Tainted

Part 2

Office of the Torch…

“I’m sorry I must have heard you wrong. You did what?” Chloe asked as sat down at her desk with a stunned expression on her face. Delilah’s words still had not registered into her head.

“We sort of volunteered to investigate a murder.” Delilah repeated.

“How do you sort of volunteer to investigate a murder?” Chloe’s eyes narrowed as the words finally penetrated her mind. A case. A real case. And not just an ordinary ‘freak of the week’ case but a real murder case. She felt the familiar rush of excitement quickly sink in but quickly doused it.

“We promised a friend we would look into it.” Delilah replied as she sat down. Roxy and Sin also followed suit.

“A friend? I didn’t realize you had friends in… Small…ville…” Chloe’s words drifted off as realization hit her of just who ‘the friend’ was. Oh my God! What the hell…

“NO! NO! NO! You’re not serious.” Chloe shrieked as she slammed her small fist on her desk.

“Chlo, doll, hear us out. We have to…” Roxy began smoothly.

“NO! Are you insane? Have you lost your mind? Do you want to see me die?” Chloe shrieked again disbelievingly. Her friends really wanted her to die! That was it! They had a planned death wish for her. And die she will – at the hands of adorable boyfriend who was going to strangle her once she told him that she’s thinking about investigating a murder.

“Chlo, calm down. We wouldn’t have volunteered if it wasn’t urgent.” Sin murmured softly. Chloe looked at her friends very closely and noted what she had not been able to see before. Worry. But more specifically she saw fear in their eyes. FEAR.

Oh, this was not good…Chloe thought as she rubbed her forehead. The need to know everything was beginning to outweigh her common sense. I am so going to be in the doghouse for this… Me and my damned curiosity….

“Dammit to hell! All right! Just tell me what happened. Start at the beginning.” Chloe sat down in her chair slowly.

“Dix called shortly after the cows were removedoxy oxy scowled at the thought of the disgusting, smelly beasts.

“She told me that one of her girls had been murdered last night. I didn’t know what to say. I mean the streets are tough and sometimes a girl can pay the price but Dix went on to tell me that this was no ordinary murder. the girl’s body was cut up badly. She wasn’t just cut up…This psycho opened her up and ripped out her insides.” Roxy’s pale face had turned paler with horror.

“He opened her up?” Chloe began as her mind began to work quickly. This case sounded familiar and before she jumped the gun, Chloe needed more information. “Do you know what time the girl was killed? Or what time the body was found?” Chloe asked quickly as she took out a pad and pencil and began to write down notes.

“I didn’t ask. I was just so shocked that someone could do something so fucking twisted. What kind of a nut-job does something like that?” Everyone was silent for a few moments as the images Roxy portrayed floated in their minds.

“I have a few questions but I’m going to start with the most important. Does Dix know the exact way her girl died? What I mean to say…was this girl strangled first then ripped open?” Chloe asked.

“I don’t know. Chlo, Dix was pretty shaken up about this. Something like this had never happened to any of her ladies. A few years back, she had one girl killed by some crazy jon and I know this sounds cold but people come to accept shit like that but this…this is different… This guy’s a lunatic.”

“That’s not all.” Sin interrupted when she saw that Roxy was not able to continue.

“I am not goio lio like this, am I?” Chloe’s eyes rested on Sin worriedly.

“Nope! Dix’s girl is not the first. Dix managed to tell Rox that she had spoken with Shondra and two weeks ago, one of Shondra’s girls was murdered the same way. Shondra was the one that found the body and from what Dix said, Shondra was pretty horrified by it.”

“Two murders committed the same way equals…a serial killer. Damn, why haven’t we heard this on the news? Why haven’t the police said anything?” Chloe growled as she turned on her computer.

“That’s easy. The fucking cops are sweeping this under the fucking carpet.” Sin growled disgustedly.

“Yeah! What do they care about a hooker getting herself cut up by some crazy bastard?” Roxy finally spoke up.

“What else can you tell me about the murders? Did Dix mention anything else?” Chloe asked as she jotted down notes and questions to ask Dix and Shondra.

“No. I couldn’t get much out of her.” Roxy confessed dejectedly.

“Damn! Damn! Damn! This means we’re going to have to head back to Metropolis and speak with both Dix and Shondra. Lex is going to flay me alive.” Chloe groaned as she rubbed her head once again.

“Actually…” Delilah began slowly. Chloe groaned louder at Delilah’s pause.

“What? What now?” Chloe asked. These women were going to drive her over the edge.

“Well…Uh…You see…Um…” Delilah paused again.

“They are coming here!” Roxy intervened. Chloe looked at each of the women and their smiling faces.

“They are coming here. To Smallville.” Chloe closed her eyes and found that a headache was beginning to surface in the center of her forehead.

“Yup! To Smallville. Shondra, Dix and… Snakeman are on their way here.” Roxy replied with a straight face. Chloe’s green eyes shot open at the last name. Oh lord!

She roughly cleared her throat in an effort to keep order of this crazy conversation.

“So let me get this straight. Shondra, Dix and Snakeman are coming here, to Smallville, to discuss investigating murders of two of their ladies that was committed by a possible serial killer. Did I leave anything out?” Chloe remarked sarcastically.

“Nope! That’s pretty much it.” Roxy shot back cheekily causing Chloe to glare at her.

“When are they due to arrive at the house?” Chloe inhaled deeply. She needed some aspirin very quickly.

“Well…They’re not meeting us at the house.” Sin responded with a grin. Chloe eyes shot quickly towards Sin. Her green orbs blazed with fear.

“Please tell me you didn’t ask them to meet us at the mansion.” Chloe asked shrilly. The picture of Dix, Shondra and Snakeman arriving at the mansion raced through her mind. Not a good picture.

“Of course not! What the hell do you take us for? Although, that’s not a bad idea.” Sin responded with a grin.

Shit! Should have kept my mouth shut…Chloe thought nastily.

“Where are they meeting you?” Chloe asked.

“They’re going to meet us at some bar or tavern. Whatever the hell you call it. Anyway, it’s an easy ride from Metropolis to this place. Right on Route 12.” Roxy smiled.

“A bar? This is an important meeting and we’re supposed to meet them at a bar.” Chloe griped furiously.

“Hell yeah! I need a drink and I believe Dix and Shondra are going to need drinks also. ‘Sides this place has the most fucking interesting name in this god awful town.” Roxy laughed.

“Maybe there is hope for this town.” Sin said, as she too, joined in the laughter.

“Well? What is the name of this bar?” Chloe’s patience was beginning to wan.

“I believe it’s called the Randy Cock.” Delilah smiled. Sin and Roxy began to hoot with laughter.

“Talk about a fucking cool name. I can’t wait to see the inside.” Sin laughed harder.

Chloe felt an answering smirk form on her face. That was one hell of a name. The Randy Cock. Hmm…Interesting.

The bell to announce classes were over rang shrilly throughout the building. Chloe realized she missed the rest of class and groaned. Damn! Damn! I forgot to get my things.

“Okay. I have to get my things from class. I’ll go over to the mansion right now and speak with Lex. He’s working from home today. We’ll meet you at the house and then we’ll all ride over to this place.” Chloe said very quickly.

“Do you want us to go with you?” Delilah asked as she watched Chloe jumped up from her seat.

“NO! Not a good idea. It’s best if I talk with Lex in private.” Chloe finished confidently though she felt anything but. Lex was going to kill her.

“Chloe, we need – “ The sudden opening of the door caused all the women to stop quickly.

Clark Kent stood motionless in the doorway. His blue gaze traveled from one woman to the next. She thought she saw a hint of disapproval in his eyes and shook her head vigorously. That can’t be… Clark would never behave like that… She noticed he had her books in his hand and was grateful that he brought them to her.

“My books. Thanks, Clark. I owe you big time.” Chloe grinned at him and his face turned a few shades of red.

Roxy and Sin turned very interested eyes upon Clark’s tall and well built form. Roxy loudly cleared her throat and Chloe wanted to laugh.

“Clark, I want you to meet my best friends Roxy, Sin and Delilah.” Chloe said proudly but noticed Clark gave her a strange look when she introduced her friends. Again there was that slight disapproval in his eyes. But that can’t be…

“Ladies, this is my good friend Clark Kent. I believe you met Mr. Kent this morning.” Chloe grinned at her friends.

Roxy turned her dark eyes on her. “You mean that rude asshole with the damn cows!” Roxy growled.

“Roxy! Clark is his son and your neighbor.” Chloe’s green eyes flashed warningly at Roxy. Clark’s blue gaze turned dark with anger as they fell upon Roxy.

“Whatever!” Roxy shrugged before she turned her attention back to Clark and assessed him bit by bit. “Mmm…Delish! Chwherwhere have you been hiding him?” Roxy cooed.

“Nice bod! Love the eyes.” Sin purred. Chloe rolled her eyes as she silently prayed for patience.

Roxy stood up from her chair and walked slowly towards Clark. Clark looked at the bleached blonde warily and Roxy winked as she circled around him.

“Rox, leave him alone. This one’s off limits.” Chloe smiled remembering how they did the same to Lex.

“Mmm…Why? He’s kinda cute.” Sin responded for Roxy. Clark jumped quickly when he felt the bleached blonde cup his ass.

“Firm! I like that.” Roxy cooed. Chloe just barely suppressed her laughter. Clark did not know what to make out of her two friends.

“Come on. Leave him alone. We have a lot of shit planned for tonight. Go!” Chloe ordered sternly though her eyes were alight with amusement.

“Ugh! How sad! And just when things were getting interesting! Okay, ladies, let’s get the hell out of here. Bye, cutie.” Roxy winked once again at Clark.

Sin followed slowly, licking her lips as she winked at Clark. Delilah merely smiled sympathetically. Chloe shook her head at her friends’ antics. Sometimes, they were impossible…

Clark was silent as he watched the ladies leave. Once they were gone, he turned around to face Chloe with a worried look.

“Chloe, we need to talk. Are you feeling all right?” Clark asked as he set down her books on her desk. Chloe stared at him questioningly.

“Yes. I’m fine.” She answered slowly wondering were this conversation was going.

“Are you sure? I mean – Well, you’ve – You know…” Clark began only to stop in mid-sentence. Chloe wanted to shake him until he spit out whatever the hell he was trying to say.

“Clark, will you just say it already? I have a lot of stuff to do today.” Chloe growled softly.

“You’ve been acting kind of weird lately.” Clark stated. Chloe looked at him as if he were crazy.

“Weird? Could you be more specific?” Chloe asked as she began to gather her stuff. Her meeting with Lex was not going to be easy and she needed to concentrate on what she would say to him.

“Well…Your choice of new friends lately…they’re kind of different.” Clark began. Chloe’s green eyes narrowed as she finally began to follow just where Clark was going.

“My friends are pretty wacky.” Chloe said softly.

“No… I mean they’re kind of…well on the fast side.” Clark finally said what was on his mind. His face was burning with heat as the blush spread form his face down to his neck.

“Fast side? Why, Clark, whatever do you mean?” Chloe asked sweetly though inside she was beginning to burn with anger.

“Do you think it’s smart to be spending so much time with women like that? Lana told me they’re prostitutes.” Clark whispered the last.

“And what’s wrong with that? Why are you really here, CLARK?” Chloe’s voice rose a bit higher as her anger boiled uncontrollably.

“Chloe…Things are being said in town about you. Things that are not very nice and now with you dating Lex…” His voice drifted off.

“What about me and Lex?” Chloe growled through clenched teeth.

“Isn’t he kind of out of your league? You are a bit young for him.” Clark asked quickly. Chloe gasped in fury as her anger turned to pure rage.

“Out of my league? And just what is in my league, Clark?” Chloe managed to squeak out.

“Look, Chloe, I’m not here to pick a fight. I’m here as a friend and you’re dating Lex is not a good idea. I like Lex a lot. He’s a good friend but you know his track record with women. What makes you think you’re any different from all the rest?” Concern was laced in Clark’s voice as he asked her this question.

“Clark, I am going to say this one time and one time only so pay very close attention.” Chloe slammed a book on the table.

“Those ladies you spoke about so rudely are my very best friends. They’ve looked out for me, many, many times and have never let me down unlike some people I know. If you ever talk about my friends disrespectfully, I will hunt down whatever damned secret you seem to be hiding and send to all the major newspapers for the entire fucking world to see.” Chloe shouted as she grabbed her bag.

“And as for Lex – he is the most amazing, wonderful, loveable man I have every known. He accepted my friends without hesitation and proved what a real man should act like which is more than I can say for you. Grow up, Clark! If you ever mention, Lex’s name to me again, I swear to you, I will use my stapler to staple your big, fucking mouth shut. Do you understand?” Chloe shrieked.

Clark moved to speak but Chloe had shot up and she shook her head vigorously.

“Not a word, Clark! Not a damned word! Right now, if you say anythin’ll ’ll fucking hit you over the head with my keyboard.” Chloe said furiously. She grabbed her books and with another glare at Clark, stormed out of the office.

She had never been so furious in all her life. How dare Clark Kent, of all fucking people, judge her, her friends and most of all Lex!

“CHLOE SULLIVAN!” Chloe managed to get a few feet from the office when she heard Lana’s familiar and annoying voice shouting at her. SHIT! What now?

Rolling her eyes she turned around. “You ---“---“ Chloe began only to stop short by the harsh crack of Lana’s hand slapping her across the face.

TBC...

What in the hell is going on? :)