I was so excited to see this chapter posted when I checked ... and now that I'm done reading it, I'm kicking myself because the wait for the next chapter is going to be agony.
As intense as the beginning of this chapter was, with Moyne being so very smooth as he spun his lies to Rachel, I was worried it was going to end up on another tense moment. But then everything finally started to crash in around
Moyne and it was like the clouds parted and rays sunshine started to leak through.
So stupid of Moyne not to realize that there was physical evidence to support Lois's version of events -- and how wonderful that Menzies thought to ask about it. I was very concerned when Lois didn't take Scardino's advice about telling Rachel that Moyne was a suspect in two murders, but having Menzies deliver the news was even better.
And what amazing plotting to have the accusation of rape be the thing that both acted as Menzies' moral line in the sand and saved his marriage. He took a big personal risk in letting Moyne face charges, but the universe rewarded him for it by reconnecting him with his wife. You've done a really impressive job in this story of using a lot of shades of gray when you've painted your characters.
And Lois certainly falls within those shades of gray, doesn't she? Other people commented in the last chapter that they didn't like the fact that she was so cold to Clark while she was in agent-mode, but I loved it. One of the things I've enjoyed about this story is how wonderfully competent Lois is. As Menzies reminds himself, she got to her level by being amazing at what she does, and I like seeing evidence of that. Is it going to take an emotional toll on her? Absolutely, and to deny that would not be doing the characters or this story any justice. But that's exactly what makes Lois and Clark so perfect for each other -- he can't believe that he could ever be what she needs, but as they work through the aftermath of what she did and how she acted (and why), Clark is going to see exactly why he is so important to her. As awful as the situation was, it gives Clark the chance to take care of Lois for awhile, and I think that's going to be very helpful in putting them more on an even footing in their relationship.
So is it too much to hope for that Moyne will be so outraged by the fact that Menzies isn't covering for him that he'll try to escape and will be killed in the process? All without ever revealing Clark's secret? All I can do is hope, hope, hope that Clark will finally be able to relax and rebuild his life ... and I'm sure that whatever you have planned will be ultimately very satisfying.
More, please!
Kathy
