Live Another Day
Part 10:
Fifteen minutes later, Lois was sitting in Scardino’s car and watching the main entrance of the precinct. Luthor’s black limo was parked in front of the building while Scardino had found an empty parking lot on the opposite side of the street. Apparently Luthor had been inside the precinct for quite some time now. His chauffeur had gotten out of the car and lit a cigarette. Now he was leaning with his back against the limo and puffing greyish clouds of smoke into the afternoon air.
Lois’ thoughts wandered back to Clark. She’d thought that she would be hearing from him. That perhaps he’d call Henderson or even show up at his apartment. She remembered the last time she’d seen him and how he’d collapsed against the wall. It surprised her that Scardino was able to dismiss his injury so easily. After all, she’d seen the blood on his leg. How could this be just an act?
But Scardino seemed to know Clark a whole lot better than she did. And she remembered the strange way Clark had reacted when she’d tried to help him. Lois strongly suspected that he wouldn’t welcome her interference. He’d be furious with her. If she continued to make him angry, Lois was never going to see his smile again.
Lois looked at the man beside her. Scardino’ eyes were firmly trained on the other side of the street. He’d dropped his goofy attitude ever since he’d told her about his partner Jenna. She understood him better now, but the same couldn’t be said for Clark Kent.
There was that thought again. The lovely smile she’d seen on his face, if only for a second. Lois berated herself for being unable to stop thinking about the man, not even for a minute.
The words were out before Lois had a chance to stop herself. “Okay, I get why you’re so keen on bringing Luthor to justice. But why is Clark risking his life to stop him?”
“He doesn-” Scardino broke off and bit his lip, swallowing down whatever else he had intended to say. “Look, Clark has a strong sense of justice.”
Lois wasn’t quite content. “It’s not just that. It’s almost as if this is his sole purpose in life.”
Scardino shrugged. “I believe it is.”
Lois stared at him. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know much about what’s going on with him now. But when I first approached him, someone told me that his life had recently been turned upside down. He also mentioned that Clark might be looking for a job.” Scardino let out a whistle. “Luthor’s coming out of the building and Henderson is still with him. That’s my cue. You stay here. Be right back.”
He jumped out of the car and after a brief moment of checking for oncoming traffic, he hastily crossed the street. Luthor was still standing in front of the precinct and talking to Henderson. It was obvious he was pretty distressed. His gestures looked angry and threatening.
Scardino made a beeline for Henderson. Luthor, who had obviously finished the conversation with Henderson, turned on his heels and headed for his limo. He bumped into Scardino and angrily glared at the inattentive man. To the unsuspecting observer, it looked like Scardino wasn’t watching his steps. But Lois knew he’d run into Luthor on purpose.
As Luthor approached his limo, his chauffeur hastily dropped his cigarette on the pavement and put it out with his foot. Then he eagerly opened the door for his boss. Luthor got into the limo and his chauffeur walked around the car to get in on the driver’s side. As the limo filed back into the traffic, Scardino grinned and patted Henderson’s shoulder. The Inspector shook his head and returned to his office
A moment later, Scardino once again crossed the street and slipped onto the driver’s seat next to Lois.
He grinned like a child on Christmas. “Done. Now, hopefully, we’ll hear what Luthor is up to.”
Scardino fumbled in a pocket of his jacket and produced a small device that he dropped into Lois’ hand. Then he started the car. Looking over his shoulder, he took a U-turn to follow Luthor.
While Scardino was driving, he pointed at the item in Lois’ hand. “This is the ear piece of a bug I bought at Spies ‘R’ Us. They have some very fancy things there. Completely illegal, but very fancy.” Scardino chuckled. “The bug looks like a pen, so hopefully Luthor won’t notice it. If you set the volume control to max, we can both hear what’s being said in the car.”
Lois furrowed her brows, but turned the volume on. There was a static crackle, but otherwise they couldn’t hear a thing.
Scardino shrugged. “Unfortunately, these things have a short range.”
He sped up, still following the black limo. Gradually they caught up until there was only one car between them and Luthor. As they got closer, the static crackle turned into voices.
Luthor was speaking. He sounded desperate and quite a bit annoyed. “...shouldn’t have been in the building when it exploded. Have you reached those imbeciles, yet?”
The other voice was close as if the someone Luthor was talking to sat right beside him. His tone exuded calm, an impression that perhaps was intensified by his British accent. “I have been trying, Sir.”
“Then try again, Nigel,” Luthor growled. “I can’t believe they have the audacity not to pick up the phone when the Boss is calling them.”
They could hear Nigel chuckle softly. “Perhaps they know what you have in store for them.”
A series of bleeps announced that Nigel was trying again to call someone.
“Put on the speakerphone,” Luthor demanded.
Lois suspected that they were trying to reach Clark’s goons. The phone rang a few times.
“You should let me do the talking,” Nigel said. “You are not the most rational person at the moment, if I dare say so.”
Luthor huffed in annoyance, but didn’t reply. The phone rang again. Then someone took the call.
His voice was slightly quivering. “Ye...yes?”
Nigel’s reply was firm and just a tad irritated. “Who is this? I would like to speak to my contact.”
“Ra...Ray, Sir.” The man on the other end of the line stuttered. Lois was pretty sure it was the fat guy. She couldn’t help but smile to herself as she imagined his face contorted with fear.
“Ch...Chuck did...didn’t return from the job.”
Nigel clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “I believe I made it very clear that the building had to explode at precisely ten o’clock.”
“Ye...yes Sir,” Ray hastened to say. “Chuck changed the time. He wanted to kill off the chick we ran into at the Daily Planet.”
“What - chick?” Nigel pronounced the last word like the expression itself was too disgusting to roll off his British tongue.
“A reporter,” Ray replied. He seemed to become a little bolder with each word. “Pretty babe! Said she knows Luthor and that he’d pay good money to get her back. But Chuck wouldn’t listen. Said it was too dangerous to keep her alive. So he shot her point blank.”
Lois heard a thud and a clinking sound as if someone had forcefully put down a glass. She knew that Lex had a mini bar in the back of his limo.
“You mean she is dead?” Nigel demanded.
“Yeah, man,” Ray confirmed. “Too bad. I would have liked to see the look on Luthor’s face when he realizes that he’s been paying for damaged goods.” Then he chuckled, oblivious to the fact that the man in question could hear every word he said.
Luthor made a sound, but Nigel obviously stopped him.
“What are you talking about?” Nigel asked.
Ray was still chuckling. “Chuck got his jollies with the chick.”
There was another strangled sound, but once again Nigel managed to keep Luthor in check. “Are you telling me that he raped her?”
Ray sounded awfully pleased. “Yes, Mr. Bossman.”
Someone, Lois thought it was Nigel, took an audible breath. “And this Chuck is where, now?”
“Dunno.”
The reserved Brit gradually lost his calm. “Well, you should see to it that you get him to me, or I will hold you personally responsible for his mistakes.”
Ray seemed to sober upon the threat. “What does that mean, Boss?”
“It means exactly what I said - bring him to me or you are a dead man!” Nigel ordered.
For a moment it was silent in the car. Then Lois heard the sound of splintering glass. Someone growled in anger, a sound that let a shiver run down Lois’s spine. She was almost certain that it was Luthor.
When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. “Chuck Fox. I should have realized that something was off.”
Nigel seemed surprised. “Sir?”
“When I met Lois at the Daily Planet, she introduced me to a man called Chuck Fox,” Luthor explained. “That must have been him. I could have saved her. Why didn’t she give me at least a hint that she was in danger? Damn!” There was another thud, as if Luthor had hit something in anger. “You should have let me talk to this sorry excuse for a criminal. I would have made him tell me where this Chuck person is.”
“We cannot risk that he finds out who the Boss really is,” Nigel stated calmly. “Besides, he will move heaven and hell to get this Chuck to you just to save his own miserable life. Not that there is much to save.”
Luthor’s voice was thick with emotion. “I’ll kill him personally.”
“Do you mean Chuck or this miserable lowlife?” Nigel asked.
“Chuck,” Luthor said through clenched teeth. “Not only did he kill Lois, he also took what was rightfully mine. I want him to die a painful death and I want to look into his eyes as his life seeps out of him.”
The black limo turned a corner and slowed down as they reached Lex Tower.
“I think we’ve heard enough,” Scardino muttered.
The conversation once more faded to static crackle as Scardino drove straight on. He followed the road for another block and turned the next corner. Then he headed back to Lex Tower and parked the car in a safe distance where they had a good view of Luthor’s limo. Scardino took the earpiece from Lois and turned it off.
Lois mind still reeled with what she’d heard. Technically, she had believed Clark what he had told her about her almost-fiancée. But it was something entirely different to listen to him talk about committing murder. Luthor’s voice had been cold, almost void of any emotion but pure hatred. The most disturbing part was that Luthor hadn’t seemed to mind so much that she’d supposedly been violated. He’d been more angry that Clark had allegedly been intimate with her when Luthor hadn’t.
< Not only did he kill Lois, he also took what was rightfully mine>
Luthor’s words reverberated through her mind. He was talking about her like she was some possession, no more than a piece of jewelry or perhaps a pet. That didn’t sound like he truly loved her at all. Her heart clenched in fear as she imagined what Luthor might do to Clark.
< I want him to die a painful death and I want to look into his eyes as his life seeps out of him.>
“We should warn Clark,” Lois whispered.
Scardino furrowed his brows. “He knows what he’s gotten himself into. Luthor wanting to kill him was part of his plan.”
Lois nodded anxiously. “I know. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous. This is insane.”
“Clark is quite capable of taking care of himself.” Scardino laid his hand on hers in what probably was an attempt to reassure her. “Back in Panama he fought against at least a dozen criminals with paramilitary background and I didn’t even see him break a sweat. You shouldn’t worry about him too much.” He smiled at her.
The feeling of unease in Lois’ gut didn’t fade. “You seem awfully confident of Clark’s abilities.”
Scardino grinned. “You don’t know him like I do, Lois. If you did, you’d feel the same way.”
Lois couldn’t help but remember Clark as he’d lain sprawled on the floor in his room, unconscious. She’d seen all the blood seeping out of his leg and she would never forget how pale he had looked. And he’d almost collapsed after they had escaped the explosion. There was no way he could have faked all that. Or could she be mistaken? But why? Why on earth would he pretend to be so weak? It just didn’t make sense.
Lois pulled the flannel shirt tighter around herself. “I’m just worried about him.”
“You—” Scardino was cut short by the ringing of his mobile phone. “That’s probably Henderson asking what the heck we’re doing.” He searched his leather jacket for the phone and withdrew it from one of the pockets inside.
“Scardino.” As he listened to the person on the other end of the line, his expression changed from a look of mild annoyance to one of surprise. He covered the receiver with one hand and turned to Lois.
“It’s Clark,” he explained.
“Put him on the speaker.” Lois demanded.
Scardino pressed the button. Lois could hear Clark’s voice. “…return to the hotel later. Have you heard anything from Henderson or Luthor?”
“I was able to place the bug you suggested on Luthor. We’ve followed him to Lex Tower. Things went just as you planned. One of the guys told him what you supposedly did to Lois. He ordered your guys to bring you to him, or else they’re going to die. I’m certain that should be enough of an incentive to get them to work.”
“Who is we? Is Henderson with you?” Clark asked.
Scardino winked at Lois before he spoke. “No. Please, don’t fly off the handle. Lois is sitting next to me.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Clark exclaimed. “Didn’t you tell her how dangerous this is? If someone sees her-“
“Keep your shirt on!” Scardino sighed. “She’s wearing a perfect disguise. Nobody is going to recognize her like this.”
Lois wasn’t interested in their banter. Before Clark had a chance to say anything else, she chimed in. “Clark, where are you? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” he replied. Was it her imagination or did he sound tired? “I’m going to keep an eye on Hank, Ray and Joe.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Lois asked anxiously.
Scardino started to laugh. “Lois, all he’s got to do is let himself be caught. That’s not a very difficult task.”
Lois rolled her eyes at Scardino and took the mobile phone from his hand. She turned the speaker off and held the phone to her ear.
“Clark, are you sure you’re okay?” She couldn’t keep the worry from her voice. “I saw you collapse against the wall when we left the Daily Planet.”
She heard Clark’s breathing on the other end of the line for a short while. His voice was firm as he spoke again. “I said I’m fine, Lois. Don’t worry about me.”
Lois wanted to ask him more questions, but judging by the tone of his voice, he considered the conversation over. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t being honest with her. Suddenly she desperately wanted to see him and find out for herself how he was really doing.
“I’ve got to get going.” Clark hung up the phone and Lois found herself listening to the dial tone.
Slightly taken aback, she handed Scardino the phone. He watched her with a curious expression. Lois felt unable to say anything to him. Her mind was still reeling with worry as she thought about Clark and the danger he was going to face. After she’d listened to Luthor there was no doubt in her mind that he was serious about wanting to kill Clark. And given the state he’d been in when she’d last seen him, his death was a distinct possibility.
Scardino’s ever present smile was tugging at his lips. “You’re not falling for him, are you?”
Lois stared at him. It took a moment until his words had fought their way through the haze in her mind. She pondered the question. Could she be falling for Clark? It sounded ridiculous. She hardly knew him. All he’d ever done was scare the hell out of her.
A tiny voice in the back of her mind whispered. <But when he didn’t scare you, he was very sweet and gentle.>
She remembered the moment he’d backed off after threatening to rape her. The way he’d been disgusted with himself. His touch as he’d held the bag out for her when she’d hyperventilated. The way he’d listened to her when she’d told him about her relationship problems. In a way, she’d been closer to him than to any man she’d ever met. Could she actually be falling for him?
“No… yes…I don’t know,” she muttered.
Scardino chuckled. “Don’t you think it’s a bit weird to develop Stockholm syndrome after spending just one night with this guy?”
Lois slapped his arm. “Stop making fun of me.”
He sobered. “I’m sorry. It’s just… Look, I don’t want to see you hurt. Clark may be a good man, but I don’t believe he’ll ever be interested in you or any other woman for that matter.”
Lois looked at him confused. “You mean he’s gay?”
Scardino’s reply was more than curious. “Actually, I’m not sure he’s anything at all.”
Lois had no idea what he’d meant by that, but she was certain that she wouldn’t get a satisfying answer out of him anyway. But she knew one thing for sure, she needed to see Clark and help him if at all possible. He’d saved her life and she wanted to return the favor. How could she ever look at herself in the mirror again if he died by Luthor’s hand?
Lois took her handbag and reached for the handle to get out of the car. “I’m going to look for Clark.”
“Lois, stay here.” Scardino grabbed her arm, but she freed herself from his grip.
She climbed out and stared him down through the still open door. “I can’t just let him walk into Luthor’s trap.”
He hastily got out of the car to follow her. “You don’t even know where he is!”
When Scardino caught up with her, he once again tried to hold her arm, but she shook him off. “He told us, he’d go back to the hotel.”
“That’s in Hobb’s Bay. Are you trying to get yourself killed as well?” Scardino said exasperated. “I know for a fact that Clark’s chances of survival are much better than yours.” He grabbed her again, this time holding her more firmly. “Now stay here, or you’ll put everything we’ve worked for at risk.”
Lois glared at him angrily. “If you try to hold me back, I’ll scream bloody murder.”
Scardino shrugged. “I can live with that. I’m sure Henderson will pay the bail if it means that you stay put.”
“Clark is in danger. And he won’t be of any help bringing Luthor down if he dies.” Lois spat and struggled against the larger agents grip.
“How often do I have to tell you that he’ll be okay!” Scardino growled.
Rage coursed through Lois and with an angry growl she kicked him in his groin. Scardino collapsed with a strangled cry and let go of her. “How would you even know? You haven’t seen him.” Lois pressed her handbag firmly to her body and ran away as fast as she could.
Scardino threw up his hands and yelled after her. “Henderson was right about you when he said that you’re a world of trouble.”
Lois didn’t glance back. She hastily looked around to see where she would find the next cab and stormed off. A few moments later she’d made it to the main street and raised her hand to hail a cab. She didn’t need to wait long. As the yellow car stopped next to her she got in and ordered the driver to bring her to Hobb’s Bay.
To be continued
Last edited by bakasi; 08/20/21 03:10 AM.
