Take a Hike

“Excuse me?” Chloe said, her voice droping a few degrees in temperature. Lex was laughing at her now.


“I can give you exclusive access to some new technology that may be released on the open market in the next year. I need it tested by a layperson thiskendkend and the original subject can’t make it till tomorrow afternoon due to a missed flight out of Malaysia.” Chloe didn’t look angry now, just confused. He continued anyway. “If we make an agreement that you won’t publish anything for a few weeks while I shop the product around, you can have first dibs on official statements; plus,” he added with the gestures worthy of an infomercial host, “you’ll have first-hand knowledge of the product.”


“What kind of product are we talking about here?” Chloe asked, intrigued. Coffee miraculously forgotten by both, Lex ushered her out to his porche and practically threw her in the front seat in his haste. He drove her to his home, outlining the software and potential uses on the way. He suggested that Chloe agree to keep things quiet till the test was complete. When they reached the mansion, he led her upstairs to his office where he had the prototype. He removed his jacket and slung it over a chair. He also removed the ruined tie and opened a small closet in the corner of the room and took out another shirt, similar to the one he was currently wearing. lay lay it on another chair and returned to her side. She wondered if he kept clothes here because it was too long of a walk to go to his rooms and get a clean one.


“All I want you to do is wear the tracker on your belt and turn it on once you get to a spot within 200 miles. Activate the device and then wait or walk around a bit.” Lex leaned against his desk casually. I’ll come and find you and we’ll find out how easy it is to use.”


“Do you want me to be in the wilderness or the city?” Chloe asked, examining the small box on his desk. He replied that he preferred less-urban areas in order to cut down on interference. She frowned “I’ll definitely get lost with little or no trouble in the wilderness, but you’re hardly a layperson when it comes to technology, wouldn’t the test be less valid with a child prodigy hunting a city girl in the forest?” It was a good point, Lex knew, but he pressed on.


“I thought of that, but it will be that much easier to present to this particular CEO who appreciates first hand knowledge of a product. He’ll be impressed that someone who usually spends time in the office went out into the woods to use the product rather than sending someone else to do it.”


Chloe nodded in understanding; but she was having a little trouble picturing Lex tracking her through the wilds of….Kansas. Still, it was a great opportunity.


“Okay I’m in.” She said, and turned to leave. Halfway down the hall she remembered that her car was parked in downtown SmallvillShe She returned to his room but didn’t see him immediately. She stepped in a little further and her eye caught movement off to the left. He was shirtless, and if she had arrived a few moments earlier, she’d have seen him without pants as well, she guessed as he whipped a belt around his waist. Chloe opened her mouth to say something but wisely shut it and turned around.


“It’s okay, I’m decent.” He said, calmly behind h She She turned to face him.
He walked back toward her, buttoning the clean shirt slowly, allowing her a moment to be unexpectedly distracted by a rather nice set of abdominal muscles.


“Decent. Right.” She mumbled.


“I’ll take you back to town now. But first I’ll need you to sign a confidentiality agreement.”
She was to report to him the next morning at seven AM to get equipped before going off to be tracked. Lex drove her back to her car and asked her not to mention any possible destinations she might have in mind. He smiled at her warmly and thanked her for helping him, telling her that he would definitely make the trip worth her while. Her father didn’t like the idea at first. He was assured by Lex that they had a highly trained staff and he had already notified all of the necessary authorities. Chloe begged and pleaded with her dad. She explained to him that having the exclusive rights to a story like this could mean the difference between a resume like all the others and a resume that landed a job with a fantastic newspaper.


“Dad, professional reporters would fight for this story.” She pleaded, “I’m having it handed to me on a silver platter.” Her face fell a little, “Unless I write a really crappy article,” she said, self-doubt creeping into her voice, “then it will end up being a wasted opportunity.” Gabe Sullivan’s big arm came protectively across his daughter’s shoulders.


“No one can hold a candle to you when it comes to writing, sweetheart. You’ll do a great job on the article.”


“Thanks, Dad.” She said, hugging him and racing up to her room. Gabe realized he’d been outmaneuvered, but didn’t mind. Chloe had trouble sleeping that night due to her excitement over her coming adventure.


Then next morning found the budding reporter pacing in her room. Chloe checked her reflection in the mirror as she tried to calm her nerves. She’d dressed in jeans and boots, layering t-shirts and sweatshirts before adding her windbreaker and a tucking a pair of gloves in her pocket. Weather could be unpredictable in the early spring and she didn’t want to get caught unprepared. She bid her father goodbye and he wished her luck and told her to call for help if she got into any trouble no matter how important the story was. She drove to Lex’s house without really seeing any of the scenery. After parking, she walked up the front steps and knocked on the massive oak door. It opened a minute later to reveal the boy wonder himself. He was dressed in jeans and a brown wool sweater. Surprisingly, both looked broken in, as if he’d actually worn such casual clothes before. He led her back up to his office where the desk was laden with more equipment.


There was a man sitting behind the desk, working on a laptop computer. He was in his late thirties, attractive with slightly graying dark hair and a frown creasing his forehead. The man introduced himself as Dr. John Tyle and despite his apparent disapproval of the situation, he explained how the tracking hardware worked with definite excitement in his voice. It was similar to a hand held GPS, it sent out a signal directly to the satellites in orbit and was able to pinpoint a person’s location within approximately 100 feet.


The test was an unofficial one so Lex and Tyle were the only people who would be directly in contact with her. Tyle set up his equipment in Lex’s office where he would do the mapping from the satellite once he had a link.


“Ready to get wired up?” Lex asked, casting an eye over her outfit and nodding briefly in approval. He attached the tracker to her belt. His fingers brushed her bare skin as he adjusted it to the small of her back; the sensation sent a small shiver through her. She told herself it was just the anticipation of the exclusive interview that made her excited.


The box was larger than a pager, but much smaller than the bulky walkie-talkies worn by cops and firemen. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it was light and didn’t interfere with movement.


“What’s this?” She asked, indicating a small, red button on the side of the device.


“It’s a panic button.” Tyle said, not looking up from the screen of Lex’s computer. “If you should fall and hurt yourself or your phone should get lost or broken, or you feel like you are in any kind of danger, press it and it will send out a signal.” He came around the side of the desk and reached out, pressing the button. A beeping sound came from the computer immediately. He took her by the wrist and drew her over so she could a f a flashing red signal that read: “Emergency Beacon Activated. Subject 001.”


“That way if you’re not actively tracking someone it brings attention to that area?” Chloe asked. Lex smiled, Tyle answered in the afirmative. She was bright, he was sure he’d made the right choice. “Once you market them, will the carriers only be tracked if they activate the call button or they are missing?” He nodded. “It’s like OnStar for people.” She said with a grin.


“More like Lojack.” Lex corrected, smiling back and making a last minute check of the tracker before tugging the parka down over it. “I don’t have to tell you not to mention this to anyone out on the trail do I?” He asked, handing her the pack that held all of her emergency supplies. It was now almost seven thirty and the clock was ticking.


“How much of a headstart will I have?” She asked.


“Two hours.” Lex replied. “You can walk, drive, take a dogsled, or a litter caried by slaves if you like.” He raised an eyebrow and said mischeviously, “I’ll still track you down.”


“That sounds lke a challenge.” She said softly. “Maybe I’ll hide.” His eyes sparkled with excitement.


“That will make it all the more fun when I capture you, my little Red Riding Hood.” His voice had lowered to a growl and he reached out a hand to tug at the hood of her bright red parka. “Better not talk to any big, bad wolves out there.” Enjoying the mild flirtation, she gave him a sweet smile, turned on her heel and walked out of the room, giving him a jaunty wave over her shoulder. Lex watched her leave, enjoying the view of her wigling backside. He was, after all, human.


“Just remember,” Dr. Tyle said, interrupting his thoughts, “we’re on a timetable so make sure you contact me as soon as you find her so we can get an idea how long it may take to get to someone in an emergency. We’ll set up the marker with the coordinates of the tracker, that way we can show the TELETECH group exactly where we found her right from the board room.” He glanced up over his glasses, “As soon as you find her, not after any little make-out sessions you decide to have.” Lex looked at him curiously.


“Did you get any sleep last night?” He asked incredulously. Few of his employees would dare to speak to him this way. He was used to Dr.Tyle’s odd mood swings, but this was borderline insulting.


“No.” The man said. “I did go to college and I know an inuendo when I hear one.” Lex ordered him to take a nap in order to be more effective, the man refused saying that coffee would do just fine till the experiment was over, then he grumbled to himself about wolves and little girls in the woods. Lex realized that the man was really concerned with somng hng happening to the young woman. He had been happy to get the man on his staff after the careless way that Dr. Hamilton threw away human life, but he, himself was not worried. The whole thing would be over in a matter of hours.


“I wasn’t flirting.” Lex said and went down to the kitchen to make coffee. He had ordered all of the unneccessary staff out of the house and all necessary staff away from his office wing. He didn’t want any industrial espionage to effect this deal. He took the coffee beans out of the giant chrome freezer and tossed some into the grinder. He’d taken the risk of not doing the trial till right before his pitch in order to avoid any of his competitors getting hold of the details of his company’s newest break-through. He made himself a large sandwich and packed it in a plastic container. He hated squashed bread. Then he took the coffee grounds and began making a pot of coffee. He tossed a couple of pieces of fruit and a granola bar into his pack. He had already readied it, in case of unforseen problems, with a sleeping bag and his own emergency provisions.


Tyle wasn’t the only one who wanted to be prepared. Lex allowed people to see his reckless side, but this was a teenage girl, and he didn’t plan to take and chances. He poured the coffee into a caraffe and some into a stainless steel thermos that he’d bought from L.L. Bean. He liked that store. It could make the most urban-dependant soul feel like Davey Crockett when he started looking through the catalogue. He brought his pack and the caraffe up to the office and forced Tyle to drink a cup. This would be a nice weekend diversion, and he allowed himself to admit that he perversely liked the idea of hunting Chloe Sullivan. It would be a piece of cake.