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From Part 6:“I was thinking about the Messenger and Baines earlier,” Lois said, barely skipping a beat as she devoured the rest of Clark’s breakfast as if by right. “Why should Luthor want to get into the space race? And why was he so confident that the Congress of Nations would cancel funding for Space Station Prometheus? I mean, he had to have put weeks of research and money into Space Station Luthor - ”
“I’d say years, actually,” Clark interrupted. “That level of design and research? You don’t get that in weeks or even months.”
“Even more suspicious, then,” Lois agreed. “And the Messenger disaster was only a couple of days before the ball. He had to have had some sort of inside track.”
“Baines,” Clark supplied.
“Impossible to prove, with Baines dead,” Lois added, pulling a face. She dropped her napkin on the now-empty plate in front of her, then sat back with a satisfied sigh. “So what else?”
**********
Now read on...Lois sipped her coffee, looking to any observer as if she was simply relaxing over a leisurely breakfast before tackling the workday ahead. But she was listening intently to her partner. He’d told her the truth: there was nothing concrete in any of what he knew or suspected, but it was enough to convince her that there really was something to go on.
If they were right, and Luthor and Baines had been working together, then Luthor was probably ultimately responsible for the Messenger’s destruction, and the deaths of its crew. And also Dr Platt - and, most likely, Baines herself.
Yes, that would make Lex Luthor a murderer, all right.
Then there were the tests Clark had mentioned. She remembered those attempted suicides - and the bomb at the museum. She’d been there, after all, and had got injured herself because she’d been so anxious to track Superman down.
And Lex Luthor had orchestrated it all because he wanted to gauge Superman’s abilities.
It was a shock to realise that Clark had almost given up Superman because of it.
When he’d told her that it was only her words to him, words she’d said almost absently in a minor fit of irritation at Clark’s apparently over-emotional reaction to a drive-by shooting, which had persuaded him to keep going, she’d been astounded. And very, very thankful that she’d said it. Clark was right: she had saved Superman more times than she knew.
It was funny; even though over the last few weeks she’d known his secret and had conspired with him to protect it, it was just dawning on her now that she was really in a unique, very privileged position. Clark depended on her.
Superman depended on her.
He needed her almost as much as she needed him. And that felt really good.
“So,” she said at last. “We think he was behind the Messenger sabotage and associated murders. And we know he tried to intimidate Superman into leaving Metropolis. Anything else?”
“Well, I did find myself wondering just what he was doing there yesterday, Lois,” Clark commented.
“Yesterday? Oh, you mean when he came to help me.”
“Yes. What does he have to do with robotic prize-fighters? I can’t quite see him as a boxing fan, anyway - it’s not cerebral enough for him,” Clark observed sardonically.
“Someone was funding the work,” Lois said quietly. “My father doesn’t know who it was - he reported to Mencken and had no idea who was really calling the tune. But it might be worth looking into.”
“Sure,” Clark agreed. “I might be able to find something we missed -” He waggled his glasses slightly. “I mean, when we were there before, we weren’t really sure what we were looking for.”
“Okay.” She took another sip ofS her coffee. “I can talk to my dad too. See if he remembers anything else that might help. When do you want to check out his lab?”
“Maybe tonight,” he suggested. Lois understood his meaning: it depended on whether anything urgent came up for Superman.
She drained her coffee, then got to her feet. “Come on, partner.” Patting his arm, she added, “We’d better get to work.”
“Sure.” Clark went to the till and paid while she collected her things, then they went together out to the Jeep, his hand lightly in the small of her back as they walked. It was just a gentlemanly gesture, she told herself. It meant nothing.
It was just a pity that it felt so good, given that he was out of bounds.
In the Jeep, she decided to broach the topic of her Luthor interview, guiltily aware that she still hadn’t told Clark about it. There had been opportunities during their long discussion, of course. But she’d been so caught up in listening to Clark’s suspicions and coming up with theories that she hadn’t given it a thought.
“Luthor called me a couple of days ago. He offered me an exclusive interview.”
Clark’s hands seemed to tighten on the steering-wheel. “I know.” The acknowledgement was abrupt.
“How?”
He touched one ear lightly. “Super-hearing, remember. I didn’t deliberately listen,” he added quickly, still sounding tense. “I heard you mention Luthor’s name - that caught my attention. And it wasn’t difficult to figure out what the conversation was about.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?” Lois stared at Clark, unsure how she felt about his having listened to her phone call. Of course she knew about his abilities, and she’d thought a number of times over the past couple of weeks how useful they would be in investigations - but she hadn’t envisaged that he’d use them to spy on her.
That was unfair, she chided herself immediately. Clark wouldn’t spy on her. And he’d only done exactly what she would have had the positions been reversed. If she’d been within range of his desk and heard him mention the name of someone she was pursuing for a story, she would have listened too.
“I figured it was for you to tell me,” he said with a faint shrug. “I was hoping you would - especially once I told you my suspicions about the guy.”
“I wasn’t holding out on you!” she exclaimed, stung. “I would have told you. And after last night I had every intention of telling you this morning. I just hadn’t got around to it until now.”
He seemed about to say something in response, but then his mouth sealed in a straight line. After a few moments, he relaxed as he drew the Jeep to a halt at an intersection. “Were we fighting?” he asked softly.
“It... kind of felt like it,” she agreed.
“I’m sorry.” The smile he threw her was wry. “I guess Lex Luthor just sets my hackles on edge.”
“I believe you about him. You know that,” she reminded him. “And this interview is a great opportunity if we can get enough research done first.”
“You’re right, it could be.” He drove across the intersection, then signalled to turn into the Planet’s parking garage. “I’ll go with you, okay?”
“No.” The response was instinctive, but she knew she was right. “He’s expecting me alone, Clark.”
“He’s got the hots for you.” Clark’s tone was rough, angry. He was worried about her, she told herself... but it sounded as if there was some deeper emotion at work. That didn’t make sense, though.
“I think so too,” she agreed. “That’s why it’s better if I go alone. He’s more likely to open up if it’s just me.”
“But what if he tries it on with you?” Now Clark’s tone just held concern. Okay, so it had only been a friend’s worry for her safety after all.
“I can handle it,” she assured him. “I’ve had a lot of practice - as a woman in this job, it’s unavoidable. And I’m a brown belt at Tai Kwon Do, too.”
Clark was silent as he parked the car. Then he sighed, turning towards her as he released his seatbelt. “Okay. But Superman will be there, keeping an eye on things. That’s non-negotiable. All right?”
The implacable note in his voice was one she was only used to hearing when he was dressed in the Suit. He wasn’t going to brook argument on this one. It wasn’t a difficult concession to make, though - and anyway, she would feel safer if she knew that Superman was within reach. “All right.”
“I’m not trying to get in your way, Lois,” he said, more gently. “The last thing I want to do is try to coddle you. Or act like I think because I’m Superman I have the right to dictate what you do when we work together. I’m But you have to know that the thought of you getting hurt terrifies me.”
She’d seen that when they’d talked the previous evening. And his concern for her warmed her inside. “I know. Last night, remember? And I will be careful.”
“I know. And since I can’t always be around - and you’d resent the heck out of it if I did try to stop you getting into anything that might be dangerous - I have to trust you to take care of yourself.”
“Good.” She patted his arm, then opened the car door. “Let’s get upstairs, and I’ll get on the phone to see what I can find out about the bionic research.”
*********
“Ms Lane is becoming a problem, Mr Luthor.”
Lex Luthor reclined in his leather executive chair, giving his assistant a mildly curious stare. “In what way, Nigel? You mean she’s cancelled the da- the interview?”
“No, sir. She has been asking questions the answers to which we would prefer her not to know.”
“Hmmm.” Lex allowed his chair to return to its upright position. “What sort of questions?”
“About the experiments in bionic technology which created the boxers, sir.”
Lex waved a hand carelessly. “She’s a reporter, Nigel. Of course she’s asking about that.”
“Questions making it clear that she has certain suspicions about the funding of the research?” Nigel’s tone was now pointed. “Questions which suggest that she believes that your interest in the fights was not merely casual?”
“Ah.” So the beautiful reporter wasn’t as easily charmed as he’d thought. He’d hoped that if he flattered her sufficiently, paid her some attention and perhaps even seduced her into his bed, she’d lose interest in the complete Lex Luthor expose she’d made it clear that she was after. Not that he’d had any reason to suspect that she was on the trail of anything in particular; no reason to believe that his elaborate web of obfuscations and artistry, of shell companies and arms’-length operating could possibly have been penetrated by anyone, even a multiple-Kerth-winning reporter such as Lois Lane.
Still, his courting of her had been an additional sleight of hand, intended to distract her attention from her original interest where he was concerned.
No matter. She could be dealt with. Anyone could be dealt with, given unlimited resources and the lack of a conscience - both of which he had.
“Should I arrange for Sam Lane to be eliminated, as a warning?” Nigel suggested.
Lex winced. Far too unsubtle. “No. I have a better idea. All we really need is to be fully aware of what the lovely Lois is up to, and I know exactly how that can be achieved.”
He reached for the telephone.
**********
“Lois! Call for you!”
Clark raised his head in curiosity as Lois picked up her receiver and pressed the key to take her phone call. She’d made a few calls earlier, trying to establish where the funding for the robotic boxers had come from, trying to see if it wove a trail back to Luthor. This could be one of her sources with the necessary information - or, at least, he hoped so.
And then he saw her face pale.
“Lois!” In under a second, he was on his feet and heading to her.
“...they’re not saying what the problem is?” she said as he reached her side. “Okay... well, thanks for calling, Patty. Yeah, I’m on my way.”
“What’s up?” Clark asked anxiously as she hung up.
“My apartment,” she said hurriedly, getting to her feet. “Something’s happened - everyone’s been evacuated and the firefighters are there. Police, too. I have to get over there.”
His eyes widening, Clark returned to his desk to grab his jacket. “Want company?”
“Seriously?” She barely broke stride as he joined her again. “I’d love it - are you sure?”
“Hey.” He squeezed her arm briefly. “Leave my partner to face something like this alone? It could be nothing,” he added as he took in her pale face again, making his tone comforting. “Someone might have gone out and forgotten to turn out the gas under the tea-kettle. It’ll probably all be over in twenty minutes.”
“Yeah.” He could tell that she was making an effort. “You’re probably right, Clark. I’m over-reacting. It’s just... that’s my home, Clark! All my stuff’s there... everything I own, all my personal things...”
“And if you need to get anything out, you know you have help,” he pointed out.
Her stride faltered momentarily, before enlightenment obviously dawned. “Oh. Right. Would you believe, I still sometimes forget?”
Clark stared at her incredulously for a moment before releasing a bark of laughter. “Oh, Lois, you just made my day!”
He meant it too, he thought as he placed his hand lightly at Lois’s back to escort her into the elevator. Oh, sure, he was used to her knowing about Superman, and he loved her calm, matter-of-fact acceptance of that these days. But still... There were still occasions, when he was in the Suit or when he did something very Super in front of her, when her eyes widened and he saw something of the same flash of admiration which had been there in the beginning. Just a touch, and only ever for an instant. And he could even understand it, too - after all, to her it had to seem very impressive. But he wanted to be just Clark to her.
She drove the Jeep on the way to Carter Avenue, her fast speeds and edge-of-the-seat cornering showing him just how tense she was about whatever was happening at her apartment building. He should probably have offered to fly her there, he thought. But just then, in less than half the time it should have taken, she turned into her street.
The emergency-services vehicles were immediately apparent, but Clark could see instantly that there was no sign of a fire. So, whatever the problem was, it didn’t pose an immediate risk to the building. Lois screeched to a halt behind them, jumping out of the car almost before she’d killed the engine. Clark followed her, instantly taking hold of her arm and walking with her. They were stopped by a police officer. “This street’s closed off, sir, ma’am. If you would just follow the diversion signs...”
“I live here!” Lois exclaimed. “1058 Carter Avenue. Will someone tell me what’s going on?”
“Oh. Well, they had to evacuate everyone from the apartments -”
“I already know that much! I want to know why!”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t know anything -”
“Come on, Lois.” Clark squeezed her arm. “Let’s leave this officer to do his job. We might be able to find out something if we go over there.” With his free hand, he indicated further up the street and across the road from Lois’s building, where a group of local residents was gathered.
He was listening carefully as they walked, hoping to overhear something which would explain what was going on. But there was too much general chatter, combined with the beeping of pagers and the sound of engines. He couldn’t manage to distinguish anything in particular. However, he was also keeping an eye on Lois’s apartment building, and was relieved to note that he couldn’t see anything posing an immediate threat there.
Lois, once they’d reached the group of residents, immediately engaged in conversation with her neighbours. Clark couldn’t help thinking that it was probably the longest conversation she’d had with any of them since she’d moved into the apartment block.
None of the other residents had been told anything about why they’d been evacuated; rumours ranged from a gas leak to an earthquake.
And then, finally, he heard something. Pulling Lois to one side, he murmured, “Sounds like there’s some damage to the foundations - I can’t figure out why yet. I’m going to investigate, okay?”
In case she hadn’t understood what he meant, he gave a little wave of his hand, mimicking take-off. She nodded, and he disappeared into the crowd before ducking into an alley.
*********
...tbc
