here."

Richard and Lois took seats at the small kitchen table. They'd sat at this same table last night discussing Richard and Jason's ordeal.

"What's on your agenda for today?" Lois asked.

Richard sipped his coffee. "Stop by the office. There's some paperwork I need to take care of. I did miss two days of work."

Lois nodded and sipped her coffee. "I'm sure Perry will expect an article on your kidnapping and rescue."

"He'll want you to write it. He might want you to include Jason."

Lois shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "Whatever I write will be more a PR piece for Superman than anything. He caused a lot of destruction at Lexicon. I'm going to have to do some massive damage control for him."

"Some advice?" Richard said. He knew how much Lois hated hearing or taking advice. "I think you need to approach the article from the angle of who's wrong. Clearly, Jason and I were taken and held against our will. Focus on that and the fact that Superman saved us. People, especially parents, should be able to relate to an abducted child and be grateful to Superman for finding them." Richard had decided to remain silent about the alien woman he'd seen.

Lois lifted one shoulder and let it drop. "You may be right. It's just that, well, some people may feel Superman 'crossed a line.' He used too much force. Abused his powers." Lois sighed and set her coffee on the table. "You know how society is. People are always looking for a way to bring down the good guy, even a super-hero."

Richard nodded. He felt the same. "Yeah, you're right."

"I wish we could confirm Luthor had a hand in all of this. I'd like to let the public know who they're really dealing with. As long as Luthor walks free, Jason and a lot of other people, are in danger."

Richard took a careful sip of his coffee. "True. One thing we know for sure is that someone working for Lexicon was responsible for the kidnappings. That can't be good PR for the corporation. Maybe this incident will bring the players behind the scenes out into the open. I'm sure there's a lot of city council members who'd like to know who's really in charge at Lexicon."

"I think you're right," Lois said. "With the police investigating, I wonder if the higher ups at Lexicon are starting to sweat?"

The chirp of Lois' phone interrupted the conversation. "It's Detective Hardy," she said reading the caller id. "Hello. Yes, Detective. Yes, Richard's here." There was a long stretch of Lois simply listening and then, "I'll tell him. Yes, I'm sure he can be at the station in an hour."

Lois hung up the phone and looked at Richard. "You're not going to believe this. Lex Luthor has come forward and announced he is the head of the Lexicon Corporation. He has identified two of his employees as those responsible for the kidnappings. One is already in custody. Detective Hardy wants you to come down to the station and see if you can identify his voice."

Richard was dumbfounded for a second. "I .. I should I be suspicious of this? Right? We were just talking about this. It's the news we were hoping for. Lois? You don't seem happy about this either."

"It's way too easy, Richard. Lex would never come forward and give up the people responsible unless it benefits him in some way. He's up to something. We just don't know what it is."

Richard drained his coffee, pushed back from the table, and stood. "Well, on that scary note, I need to go. Maybe I'll find out something while I'm at the police station. Tell Jason 'bye' for me. I'll call this evening."

# # # # # #

Detective Hardy pointed to a two-way mirror and told Richard, "That's the man we have in custody."

Richard and Hardy stood in a small room looking through a window into the adjoining interrogation room. The lone suspect sat at a metal table tapping his fingers. His eyes darted around the room betraying his nervousness.

Hardy read from his notes. "Name's John Michael Corben, also known as 'Mick.' He's Australian, thirty-eight years old, and an ex-con. Says Mr. Luthor offered him a job as a chauffeur about six months ago."

"Chauffeur?" Richard scoffed. This guy didn't look like a chauffeur. His sandy-blond hair was in need of a trim and a comb, his clothes were untidy and wrinkled. His demeanor spoke more of being a thug, a hired hand.

"That's his story and Mr. Luthor backs it up," Hardy said.

Richard wrinkled his face in disbelief. "You're kidding me."

"I'm not buying this story either," Hardy admitted and stared at the man on the other side of the glass. Detective Lamb entered the interrogation room and took a seat across the table from Mick.

Hardy turned a knob on the wall so he and Richard could hear the conversation. "Listen closely and see if you can identify his voice as one of your captors."

Richard moved closer to the speaker as Lamb asked Mick some routine questions.

"Where did you say you were born?"

"Perth, Australia." Mick eyed Lamb suspiciously.

"When did you begin working for Mr. Luthor?"

"I've already told you." There was aggression in his voice.

"We need an exact date." Lamb gave Mick a long hard stare.

As the questions continued, Richard closed his eyes and concentrated on Mick's voice. After a few minutes he said, "He's one of the guys. I'm positive."

"Great. We'll need a signed statement from you. Follow me."

An hour later Richard sat at Hardy's desk signing a typed and sworn statement. Just as he laid the pen down, Detective Lamb burst into the room. He placed both hands on Hardy's desk and said, "He just confessed to murder."

Hardy's eyes shot up to his partners. "What?"

Richard was as surprised by this unexpected news as the two detectives.

Lamb nodded vigorously. "Says he shot his accomplice, Ernie, Ernesto Gonzalez."

"You get any details?"

"He told me everything. We need to start dragging the river near the Mercy Bridge."

Hardy looked at Richard and said, "Mr. White, thank you for coming in and giving us a sworn statement. We'd appreciate it if you'd keep the information you gave us and the information you've just heard, as confidential for the time being."

Richard's mouth was agape. This was incredible news. He nodded and said, "Sure. I won't say a word."

Richard silently thanked Superman. There was no telling what might have happened to him and Jason had Superman not shown up when he did, especially now that Richard knew they were dealing with a murderer.

# # # # # #

Mick paced the small cell. He felt like a caged animal. He didn't like being back in prison. He'd spent enough time behind bars for petty crimes in his home country. Luthor had better come through like he'd promised. Mick had kept his end of the bargain. He'd gotten rid of Ernie so Luthor owed him. Luthor better get him out of here and fast.

Mick continued to pace the cell. He curled and uncurled his hands. He wished there was something to punch to relieve the frustration and tension coursing through his veins.

Then he felt the heat. Wow, he was really getting worked up. He tugged at the collar of his T-shirt to loosen it.

Suddenly, it was really hot. Sweat formed on his brow and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. He grabbed the cell bars and yelled, "Hey!"

No response.

He gripped the bars tighter and yelled louder, "Hey! Did somebody turn up the heat in here?"

The heat increased. It was like a blast furnace. Beads of sweat trickled down Mick's forehead. His stomach churned violently and a wave of nausea hit him so hard it almost doubled him over.

"Hey!" he yelled through the bars. His grip was weakening. "I don't feel so good." His hands slid off of the bars. "I think .. I think .. I need help." His slumped on to the floor, pale and sweaty.

His last thought was, Oh God, what's happening to me?