>>> Tuesday, August 20th
Lois snatched the phone from its cradle in the middle of the second ring. “Daily Planet, this is Lois Lane, Managing Editor. How may I help you today?”
“Hello, Lois. This is Superman.”
“Superman! Oh! Yes! We’ve been expecting you to call back! Please! Let me put you on speaker!”
“If you prefer.”
“Thanks! Okay, it’s me, Catharine Grant-Mooney, and Jim Olsen. You remember them, don’t you?”
“Of course. Hello, Catharine. How is Clay, now that he’s made sergeant?”
“Wow! You know about that?”
“Of course. And I also know it’s a well-deserved promotion.”
“Well, we’re doing fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Hey, Superman! It’s me, Jimmy! Except I go by just Jim now. Can you believe it? I’m assistant photo editor for the Planet! As of the day before yesterday! It’s on the masthead and everything!”
“Congratulations, Jim. I hadn’t heard about that. Does the new title mean you earn enough money to get married now?”
“Ha-ha! Sure, if Pam and I can ever agree on a date! It’s actually more an increase in my responsibility than it is a salary bump.”
“Keep at it, Jim. I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job.”
“Superman, it’s Lois again. Could you tell us the reason for your call?”
“Yes. I wanted to give this story to the Daily Planet. I’m returning to Metropolis to surrender myself to the authorities.”
“Wowee! When? Can I get pictures? Do we – ”
“Jim, slow down! Superman, this is Lois again. When do you intend to return?”
“As soon as you can be ready. I’d like to do this with some sympathetic faces around.”
“Sure! Cath, can you contact the DA’s office and set up an appointment? Make sure you tell him this isn’t going to be a media circus but Superman wants us to be there with him.”
“I’ll take care of it. Hey, Big Blue, you heard from Clark Kent lately?”
“Clark has been in Kansas with his parents, finishing his latest novel.”
“His latest novel? I didn’t know Clark was writing novels now! What’s it called?”
“Sorry, Catharine, I can’t tell you that. He’s writing under a pen name and he doesn’t want it made public.”
“Oh, sure, I understand. I’ll see you soon, Superman. Unless there’s something else, Lois, I’ll go call the DA now.”
“Thanks, Cath. Jim, you make sure you have plenty of film.”
“Film? Lois, this is the digital age! We don't need no stinkin’ film!”
“No digital cameras. You go low-tech on this one. I want unadulterated negatives for these pics. You remember the vice-president’s love nest pictures you took last year?”
“Those were all legit! None of them were faked! Every picture was real and the state high court agreed with us!”
“I know, Jim, but I don’t want to go through that kind of legal hassle again. No one’s going to accuse us of faking these pictures.”
“Oh, all right. I’ll take care of it! See you later, Superman!”
“Thank you, Jim. When should I call you back, Lois?”
“Give me an hour to make sure everything’s set up. I think we’ll aim for either late this evening or mid-afternoon tomorrow, unless you have other plans at those times.”
“No, I’m free then. I just hope I stay that way.”
“Sure you will! The DA only wants to question you about Bill Church. No charges have ever been filed.”
“Yes, but the statute of limitations doesn’t apply to murder.”
“Superman, nobody’s going to charge you with murder!”
“Okay, we’re not past the limit for other crimes, either.”
“Well, aren’t you the eternal optimist now!”
“I’m a realist, Lois. I’ll call back in an hour. And thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Bye for now.”
Realist my left kneecap, thought Lois, he’s positively gloomy. And he had no reason to be gloomy.
He didn’t, did he?
*****
Jim came bouncing back into Lois’s office within five minutes. “I got it! Fresh battery and a backup, five rolls of film, two external flash units and spare batteries for both of them! Man, I feel like I’ve gone back in time with this getup.”
“Like I said, Jim, I don’t want any accusations of faked pictures. We save every negative, too, okay?”
He grinned like a five-year-old on Christmas morning. “Of course! Lois, this will be great, you’ll see! Oh, man! We’ve scooped every other paper in the country on this one!”
Before she could respond, Catharine knocked on the door and leaned in. “Metropolis District Attorney Jonathan just-call-me-Jack Reisman says to meet him at two-thirty tomorrow in his office in the main courthouse. And if a pack of reporters shows up, he’ll charge you with littering and exceeding the noise ordinance.”
Lois frowned. “I hope you told him if we wanted to get loud we’d shout with headlines.”
Catharine smiled back. “Something like that, just a little more subtle.”
“Let’s hope he’s smart enough to understand what you meant. Two-thirty tomorrow, right?”
“Right.”
“Jim, you’ll be ready?”
“I’m ready now! I was ready for this last week! Last year, even!”
“Save the adrenaline, you may need it later. I think we should meet here in my office and all four of us drive to the courthouse in my Jeep.”
Catharine nodded. “Good idea. Superman will need the leg room and my Porsche only seats two.”
Jimmy’s jaw dropped. “You can’t drive Superman to court in a Porsche convertible! He’d get mobbed!”
Catharine grinned wider. “Mmm, I sure hope so.”
Lois finally smiled. “Catharine Grant-Mooney, you are a happily married woman! What would your husband say?”
She shrugged. “He’d tell me to save all my lovin’ for him.”
“And would you?”
She spun in place and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Of course I would! I am, after all, a happily married woman.”
*****
Exactly one hour later, Lois’s phone rang again. “Hello!”
“Hey, boss lady, I got the – “
“Oh, Ron, it’s just you.”
“Sorry that it’s just me! I only have a hot tip on that prison guard bribery story.”
“I’ll transfer you to Jim. I’m waiting for another call.”
“Really? There’s someone else important in your life?”
“Cut it out, Ron! I’m waiting for Superman to call!”
There was a pause. “Oh. Sorry, I didn’t – “
“That’s the other line! You’re on hold! Jimmy! Get line one, it’s Ron!” She slammed another button. “Hey! Hello!”
The man’s voice sounded surprised. “Uh, it’s me?”
“Oh, Cl – Superman! I’m sorry, I was on another line for a moment. How does two-thirty tomorrow afternoon sound?”
“I’ll have to check my calendar, but I think I have an open slot.”
“What? Oh, yes, ha-ha, very funny. The way I suggest that we do this is for you to come to my office about one-forty-five and we’ll sneak you down to the parking garage and get you over to the courthouse to meet with the DA. He’ll ask you some questions and then you’ll probably be free to leave by five o’clock at the latest.”
He sighed. “What if I’m not free to leave?”
“Don’t be silly, he won’t arrest Superman! Especially if he wants to hold onto his job. Now is the timetable okay with you?”
“Yes. Just leave your window open. And make sure there aren’t any loose papers on your desk.”
She smiled. “Gotcha. I’ll open the window at one-thirty or so in case you’re early.”
“Thank you. I may take you up on that offer.”
“I’ll look for you then. Oh, I’ve got all kinds of meetings tomorrow that I have to move up, so I may not be in the office when you get here, so just make yourself at home, but try to stay out of sight. I’ll close the door blinds to give you some privacy.”
“Thanks again. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, Lois.”
“Goodbye – Superman.”
She put the phone down and tried to control the fluttering in her stomach. They’d talked about this day for several weeks, tried to anticipate all contingencies, planned until Lois was sick of planning, yet when the day came it still stunned her.
They had to do this. They had to clear Superman’s name or she and Clark would never have any peace, never be able to be together without looking over Superman’s shoulder. Clark had to face the justice system he claimed he respected or people would have a hard time trusting Superman again.
And he would face the music. She’d see to that. It wasn’t just for him, it was also for her. Lois Lane’s future was resting on what happened in the next thirty-six hours, and she was drawn tighter than a banjo string.
She took a deep breath and cleaned the loose papers from her desk, then pulled three folders out of her bottom drawer and slid them into her briefcase. She still had a morning meeting with the auditors, which she hoped would go smoothly, and two employee reviews to prepare before Superman arrived the next day, along with her usual crushing load of work to clear out of her ‘in’ box.
She also made a mental note to apologize to Ron Dombrowski when she saw him again. She wasn’t usually that rude to her friends. Maybe it was because Clark still made her crazy, even now.
Paul Simon drifted through her mind, softly crooning “Still Crazy After All These Years.” She smiled and hoped the insanity was still mutual.
>>> Wednesday, August 21st
At exactly one-forty-one in the afternoon, Superman flashed through the open window of Lois’s office and came to rest out of sight against the far wall. He glanced around and was mildly surprised that Lois had followed his advice and removed almost all the loose papers from her desk. The few that remained were secured by a heavy ceramic paperweight in the shape of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C.
He nodded to himself as he noted the drawn blinds on the inside door and window. He closed the outer window and lowered the shade, then looked around the office more casually.
Lois’s Kerth awards for her own articles weren’t there; he assumed she kept them at home. But the Meriwether she’d won the year before as editor of the Planet was displayed modestly atop a bookcase. The walls were decorated with letters and photos, most of which had been taken since Clark had left the Planet, so he didn’t know the story behind them.
The one that grabbed his attention most sharply was what appeared to be a recent photo of Lois smiling at a yawning baby held lovingly in her arms. Her expression was one of rapturous joy. He wondered fleetingly if this was Lois’s child, and if so, who was the father? And how had he not known about this momentous event in her life? Had she not waited for him?
But then, why should she have waited? How much encouragement had he given her? If she had found someone else, even if only for a short time, it wasn’t her fault, it was his. He’d walked out on her, on the Planet, on his career, even on Superman. He wouldn’t be here now, ready to surrender to justice and move on with his life, if Lois hadn’t given him the strength.
Then he shook himself. If Lois had borne a child, he’d know. She’d never keep something that momentous from him. There was no way she’d be less than rock-solid with him.
Unlike the way he’d been towards her.
He thought about the last three years and closed his eyes in silent regret. He’d wasted so much time, allowed so many criminals to go free, allowed so many people to be hurt, and all because he’d lost his temper and his self-control and killed a man. Could he still be Superman? Could he regain the trust of the people? Could the people of Metropolis trust a super-vigilante?
He had to find out. He had to know. He had to be strong, not just for himself but for Lois, who’d waited for him for three years. He had to be strong for his parents, who’d supported him and allowed him to mourn while still quietly insisting that he do the right thing. He wouldn’t have blamed them if they’d called the FBI to arrest him, but they hadn’t. They’d loved him and nurtured him and reminded him of his duty as a citizen, as Superman, as their son, but most of all as a man, to do the right thing no matter what it cost.
And it still stung that he’d not done any of that on his own. It had taken Lois’s love and encouragement to tip his moral scales over to doing right despite the possible repercussions. He’d known what he needed to do, but he hadn’t had the courage or wisdom or guts to do it on his own.
The idea that he’d lost – or at least misplaced – his ethical touchstone, his acknowledgement of what was good and right and just in the world, still bothered him. He’d avoided thinking for too long how he’d abandoned his principles. It had taken another person to remind him of who he was and what he represented. Only now was he trying to find the courage to face his accusers, and he knew they were out there. The New York Standard, the paper Lois had worked for briefly three years before, was still intermittently publishing editorials insisting that he be brought to justice, asking why he’d refused to stand up for himself and take responsibility for his actions.
His musings left him feeling empty and drained. Just how much had he lost in the last three years and in the months before that when his feud with Lois had nearly destroyed everything? What had he allowed Bill Church to steal from him? Would he ever recover? Could he ever make up for all that lost time?
He thought back to those days, when he thought he’d hated Lois Lane with all the passion with which he’d previously loved her. When he’d recanted his declaration of love after Luthor’s death, and she’d spewed acid on his soul as she’d told him that he was a thousand times worse than Luthor and that she wouldn’t spit on him if he were on fire, he’d reacted with fear, then hurt, then anger, then bitterness. He’d believed that Lois had destroyed any chance he’d have for happiness or love.
Then he’d met Mayson Drake. She’d come on to him, almost attacked him, and had at one point volunteered to spend a night, a weekend, a week, a year, any amount of time with him he might suggest to let her prove how much she cared for him. He’d almost succumbed to her charms, but then he’d thought about how Lois had confronted him when he’d taken back his declaration of love and decided that waiting was the best option.
Then, during an argument with Lois in the newsroom, he’d lost his temper and almost destroyed a metal desk, leaving finger marks under the edge. He’d thought Lois would take all kinds of revenge on him when the evidence had helped her realize that Clark Kent and Superman were the same person.
But she hadn’t. Despite the way he’d treated her even then, she’d kept the secret, and he’d come to realize that she wasn’t the venomous harpy he’d believed her to be. He’d wondered if he’d made the wrong choice between Lois and Mayson. But Mayson had seemed so happy with him, especially when he’d offered to take her to meet his parents. That was when she’d first told him she loved him.
Of course, it hadn’t been a big surprise. And he might have told her that he loved her if she hadn’t insisted that he not answer at that moment. That was also the night he’d decided to tell her that Clark Kent, the man to whom she’d declared her love, was also Superman, the colorfully garbed vigilante whom she’d barely tolerated as an assistant district attorney. He’d hoped she’d take the news well.
He’d hoped she wouldn’t try to have him arrested.
But before he could tell her, she’d been killed, blown to pieces in front of his eyes. He’d tried to save her but failed. He’d gone to Intergang’s headquarters with the intent of taking Bill Church to the police, but when he’d realized that Mayson was just one of the many victims of Intergang’s murderous rampage that night, he’d lost his temper and deliberately and viciously killed the man.
That was the moment when he thought he’d lost himself. Superman had hidden out in Smallville, cowering inside Clark Kent’s clothing, for three years, until Lois had come to visit his parents and made him see that it was time to come back to reality. She had breached the wall he’d set up to protect himself from the outside world and made him realize that she still loved him. She’d always loved him. It finally penetrated the dense gray matter in his brain that when he’d told her he didn’t really love her, she’d only hurt him to the degree that he’d already hurt her.
They’d spent almost a year getting past that anger to the point where they could speak to each other in a civil manner. And after Mayson’s murder, he’d spent three more years running from his own life. He’d forgotten that old saying: Wherever you run to, no matter how far, wherever you go, there you are.
It hadn’t been a pleasant awakening. He’d had to admit how stupid and selfish he’d been. He’d had to forgive himself for not being perfect and not saving every person Intergang had gone after that night. He consoled himself in that, after Bill Church’s death, he’d only taken the other Intergang leaders to the police. Not one of them had been injured, as long as you didn’t count the man who’d thrown up on him and the woman who’d wet herself.
And now he was going to face justice for the one death that he’d caused, the one man he’d killed. The taking of a human life wasn’t an option for Superman. The hero needed to be above any suspicion that he might take personal vengeance on the lawbreakers he captured. Superman’s reputation had to be an object of almost veneration, as long as people understood that Superman himself was not to be worshipped or looked to in awe.
Part of him hoped he’d have a brief conversation with the district attorney, shake hands, and go back to being the Superman he’d once been. Another part of him insisted that he had to pay for his crime. That part, the absolute justice part, also insisted that if he went to jail, it should be for the rest of his natural life, no matter how absurdly long that might be.
Yet another part of him was terrified of being confined in a cage without sunlight, without freedom, without the opportunity to fly anywhere he might wish to go, without the chance to help people in trouble, without the possible satisfaction of protecting the weak and preventing evil people from preying on the helpless. He wanted to be Superman again, but he was afraid he’d be denied that chance.
He heard two sets of footsteps approaching the office, so he quickly hid in the small closet. He recognized Lois’s voice as soon as the door opened. He wasn’t sure who the other person was, so he remained in the closet.
“ – so the bribery story is a go as soon as you verify those last two items. You should be able to do that today, and if you do, it’s page three in section ‘A’ tomorrow morning.”
A man’s voice responded. “I wish I had that Superman story you were talking about.”
“Yeah.” He heard the change in Lois’s voice. She must have noticed the closed window. “I’d bring you in on this one if I could, Ron, but Superman wants as few people involved as possible. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, I understand. I don’t like it but I understand it.”
“Thanks a bunch. Now shoo! Go get those details nailed down!”
“Yes, Commander! At once, Commander!” Superman peeked through the closet door and saw the man give Lois a weird salute involving stomping both feet several times and spinning his left hand around in a circle multiple times before extending it across his body and then touching it to his chin.
Could he possibly be responsible for the baby in the picture?
Or was Clark still being paranoid?
The man turned and bunny-hopped to the door, opened it, then bunny-hopped out. Lois laughed and closed it behind him, made certain the blinds were secure, then said quietly, “I’m alone now, except for you.”
He pushed the door open a few inches. “You know, that was a silly performance. He could work for the Ministry of Silly Walks if he wanted to.”
“Ron’s a silly person sometimes, but he’s also a very good reporter.”
He stepped out of the closet. “Is that guy always like – hey!”
Lois turned and ran to him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and tried to burrow her face into his chest. He put his arms around her and laid his cheek on her hair.
They stood together, silent except for a few muffled sobs, for almost two minutes. Then Lois slowly pulled away, sniffling. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to get your suit wet.”
He wiped the tears from her face with his thumb. “I don’t care. I’m glad to see you, too.”
She cupped his face and brought it down for a soft kiss. “I love you. I’m so relieved that this is almost over.”
His eyes clouded and his brow drew down. “Lois, this may not – “
“Shh.” She put her finger over his lips. “Don’t say it, I know. Let me be the positive one this time, okay?”
He smiled. “Okay.” He wrapped her in his embrace once more, then stepped back and asked, “What’s our next step, Madam Editor?”
She laughed lightly, then finished drying her eyes. “Sorry. That sounds so funny coming from you.” She dropped her arms to her sides. “The next step is to call Jim and Catharine in here. They’re part of our camouflage.”
“Camouflage? What do you mean?”
“I’d rather show you than tell you. It’s a writer thing; you know it very well.” She picked up the phone and punched in a number. “Cath? It’s time. Grab Jim and come on in.”
She put down the phone. “It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you, too.” He turned and put his hands together behind him. “I was looking at your photo gallery before you came in and saw this one.” He pointed to the picture of Lois holding the baby, hoping that his apprehension didn’t show. “Who’s this little bundle of joy?”
She smiled wider. “That’s Lucy and Dan’s little boy. They live all the way over on the other coast, in Sacramento, and Auntie Lois doesn’t get to see her favorite nephew often enough. Jason’s about ten months old now. He’s a wonderful little boy.”
“He’s a cutie, for sure.” He sighed in relief. Nephews were good. They were great, in fact. Wonderful, even. Truth be told, nephews were fantastic.
Then he had another thought. “Wait. Lucy and Dan who?”
“My sister Lucy and her husband Dan. Who did you think I meant?”
Chagrined, he shook his head. “I didn’t even know Lucy was married.”
“Yep,” she smiled. “Two years ago this past May tenth. They are so happy together.”
“What’s Dan’s last name?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but the door flew open and Catharine and Jim hurried in. Jim closed the door as Catharine walked to Superman and took his face in her hands.
Instead of her usual playful expression, she wore the most serious, most direct, most open, most grateful face Superman had seen in years. “You stopped Intergang. If you hadn’t, they’d have finished me off. I owe you my life, Superman.”
“Catharine, you really don’t hammmpphhh!”
She curled her fingers behind his head and kissed him gently but thoroughly. As she slowly pulled back, she whispered, “Thank you.”
Catharine stepped back and allowed Jim to lean in. “Hope you don’t mind if I just shake your hand. Good to see you, Superman!”
They shook. “I don’t mind at all. Congratulations again on your new job.”
Jim beamed and stood ramrod straight. “Thanks! You’re looking good.”
“You too, Jim. I like the hairstyle. Much more professional.”
Jim wiggled an eyebrow. “Had to. I couldn’t wear coats and ties with that teenage soap opera hair I used to have. At least now some people take me seriously.” They shared a chuckle. “Superman, I’ll be taking the pictures today at your – uh, what do we call this shindig, anyway?”
“We call it a ‘surrender to the authorities’ because that’s exactly what it is.” Lois pointed at the blue-clad hero. “But you can’t parade through the newsroom like that, Superman. You’d start a riot.” She frowned in thought for a moment, then brightened. “I know!”
She opened the closet and searched madly for a moment, then grinned. “Hah! I knew this would come in handy one day!”
She pulled out a huge black slicker and handed it to Superman. “Let’s see if it fits. Oh, and wrap this blue muffler around your throat. Can’t have your Adam’s apple spilling the beans.”
He looked at it and frowned. “What beans? Lois, what are you talking about?”
“We’re transforming you into K. C. Jerome, reclusive romance novelist. She’s written three best-sellers in the last two years and eight of the top fifteen romantic titles in the last three years and no one know what she looks like, so you’re it.”
Superman’s eyes expanded exponentially. “Uh, Lois, I’m not sure – “
Lois pulled a decrepit wide-brimmed hat and a stringy gray wig from the closet shelf. “Good, I thought these were gone. Ah! The almost-final touch, wraparound sunglasses, the eyewear choice for the discerning senior. Let’s see, yes, those wine-red gloves with the sequins on them are still in here.” She tossed them at the superhero and resumed her rummaging. “Slip those on your hands, but don’t flex too hard or they might split. And – ah-ha! – these will complete the ensemble, assuming they fit.”
She held up a pair of immense black overshoes. “Put these over your boots. When you walk, bend over and shuffle like you have sore knees and a bad back. Don’t make any sudden movements, take little steps, and look down. No chance anyone will spot you for who you really are.”
He looked at her and caught the sharp smile and raised eyebrow, and he understood that her twisted sense of irony was in overdrive. No one else in the city knew that Clark Kent had been writing romance novels for the last three years under the pseudonym K. C. Jerome. The first book was something he’d thrown together and submitted just to have something to occupy his time, but the public had eaten it up and demanded more. So he’d complied. At first, it was just something to earn money while he waited for his life to settle down after Mayson’s death, but since then his ‘other’ secret identity had taken on a life of her own. His publisher had been besieged with requests for personal appearances and interviews, and the more he declined them, the greater the demand grew for K. C. Jerome to appear in public, and failing that, for more K. C. Jerome books. Now, Lois was taking advantage of his situation to goad him a little and get a minor scoop for the Planet at the same time.
Rather than react to her gentle taunting, he donned the getup and asked, “How do I look?”
Catharine frowned. “You look like Superman in a bad disguise. Do what Lois told you to do.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bend over. Not that far! That’s it, just hunch over a little. Now look down at the floor and walk like your knees are tied together.”
He tried it. Jim started laughing first, then Catharine and Lois joined in. Superman groaned and straightened up. “Okay, that’s the end of that experiment. Next suggestion, please.”
Catharine coughed back her jocularity and waved her hands. “No, no, it’s great! It’ll work on anyone who doesn’t know who you really are.”
“Come on! I look like a giant penguin on a lousy feather day and you know it.”
That set the three of them off again. Lois was first to regain control. “No, Superman, it’s okay, really! You just – cough-cough – you just have to do that for everyone in the newsroom. All we have to do is get to the elevator, ride it to the basement parking garage, and we’re home free!”
Superman nodded. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is! Oh, look, it’s close to two already! We have to get going.”
Jim lifted his hand. “Wait. What if someone talks to him?”
Lois shook her head. “We’ll all hover around like a bunch of mama chickens.”
Jim crossed his arms. “We need a backup plan. It’s best if he doesn’t talk, but if he has to, we need to decide now how he’s gonna sound.”
Catharine grinned. “I’d guess Julia Roberts is out of the question.”
Lois smiled back. “Maybe Katharine Hepburn in ‘Rooster Cogburn’ or ‘The Lion In Winter’?”
Jim smiled lifted an index finger. “I’ve got it! Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Superman shrugged, then spoke loudly in a high, reedy voice with a slight English-Irish accent. “Oh, hel-looo!”
Catharine grabbed her stomach and almost fell over. Lois leaned against her desk and laughed herself breathless. Jim pressed one hand to his mouth and said, “Maybe – maybe a little less enthusiasm next time, okay?”
Superman began taking off his disguise. “I’m done. I’ll meet the three of you in front of the courthouse at precisely two-twenty-five.”
Lois grabbed his arm and held on frantically. “No! We have to do it this way! The DA is expecting us to all drive up together and he doesn’t like surprises!”
“Lois, I promise I’ll be there at – “
“What if there’s an emergency? An accident on the freeway? A bank robbery? An attempted kidnapping? A kitten in a tree?”
“A kitten? Lois, I – “
“No!” Her expression was part pleading and part commanding. “I won’t risk losing control of this situation! We do it this way or I call the DA and tell him you’ve changed your mind!”
He looked into her eyes. “You’d do it, wouldn’t you?”
She squeezed his arm as hard as she could. “In a Metropolis minute.”
He held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded. “Catharine, would you give me back that slicker? Thanks. Jim, you said a little less over-the-top with the voice, didn’t you?”
*****
Ron looked up in time to see Lois opening her office door and slowly lead an older woman out into the newsroom. He thought he heard Lois call her ‘Miss Jerome’ but he wasn’t sure. At the rate the old lady was moving, he was surprised she’d managed to sneak past him. Besides, she was really tall. Even bent over, she was still bigger than either Lois and Catharine.
He watched as Jim Olsen and Catharine Grant followed them to the elevators. He wondered who she was and why she rated the editor’s special attention, then he turned back to review his article once again.
He heard a thin, high-pitched voice from the direction of unlikely quartet, so he turned to look. Ralph was talking to them, and he seemed energized by something. Ron stood and walked closer to listen.
By this time Ralph was gesturing enthusiastically. “Oh, Miss Jerome, I’m so pleased to meet you! You’re my mother’s favorite author! She has all your books! She only wishes she had a signed copy of one!”
That thin, keening voice answered from the black-clad figure. “Thank you, young man. You’re very kind. I shall send you a signed copy in care of Miss Lane if you wish it.”
Ralph almost jumped on the old woman, but Lois blocked his hands just in time. “Oh, thank you, Miss Jerome! Oh, if it’s not too much trouble, could you send a copy of ‘The Willow Whispers at Midnight?’ It’s my absolute – my mother’s absolute favorite.”
“I believe my agent will have an extra copy or two lying around. Yes, I shall send that one to you.”
For a moment, Ron thought Ralph would faint, but he steadied himself. “Oh, Miss Jerome, that’s wonderful, that’s so wonderful! Thank you, thank you, thank you – “
Lois pushed him aside. “That’s enough heroine worship for today, Ralph. Miss Jerome has to get back to her hotel and rest up for her trip home.”
“Sure, sure! I understand! Wow! K. C. Jerome! My mother’ll have a fit!”
As the elevator doors closed, Ron made his way over to Ralph. “Hey, Ralph, who was that woman?”
Ralph turned starry eyes towards him. “You mean you don’t know who K. C. Jerome is? She’s only the hottest romance writer in the Western Hemisphere! She’s sold over seven million copies of her books in the last three years and she never appears in public! Don’t you keep up with stuff?”
Ron nodded. “Yeah, I know who she is now. Funny, I thought she’d be younger and shorter.”
*****
The doors closed on the four, but they didn’t dare break character. Franklin Stern and Ingrid Bliss, one of the Planet’s actuaries, were already in the elevator.
Lois tried to control her face as she greeted them. “Hello, Mr. Stern, Ms. Bliss. Late lunch?”
Stern beamed at her. “Yes, actually. A working lunch with some of our investors. How about you, Miss Lane?”
“Ah, we’re just escorting Miss Jerome to her car.”
Ingrid Bliss’s deep blue eyes lit up behind her thin wire-frame glasses. “Miss Jerome? This wouldn’t be the reclusive K. C. Jerome, would it?”
Oh, good, thought Lois, yet another fan. “Yes, it is. Miss Jerome, may I introduce our publisher, Franklin Stern, and Ingrid Bliss, our head actuary.”
Superman extended his gloved hand and spoke in his Mrs. Doubtfire voice again. “Hel-looo, both of you! It is so wonderful to meet a fan.”
Bliss lived up to her name as she gushed all over Superman. “Oh, Miss Jerome, I’m so thrilled to meet you! My husband even reads your books! I have all nine of them in hardback, even the first one!”
Superman lifted his face to hers. “My dear, you have a copy of ‘The Morning Cries Softly?’ I thought they all went to be where unsold books go to wither away!”
“Oh, no! I think that one’s my favorite! In fact, I’ve been in contact with your publisher, and they told me that they plan to reissue the volume and that you’re planning a sequel! Isn’t that wonderful? Can you tell me what it’s about?”
Superman’s mouth dropped open. Catharine leaned in and said, “Now, Ms. Bliss, we can’t let this story out before it appears in the morning edition, can we?”
Ingrid’s face fell, but she nodded. “Of course, I understand. I wouldn’t publish preliminary trial balance figures before they were verified, so it stands to reason – “
“Exactly!” cried Catharine. Just then the doors opened at the ground floor. Mr. Stern gestured for Ingrid to precede him.
Stern stopped in the doorway. “I enjoyed meeting you, Ms. Jerome, and thank you for coming to the paper for your interview.”
“It was nothing, Mr. Stern. Thank you for your kind words.”
“I won’t keep you. Have a safe trip.”
“Thank you, sir, and you have a tasty lunch.”
Stern’s boisterous laugh echoed off the walls of the Planet’s lobby. As the doors closed and they continued down, Superman stood up and sighed. “That went well, I thought.”
Lois threw her hands in the air. “Oh, sure! Now we have to come up with an interview with K. C. Jerome for tomorrow’s edition! Ms. Bliss isn’t going to forget about it, either, even with a Superman exclusive on the front page.”
Superman smiled. “Well, I think I can share this secret with the three of you.”
Lois blanched. “What? What are you talking about?”
He gestured and drew them all closer. “It’s about this. It’s about K. C. Jerome.”
Catharine’s eyes were saucers. “I’m dying here! What’s the secret?”
He looked to each of them in turn. Catharine was desperately eager, Jim was intensely curious, and Lois felt as if she were about to have a coronary. “It’s simple, actually. I happen to know that K. C. Jerome’s real name is – Clark Kent.”
Lois heaved a deep sigh, which was unnoticed by Jim, who began laughing hysterically, and by Catharine, who gulped and almost choked. Superman smiled broadly and stood tall again.
Catharine managed to control herself and ask, “Are you serious? Clark Kent is actually K. C. Jerome? That’s just too funny!”
Lois smiled despite herself and shook her head. “Jerome is Clark’s middle name.” The elevator chose that moment to stop. “That must be our stop. Superman, would you impersonate an old woman for a few moments more?”
The thin, reedy voice quavered out of his mouth again. “Of course, my dear. I shall be happy to accommodate you.” He looked at Jim, who was holding on to the elevator rail inside the car to keep himself upright. “If only to get away from this most hysterical young man.”
*****
“Superman, you comfy back there?”
“Yes, Lois, I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“If you keep asking me that question, I’m going to start asking you ‘Are we there yet?’ every ten seconds.”
From the front seat, Jim guffawed again and earned a sharp glare from Lois. Catharine leaned over and patted Superman’s hand. “Don’t worry, Superman, she always acts this way when there are people in the passenger seats.”
“Do not!”
“Do too!”
“Cath, I do not either!”
“Sure you do! Don’t you remember last year when I rode with you to that interview with Rick Stewart? You had to brake suddenly and I got jerked against the seat belt and you almost freaked out.”
“I did not freak out! Besides, you’d been in your wheelchair for a couple of days before that.”
Catharine smiled. “Oh, yeah, I remember that.”
Superman frowned slightly. “Why were you in the chair? I thought you only needed it if you overworked your back.”
Before Catharine could answer, Lois snapped, “Don’t answer that! Superman, she was in the chair because of Clay.”
Superman frowned harder. “Because of Clay? What did he do, hit you?”
Catharine chuckled evilly. “No, no! He was definitely responsible, but there was no hitting involved, I promise.”
Superman looked at Lois’s ear and cheek, then he smiled. “Lois Lane, you’re blushing.”
She threw an irritated glance over her shoulder at him. “You’d blush, too, if you knew any of the details of that week.”
Jim leaned his elbow on the divider. “So, you know the details and you’re not talking?”
Lois stopped at a traffic light and turned in her seat. “I’m only going to say this one time: Change the subject. Now.” She straightened and stared at the light, willing it to turn green.
Catharine and Jim shared a stifled laugh. Superman crossed his arms and tried to look stern and forbidding but failed. Lois did her best to ignore the giggles and splutters in the Jeep.
No one spoke again until they stopped in front of the courthouse precisely at two-twenty-three P.M. Superman exited, removed his disguise, and strode up the steps with Jim on his right, Lois on his left, and Catharine bringing up the rear. Without actually planning it, the effect was that they escorted the superhero up the stone steps to the building’s front door.
DA Jonathan “Jack” Reisman opened the door and offered Superman his hand. Jim had his camera ready and snapped four quick photos as they shook hands. Catharine managed to sneak into two of the shots.
Reisman asked, “Are you ready for this, Superman?”
“It’s a little late to ask that question, don’t you think?”
Reisman laughed and Jim snapped another shot, this one a candid frame with all parties smiling. The DA then led the entire group into the courthouse.
Inside, an assistant DA smoothly cut Lois, Catharine and Jim off from Superman. She pointed them to her office and said, “I hope you don’t mind, but the DA wanted to interview Superman without any media present.”
Lois stopped. “That’s Superman’s decision to make, isn’t it?”
The tall, willowy brunette smiled perkily and tilted her head to one side. “DA Reisman is hoping that you’ll cooperate as well as Superman is cooperating.”
Lois nodded. “We may as well introduce ourselves. I’m Lois Lane, editor of the Daily Planet. This is Catharine Grant-Mooney and James Olsen.”
The brunette smiled. “I’m assistant District Attorney Melanie Welch. Can I get you anything? Soft drinks? Coffee?”
Catharine scowled. “Unless your coffee is better than the newsroom sludge we get, no thanks.”
Melanie laughed lightly. Lois noticed that Jim seemed to like her laugh. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Grant-Mooney, but – “
“Please, just call me Catharine.”
“Thank you. Our coffee is barely a step above the carbon remover available in almost every police precinct in the city, so I guess we’ll just go with soft drinks or water. Any preferences?”
Jim stepped forward. “I know what these ladies like. I’ll go with you if you want. To, uh, help you pick out the drinks.”
Melanie flashed him a bright smile. “Thank you, Mr. Olsen.”
“Please, call me Jim. Everyone else does.”
“Thanks, Jim. I’m Melanie. The drink machine is this way.”
Melanie led Jim outside and down the hall. Lois picked a couch and sank down on the cushion. Catharine pulled a chair in front of her and settled into it.
“What’s the matter, Lois? You look like you’ve just run out of your favorite ice cream.”
Lois didn’t smile. “I don’t like this. Something’s wrong.”
Catharine shook her long auburn tresses. “This is just the DA saving face. He has to make a show of investigating Superman as thoroughly as he would anyone else. Don’t worry, we’ll be taking Big Blue out for a celebration dinner before you know it.”
“Oh, yeah, that’d be subtle, taking Superman to a restaurant.”
“Not in his super-suit! He could use that K. C. Jerome disguise again.”
Lois looked up and saw the mischief dancing in Cat’s eyes and smiled. “Yeah, that would be funny.” Lois looked out the window for a moment, then suddenly chortled.
Catharine tilted her head to one side. “What was that for?”
Still grinning, Lois answered, “I was just thinking about what he’d order. I’ll bet K. C. Jerome doesn’t have good teeth!”
Catharine laughed out loud. “He’d have to eat nothing but mashed potatoes and pudding!”
They were still laughing when Jim followed Melanie back to the office and began handing out sodas. “Here you go, Lois, cream soda, and Catharine, this is some kind of flavored diet water.”
Catharine made a show of examining the label. “Oh, I suppose it’ll do, Jim.”
“Hey! I passed up three other bottles for that one! I was sure I saw its cousin on your desk yesterday.”
“And why are you hanging around the desk of a married woman anyway? Your love life that bad?”
He frowned and opened his mouth, but Melanie’s desk phone buzzed and she snatched it up. “ADA Welch here. Yes, all three of them. What? Jack, you did what?” She paled and sat down in her chair. “Are you sure? Second degree? You’re kidding! Oh, no, I’m sorry, no! Are you sure? Yes, I’ll tell them.”
She put the phone down slowly and turned to the trio staring at her. “I – don’t quite know how to say this – but – but the Metropolis Police Department, acting under the direction of District Attorney John Reisman, has taken Superman into custody.”
Lois leaped to her feet and almost took off. “WHAT! They did what?”
The startled young ADA rolled her chair back against the wall. “Please, Miss Lane, I’m only repeating – “
“Call him back! Call him back right now and – Let me go!”
Jim tugged her back by the elbow. “Lois, stop! This won’t help!”
Catharine stood close but didn’t touch her. “He’s right, Lois. Calm down. Keep your cool, okay?”
Lois allowed herself to be pulled away from Melanie’s desk, then fixed the younger woman with a glacial glare. “Exactly what is the future ex-district attorney of Metropolis charging Superman with?”
Melanie gulped. “One count of murder in the second degree in the death of William Church.”
Lois’s eyes glowed with rage. “Murder! Why, you – you – “
Catharine leaned closer and spoke in a low, gentle tone. “Calm down, Lois. Easy, now.”
Lois visibly controlled herself and pulled back slightly. “Why arrest him now? Why wasn’t there a warrant out before now?”
“Th-the grand jury convened this morning. They must have handed down the indictment then, but I wasn’t there, just Jack – DA Reisman. I didn’t know this was going to happen, I swear it!”
Lois braced herself to do something, anything, but Catharine gripped her shoulder and said, “Lois. Let’s go get the story, okay?”
Lois hesitated a moment, then nodded shortly. “Okay. We’ll get the story.” Then she snarled, “And that’s not all I’m going to get!”
