>>> Tuesday, September 30th
The courtroom was packed to the rafters, with spectators literally crushed against each other. Lois sat alone in the front of the gallery and watched Superman rise as the judge accepted the verdict from the jury. He stood straight and tall, his arms heroically crossed over his chest and his cape billowing out behind him.
The judge looked at the iridescent blue paper the bailiff had handed him. “Mr. Foreman of the jury, have you reached a unanimous verdict?”
“We have, Your Honor.”
“What is your verdict?”
“We, the people of Metropolis, on the sole count of the indictment of the charge of murder in the second degree, find the defendant – guilty.”
Lois was shocked. He couldn’t be guilty! They couldn’t take him to jail!
“No!” she shouted. “Don’t take him away from me!”
No one heard her. The roar from the crowd was deafening, and they stank of perfume and after-shave and deodorant and sweat and soot and flame and despair.
She tried to claw her way through the milling mass of humanity to reach Superman, but the crowd was too thick. No one would even look at her. She pulled a man out of her way but someone else took his place before she could step forward.
“Clark!” She shouted at the top of her lungs. “Clark! Don’t go! Come back to me!” She clawed at the people around her but still made no headway. “Clark! Please! Clark! I love you! Don’t leave me!”
Clark turned and gazed soulfully at her above the rabble. His natty wire-framed glasses contrasted with the week-old stubble on his face and the drab gray prison jumpsuit. He shook his head and his long, dirty, unkempt hair danced across his shoulders as the guards clamped the ball and chain on his ankle –
“Haaa!” She screamed as someone grabbed her arms. “No! Let go! Let me go!”
“Lois! It’s Martha Kent! Wake up, Lois! You’re having a nightmare!”
She grasped at the hands on her shoulders. “Wha – who – did I – “
Martha sat on the side of the bed. “It’s okay, Lois, you were dreaming. Whatever it was, it was just a dream.”
“Just – it was a dream? I – I was dreaming?”
“Yes.” The older woman stroked Lois’s hair. “It’s okay. You’re all right.”
Lois sat up and grasped Martha around the waist. She leaned her head against the motherly woman’s chest and sobbed as Martha gently rocked her and crooned to her.
Lois finally wound down and leaned back. “Oh, Martha, I’m so sorry! I woke you up!”
Martha smiled. “It’s not a problem, dear. I’m just glad I was here to help.”
Lois sniffed and looked around for a tissue. Martha made one appear in her hand as if by magic. “I’m glad you were here, too. That – the dream was – “
“A bad one?”
Lois blew her nose and nodded. “Really bad. Clark was convicted and they hauled him off to prison right in front of me and put the ball and chain on his leg and his beard was all scraggly and his hair was so long and so dirty and – “
Martha chuckled. “I know. I’ve had some like that, too. And if you pressed Jonathan hard enough, he’d probably tell you he’s had one or two himself.”
“Really?” Lois sat up straighter. “Did you wake up screaming like I did?”
“Last week I clipped Jonathan on the chin while dreaming about fighting a prison guard who was trying to put handcuffs on my son. Woke him up and almost knocked him out again with one punch.”
Lois smiled wanly. “I guess I’m not the only one who’s a little nervous.” She ran a hand through her hair. “What time is it, anyway?”
“A little after five.”
“Yechh. Too early to get up and too late to go back to bed.”
Martha gently prodded Lois’s shoulder with her index finger. “Too early for a city girl, maybe.”
Lois smiled wider. “Okay, okay, I get it.” She threw back the rest of her covers. “Time for me to start my day.” She tried on a Western drawl. “Y’all want me ta rustle up some breakfast, pardner?”
Martha laughed. “I think Jonathan has some pancakes and bacon going.” She sniffed and nodded. “Yep, that’s his recipe. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Don’t worry about that. I just hope you two leave me some.”
“Why would we need to leave some for you? Aren’t you coming to breakfast now?”
“I need a shower. I just realized how sweaty I am.” Lois wiped perspiration from the back of her neck. “Wow. I’d forgotten just what hard work dreaming can be.” She sniffed her hand. “Eww. I stink.”
Martha stood up in mock horror and backpedaled to the bedroom door. “In that case, dear, please bathe thoroughly before you come to the table!”
The pillow slapped into the wall millimeters from Martha’s nose. Lois’s laughter finished the job of chasing Martha down the hallway to the dining area.
*****
As soon as Catharine walked onto the newsroom floor at eight-fifteen, she could tell Lois was already there. The people on the reporting staff – except Ralph, of course – were never lazy and never shirked their duties, but when the managing editor was in her lair the entire floor crackled with energy. There was something about Lois Lane that lit a fire under anyone who worked with her. Catharine was grateful for that spark, that push, because it made her a better writer and a better reporter. Even she could tell how much her own work had improved in the last three years.
She smiled to herself as she thought about her still-new knowledge about the real nature of the relationship between Lois and Clark. She hoped that they could find some common ground on which to meet, just as she and Clay had done.
That thought drew her hand to her belly. She tried to cuddle the child growing within her, even though she knew the baby was still small enough to fit in the palm of her hand, and that any bulge on her stomach was only from her breakfast. Catharine sent what she hoped was a wave of good will to their child and what she knew was a flood of love and care.
Someone poked her in the shoulder and her head spun around. “You working today or is this the new mommy show and tell hour?”
The smile on Lois’s face removed any sting from her greeting. Catharine smiled back and said, “Sorry, boss. I guess I was just gathering wool.”
Lois’s index finger touched Catharine’s nose lightly. “As long as you can weave it into a coherent column by three o’clock today, keep it up.”
Catharine matched her editor’s smile. “I will. Lunch today?”
“Hmm. Have to wait and see. If the jury comes back today, I want to be there.” Lois lowered her voice. “You understand why, don’t you?”
Catharine softly touched Lois’s hand. “Of course I do. I’ll keep a time slot open for us just in case.”
Just then Ron’s voice rang out. “LNN just broke the story! The jury’s coming back with a verdict!”
Catharine’s face lit up. “There goes lunch!”
Lois spun around to face him. “So soon? They’ve only been out since yesterday morning!”
Ron stood his ground. “LNN says the jury has a verdict.”
“Have they announced it yet?”
“No. The judge will hear the verdict at eleven o’clock today.”
Lois took a deep breath, then she realized how quiet the newsroom was. They were waiting for the editor to tell them what to do.
They were waiting for her. And she was in her element.
She straightened and began shouting instructions. “Jim! We want photos, inside and out, before and after! Take Bernadette with you. Ron, Cath! Get me some reactions from people in the courtroom and on the street! Ron, don’t let Cath hurt herself! Ralph, take Sheila and try to talk to the prosecution team. Find out what they think about the verdict. And check your facts twice this time! Paul, I want a comparison between this trial and OJ’s trial, and see if you can work in the Harry Thaw trial in San Francisco back in nineteen-oh-something, the one with the girl on the red velvet swing. Geoffrey, you mind the store, and make sure the Metro section gets finished before deadline. I’m going to cover the verdict from the defense’s point of view. Go, go, go!”
The room burst into barely controlled chaos as people shouted to each other and ran from one desk or storeroom to another and then either to the elevator or down the stairs. Lois chose the elevator to keep from being trampled, yet she chafed at their slow descent.
Catharine wedged herself between two other women and stood next to Lois. “If you need me, I’ll be around.”
Lois nodded. The people around them heard an employee reassuring her boss that she’d do a good job. Lois heard a good friend promise to be there for her no matter what happened.
She wished she could let Cath know how much that little bit of reassurance meant to her just then.
*****
Superman sat at the defense table between Connie Hunter and Blair Collins. All three of them sat upright and were alert but not overly tense. Their words to each other were soft but clear, and their movements were crisp and smooth but never hurried.
Blair filled two glasses of water and offered one to Superman, who declined the offer but passed the glass to Connie, who accepted it with a nod. Blair chuckled silently as she contrasted her demeanor today with her appearance on the first day of jury selection. She’d been a nervous wreck who’d needed her client’s help to pour water. Today, she might have been waiting for a taxi to take her home after lunch for all the stress she displayed.
She slipped a glance at the prosecution’s table. Melanie Welch was playing with her watch, her wedding ring, her necklace, the expanding folder in front of her, and anything else her fingers touched. Jack Reisman wasn’t much better. He checked his watch every ten to fifteen seconds and drummed his fingers on the table in between glimpses at his wrist.
Blair tuned her ears to the gallery. She heard muffled exclamations from people either trying to find a seat or defend the seat they’d already found. Occasionally a sharp word or two would be exchanged, but the bailiffs did an excellent job of managing the crowd. No fights broke out and no one lost a temper. Good thing, too, thought Blair, because there were so many people in the courtroom, a lost temper would’ve rolled under someone’s chair and never been seen again.
Connie leaned over to her and whispered, “You ready for this?”
Blair nodded. “Since the day I called you.”
Superman murmured, “Are you ready for the aftermath?”
Connie rolled her eyes. “I’m just hoping to get past the reading of the verdict.”
“Me, too,” added Blair. “But I know what he means. Boss girlfriend, we are gonna be hot topics for a while no matter what happens in the next ten minutes.”
“Yeah, I know. I’d prefer to be on the winning side this time.”
Superman whispered, “So would I.”
Blair looked at her client with wonder in her eyes. “Huh? I thought you wanted justice!”
“Yeah, it’s a little late for us to change our strategy!”
He smiled back. “I do want justice. But you’ve convinced me that I’m not guilty of murdering Bill Church.”
Blair gave Connie a lopsided grin. “Hallelujah! If we can convince this thick-headed lunk, convincin’ the jury won’t be any problem at all!”
He smiled at both attorneys. “I think you ladies have done a marvelous job. Whatever happens, I’m both thrilled and thankful that you were on my side during this whole time.”
Connie offered her hand. “Thank you, Superman. I know I speak for Blair when I say that what you just said means a lot to us.”
Just then, the immense bailiff entered wearing a deadly serious expression. “All rise. State Supreme Court of New Troy, Section Eleven, now in session, the Honorable Judge Charles Walter Fields, presiding.”
They stood as the judge made his way to the bench. “Thank you, Brett. Please seat these folks and call the jury in.”
The bailiff did so. As the members of the jury filed in, they each sat in their assigned seats. The bailiff took a folded piece of paper from the first jury member in the front row and carried it to the judge.
As this was happening, the judge said, “Ladies and gentlemen, irrespective of the verdict from the jury, I enjoin you to curtail your reaction. I want no demonstrations, no parties, no fireworks of any kind, okay? Please, please try to control yourselves. I’d really hate to call in the big guns at this point.”
A brief buzz of conversation reached Blair’s ears, but nothing understandable came through. Judge Fields unfolded the paper from the foreman, read it, and said, “Mr. Foreman of the jury, has the jury reached a verdict?”
Mr. D’Angelo, the jury foreman, stood. His face was stone. “We have, your honor.”
“Is this a unanimous verdict?”
“Yes, it is, Your Honor.”
“Very well.” He gave the paper back to the bailiff, who carried it back to Mr. D’Angelo.
Judge Fields took a deep breath. “On the sole count of the indictment, murder in the second degree, how does the jury find?”
Mr. D’Angelo also took a deep breath. “We, the jury, find the defendant – not guilty.”
Pandemonium exploded. Blair was vaguely aware of Judge Fields whacking his gavel on the bench and declaring the trial over and the defendant free. She knew he’d dismissed the jury with his thanks, too, but she never heard the words, nor did she see Fields slip silently out the door to his chambers.
Blair found herself on her feet, hugging Connie with a fierceness she didn’t know she possessed. She wiped her face and flicked tears she didn’t realize she’d shed from her eyes. Then she did something she knew she’d never get another chance to do if she lived to be a hundred and eighty.
She turned, reached up, wrapped her arms around Superman’s neck, and kissed him full on the mouth.
As the grinning hero disengaged himself from her, Connie replaced her and claimed her own kiss. Blair laughed and spun on her heel, and might have fallen had her client not grabbed her elbow.
He leaned close to her ear. “I think we should get out of here!”
Blair nodded and tugged on Connie’s sleeve, but Connie only pointed to the gallery. All three of them turned to see the court bailiffs and marshals herding the people out of the courtroom and into the hallway. A few grumbled, but most left willingly.
As the last of the well-wishers and reporters were pushed into the hallway, Superman stepped over to Jack Reisman and extended his hand. “It was a fierce trial but a fair one, Counselor. Thank you for doing your job so well, and I hope you keep up the good work.”
Stunned, Reisman stared at the hero for several seconds before accepting the handshake. “You’re – you’re welcome.” A grin slowly inched its way onto his face. “I have to tell you, Superman, I’ve never been thanked by a defendant before, even after a not-guilty verdict.”
Superman returned the smile. “Then it’s something you can tell your grandchildren about.”
“Huh! I should stay married so long.” Jack released his grip and turned to his sister. “Mel, how about you?”
Melanie stepped forward and said, “Superman, I – you know, I – oh, what the heck!” Then she threw her arms around Superman’s neck and kissed him.
Jack stepped back, silently counted to four, and then said, “Sis, I think you should remember who you’re married to.”
She released Superman and took a deep breath. Then she stepped back and straightened her suit. “Thank you, Superman. Kissing a newly acquitted defendant is a first for me, too.”
The hero lifted an eyebrow. “I should hope so.”
Blair offered him a tissue. “Here you go, big man. You really shouldn’t be seen in public with three different shades of lipstick on your mouth.”
They shared a laugh infused with tangible relief. As they wound down, the bailiff diffidently handed a note to Superman. “Sir, a very pretty lady with short dark hair gave me this note and asked me to give it to you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Thanks, Brett.” He opened the note and his smile faded. “If you’ll excuse me, there’s something I have to take care of right now.”
Connie put her hand on his elbow. “Will you be at the Foundation at four-thirty this afternoon? There’s a press conference scheduled then, and we’ll need to tie up all the loose ends with them.”
He nodded. “Barring some kind of huge emergency, I’ll be there.”
Blair wanted to say something encouraging, but she knew she couldn’t speak what was on her mind with all those people around. So she settled for a grin and a thumbs-up.
Superman strode out of the courtroom and into the media maelstrom in the hallway. The last view she had was of his red cape billowing out behind him and reporters thrusting recorders and microphones towards his face as they scuttled out of his way.
She hoped none of them was stupid enough to actually hit him in the mouth in their zeal to report ‘the big story.’
Connie nodded at Jack. “Well, Counselor, normally I’d wish you better luck next time, but in this case – “
He held up his hand. “I know. There won’t be a next time.”
Blair’s keen ear caught a dissonant note in the DA’s voice. “I hope that doesn’t mean you think you won’t be tryin’ any more cases in here.”
He gave nothing away with his face, but the tone of his voice said far more than his words did. “What do you think, Ms. Collins? That the people will revere me for trying to put Superman in jail? That they’ll beg me to bring other innocent people to trial?” He snorted. “Not likely. In fact, you can pretty much bank on it. I’ll be looking for a job before the end of next month.”
Connie shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m pretty sure Superman’s not going to go after you in the press, and the responsible papers haven’t given you bad marks.”
“That’s right,” Blair echoed. “Besides, y’all are family and y’all gotta stick together.”
The conversation hit a lull, and Brett stepped in. “Excuse me, ladies, sir, but if any of you need an escort to leave the building, we’ll be happy to provide it for you.”
Blair smiled brightly and took his arm. “Thank you, sir. I, for one, will be happy to allow you the privilege of escorting me to my car.” She turned her head. “Anyone else care to come?”
Jack glanced at Melanie before responding. “Thanks, but we’ve got a ton of paperwork to catch up on. Besides, this isn’t the only trial in town. What about you, Connie?”
Connie shook her head. “Wish I could, but I’m in the same boat as Jack. I’ve got to wrap up some other stuff here, too. You go on. I’ll see you in my office tomorrow morning at nine.”
Blair stopped and faced Connie. “Tomorrow? What’s happening tomorrow at nine?”
Connie smiled. “We’re going to talk about us working together on a long-term basis. I think we both have some things we can bring to the party.” She pointed her finger at Blair. “I also think we can do some real good in this city. Are you up to it?”
Blair’s face almost split with joy. “I’ll be there, boss girlfriend, don’t you worry ‘bout me. Legal Aid will have to do without my brilliance, wit, and legal acumen from now on.” She began to turn away, then stopped. “And, I will definitely be at the Superman Foundation this afternoon at four-thirty.”
“Good! I’ll see you then.”
Blair nodded and tugged on her huge escort’s arm to get him moving again. “So, Brett, what are you doing for lunch?”
The closing doors blocked his reply. Melanie laughed. “Well, that’s one for Blair. I don’t know about you two, but I think they make a really cute couple.”
Connie glanced at Jack and grinned slightly. “Maybe there’s hope for us oldsters, too. What do you think?”
Jack quirked an eyebrow at her. “I think I need a vacation. I’m obviously getting too old for this.” His eyes twinkled. “Maybe I should think about going into private practice, too.”
Connie stepped closer to him. “Why don’t we discuss that over dinner tomorrow night? My treat.”
“My dear Ms. Hunter! Are you willing to be seen in public with a member of the opposing team? Surely the defense counsel union will have something to say about that.”
Connie lowered her glasses and glared at him over the rims. “As Blair might put it, don’t you worry your empty little head about that. I’ll just tell them I was trying to seduce you but that you weren’t smart enough to succumb.”
She turned and walked away, leaving a stunned Jack Reisman standing there without a comeback.
*****
Once again in his decrepit homeless man disguise, Clark swept the parking garage with his vision and hearing. Lois’s Jeep was the only vehicle on the upper three levels, and no one was wandering around aimlessly anywhere nearby. It seemed that nearly everyone in the city had taken the opportunity to celebrate his acquittal.
He approached the vehicle from the passenger side. Just as he reached up to knock on the window, the driver’s door opened and Lois stepped out.
Her visage was grim. Clark tried a smile, but she didn’t change expression as she walked around the front bumper to face him.
“Hello, Lois.”
“Clark.”
He put his hands in his pockets and exhaled. “Well. Here we are.”
“Yep,” she replied flatly.
At least she’s talking to me, he thought. “Thanks for the note. I, uh, I’m glad we met here.”
“Oh? Why here?”
“Because there’s no one else here.”
“I didn’t think there would be.”
He pursed his lips and glanced at his shoes. “So, did you want to tell me something?”
She crossed her arms and put her weight on one foot. “I came here to listen to you, not talk to you.”
Ouch. She wasn’t giving anything away. “Okay. I’ll have that interview with Superman about the trial on your desk by three this afternoon.”
She nodded shortly. “Send it attached to an e-mail. I won’t have time to drop it into the afternoon edition otherwise.”
He nodded back. “I can do that.”
“I’ll look for it.”
“I’ll send the last part of the Muslim extremist story with it, too. I finally managed to talk to the leader. I think it’s a good wrap-up to the series.”
“Good. It’ll probably go out on Thursday. Anything else?”
“Yes.” He ducked his head and scuffed the concrete with his toe. “You’re not making this any easier for me.”
Her voice hardened. “Should I?”
He looked up. “I guess not.” He sighed. “I wanted to tell you that I’m not leaving after all.”
She didn’t flinch. “Okay.”
He wanted to step forward and embrace her, but he doubted she’d let him. “I also wanted to apologize.”
“You want to apologize?”
“Yes.”
“To me?”
He looked around. “There’s no one else here.”
She dropped her arms and snarled, “There’s not a single blasted thing funny about this situation, mister, so don’t try to joke with me!”
Unnerved a little, he took a step back. “I’m sorry. Yes, I wanted to apologize to you.”
“Why?” she snapped.
Still angry, he thought. “You have a right to be angry, Lois. I was wrong-headed and stupid to tell you I was leaving for your own good. That wasn’t the real reason.”
“What was the real reason?”
Again, he almost stepped forward to hug her, but the granite in her eyes held him fast. “I was afraid.”
“Afraid?” She shook her head and half-turned away. “You? Invulnerable you? Afraid?” She faced the Jeep and re-crossed her arms. “Afraid of what?”
“Of being hurt.”
She shook her head. “You’re invulnerable, remember? What could I possibly do to hurt you?”
He took a deep breath. “You could love me less than I love you.”
If not for his hyper-sensitive hearing, he might have missed her quick gasp. If not for his enhanced vision, he might have missed the momentary quiver in her chin.
He stepped up beside her but didn’t touch her. “Despite what you might think – and I know I’ve given you plenty of reason to think otherwise – I still love you. I also know I’ve made some really stupid mistakes and I’ve hurt you deeply. I’m so very sorry. I’m asking you to give me another chance.” She didn’t face him, didn’t say anything. “Please.”
She finally unbent a little. “Clark Kent will have to e-mail that story from the Philippines if he wants to maintain his cover. And Superman will have to go over there to give him the interview, and as a favor to Clark, maybe Superman could give him a ride back to Metropolis, along with all of his luggage.” She took a deep breath. “And maybe Clark could – could drop over for dinner at my apartment tonight. About eight o’clock. Right after he visits with his parents.” She almost smiled. “I got them a room at the Lexor for two nights. My treat.”
He nodded and smiled. “I think Clark would be amenable to those suggestions.”
“Good.” She turned and strode quickly around the Jeep to the driver’s door. “Then I’ll see you at eight.”
She started the Jeep and wrenched it into gear, then squealed the tires as she pulled away. Clark watched her leave, hoping she’d let him back in her life. He turned and launched himself into the sky. As he gained altitude, he wondered what his life would be like in twenty-four hours.
At least he’d know for certain, one way or the other.
