She'd been upset when she'd left his apartment. She'd arrived with hope and anticipation - excited about the tickets to the show - and had left with pain and disappointment.
He's going to blame himself.
That had been his fault. He should have told her. He'd had numerous opportunities over the past week to tell her how he felt, but he'd failed every time.
Yup, he did blame himself.
"You and Kent are particular friends?" Wolfe barked.
Uh-oh!
"That you give Kent and Lane an advantage in getting Superman exclusives."
Oooh! Would have been better to say you dropped in for a cup of coffee.
"No, of course not, Superman," Henderson said with a warning look towards Wolfe. "But we want what is best for Clark. And right now, that means finding him."
Oh dear.
"It happened here, in his apartment," Henderson said. "We have a -"
<points to Lana>
"We checked for the presence of the perpetrator," Henderson said. "The apartment was empty when we arrived, and only the Medical Examiner has come since then. Except you, of course."
Oooh, she is such a bitch!
Why had Mayson come back to his apartment?
That's what I'd like to know. Thank God it wasn't *Lois* who had decided to show up.
About two feet from Mayson - lying upside down, probably having fallen from her hand - was her shiny new baking pan.
Oh. Right. Duh!
"The tragedy that an innocent young woman lost her life?" Wolfe asked coldly. "Or the *tragedy* that someone you consider to be a friend is wanted for questioning over a murder?"
Both?
Clark had never been asked to do that before, but it seemed he had lost his status as a trusted associate and had become a possible impediment to procuring justice. That hurt ... and they didn't even know he was the primary suspect.
Wolfe spoke up. "And I'm sure you're aware of the consequences of harbouring or assisting a person wanted for questioning."
This could be interesting if Clark is taken to court and Superman is called as a witness.
Had Lana done it? Had she slipped so far that she'd been willing to kill in order to achieve her plans for their life together?
Erm...yes?
Jonathan shot Martha a smile in the mellow arc of moonlight. "See?"
Read: "I told you so."
"Mayson was killed in my apartment. Their first question has to be if I was there. I can't say I was - I don't know what happened to Mayson - but if I say I wasn't there, they'll ask where I was, and I don't have an answer for that."
True. Even if he just says "out walking to clear my head over Lana's unexpected contol-freaking" - there's no way for him to have an alibi. Unless he admits to Henderson and Wolfe that CK=S.
"Mayson was killed in my apartment. Their first question has to be if I was there. I can't say I was - I don't know what happened to Mayson - but if I say I wasn't there, they'll ask where I was, and I don't have an answer for that."
"But not in that way. I'd been trying to tell her all week." He blew out a long breath. "If only I had, perhaps she would still be -"
Oh, Clark, it's *not* your fault.
"Clark Kent doesn't have to be found," Martha reminded him. "Ever."
Wow, did *not* expect her to say that.
"What if she were taken by the murderer? Because she's a witness? That is possible. Mayson would have enemies. It's inevitable in her job. Perhaps someone tracked her to my apartment. Perhaps that person took Lana."
Huh. Valid point.
"And yes, I'm worried she will blow the secret."
Which is why it *might* be best if Clark had a private conversation with Wolfe and Henderson. Or at least, Henderson. I feel like he would be trustworthy enough to keep the CK=S secret.
"Because if she did, she would be handing you an alibi," Martha said. "You would be able to prove your whereabouts when Mayson was shot."
True.
"I don't think I have any choice but to trust the system," Clark said, his voice hollow and listless.
Oh no.
"I'll try to find out exactly what evidence they have that points to Clark being the killer. Then, I'll try to answer as truthfully as I can without revealing that Clark Kent is Superman."
No, you just have to spill to Henderson and you'll be a free man.
Clark studied the floor for a moment. "If ... if you see Lois, could you ... could you tell her ... tell her I'm sorry?"
<Thinks Lois will kick into hyper-drive to prove Clark's innocence>
What if they wanted to fingerprint him?
Yup. Exactly. He got printed during the Heat Wave.
To Clark's knowledge, Superman's fingerprints were not on the police files. But he'd worked alongside them many times. It wouldn't have been difficult to lift a print from something he'd touched and keep it as a sort of souvenir.
<points to above>
Clark lightly grasped her shoulders through his leather jacket. "Lana," he said. "You know I left my apartment."
"I know nothing."
Bitch! Also, did she just see him do the spin-change?
"Now that everything you care about is being threatened, you want to do *together*?" she said. "Too late, Kent. I offered you 'together', and you couldn't scurry away fast enough."
See? She did it. What happened overseas to make her snap?
Did she know she was discussing this with Superman? Did she think Clark Kent could kill? Did she think Superman could? Did she have any idea of the repercussions if the 'Clark Kent is Superman' bombshell exploded right alongside the 'Clark Kent killed Mayson Drake' disclosure?
The better question is - Does she care? Answer that with a resounding NO.
"Let me make it easier," Lana said in a softer, more menacing tone. "I found the picture you had hidden next to your bed. The picture of the brunette. I know her name. Lois Lane. I know she works at the Daily Planet. *She's* the one you're in love with, isn't she?"
Clark x-rayed through the leather jacket and saw a revolver loaded with three bullets tucked into the jeans near Lana's hip. With a movement that was superfast and supremely deft, he reached into the jacket and took the gun. He turned away and sprinted towards the alley.
Oh, brilliant, Clark. Now your prints are all over the murder weapon. And all Lana has to do is get a new one to go after Lois with.
Oh dear. Things are swiftly going from bad to worse.
