by Gwenda Bond
I couldn’t quite believe it. “You’re taking this awfully well.”
“You were right. If we were meant to be together, I’d know. Besides, boys, gross,” she said. “More trouble than they’re worth. I mean, except Clark, obviously.”
“Obviously,” I said.
“A boy who knows the name of every famous female journalist I’ve tossed his way so far.”
“Dreamy, right?” I asked.
“Dreamy,” she agreed. “Back to work?”
I nodded, which was good… because Perry was coming toward us up the opposite hall. He extended a finger at the office door. “In here, now.”
It seemed Clark was about to get the full Scoop experience.
“We were just heading back in,” I said.
“Good, because when I checked for copy, it’s funny—there still wasn’t any,” Perry said. “And all the TV stations have stories about this guy’s cockamamie experience from last night. He can’t give enough interviews. I don’t believe for a second someone flew him into the street, but I don’t know, do I? Because we don’t have what’s really been happening—”
Perry was still talking when we entered the office, but the moment he saw Clark, he stopped. “Who are you?” he demanded.
Clark opened his mouth and held out his hand, but then Perry waved dismissively. “I don’t care. If you can get this story, you’re hired.”
Wide-eyed, Clark dropped his hand.
“Lane, was I wrong to trust you with this story? Should I reassign it to someone upstairs?” Perry’s gaze swept over all of us, leaving burning shame in its wake. “Or are you going to get the definitive take you promised so that we can save the Planet’s reputation?”
“We’re going to do the last one,” I said. “Wouldn’t you rather we be right than fast?”
“I’d like both,” he said, steam practically coming out of his ears. “If I don’t have a story by tomorrow morning, it’s over. I’m pulling the assignment and reconsidering what type of reporting you will be doing in the future.”
And, with that, Perry about-faced.
“Well, I promised you a tour,” I told Clark, after he was gone and definitively out of earshot. “Welcome to our world.”
“Wow,” Clark said. “And I thought my parents could make me feel guilty. I don’t even work here and I feel like I messed up. What are you going to do?”
“Get the story,” I said.
“Yeah, how are we going to do that?” James asked, sounding defeated. “We’ve been trying.”
Devin said, “I got nothing new.”
They were all looking at me, expecting a solution. Funny enough, my phone buzzed right then and so I knew who it must be. My parents would have phoned. Everyone else who was likely to message me was in this room.
TheInventor: Sending addresses to your email. I found all four. Wisconsin, Ohio, Jersey.
“I’ve got something,” I said. “Original addresses for our missing teens,” I continued, heading to my desk and sitting down to log on to my computer. “A friend of Clark’s… and mine… tracked them down. I’m forwarding them to all three of you. They weren’t from the Metropolis area. That’s why we couldn’t find them. We should call the families, let them know where their missing kids are. They’ll come get them, won’t they?”
“It’s hard to believe they wouldn’t,” Maddy said.
I prayed she was right.
“Lois,” Clark said, “did you tell them?”
Gah.
“Tell us what?” Maddy asked him.
“It should come from Lois,” Clark said.
I knew he was trying to help, but… I gave him a desperate butt out look. He didn’t look away.
Thankfully, my phone buzzed again. I held up a finger. “One sec.”
How was I going to get out of this? I needed to get this story—for all our sakes.
TheInventor: I also found four properties your Contessa’s been paying the rent on. Including this one—I’m checking it out.
He’d attached a photo. It was the building with all the weird cameras.
SkepticGirl1: No, don’t—
TheInventor: I just figured out how to get in the back door.
I knew Donovan well enough to know that there was no way Alex was getting any messages out once he was inside. When I’d lock-picked my way into the last lab he had set up, everything on my phone got wiped on the way out by a security measure he had in place. I could only imagine his experience with us had made him more paranoid.
This is just great. Alex Luthor stole my plan. Now I have to go save him.
Clark appeared at my shoulder. “What is it?” he asked.
I clicked out so he wouldn’t see my phone screen.
Todd had said they wanted me to talk. Well, they were going to get me.
I couldn’t afford to sacrifice a friend, even one I didn’t fully trust. Nor did I want anyone else in this room getting hurt. I could imagine how the Kents would look at me if I got Clark in trouble. Martha would sternly forbid us from ever seeing each other again.
“Bad timing,” I said. I excelled at cover stories. “My mom needs me to come watch Lucy. Dad’s out and she got called back to campus for a meeting.”
“Can Lucy come here?” Maddy asked. “Perry didn’t sound like he was going to wait.”
“Good idea. Mom’s already left, so I’ll go get her and bring her back here,” I said.
“I could go,” Clark offered.
“No,” I blurted.
He raised his eyebrows.
“It’s just, she’s already half in love with you,” I said. “She won’t be able to take the heartbreak when you leave if she feels like you were on a date.”
Clark’s head ducked in embarrassment. “Oh. Right.”
I channeled my inner commander to keep my friends distracted. “You guys can make the calls while I’m gone. We’ll regroup when I get back. Maybe if we can get positive IDs… Some help from the parents…”
“On it,” James said.
By the time I came back, it wouldn’t matter that Lucy wasn’t with me. I texted Taxi Jack a mayday to meet me out front; he sent back a confirmation immediately. I slung my bag over my shoulder.
“What about me?” Clark asked. “You’re sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
“You can help—everyone loves you,” I said, and my cheeks were on fire once more. “If anyone can convince these parents to step up, it’s you, Clark Kent. And you can fill the others in on… everything.”
He nodded, as if I’d given him a sacred trust. He wasn’t going to be happy when he found out what I was doing.
None of them were.
It won’t matter if you get the story.
That’s what I told myself. I even believed it.
CHAPTER 25
Taxi Jack was somewhat relieved I was headed to a nice enough neighborhood, and while it was still light out.
If only he knew.
“You can let me out here,” I said when we reached the corner with the decorative phone booth.
“You want me to wait?” he asked.
“No need,” I said. Who knew how long I’d be inside?
“All right, well summon me if you change your mind, milady,” he said, waggling his many-ringed fingers.
Milady? He was seriously getting into The Three Musketeers.
I waited until he’d pulled away, his taillights disappearing into the distance, before I started up the sidewalk. I’d come unarmed except for my wits—what else could I possibly bring? I hoped they were all I’d need.
At least I had an ally inside. Though he shouldn’t be here.
The blame for that, for anyone getting hurt… it weighed on me. I should have come back here the moment their desire was clear.
I was a match for Donovan. And for Jenkins. I’d proved that.
Maybe not for the two of them together with a fancy benefactor, though.
Too bad. I had to be equal to the task. I didn’t slow until I had almost reached the building that was my destination—well, until I came to the alley that I was certain would lead to a back way in.
“Here goes everything,” I muttered.
I left the sidewalk for the alleyway. The damp brick walls on either side left enough space to allow a single car through. There wasn’t anything to speak of besides a couple of dumpsters. I didn’t let myself think too much about a girl walking alone down a dark alley being the ultimate bad-idea cliché. I had no choice.
When I reached the end, I glanced up and saw a fancy camera mounted here too. I waved.
And then I was on a smaller access street. It was mostly old fencing and the backs of buildings. I walked past the two other structures between me and my destination.
At the back of the brownstone a set of concrete steps ran down, down, down into what must have been the building’s basement and sublevels. A slick door with a keypad and another buzzer setup waited at the bottom, just visible from where I stood.
I could count on my phone not working inside, so I took it out and typed a group text: If I’m not back in two hours, come looking. I’m at their HQ, you know the spot.
And Clark would be able to guess how to get in, from our adventure the other day. I said a silent “I’m sorry” for making him worry before I hit send and put my phone in my pocket. The others were used to watching me charge ahead in person. It was my way.
I started down the steep steps, placing my boots carefully. My phone in my pocket buzzed, but I didn’t check the message. Finally, when I got to the bottom, I stopped where the shiny black camera mounted above this door would have a clear angle on me. Unlike Alex, I didn’t plan on figuring out how to get inside. I thought it would be easy.
I moved forward to ring the buzzer, and spoke into the little speaker.
“You wanted me to come, here I am,” I said.
Then I stepped back and mouthed Let me in to the camera.
As I expected, the door buzzed immediately to admit me. I grabbed the handle, going inside before I could change my mind and back out.
What waited for me behind the door was… nice. Ceiling panels glowed, casting a cool, uniform light. This was a major step up from Donovan’s last two shady labs in rundown buildings in the most dangerous parts of town, places he’d had access to courtesy of Boss Moxie’s extensive real estate holdings. Everything I could see in front of me gleamed, clean and sleek and new, the very latest and greatest. The Contessa must have paid for some major upgrades. The smooth-walled hall ahead of me still might as well have screamed an ominous Abandon all hope.
I turned, thinking maybe I would go back for reinforcements—and heard a definite click from the door. I tried it.
No love. The door didn’t budge an inch.
Okay, that made the decision for me.
The outer walls and the inside of the door had a metallic shine. It was possibly the same stuff that made up the armor the teens wore, but seemed thicker. I touched the door, and it felt cool under my palm. I dug out a pen and scratched it against the metal surface as hard as I could. No effect whatsoever. So I needed for this to not come down to brawn against brains.
Turning, I took a ginger step in the direction of the hall.
“I can’t believe it took you so long to give in,” said a voice overhead, a man’s and unfamiliar.
“Is that you, Dirtbag Jenkins?” I asked under my breath.
“You’ll have to speak up if you want a response. Or just keep coming. We’re waiting for you.”
“I’m not here to give in,” I said, raising my voice. “Just so you know.”
The speaker made a noise, and then another voice came over it. “What is the meaning of all—” This one was more familiar. Donovan, I thought. But it cut out before I could tell for sure.
“Be right there,” I said, keeping my voice loud enough so they could hear. At least if Alex was with them, he would know I hadn’t abandoned him here. That I was on my way. Maybe he’d come up with a plan too.
I wasn’t going to abandon all hope. Not today. Not ever.
I shrugged off my nerves as best as I could—which wasn’t much—and started to walk up the slick-walled, immaculate hallway. As I walked, I checked my phone and saw the expected but unwelcome words: No Service.
Figured.
I also saw the message I’d gotten before I came in. It was from Maddy: Lois, no! Don’t give them what they want—which, according to Clark, is you.
He’d told them all, apparently. And it was far too late to turn back. Soon enough, I’d know why these people were after me. That was something.
I worked to control the sound of my footsteps as I made my way up the hall. For all I knew, the stealth might buy me a second or two to assess the situation when I finally found someone. The interior of the building didn’t appear to be filled with cameras like the outside, so it was possible I wasn’t yet visible.
Which meant no one here feared a threat from within.
I had a theory about that metal along the outer walls, that it helped create a kind of isolating barrier for the building. That we were in a fortress of sorts.
Reya appeared at the end of the hallway. Todd, Sunny, and Jamie joined her.
“We knew you’d come,” Todd said, and then laughed.
Reya shot him a disapproving look. “She’s going to be one of us. Be nice.”
No freaking way was I going to be one of them.
Jenkins couldn’t be delusional enough to think I’d obey his commands. Best not to say that to them, though, not yet.
“I am?” I asked, moving closer. There was no turning back, not without Alex. And not until I had enough to nail the guys who’d brought these runaways here. “We could all leave here together instead.”
Sunny said, “I’m afraid not,” her mask catching one of the lights overhead. “You can’t give us what we want.”
“It’s not as bad here as you think,” Jamie added. “We have a purpose, a place.”
Working for very bad people. Not a good purpose, not a good place.
But I could relate to the sentiment. No one knew better than me how much that meant, how hard a place and a purpose would make you fight.
“Those are good things,” I said. “I know your families probably weren’t… what families should be.”
“You don’t know anything,” Todd said.
“We found their names and addresses, your real families’. My friends are calling them right now. I bet they’ll want to see you, all of you,” I said, sweeping my eyes across them.
“Bring her,” the man’s voice said over the speakers.
Todd was the one who scoffed. “If you believe our ‘real’ families will save us, you don’t know anything. I don’t even know why our new parents want you. Reya, they told us what to do.”
“Sorry,” Reya murmured, then grabbed my arm with one of her cool metallic hands. “Right this way.”
She directed us into a waiting elevator around the corner. Her hand was strong as steel on my arm, and I knew it would be useless to fight.
The elevator operated by key, and when Jamie twisted it, we went farther down.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” Todd said.
How long would it be before my reinforcements arrived? Would they even be able to get into this fortress when they did?
Don’t think that way.
They would make it here and inside eventually. They had to, right? Alex had managed it. I just had to get the information I came for and stall.
It wasn’t much, but it was a plan. Men like Steve Jenkins and Dabney D
onovan were arrogant, overconfident. That made them vulnerable.
The Contessa was more of an unknown, but maybe I’d be lucky. Maybe she wasn’t even here.
The elevator car stopped after going down two levels, and I knew my luck had run out when the doors opened.
The glam queen stood in another short sleek corridor, waiting. She was in a long gown and extremely high heels, like she’d planned an evening out. Diamonds glittered around her neck. She raked her eyes over me from head to toe.
Reya and I got off the elevator last, and the Contessa motioned for her to bring me over. We stopped in front of her.
“Those shoes must be killer on your feet,” I said. “Or you have excellent balance.”
“Lois Lane,” she said, “at last we formally meet. I’m the Contessa del Portenza.” She waited expectantly. Was I supposed to be impressed?
“It’s hardly an introduction if you use a fake name. Who are you really?” I asked her. “The Contessa name you stole goes back hundreds of years. It’s not yours.”
She tilted her head, like I’d finally gotten interesting. “Oh, but it is. You know what they say, there’s no money like old money.”
“You’re four hundred years old?” I scoffed.
Reya’s hand tightened on my skin. “Ow!” I said.
“Sorry.” The apology matched the immediate loosening of her grip.
She hadn’t done it on purpose. She was afraid of this woman. There was a reason she’d drawn her with a dragon. I realized something else…
“Reya, you drew the logo too, didn’t you? On the backpack?” That was why the art style was different from the Ismenios logo. It was familiar from her other piece.
“Before,” she said, her free hand flexing. “Yeah. She described it to me.”
“We must make use of our talents while we have them,” the Contessa said. “For some of us, like me, that may be a long time indeed. Whatever fortune gives us, it is our responsibility to make something of it.”