PREVIOUSLY
“Lois!” Perry said, breaking into her tirade. “It’s already been decided, darlin’. But in the meantime, you all need to keep working on your current assignments until my replacement arrives.”
Then Perry stepped out of the room, pausing only briefly to lay a hand on her shoulder in silent thanks for her support and then he was gone.
Lois sank back into her chair as shock took over. No. This was so wrong. This simply could not be happening.
But when she finally looked up, through the windows of the conference room, she saw Perry carrying a box towards the elevators. Two security guards were flanking him. She watched until the elevator doors closed behind him and then burst into tears.**
AND NOW...
* * * * * * * * *
Chapter Seventeen
* * * * * * * * *
Clark reached over to take her hand when he realized she was tearing up. “You okay?”
She sniffed. “Just dandy.”
“Lois.”
She gave him a wobbly smile. “I guess it just... it was hard remembering how lost I felt when Perry left.”
“Are you okay to go on? Or do you want a break.”
“I just want to get this over with.”
“Okay, so what else do you remember?”
**Lois took copious notes as she read carefully through the article in The Star for the second time. Right now, all of her other stories could wait. There were so many holes in this drivel, and she was going to point out every last one for tomorrow’s edition of the Daily Planet. And then, she was really going to tear this story apart. She’d track down every source she had, leave no stone unturned. There was no way that hack, Kent, and his floozie, Linda, were going to get away with this libel.
And to think she’d almost been ready to concede that she may have been wrong about Kent. Well, no more. Never again. Clark Kent was nothing more than an unscrupulous hack. And she was going to prove it if it was the last thing she ever did.
Turning to her computer, she began to type, her fingers flying over the letters on the keyboard as the words just seemed to pour out of her. It didn’t take long before she was sitting back, reading her article, making the odd change here and there.
Finally, it was perfect. There. Step one complete. She had just sent it to the printer when her attention was directed towards the elevators.
“Can I have everyone’s attention please?”
She looked over to see a couple of the Directors of the Daily Planet, including Simon Truesdale. standing on the landing. Along with... What was Claude doing with them, dressed in the most professional suit she’d ever seen on him? He usually preferred a turtle neck or an open collar with a blazer. To Lois, it always gave her the impression of some sort of aging Casanova.
But today, he was wearing a matching suit and tie, his hair combed back into a professional style. He almost looked like...
“Now, as all of you know, Perry White has stepped down,” Truesdale began. “We are all hopeful that the allegations made will be disproved soon, and that he will be able to return. But in the meantime, we have to carry on.” He turned and gestured to Claude. Lois’ eyes narrowed.
“You all know, Claude. We’ve appointed him interim editor until a suitable replacement can be found for Perry White. I trust you’ll give him the same respect you showed Perry. And since he will have the same powers to fire people as Perry did, I expect you will. Claude?” Truesdale asked, stepping back to allow Claude to take over.
“Now I know that all of us were shocked and saddened by the events of this morning,” Claude began. “And I know we’re all hoping that Perry’s name will be cleared and he’ll be able to be reinstated soon. But this paper is not the greatest paper in the world because of Perry White. It is the greatest paper because of the things that it stands for. Truth. Justice. The American way. And it’s going to continue to be the greatest paper in the world - because we are all going to ensure that it is.
“Now, I’ll be calling you all into my office...”
“You mean Perry’s office, don’t you? He’s coming back you know.”
Lois looked over, shocked by Jimmy’s outburst.
Claude hesitated for a moment, having to gather his thoughts again before continuing. “I’ll be calling you all into my office over the course of the afternoon to give you any new assignments. For the time being, however, keep working on the assignments you have and we’ll make any adjustments as we go along. Thank you.”
With that he turned back to the men with him, shaking their hands and smiling. Lois narrowed her eyes. The sharks were already circling. She just hadn’t expected that the sharks would be in her own waters. Still, she’d handled Claude since he’d come back to the Planet - she would handle him now. Because if she had any say in the matter, Perry would be back at the helm again before the day was out.**
“They made Claude acting editor?” Clark asked.
“He was a department head by then.”
Clark’s eyebrows rose.
“Clark, Claude has his faults. If anyone knows that, it’s me. But he has always had a real talent for shmoozing all the right people. Damn, once upon a time, he even managed to charm me. It wasn’t really much of a surprise that he was appointed temporary editor. Anyway, I saw him later in the day...”
**“What do you mean, no?” Lois demanded, placing her palms on the surface of Perry’s desk so that she could glare at Claude.
“I mean exactly that. We are not running your article. It’s wildly biased and doesn’t give any facts to support your conclusions.”
“Then run it as an editorial.”
“Lois, Lois, Lois,” Claude said, shaking his head.
Lois narrowed her eyes at the patronizing tone in his voice.
“You’re too close to the issue. Surely you must be able to see that, cherie. No, the Daily Planet will simply run a small dignified piece announcing that Perry has taken a leave of absence until all of this can be sorted out and stating that the Daily Planet is hoping to see his reputation restored as quickly as possible. It will need to be on the front page, of course. But we’ll put it as a small announcement near the bottom.
“Now, what I need to know is what follow up you have done on the bodies pulled out of Hobbs Bay. Because since it’s looking as if your initial conclusions about the connection between S-126 and the deaths were wrong, given that they were part of the whole smear campaign that Lex and Perry were mounting against S-126...”
“Smear campaign Lex and Perry were mounting against S-126?” Lois asked in disbelief. “You sound as if you believe the garbage in the Star.”
“I’m fond of Perry,” Claude said. “But let’s just call a spade, a spade, shall we? Perry was not exactly the upright man we all believed him to be. Now, I hope I’m wrong, cherie. But in the meantime...”
“Quit calling me ‘cherie!’” Lois demanded, feeling the fury building inside her. “You want him to be guilty, don’t you? You think this is your ‘big break’ and you’re going to do everything in your power to make sure that you take full advantage of it.”
“I’d be a fool not to take full advantage of it. And, before you go getting all hot under the collar, just remember that taking ‘full advantage’ means making sure this paper continues to produce good stories. So really, isn’t that why the Directors gave me this position?” Claude said. “And if they think that I’m doing a good job and Perry doesn’t come back...”
“He’s coming back,” Lois said. “And the fact that you are acting as if he’s dead and gone just shows what a small...” She hesitated and her gaze settled just below his belt. “...minded...” She looked back into his eyes. “...back-stabbing, unscrupulous lump of pond-scum that has ever crawled on its belly on the face of this planet you really are.”
“Lois, has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are when you’re angry? You’re eyes take on such life and you’re color... exquisite. How about helping me break in this office desk? Bet old Perry never offered you a deal like that.”
“Claude, have you ever heard of sexual harassment? Maybe I should march upstairs and submit a claim.”
Claude smiled. “You wouldn’t do that, cherie. And we both know it. You know that no one ever wins such claims. And even if you could prove it, all anyone would remember afterwards... because they would most certainly remember... would be that you were involved in something unsavory. Win. Lose. It won’t matter. And you’re smart enough to know that.”
The temperature of Lois’ blood rose another degree, mainly because she knew he was right. It would no longer be, Lois Lane: Kerth Winner, it would be ‘Lois Lane... wasn’t she involved in some sort of sexual scandal?’
“Now, if you still intend to work here, I’d suggest you get to work on the real story behind the bodies dragged out of Hobbs Bay.”
‘If?’ Lois held her tongue even as she begin to steam.
“As for this story...” He held up the story she’d given him responding to Kent’s claims, before dramatically dropping it into the trash can.
After staring at Claude in defiance for a moment longer, she turned and stormed from the room, making her final feelings known by slamming the door as hard as she could behind her.**
* * * * * * * * *
**Lois couldn’t say that her heart was really in it when she spoke to Henderson about the dead bodies found in Hobbs Bay a short time later. Radiation poisoning, the autopsy said. But they still didn’t know if it was S-126.
“Did you contact your source at Star Labs yet?” Henderson asked.
“My source... Oh, no. Sorry. I’ve sort of had other things on my mind today.
“Yeah. I heard. So how’s Perry holding up?”
Lois was about to issue a simple, ‘fine,’ when she caught sight of the genuine concern in Henderson’s eyes.
“I don’t know, Bill. He’s gone.”
“Gone? As in...”
“They fired him. Oh, they are calling it a temporary leave of absence, but by the look on Perry’s face when he told us, I think he believes it’s over.”
“Well, when you see him, tell him I’m sorry. This is obviously some sort of hatchet job. I’ve known Perry since you were wearing short pants - so to speak. And he’d never do what The Star is accusing him of. I’m sure it will all get sorted out in the end.”
Lois regarded him for a moment. She’d never realized that Henderson and Perry knew each other. “Trust me. I’m going to make sure it does.”
A small grin crinkled the corners of Henderson’s mouth for a moment. “I’m sure it will if you have anything to say about it. And knowing you... You’ll have a lot to say about it.”
Lois smiled for the first time since she’d seen the headline in The Star. “Thanks, Bill. I appreciate that. Anyway, I’ll see what I can do about getting my source to contact you.”
“‘Preciate it, Lane,” Henderson responded. “And don’t lose faith, okay. The Daily Planet needs an honest man like Perry White at the helm. Heck the world needs that.”**
“After that, I went to see Dr. Klein.”
“And...”
“Well, he maintained that none of the men who died had significant exposure to S-126. But he did confirm that at the moment the only radioactive substance they were working with at Star Labs was S-126.
“When I asked him where he thought these men had received exposure to radiation if it wasn’t S-126, he had no idea. I can remember thinking that he seemed to be telling the truth, until I asked if anyone had ever been affected by S-126. He denied it, of course. But he sure shifted around in his chair a lot first. It left me with the same feeling I’d gotten during my first interview.”
“He was just trying to cover for me.”
“Obviously. But back then, I didn’t know that. Anyway, after that, I tried calling some of the families of the people who had died. I spoke to several families. They told me that their loved ones had gone into work late one night, some big hush-hush meeting. They never returned home.
“I called Dr. Klein again and he denied knowledge of any such meeting, but told me he would ask around. After that, I typed up what I had and sent it to Claude before calling it a night.”
“I can remember that day, too. Unlike you, Linda and I spent the day following up on the story. Or... well sort of.”
**“Clark Kent speaking.”
“You’re the one who wrote the story about Perry White, aren’t you?”
The voice sounded as if it belonged to a young man. Clark tensed. “Yes,” he said cautiously.
“If you want additional information, meet me by the fountain in Centennial Park in half an hour.”
“How will I know you?”
“I do my research, Mr. Kent. I’ll know you.”
And with that, the phone line went dead.
Clark looked around until he spotted Linda working at her desk. A few minutes later, the two of them left the newsroom.
“So did this guy say what information he has?” Linda asked as they took a seat on one of the benches near the fountain.
Clark shook his head. “It was all rather... ominous. The guy sounded... not exactly stable. Maybe I should have come alone.”
“Hey, it’s our story. We work on it together.”
Clark let out a breath. He was pretty sure he could protect Linda if need be.
“Kent?” a voice behind them asked.
Clark turned around to see a gangly young man. He didn’t appear to be dangerous. In fact, ‘geek’ would be an apt description - were one to judge a book by its cover.
“Yes,” Clark said, rising to his feet to face the new-comer. “And this is my partner, Linda King. Are you the person who said he had some information for me about Perry White?”
The man looked around nervously. “You don’t reveal your sources, right?”
“Of course not!” Linda gestured him to take a seat on the bench next to her. “So what did you have for us?” She smiled at him. The young man responded, almost as if it was the first time he’d ever been smiled at by a woman. And, in point of fact, it might have been.
The young man took the offered seat.
Clark chose to remain standing. He suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
“My name’s Skippy... Or, well, that’s what everyone calls me. My name’s Skip Wallace. I work at the Daily Planet. That’s why I don’t want anyone to know my name. I don’t want to lose my job. But this is too important for me to keep silent. I’ve been covering for Mr. White long enough.”
“Covering how?” Linda asked.
“By not saying anything against Mr. White. Anyway, I read your story, and suddenly understood why Mr. White keeps turning down my stories ideas. They are important ideas, too. Things that could really change this country for the better. And yet, he turns them down without even hearing me out.
“Did you know that Mr. White can’t even keep my name straight. He always calls me ‘Chip.’ There is no way someone like him should be running the greatest paper on the planet. He’s part of what’s wrong with this country. He thinks that just because he’s got a bigger salary it makes him a better man.”
Clark fought the urge to roll his eyes. Was this kid really quoting song lyrics to prove his point?
“Anyway, he was fired this morning. But people say there’s still a chance he might be coming back. You’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen. You’ve got to make sure the world knows what kind of man he really is.”**
“You didn’t really write a story based on what Skippy told you, did you?” Lois asked, interrupting him. “He was a Nazi.”
“I wasn’t going to. I thought it was garbage. And I’d pretty much managed to convince Linda that it wasn’t relevant, as well.”
“So what happened?”
“When we got back to The Star, someone else was waiting for us - telling us pretty much the same story.”
“Who?”
“Ralph. Okay, don’t look at me like that. I didn’t know who Ralph was. All I knew was that, unlike Skippy who... well, even without knowing about the Nazi affiliation, seemed a little intense, Ralph did appear to have some credibility. He’d been working as a reporter at the Planet for six years. I still had my reservations. I didn’t want to write a story that talked about Perry White being a bad boss, but...
“Well, when I was gone for lunch, Linda was approached by Carpenter about follow-up stories. So she told him what we had. He insisted she write it up. She did.”
“Part of Carpenter’s continuing smear campaign,” Lois said. “Why create stories that will allow you to scoop the competition when you can just destroy the competition?”
Clark nodded. “I guess once you’ve taken the first hit, anything goes. The story told about Perry’s firing and then was padded with a couple stories about how the Daily Planet employees felt about their former editor. Anyway, after Linda had finished writing it up, she put both our names on the by-line. I didn’t even find out about the story until it came out in the paper the next morning.”
Lois’ eyebrows rose.
“We were both pretty much running the rest of the day,” Clark explained. “We never had a chance to talk. I guess she thought she was doing me a favor - putting my name on another front page story. Because, of course, Carpenter wasn’t going to put any story slandering Perry anyplace but the front page.” He shrugged. “After I finished up for the day, I just went home. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Or to socialize. I guess I just felt... tired. Anyway, do you remember what happened next?”
“Yeah,” Lois said softly as those memories began to come back to her.
**Lois didn’t knock on the door of Kent’s apartment - she pounded on it. When he didn’t answer immediately, she pounded again. He was there. She’d seen a shadow moving around inside. She raised her fist to pound again when suddenly the door swung open.
“Lane?” Kent said, looking surprised to see her. “Do you want to come inside?”
It took Lois a moment to find her voice. She’d never been this infuriated in her entire life - nor despised someone as much as she did Kent at the moment. She saw his face fall as he took in the anger in her eyes. Without speaking again, he simply walked back into his apartment.
She stepped through the door, slamming it as hard as she could. “You bastard! How could you have done that to Perry?”
“I didn’t do anything to Mr. White. He did it to himself.”
“I read that piece of trash you wrote about him. There is no way Perry would ever do the things you accused him of. Lex wouldn’t either.”
“Oh, really. You’re so sure about that, are you? Well, then tell me, why did White take fifty thousand dollars in cash from Luthor the night before last? Because he did. I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. And I overheard a phone call where Luthor made it more than clear what that money was for.”
“You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?”
“How would I know why you do anything? For all I know, because it amuses you. Maybe you’re just a bastard. Besides, even if Perry took money from Lex, he had to have a good reason.”
“Well, how about he wanted some extra money and compromising a story or two seemed like a small price to pay?”
She wasn’t entirely sure how he managed to stop her hand before it connected with his face.
“You don’t know that! Did you hear Perry say that he’d compromise a story in exchange for the money?” she asked, snatching her arm back from where he continued to hold it.
“Well, no, but...”
“Did you see some sort of contract to that effect, or talk to someone who knew why Perry was taking the money - assuming you even saw what you say you saw.”
“Well, no, but...”
“You really don’t have anything do you?”
“I have enough. And don’t think I didn’t try to talk to Mr. White about it before we went to print. He wouldn’t return my calls.”
“Give me one reason why he should?”
“Why do you care so much, anyway? This isn’t about you. I didn’t say you’d done anything wrong, did I?”
“Perry was fired this morning. He was the closest thing I have to family. You bastard! I will never forgive you for this.”
In the back of her mind, she noted that during her last speech, Kent had gone quite pale.
“And to think that I was actually starting to think that I’d misjudged you. God, I’m such an idiot. You’re not any better than the rest of the creeps out there. In fact, you’re worse. You will do anything for a headline. You destroyed one of the most honorable men alive. Do you feel good now? Does it give you some kind of cheap thrill to know that you destroyed an innocent man?”
“Lois,” he whispered. Although he said nothing more, the single word was an obvious plea.
It was the first time she’d ever heard him say her first name. And an involuntary shiver traveled down her spine. Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. “Damn you, Kent. Damn you for making me care.”
Without another word, she turned and walked out the door to his apartment, slamming it hard behind her. She didn’t turn around, didn’t look back. Her legs felt like jello, barely able to carry her away from his apartment. She wasn’t sure why she suddenly felt so empty inside. All she knew is that if felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest.**
TO BE CONTINUED...
