Chapter 20: A Triumph on the Front Page
The SWAT team broke through the warehouse door. The officers deployed with precision, each team covering a section of the building. The warehouse was vast, with many dark corners, and every step echoed slightly on the concrete floor, intensifying the tense atmosphere.
The commander watched as the teams advanced, their movements perfectly coordinated thanks to their intensive training. Everyone knew exactly what to do and where to position themselves. The silence, broken only by the sound of their boots and the faint crackle of radios, heightened the tension.
As they approached the small doors at the far end of the large hall, one of the teams halted. The infrared beam from their goggles clearly indicated abnormal heat sources on the other side. A silent signal was sent to all units, notifying them they had located the suspects.
The commander gave a quick signal, and one of the men used a battering ram to smash the door. It gave way under the impact, revealing a small, dimly lit room. Inside, four men stood up abruptly, visibly surprised by the SWAT’s sudden entry.
"Police! Don’t move! Hands in the air!" one of the officers shouted, his weapon aimed directly at the suspects.
The criminals had no way out, but they weren’t ready to surrender without a fight. One of them, likely Reggie Dawkins, made a quick move toward his belt, but before he could draw a weapon, a warning shot rang out, forcing him to raise his hands.
The SWAT team swiftly moved in, neutralizing the suspects with professionalism. Reggie, Jack, Ethan, and the fourth man, who appeared more nervous, were all taken down and handcuffed.
Clark and Lois, watching the operation from outside, looked on with satisfaction as the suspects were escorted out of the warehouse under heavy guard. The trap had worked perfectly, and Intergang had just lost four of its most dangerous players.
Lois turned to Clark, a determined smile on her lips.
“We’ve finally got them, Clark. This time, they won’t get away.”
Clark nodded, but he knew this was just one battle won. The war against Intergang was far from over. But for now, they had won an important victory, giving them a brief respite in this relentless fight.
With the criminals in custody and the warehouse secured, they began to prepare for what came next—interrogations, gathering evidence, and continuing their investigation to reach the head of Intergang. But tonight, they could savor their success.
Daily Planet
When Lois and Clark stepped out of the elevator, the entire Daily Planet staff was gathered around the newsroom televisions. On the screen, a reporter was saying:
“Thanks to the meticulous investigative work of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, star reporters of the Daily Planet, a major bust has just been carried out at the docks. The four main suspects in the opera house fire have been arrested by SWAT.”
The TV reporter interviewed them:
“Mr. Kent, Ms. Lane, the embers aren’t even cold yet—what’s the secret to solving an investigation so quickly?”
Lois spoke up: “You can read all the details in the next issue of the Daily Planet.”
Perry, seeing the success of his reporters, grinned and addressed them with a mischievous smile:
“Well, look at you two! You put on a show worthy of Elvis! I almost expected to see a leather-clad Elvis burst in with a guitar. Maybe next time, you two could show up in flashy costumes and bring a little rock 'n' roll to celebrate!”
Lois and Clark smiled, recognizing Perry’s unique way of bringing some levity to the most serious situations.
“Alright, the show’s over, no resting on your laurels! You just promised five billion people on this planet an article in the next edition! I haven’t seen a single sentence of it yet, so get to work!”
The small crowd dispersed, and Clark let Lois walk ahead of him, guiding her toward her desk with his hand resting on the small of her back. He leaned close to her and whispered in her ear:
“If the costume’s leather, I want a private performance.”
Lois choked at her husband’s suggestion, not expecting such an invitation.
“We’ll see about that at home, cowboy! For now, get to work!”
“You’re such a workaholic!” he replied.
“And you haven’t seen me with my whip,” she whispered back.
