Chapter 3
One of Luthor's henchmen entered, accompanied by a lovely
heavy set woman.
"Where ya been, Ben?" one of the other henchmen called,
always kidding about his companion's name.
"Visiting my mum!" the henchman answered looking angry.
"Knock it off, Vic! I'm in a bad mood!" "What's
the matter?" Luthor asked.
"My mum's dying," Ben answered, "liver failure.
Her and a whole bunch of people in her neighborhood have got
it." "Drinking too much?" Vic asked. Ben grabbed
him by the collar. "Don't keep pushing!" he remarked.
"No. She hardly ever touches it, a little wine once and a
while. It was the damned bottled water. The bastard that made the
bottled water plant used pipe from a toxic waste plant. They were
supposed to have been flushed out but it was never done. Now my
mum has died unless they can find a liver." He pushed the
other man back.
"That's enough, Vic!" Luthor snapped. "Ben, you
and Molly have no records do you? You've never done any time,
you've never been caught."
"No," Ben answered.
"Good!" Luthor continued, "From now on you're
Kitty's driver and bodyguard, and Molly's her housekeeper. You'll
be generously paid."
"I ain't no maid!" Molly put in.
"No," Luthor answered, "but you can hire the maids
and the cooks and take care of things, and you two better get
married, too, so the kids won't be askin' questions."
"What kids?" Ben asked.
"MY kids!" Luthor answered.
"Well, o.k.!" Ben snapped. "But what if we want
some?"
"It'll be a big house!" Luthor answered.
Kitty reappeared. "Let's go!" Luthor snapped. "Lot
to do! Couple of people we've got to pick up."
A couple of hours later Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen were leaving
The Daily Planet building when two of Luthor's men took their
arms. "Somebody wants to see you!" one of them snapped
to Lois. "No trouble, just come along!" Lois and Jimmy
were taken around the corner and put in Luthor's limo. "Good
day, Miss Lane!" Luthor greeted. "I've got a story I'd
like you and Olsen to cover, if you don't mind!"
"What?" Lois asked looking rather disgusted.
"My wedding!" Luthor answered, "And Kitty would be
absolutely delighted if you would serve as her bridesmaid! We
need to go pick up some dresses. She'd love your advice. And
also, your suggestions on a maternity outfit, and, a delivery
facility. You've been through this sort of thing. If you're not
interested you're free to go, but if you are you'd have to stay
with us a couple of days. You can understand....security! Ought
to be quite a story for The Planet!"
Lois looked to Luthor and Kitty who was smiling.
"Please?" was all over her face without her saying it.
"Why not?" Lois finally answered. "It Does sound
like quite a story!"
"Gee, I'd love to, Mr. Luthor!" Jimmy put in, "But
I haven't got my camera."
"Beside you!" Luthor remarked. Olsen picked up the case
beside him and opened it. "Wow!" he gasped "A
Nekai 12900Z with all the lenses! And it looks like enough film
for a year, and it has a digital converter! WOW Mr. Luthor! I've
been after Mr. White to get me one of these for months!"
"It's yours!" Luthor answered, "Payment for riding
around with us for a couple of days."
"Certainly!" Jimmy piped.
"Well, let's get rolling then," Luthor laughed,
"before somebody gets curious about us sitting here."
"Can I call the paper," Lois asked, "and let them
know we're on an assignment?"
"Certainly!" Luthor agreed. "Tell them you'll
check in every eight hours or so, so they won't get
nervous."
Lois looked surprised at Luthor's quick agreement. "Mr.
Luthor," the driver remarked, "we have that
appointment." "Yes!" Luthor agreed. "We'll
drop Lois and Kitty off at The Bridal Boutique. They can be
getting their dresses. Molly will go, too. Have the others meet
us there."
The driver nodded, punched some numbers in a cell phone and
picked it up. "Meet us at The Bridal Boutique!" he
snapped. "Drop Molly off, then follow us!" He shut the
cell phone off and put it back in the holder. Lois and Jimmy got
out with Kitty and Molly joined them. The limo and the van pulled
away.
"Where are they going?" Lois asked. "Better you
don't know," Kitty answered, "somebody's messing with
Luthor, and they should know better than do that!"
Lois nodded and looked at Kitty's stomach. "How far
along?" she asked.
"Just a couple of weeks," Kitty answered. "Were
you this scared? Did you wonder if you were doing right?"
"Every damned morning!" Lois answered, "Every
damned morning! But I knew if it wasn't supposed to be happening
it wouldn't be. It's what was meant to be."
Kitty smiled. "I've always liked you, you know!" she
giggled. "Me, too!" Lois answered, and they headed into
The Boutique.
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