Chapter 5



Chapter 6

Mountain Road

At the accident scene by the roadside, Lois and Clark observed the remains of the crashed vehicle. Clark regularly lowered his glasses to search for clues.

“Don’t you find it strange, Clark? There are no skid marks—or at least, none visible to human eyes,” Lois finished with a knowing wink.

“Rest assured, Kryptonian eyes don’t see any either. I’d like to take a closer look at the platform below where the car fell. Want to come?”

Lois glanced at her heels and tailored suit, then replied, “I don’t think I’m dressed for the occasion…”

“And since when does that stop you?” her husband teased. “Lois, I’ve seen you climb a building bare-handed in high heels. Besides, I was planning to offer you a lift. But if you’d rather stay here…”

Clark looked around, ensuring they were alone. He placed his glasses in his jacket pocket, unbuttoned his shirt with a quick, dramatic motion, and spun into his brightly colored suit. Hovering a few inches off the ground, he pretended to leave.

“Wait, wait! If it’s a first-class flight, I might be interested.”

He scooped Lois into his arms and carried her 30 meters down to the platform. The ground was scorched, a grim testament to the tragedy that had unfolded earlier that morning.


---

“This platform below is oddly convenient—like it’s waiting for crashed vehicles.”

“You’re not far off, Lois!”

“You saw something?”

“No, but I smell something unusual. It’s… ammonia.”

“And let me guess: a burning car doesn’t usually smell like ammonia?”

“Exactly. Generally, ammonia is associated with ammonium nitrate explosions. I smelled the same odor at a factory accident I attended a year or two ago.”

“Ammonium nitrate—that’s a fertilizer, right? It reminds me of an article I wrote about chemicals ending up in our food.”

“Exactly. It’s a readily available compound found on farms across the country. But if mixed with fuel, it becomes an explosive—with just the addition of a detonator…”

Clark continued scanning the area with his enhanced vision, stopping suddenly.

“…and I think I’ve found something. See that filament behind that rock? Can you think of any reason why molybdenum—a rare metal used in high-tech applications or detonators—would be here?”

“I don’t see any high-tech factories nearby.”

“Neither do I. I think we’ve found our first clue…”

“And proof that Superman isn’t responsible for this family’s tragic fate.”

Clark grimaced. “I can’t shake the feeling this was a trap for me. If I weren’t considered a threat to criminals, this family might still be alive…”

“Or not, Clark. Maybe you’ve already saved their lives ten times before by stopping other criminals. Most importantly, you can’t blame yourself for others’ actions. You didn’t press the detonator. Everyone is responsible for their own choices.”

As Lois spoke, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck.

“I’m getting déjà vu,” Clark murmured softly.

“Yes, and I’ll remind you as many times as it takes.”

“I love your persistence.” He placed a kiss on her lips, and they reluctantly separated—it wasn’t the right time for Superman to be caught kissing Lois.


---

Daily Planet

Lois and Clark sat at their respective desks, each lost in thought about the case. Jimmy approached, carrying a thick file and wearing a satisfied smile.

“I’ve compiled a list of everyone who’s ever made bombs using the compounds you described,” he said, handing the document to Clark.

Clark flipped through the file, impressed by the extensive information: names of potential suspects, similar cases, and diagrams of explosives involving ammonium nitrate.

“Thanks, Jimmy. You’re a lifesaver,” Lois said with a genuine smile.

“Just doing my job,” Jimmy replied, clearly flattered, as he returned to his desk.

Leaning toward Clark, Lois asked, “So, do you think our culprit is in there?”

Clark nodded, deep in thought. “It’s very likely. If any of the names in this file have ties to Intergang, we’ve got our suspect.”

As he read, Clark’s expression hardened. Lois noticed his intense concentration.

“What is it?” she asked.

Clark frowned. “There’s a name here I recognize… Carl Bowers. He was arrested two years ago for possessing explosive materials. The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.”

Lois nodded. “Do you think he’s connected to Intergang?”

“It’s very possible, especially if Mindy Church is behind this. She has the resources and connections to free someone like him and use him for her schemes.”

Lois sat up, her eyes sharp. “Then we’ve found our next target. Let’s track down Bowers.”

Clark nodded, though a shadow crossed his face. “We’ll need to be cautious. If Mindy’s willing to use explosives, she won’t hesitate to go even further.”

Lois gave him a confident smile. “We’ve faced worse before, haven’t we?”

Clark smiled back, but his expression remained worried.

“So, what do we know about him?” Lois asked.

“He’s a blackjack fan—spends most of his nights in illegal gambling dens,” Clark replied.

“Feel like playing poker?”

“No, Lois. You remember how that ended last time…”

Before Clark could finish, Perry called them into his office. He closed the door behind them.

“Kids, where are we on this?”

“We found materials at this morning’s crash site that led us to a man named Carl Bowers. Tonight, we’re going to his favorite gambling den to see what we can learn,” Lois explained.

“Lois, you know how dangerous that is!”

“Clark, if we want to take down Intergang, we have to take risks…”

“Lois, last time—”

Perry interrupted. “Did I ever tell you about how Elvis worried over Priscilla when she was still very young?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued. “He was doing military service in Germany and had to leave her behind in America. He was so worried he convinced her parents to let her come to Graceland. His overprotectiveness almost cost them their relationship.”

Perry turned to Clark. “Trust Lois. She has great instincts, and I know you can protect her. And Lois, while it’s tough dealing with your husband’s alter ego, be careful not to expose your connection to Superman, like you almost did today at noon.”

Lois and Clark were stunned into silence. Lois stammered, “Perry, no, I… I don’t have an affair with Superman! You know us better than that.”

Perry smiled. “Of course I do, Lois. That’s why I know you don’t have an affair with Superman… because you’re married to him.”

Clark ran a hand through his hair and sighed, realizing there was no longer a need to pretend.
“Lois… I think there’s no point denying it anymore. Perry’s figured it all out.” He turned toward Perry with a resigned expression. “What gave us away?”

Perry, leaning against his desk, crossed his arms, a glint of pride in his eyes.
“Clark, I didn’t become editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet for my singing talent, you know. I’ve been observing you two for years. But the real confirmation was your departure to New Krypton. Lois wasn’t just letting a friend leave… she was saying goodbye to the love of her life.” He smiled faintly. “I connected the dots, piece by piece. A real investigative job.”

Lois, arms crossed, gave a nervous smile.
“So all this time… you knew?”

Perry nodded.
“I had my suspicions. You’ve always had this ambiguous relationship with Superman, despite your engagement to Clark. And every time Clark disappeared mysteriously, you were the one making excuses. But mostly, it’s the way you look at him, Lois. That’s not the look of a woman having an affair—it’s the look of a married woman.”

He then turned to Clark.
“But don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

Clark nodded, grateful but still slightly unsettled.
“Thank you, Perry. It’s a relief not to have to hide it anymore… even if it’s a bit unnerving knowing you’ve known for so long.”

Perry smirked.
“Unnerving for you? Try imagining what it was like for me! Pretending not to know while you flew off to save the world… and I had to act like nothing was happening.”

Lois and Clark exchanged a knowing glance. The weight of the secret seemed to have lifted, replaced by newfound trust and understanding.

Perry let a few seconds pass before continuing:
“Alright, back to work! I need you two to figure out what we’re printing about all this Superman business. We’re not stooping to tabloid levels, but the suits upstairs are getting impatient. Our competitors are selling trash off Superman’s back, and we need to reassure our advertisers. Also, we need to focus on your infiltration at the gambling den. I have an idea for this little operation.”

Lois, surprised, straightened in her chair.
“Our operation? You mean you’re coming with us?”

Perry nodded with a mischievous smile.
“You heard me. If you want to get into an exclusive club without raising suspicion, you need someone respectable and… a little more experienced. We can’t just waltz in unprepared.”

Lois and Clark exchanged curious looks. Perry never embarked on risky missions without a solid strategy.

“We can’t go in as journalists,” Perry explained. “The members of this illegal gambling ring distrust the press more than anything. We need a strong cover.”

He stood, walked over to a map of Metropolis on the wall, and began laying out his plan.

“Clark, you could pose as a dealer. In a gambling den, no one pays much attention to the staff—especially not the dealers. They’re everywhere, hear everything, and nobody suspects them. You’d be in the perfect position to pick up on conversations.”

Clark frowned.
“A dealer? I’ve never thought of that. But, you know, it could be the ideal spot to listen to the players without drawing attention.”

Lois, perched on the edge of the desk, smiled.
“And what about me? I’m not just going to sit and watch you deal cards all night.”

Perry chuckled.
“No, Lois, you’ll be the wealthy client. You’ll pose as a newcomer—someone with money to spend and connections to make. With your talent for slipping into any role, you’ll be able to draw Bowers and his associates’ attention.”

Lois nodded, pleased with the idea.
“I like this plan. And you, Perry? Are you going to play the big shot or stay in the background?”

Perry grinned mischievously.
“I’ll be your mentor. I’ll pose as an old regular showing you the ropes. I’ve got my own contacts in these circles, and it’ll let me blend in without attracting too much attention.”

Clark, still a bit skeptical, added,
“But we’ll need to be very careful. If anyone recognizes us or discovers our true identities, the whole thing could fall apart.”

Perry nodded gravely.
“That’s why you both need to prepare. Clark, you’d better practice a little before you find yourself behind a blackjack table. And Lois, you’ll need to perfect your role as an ambitious businesswoman. You’re our best shot at uncovering Bowers and his network.”

Clark took a deep breath.
“Alright, I’ll figure out how to get some quick training. And I assume we’ll also need solid fake identities.”

Perry nodded.
“I’ll handle that. I’ve got some contacts who can get us fake IDs without raising suspicion. This is a dangerous mission, but if we want to put an end to this charade, it’s our best shot.”

Lois looked at Clark with a sly smile.
“So, ready to don a new disguise… or rather, to deal some cards this time?”

Clark smiled back.
“Let’s see if I’m as good a dealer as Superman. Guess we’ll find out.”

With the details ironed out, they left Perry’s office. The night ahead promised to be full of surprises, but they knew that together, they had a chance to pull off this daring infiltration.