That night, after the nothing they got at the gym, Lois looked around and exhaled deeply. The only people from the day shift who hadn’t left were Clark and Karen Wells. Cat had left at her usual time to phone her parents in Idaho. They seemed to have a really good relationship, which usually didn’t bother Lois but tonight irritated her for some reason. Karen was pretending to work, but was really on the phone trying to set up a date with her boyfriend. It wasn’t going well, and the difficulties in her private life gave Lois some guilty satisfaction. Never mind the dangers of schadenfreude.
She glanced at Clark, who was either working for real or was doing an excellent job pretending. And it was maddening. He had no right! He needed to be at home watching a football game or baseball game or basketball or tennis or something, anything, not poring over the public financial info on Max Menken. He should be out on a date with Karen or Mayson Drake or some other bimbo – or even with her – not staring at the records of the boxers scheduled to fight on Saturday.
Her irritation overcame her control. “What are you still doing here?”
He lifted his gaze and obviously pretended to be surprised by the question. “I’m working.”
“Uh-huh. On what?”
He waved his hands over his desk. “Just this.”
“Sure.”
“Lois—”
“You’re waiting for me to talk about it, aren’t you? To open up.” He opened his mouth but she overrode whatever he’d planned to say. “See, this is exactly why I hate partnerships.”
His eyes narrowed as if he were angry. “Why?”
“Because your partners are always there for you, whether you want them to be there or not! They’re always ready to listen, to share your troubles! Well I don’t feel like sharing!”
Clark lifted his hands as if declaring peace, but Lois wouldn’t let him.
“Okay, so I don’t get along with my father! Big deal!”
“It isn’t a big deal, Lois. It’s just—”
She didn’t let him finish the sentence. “Just what?” She turned to face him and growled, “What were you about to say?”
He crossed his arms and leaned back. “Just that you seem to get along pretty well with Cat. You and she are partners. Have been for quite a while.”
The shot hit home. “That’s different,” she said quietly. “Cat’s a – well, she’s a different breed of cat. No pun intended. She’s saved my life more than once.”
A grin tried to sneak onto his lips. “My point is that you don’t really hate partnerships. You just have a hard time trusting people. You trust Cat because she’s proven herself to be a faithful friend.”
She turned back to her desk. “Yeah, well, it’s not likely that you’ll have the chance to save my life.”
“Is that why you trust Superman?”
Without looking, she responded with a single nod. “Yes. He’s saved all three of us at different times. And all three of us together that one time.”
“That’s true. But didn’t your father provide for you and watch over you when you were younger?”
She put down her pencil and looked off in the distance. “We didn’t starve or wear filthy rags to school, but no, he didn’t watch over us.” She growled at nothing and at no one, then snatched up the pencil by the eraser end and pounded the point into the desk until it shattered. Through gritted teeth, she said, “He was so wrapped up in his work that he didn’t have time for anyone or anything. Except, of course, his short-term girlfriends. He was never what anyone would call a ‘Daddy’ to us.”
“A lot of parents are workaholics, Lois.”
She swept the pencil fragments off her desk onto the floor. “Sure, yeah, but the ones I’ve met have at least tried to spend some quality time with their families! Even the cheaters! My father just came home to criticize us. ‘Daddy, look, I got a 98 on my science test!’ ‘That’s wonderful, Lois. That leaves two points for improvement.’ According to my father’s love-Lois scale, I was barely a two out of ten.”
She had more to say, but her desk phone chose that moment to ring. “Hang on, Clark.” To the phone, she said, “Daily Planet, Lois Lane speaking.”
“Pumpkin, we gotta talk.”
“Who is – Allie?”
“Yeah. We really gotta talk.”
“Sure. I can meet you first thing in the morning here at—”
“No! Gotta be tonight. Right now!”
She exhaled sharply, then said, “Okay. How about an hour—”
“Can’t you come now? It’s really important.”
“Uh – okay. I’ll meet you at the corner of French and Fourth across from Danny’s Deli.”
“You’re leaving now, right?”
“I’ll be there as soon as my Jeep can get me there. What’s this about?”
“It’s about the fights. I can’t say more on the phone, but I’ll tell you everything I know in person. Park down the block and walk the rest of the way.”
“Hang loose, Allie. Remember your blood pressure.”
“I wish that was all I had to worry about.” He hung up before Lois could respond.
She stood and picked up her coat. “Clark, that was Allie. He’s really upset about the fights, and he may know something crucial. I hate to do this to you, but he—”
“He’s more likely to open up if you’re the only one there. I get it. He knows you and trusts you, but he doesn’t know me well enough to trust me. No problem.”
She gave him an appraising once-over, but even though he didn’t appear enthusiastic about her going alone, he looked and sounded sincere. “Thanks. I’m glad you understand, even if you don’t like it.”
“You’re right, Lois, I don’t like it. I’d rather go along as backup. But getting the story is the primary goal – anything else is secondary. I’ll stay here and keep going over these statements. Maybe Allie will give you something I can use, too.”
She shrugged into her coat and stood in front of him. “You’re a good partner, Clark. Thanks.”
*****
Lois found a parking place half a block from the T-intersection where Danny’s Deli sat. Lois thought about her conversation with Clark as she walked to the rendezvous with Allie. Clark had done something not many other people in her life had done.
He’d listened to her.
He hadn’t judged her, criticized her, corrected her, or offered solutions for her problems. He’d simply listened. The one time he’d spoken, he’d asked a question and made his point gently. Other guys would have insisted on going with her to meet Allie, but he’d understood her decision and supported her, albeit reluctantly. He was a gentleman who—
“Lois!”
She looked up and silently berated herself for losing focus and situational awareness. Allie should never have been able to see her first, even if her knee was starting to bother her and he was standing in the shadows across the wrong street from the deli.
She pivoted and headed across the street and saw a delivery truck’s lights flip on. Who made deliveries that late at night?
Nobody did.
She looked up and saw her friend step into the crosswalk. But it was wrong! It was like being with her unit on patrol, unable to bring her weapon to bear on the target fast enough, knowing what was about to happen but couldn’t stop it, couldn’t change it—
“Allie! Take cover!”
The truck’s engine revved and Allie stopped in confusion as the light changed and Lois tried to run to knock Allie out of the line of fire but her knee seized and she fell to the street with a muffled scream and grabbed her leg to her chest and the truck ran over Allie before she could take a breath to yell again and the truck’s tires squealed as it made the next corner and vanished.
The pain in her leg unfocused her vision for a moment. The first thing she saw clearly was Allie’s body lying bent and bloody and immobile in the street.
“No! Allie, no!” She half-crawled, half-stumbled to his side. The combat medic in her saw a casualty on the asphalt and realized that the patient was already dead. The security specialist in her looked around for the truck, but it was already gone. The reporter in her set to work composing the article outline.
The friend in her wept and mourned Allie’s passing.
*****
The phone in Lois’ apartment rang incessantly. Lucy finally picked up the receiver without either sitting up or looking at the clock and murmured, “H’lo?”
“Lucy? This is Cat.” There was no response from Lucy. “Lucy! It’s Cat Grant!”
“Tha’s nice. Hope you’re happy together.”
“Wake up, you bonehead! Lois is in the ambulance now but won’t go to the hospital!”
“Who are you calling – wait, what ambulance?”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes and what ambulance!”
“There was a hit-and-run a little while ago and Lois hurt her leg and won’t go to the hospital.”
“So you called me because – I’m next of kin?” Lucy threw the covers back and sat up. “How bad is she hurt? Will she – her leg – how bad is it?”
“No, no, the truck didn’t hit her! You know Allie Dianello?”
“Yeah.”
“Lois went to see him late last night on a story and he was run over by what witnesses say was a delivery truck. She tried to help him and her knee collapsed, and she’s still on site refusing to go to the hospital. Clark’s waiting for us at the ER and the police won’t let her leave the scene of the accident without medical treatment because she’s almost hysterical. You’re next of kin and you can make her go see a doctor. None of the rest of us have the legal authority.”
“Okay. If you can get a cop to the phone—”
“It’s a mobile phone and I’m standing next to the detective.”
“Then hand him or her the phone and I’ll get her there.”
*****
Clark cursed himself. He should have insisted on going with Lois. He could have – should have – saved Allie. They could have blown the story wide open without anyone dying.
And Lois wouldn’t be coming to the hospital with an unspecified leg injury.
A young woman entered the ER waiting room and stalked directly to him. “Hey, Clark.”
The greeting from the short brown-eyed girl startled him. “Who – oh, hi, Lucy.”
She put her hand on his arm. “My sister gets herself in all kinds of trouble, doesn’t she?”
“Do you?”
“Uh-uh. I let her do as much of the crazy dangerous stuff as she wants. I like breathing.”
He tried to smile. “I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but you and Lois don’t look that much like sisters. The family resemblance must be in the attitude.”
She grinned and lowered her hand. “It is. I’m almost as hard-charging as she is, except I don’t carry a gun. Oops. I mean, a weapon.”
His mouth flickered for a moment, not quite long enough to be called a smile. “Can you tell me anything about Lois’ injuries?”
She shook her head. “I only know that her knee folded up under her when she tried to shove Allie out of the way of the truck that killed him. They’re bringing her here more as a precaution than anything else, although the ambulance attendants had to sedate her so they could strap her to a gurney and give her some painkillers through an IV. How well did you know Allie?”
“I met him for the first time yesterday when we went to the gym to get the story on his fighters. We didn’t get to talk, either, but I got the impression from Lois’ phone call with him earlier that there was something big going on, something that involves the fights on Saturday. How well did you know him?”
“Not as well as Lois. Our father wanted her to be a doctor, didn’t think hanging around boxing gyms was professional or ladylike for either of us. He didn’t think I was smart enough to get through medical school, either, and told me I could be a good secretary if I put my mind to it.” Her voice hardened and she said, “I’m working on a Master’s in business administration, should be done before summer.” Lucy turned away and muttered, “That’ll freakin’ show him.”
The flashing ambulance lights got their attention before either could say anything else. He stepped back as Lucy ran to her sister – there wasn’t much room in the entrance and he took up a lot of space.
His X-ray vision told him that other than some minor swelling, Lois’ knee apparently hadn’t suffered any new damage. She’d simply tried to do too much that day and used up all the reserve leg strength she had. He and Cat would have to take turns sitting on her in the newsroom to allow her knee to recover.
And his generalized anger at himself and Allie’s killers found a new target in Doctor Sam Lane.
Clark wondered if he’d heard about Lois’ knee yet. Then he wondered how much the man would care when he found out.
Cat walked in from outside, moved up beside him, and put her hand on his shoulder. “She’ll be okay, Clark. She’s really mad at whoever ran Allie down, and she insists that it was deliberate murder and not an accident. The detectives on the scene didn’t help, either. They suggested that it was some kind of mob payback not directly related to the fights.”
His self-control had never been so tenuous. He knew he shouldn’t say it, shouldn’t even think it, but he turned to her and growled, “We’ll find the truth. We’ll find it if I have to take this city apart brick by brick.”
Just then, Lucy poked her head through the door and called, “Hey, Kent, you need to get in here and talk to her. The doctors won’t let her phone anyone. She wants to call in her story and she’s not quite all there right now because of the drugs they have her on.”
He wasted no time in following Lucy’s order.
*****
Cat was glad Lois wanted Clark. He might be the only one who could get anything printable out of her at the moment.
And she was relieved that she didn’t have to face the man’s fury.
She remembered how he’d behaved toward her the last morning she’d seen him at Met U. He’d been angrier than any man she’d ever been around up to that point in her life. And he’d hurt her terribly when he’d walked out on her without letting her explain herself, but he hadn’t frightened her.
Just now, though, he’d almost terrified her. Had he suspected – wrongly, of course – that she’d played a role in hurting Lois, Cat didn’t know what he might do to her. His livid declaration about taking apart the city to find the truth worried her. If he was indeed Superman, and she was almost totally certain that he was, the knowledge of his depth of feeling for Lois made Cat’s navel pucker. Not only could he fulfill his threat, he would.
He’d regret it deeply afterward, but it wouldn’t stop him.
*****
Clark stayed with Lois until she drifted off to sleep. Prior to that, though, he’d gotten enough from Lois to know which detectives to talk to, what questions to ask them, and how to put it together with what Lois saw and heard. It was too late to get the story in the morning edition, but he was sure it would be in the afternoon run.
He dialed his boss’ number from the waiting area, mentally apologizing to Alice White for waking her up in the middle of the night. She might well be used to it, but he was also sure that she didn’t like it one bit.
In a muzzy voice, Perry answered. “Perry White, Daily Planet.”
“Chief, this is Clark. Lois got a call last night to meet Allie Dianello about the so-called fight of the century, but when she found him a delivery truck ran over and killed him. The police are calling it a hit-and-run accident but Lois thinks—”
“She thinks it was murder.” His words were clear and firm now.
“Does Lois always think that?”
“No, but I don’t remember the last time she was wrong. What about you? Do you think it was deliberate?”
“After hearing what she told me, I think it probably was deliberate.”
“How’s Lois holding up?”
“She’s in the hospital for the night. She tried to save Allie but her knee gave out on her and she’s in quite a bit of pain. There doesn’t seem to be any additional permanent damage.”
“Good.” The editor let out the breath Clark knew he’d been holding, then asked, “So what’s your plan?”
“Interview the detectives who caught the case, find out if Allie left any notes or recordings of what he was going to tell Lois, and help Cat keep Lois from serious injury.”
“What serious injury?”
“If she’s right about this story and she keeps pushing, she’ll put herself in the crosshairs of whoever is pulling the strings. That person or organization won’t hold back because of Lois’ winning personality. And we both know she won’t step back because of personal danger. In fact, I think if she knew who killed Allie and the law wouldn’t or couldn’t make a legal move, she might go hunting.”
The flat statement apparently took Perry by surprise. “I didn’t think you knew her that well.”
His response made Clark glad that he hadn’t communicated his mood to Lois, but he also regretted saying anything to Cat about his anger over Lois’ injury. It was one more brick in the solid wall he’d built in his mind that convinced him that Superman must never, ever act out of anger or fear. He had to control himself first in order to serve the city he’d mentally and emotionally adopted.
He replayed Perry’s next words in his mind until he’d caught up. “I’m sorry to say that I think you’re right about Dianello’s death being murder, Clark.” He paused, his voice containing more steam than before. “I want all three of you in my office at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon. We’ll put this together then. I’ll make sure DA Drake will be there, too. If we give her what we’ve got, she’ll probably give us the exclusive on the bust.”
“We’ll all be there, Perry, even if I have to carry Lois in.”
His boss laughed. “You know, son, I’d almost give an Elvis tour scarf to see that.”
*****
Around two-thirty in the morning, just after Allie’s death, Lex stood on the roof of Lex Towers playing catch with himself by bouncing a rubber-coated baseball off the practice wall on one side. One return bounce went over his head, and he nearly fell from the surprise of seeing Superman floating above and behind him. The blue-clad hero caught the ball, landed softly, and handed the ball back to Lex.
“That’s it,” Lex huffed. “I’m giving you a cell phone the next time you come here. I’m sure there’s room for a pocket to carry it in your cape. I’ll even program my personal phone number in it.”
Superman didn’t snark back, which surprised Lex. “Is something wrong?”
“Why should something be wrong for me to come see you?”
Slowly Lex replied, “Nothing has to be wrong. It’s just – you’re usually more talkative than this.”
Big Blue, as Lex was starting to call him in his mind, turned to one side and crossed his arms. “Did you know Allie Dianello?”
Lex frowned as if concentrating. “The name doesn’t ring a – wait, wasn’t he the trainer for the fighters for the Fight of the Century?”
“Why did you speak of him in the past tense?”
“Because you did. What happened to him? Did he resign his position?”
Lex knew that he wasn’t exhibiting any of the characteristics of lying, even though Superman’s scrutiny bothered him. The hero finally broke his gaze and said, “He was killed by what the police are calling a hit-and-run accident late last night. Someone is either trying to hide something about that event or provoke me into participating to keep the fighters safe.”
“That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? Besides, that conclusion isn’t fully supported by the facts released to the electronic media.”
“Maybe not, but that’s the way this feels to me.”
“Surely you don’t suspect that this is another of those tests you were talking about a few weeks ago.”
“No, Lex. I don’t think this is connected to the tests. I could be wrong, of course, but this feels different, almost like a mob-related thing. No one died in those earlier tests.”
“As you say. Since you are unfortunately unable to help the trainer at this time, what do you intend to do? And why are you discussing your decision with me?”
“Well, I wasn’t going to appear at the fight, but I think my decision has been made for me. I’ll be there. As to why I’m talking to you about it – Lex, do you believe in the afterlife?”
Lex hesitated so he could shift mental gears. “I must say, that question—” he tossed the ball from his bare hand to his glove “—literally came out of left field.”
“Seriously, I’d like to know what you believe. Many humans do believe in the afterlife, and most of those believe that there’s a system of reward and punishment associated with it. What do you think?”
“Hmm. I don’t wish to insult anyone who holds a belief which contradicts my own, but I do not accept that such a construct exists. Of course, I have no empirical proof either way.”
“What about Pascal’s Wager?”
“I assume you are referring to the assertion that one should believe in God because if one does not believe and is wrong, one is the loser of the wager, and that if one believes and there is no God or afterlife, nothing is gained or lost.”
“That’s a simplified explanation, but I think you’ve caught the essence of it.”
“You are not the first person to ask me about this. The wager itself is not evidence, nor is it a scientific or empirical proof. In fact, it’s possible to look at it from an angle that makes it a matter of self-interest to believe, not a matter of faith.”
Superman nodded. “I agree with what you said about the wager. I suppose I was checking my own belief system against another intelligent man’s beliefs.”
Lex didn’t fall for the ego boost the Man of Steel’s words might have given a lesser being. “Just so I’ll know, what are your beliefs? Do you believe in an afterlife and someone who rules over it?”
Superman smiled. “Yes. Because I know I’m not only less than perfect, I’m not the strongest or the smartest person in the city, much less in the history of the world. I know I’ll have to answer to the person who is all that and a bag of chips, as I’ve heard some young people say.” He rose above the playing surface on the roof. “And now I must be going. Those bad guys won’t catch themselves.”
Lex watched him fade into the dark northern sky. He enjoyed his occasional conversations with Superman, though he wondered what the blue-clad hero received from them.
Perhaps he only needed to speak with someone who wouldn’t kiss his buns of steel with empty fawning and vapid expressions of gratitude.
*****
As Superman flew away, he pondered the conversation they’d just had. If Lex hadn’t known Allie or that he was dead, how could he have known the circumstances of his death or what the media had made public? The details of the story hadn’t broken yet, and he’d initially stated that he was unaware that Allie was dead.
There was only one answer. Only someone involved in the action could have known. Lex had to be involved in the fights and whatever else was going on. It was a mistake on Lex’ part, one Superman might not be able to take advantage of.
Not yet, anyway.
He wished he could let Cat and Lois know what he’d just learned.
*****
Lois woke up just after seven the morning after Allie’s death when two nurses came in to take her vital signs and a blood sample. “Again? You vampires just drained me.”
The night nurse, Bonnie by the name on her badge, having already experienced Lois’ temper and determination, silently listened to the airflow in her lungs, drew a tube of blood, and sent what she surely thought was a private mental message to her relief persecutor.
It wasn’t private enough – Lois caught the look. “When do I get out of this Inquisition torture chamber?” Lois demanded.
Bonnie replied, “The doctor will be by to see you during morning rounds. Unless he finds more damage than we think you have, we should be able to release you this afternoon.”
“I’m not staying here and watching TV all day,” Lois growled. “Unhook me and let me sign out. I’ve got bad guys I have to catch.”
“Now, Ms. Lane, you mustn’t leave until the orthopedist can—”
“The orthopedist can kiss my sweet little behind! I know my own body! Now unhook me and give me my clothes or I’m unplugging myself! And if you try to hold my clothes hostage I’ll walk out the front door naked!”
The day nurse suppressed a laugh and said, “That won’t be necessary, Ms. Lane. You do need to wear a knee brace for a few days, though. I’ll go get one and bring it as soon as I can.”
“You’ll bring the brace and my clothes right now or my threat will be reality! I’ve got a murderer to catch and I can’t do it from this room!”
The night nurse sighed. “She’d do it, Bob. Better find the ortho on call—”
“Just bring me the brace. I’m a qualified combat medic and I think I can figure out how to use it.”
Bob nodded. “As long as you understand that you’re leaving against medical advice, Ms. Lane.”
“I’m well aware of what I’m doing. Now get this IV out of my arm before I do it myself. I’m a little out of practice and I’d rather not bleed on your nice clean floor.”
*****
After a cab ride to her apartment, she took a quick shower and changed clothes. Then she strapped on the brace, double-checked the cane she’d gotten from the VA physical therapists when she’d first come to Metropolis, then headed to the gym, grateful for the small bottle of oxycodone tablets Bob had given her that morning.
The prospect of talking with her father was more painful to her than bending her knee far enough to drive her Jeep, something Bob had advised her not to do for a couple of days and something she knew was not the best idea she’d ever had. But the leg loosened up as she drove carefully – carefully for her, anyway – to beard the lion in his den.
When she walked into the gym, the atmosphere struck her immediately. None of the fighters paid any attention to her. No one was sparring or hitting a bag or jumping rope. The fighters were all in groups of three to six men, remembering Allie. She caught snatches of their conversations as she passed them.
“—showed me that left uppercut and made me work on it till I thought my shoulder would fall off—”
“—worked my corner in the Simpson fight—”
“—couldn’t slip a head punch until Allie taught me how—”
“—taught me how to protect myself coming out of a clinch—”
A fresh wave of sadness came over her. She hadn’t stopped long enough to think about how much she’d miss that gruff old man with the soft spot for the Lane girls. The man had called her “Pumpkin” the day before he—
Enough. She’d mourn Allie later. Right now she had a murder to solve.
She searched the building’s interior until she spotted her father sitting on the edge of the sparring ring, holding a copy of the Daily Planet folded to show the teaser for Allie’s story. She walked slowly toward him until she was almost close enough to touch him. “I – I’m sorry, Dad.”
Sam Lane shook his head. “He was a real character.”
“Tough, too.”
“That he was. Always had a soft spot for Lucy, and especially one for you. Used to call you ‘Pumpkin’.” Sam chuckled quietly.
Lois turned away to hide her tears. “He still did.”
“Hit and run.” Sam sighed. “I never thought he’d go out like that.”
Lois wiped her cheeks dry, hesitated, then turned to him and said, “He didn’t. I think he was murdered.”
Sam’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“I was there. I saw the truck coming at him straight and fast. It wasn’t a drunk, wasn’t an accident.”
“You were there?” He lurched to his feet and glared at her. “What were you doing there?”
“My job!”
“Your job doesn’t require you to place yourself in harm’s way!”
She sensed people looking their way, so she moved closer and lowered her volume. “Actually, it does involve doing exactly that. I don’t look for bad guys waving weapons around so I can stand in front of them yelling ‘Shoot me now!’ But I have dedicated my life to finding the truth and making it public.”
“That’s not what I meant! Why were you there?”
“Allie asked me to meet him.”
“Did the driver see you?”
“I don’t know how he could have.”
Sam exhaled. “Good.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean, ‘good?’ Why is that a good thing?”
“Lois, I want you to stay away from this.”
“’This?’ What ‘this’ are you talking about? What am I on to, Dad? What do you know?”
He turned away and looked at his shoes. “Nothing! It’s just – there are some pretty rough characters in this business.”
She refused to be deflected. “What did Allie want to tell me about the fights?” she hissed. “Are they fixed?”
“No, they are not fixed! Now please, just – just stay away.”
“I can’t stay away! I’m a reporter and this is my story!” She waited for him to speak. When he didn’t, she demanded, “Help me with this! Tell me what you know!”
“No!” he snapped.
She pinned him with a glare. “You’re lying.”
“Don’t be ridic—”
“I know the look! I’ve seen it often enough.”
“Lois, let’s not do this! Not now, and – and certainly not here. I can’t help you!”
“You can’t? Or you just won’t?”
“No!” He started to say something but changed his mind and said, “You need to just forget this.”
Her temper boiled over. “You’d like for me to forget everything, wouldn’t you? The fights, the doors slamming, the women you cheated on Mom with, the impossible demands you made on me and the constant criticism of Lucy! You’d love to have had the perfect father-daughter relationship—”
“I never claimed to be a perfect father!”
“You were hardly a father at all!”
“I did my best!”
“Your best sucked!”
He looked stunned, as if Lois had hit him in the head with a club. His mouth moved but no sound came out.
She gritted her teeth and silently counted to five to regain her self-control. “Never mind all that. Can you tell me anything about the murder or not?”
He stood tall and turned his face away from her. “I know nothing about the death of Allie Dianello.”
Her anger suddenly fled. All that remained was a deep sadness – for herself, for her father, for Lucy, for her mother, but mostly for Allie. She took a half-step backward and said, “Whatever you say, Dad.”
She turned and marched out of the gym, her decision made. Her partners wouldn’t like it – she didn’t like it – but this was the way it had to be.
*****
Lois glanced at the newsroom’s wall clock. The appointment with Perry and Mayson was scheduled for one o’clock, just fifteen minutes away. Clark and Cat both wore small grins as they converged on Lois’ desk.
She hoped they’d all three still be partners in a few minutes.
Cat looked at the clock and said, “I hate waiting.”
Clark grinned at her. “This time it’s worth it.”
“Yeah, well, I waited for you at lunch today but you didn’t show and I didn’t think that was worth it.”
“It wasn’t like it was a date or anything.”
She gave him a hard stare. “I still had to eat alone and I hate doing that too.”
“Easy, Cat, I was meeting a source. I’ll tell you all about it after we talk to Perry.”
Lois glanced at her monitor and hesitated, then saved the file she was working on. “I hope you both think it’s worth it in a few minutes.” She hit a few more keys and sent it to the printer on the far side of Clark’s desk.
“I’ll get it,” said Cat.
Clark gently touched her shoulder. She didn’t quite jump out of her skin. “Come on, Lois, this is great! We’re going to take down a really bad guy with this – Cat, what’s wrong?”
As she walked back to her partners, Cat’s face paled and she stopped in the middle of the newsroom for a moment, then continued to Lois’ desk. She waved the printout in the air between herself and Lois. “What – what is this?”
Clark took the printout and scanned it as Lois sat silent in her chair, staring at nothing. “Hit-and-run?” he almost whispered. “You told us Allie’s death was murder. In fact, you insisted it was.”
Cat shook her head. “No, no, no, no, and no! We’re not turning in this – this piece of crap!”
Without looking at Cat, Lois leaned back and crossed her arms. “Yes we are. That’s what happened.”
Clark growled, “What happened to murder?”
Her voice hardened and she snarled back, “The evidence happened! It says this was a tragic accident!”
“We can’t turn this in, Lois!” Clark insisted. “Perry might fire us all!”
“Then bring me something that convinces me I was wrong!”
“We can’t—”
“Let me talk to her, Clark.”
Clark lifted his hands to either side and barked, “Be my guest!”
Cat leaned on Lois’ desk and took a deep breath. “Look at me, Lois. Come on, look at me. That’s it. Now. You nearly got run over and killed last night. A good man, a man who looked out for you and Lucy when your parents split up did die. We have a chance to pull down a really bad guy with this story. We present the facts, an investigation will start on the local level and maybe end up bringing in the Feds. The District Attorney for the city of Metropolis is meeting with us in Perry’s office in a few minutes, and you want to submit this sorry excuse of a story as the truth?”
Treacherous tears dripped down her cheeks. “Cat, please!”
“I’ve never known you to run from the truth, Lois. Not ever. Not when the Army told you they were cutting ties with you, not when Perry paired you up with me, not when I told you Claude would break your heart if you got mixed up with him, not when they told you that you needed to see a counselor, not ever! So why now?”
Small damp spots appeared on her blouse below her face. “I – I can’t—”
“You have to! You have to tell us the truth!”
She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve, then softly said, “It’s my father.”
“Your father? He’s involved in this?”
She nodded. “I think it has something to – to do with his medical practice, but I don’t know. And we can’t even hint at who he is! If we print anything about our source being a doctor he might – they might—” and she broke down.
Cat straightened and hesitated, then looked at Clark. “Your call, partner.”
“No,” he said. “It’s all our call. Whatever we decide, we have to be together on this.”
Cat nodded to him. “Okay, partner. What’s our call?”
He turned and looked Lois’ way. She knew this very good man would do the right thing, even if her father went to prison.
“I say we protect our source and go with Lois’ version of the story.”
Cat sighed. “Perry’s gonna hate me. All of us. I’ll be risking a good friendship with Mayson. And District Attorney Mayson Drake may officially clobber all three of us for wasting her time.” She waited, still and quiet for a long moment, then turned back to Clark. “I hate it, but I agree. We go with Lois’ version.”
Lois didn’t know whether to be happy or sad, but she did know she was grateful. “Thank you. Both of you. I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”
Clark slid his hands into his pants pockets. “It may take you a while.”
Cat pressed her lips together, then said, “Come on, you two. Let’s go put our necks on the chopping block.”
Lois stood and stepped between her partners, then grabbed each one by the arm and pulled them next to her. It was the closest she could come to saying “I love you” to either of them for what they were risking for her.
