Superman: Dawnbreaker (DC Icons #4)(28)

He missed the next toss on purpose and thanked Tanya for letting him have a turn.

“Come on, Clark!” she shouted. “I need you for the next round.”

“I would, but I have to go find someone,” Clark told her. He slapped hands with all of them and made his way back into the house.

Bryan followed, saying, “Damn, Clark, that was impressive.”

Clark laughed him off. “I just got lucky.”

“Whatever you say.”

They joined Lex in the living room. He was talking to twins named Jenny and Laura about the haunted old theater that had been demolished downtown to make way for the brand-new Mankins facility. “Here’s the man himself,” Lex said, motioning toward Bryan. “But don’t ask him about any of this, because he wants nothing to do with his dad’s business. Isn’t that right, Bry?”

Bryan had an irritated look on his face as he stared at Lex. “Can I get you another beer?” he said sarcastically. “Because, clearly, you haven’t had enough.”

Lex ignored the dig. “It’s just weird, Bryan. Whenever I ask you something about the family business, you say you don’t know. When are you gonna pull your weight?”

Sensing that things were quickly escalating, the girls discreetly backed away.

Clark nudged Bryan. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I just wish Lex would tell us why he’s really here in Smallville. He claims it’s to lie low and hang out. Yet he seems pretty obsessed with my dad, if you ask me.” Bryan turned to Lex. “Seriously, like, ninety percent of the times we’re hanging out, you’re digging for info about my dad’s company.”

Clark sensed this was more of a private conversation between Bryan and Lex, and he began searching for an exit strategy. When he spotted a group of ex-teammates through the window, he said, “I’m gonna go say hi to some people. Be right back.”

But Bryan and Lex were too caught up in their bickering to even acknowledge him.

Clark walked out to the back porch, where Paul, Tommy, Reggie, Willie, and Kyle were hanging out. “You showed up,” Paul said. “Tommy, let’s take Clark to the cows. See if he’ll drink straight from the tap.”

The guys chuckled as Paul drank from his cup. It was clear he was drunk.

“I’ll pass,” Clark said. Despite the jab, he was happy to see that Paul was no longer wearing his sling.

“We sold them all, anyway,” Tommy said.

“Still can’t believe this is our last party here,” Kyle said. “Ever. What are we supposed to do now?”

“I’m glad you’re focused on the parties,” Tommy said, leaning against the wooden staircase. “Meanwhile, me and my family are thinking about all the meals we shared here. And all the work we did in those fields. The animals we raised.”

Kyle waved him off dismissively. “Dude, you know what I’m saying.”

“Why’d your folks end up selling?” Clark asked. “I thought you guys loved this place.”

“They had no choice,” Tommy answered. “A local buyer came in with an all-cash offer that was too good to pass up. Gave us enough to buy a new house in town and get a winter home in Arizona.”

Clark nodded, making a mental note to share this information with Lana. He could think of only one local buyer who’d be able to lay down that kind of money up front: Montgomery Mankins.

Coincidentally, Corey walked by just then with a few of his boys, all of them looking a little old to be at a high school party. Corey had on an expensive-looking black suit, with a black shirt and tie underneath. His two friends wore black blazers and jeans. When Corey noticed Clark, he stopped and asked, “Where’s your friend?”

“Lana?” Clark feigned glancing around. “She’s here somewhere.”

Corey looked at the football players, then muttered something under his breath to his friends, who laughed. He said to Clark, “If you see her, tell her I’m looking for her.”

After they left, Paul said what everyone was thinking: “Who invited that douche?”

“I heard they showed up in a hearse, though,” Kyle said. “With a chauffeur. Which, you gotta admit, is pretty sick.”

“He’s a Mankins boy,” Reggie said. “So you know he’s got that disposable income.”

The rest of the guys agreed.

“I guess technically he doesn’t need to be invited, though, right, Tommy?” Willie asked. “As of midnight his dad owns this place.”

Tommy shook his head. “It wasn’t Mankins who bought the place. It was some company called Wesco. And according to my old man, they’re not even using the place for farming. He thinks they’re gonna turn it into vineyards. I guess the soil all around the crater out back is especially rich and good for vines.”

“A winery in Smallville?” Kyle asked. “That shit doesn’t even sound right.”

The guys all went quiet, shaking their heads. But Clark was still stuck on the buyer, Wesco. Now he was more confused than ever. He thought of all the crater photographs on Dr. Wesley’s walls, including those of the crater on the Kents’ farm. Did the guy really want to make wine out here? And how could someone with such a crappy-looking office buy the Jones farm with cash?

Clark needed to find Lana. She’d want to hear about this.