When Lex arrived at Rodriguez Manor, Merkel was waiting for him outside. The butler was unusually not dressed formally, wearing a short-sleeved casual outfit and a pair of rain boots instead. He held a hoe in his hand and looked as though he had just finished working in the garden.
Merkel brought a roll of waterproof matting to the entrance and covered the areas where water had accumulated. Lex and Clark got out of the car one after the other, then followed Merkel into Rodriguez Manor.
The sun had already come out. Last night's heavy rain had washed the manor until it gleamed beneath the sunlight, and the air was filled with the pleasant scent of grass. Before the temperature rose, the cool, damp air made everything from their nostrils to their throats feel chilled.
When they found Bruce, he was sitting at a table beneath the awning behind the manor, fiddling with a pitch-black laptop.
Lex looked around and asked, "Where is Professor Schiller?"
"He went to teach at Gotham University. He left not long ago." Bruce stopped typing and looked up at Lex. When he saw Clark behind him, he looked somewhat surprised.
"Morning, Bruce. Here, this is the coffee I bought this morning. Lex said he didn't want any, so I was worried it might go to waste." Clark handed Bruce the cup of coffee he had previously offered Lex. The morning was still fairly cool, so the ice had not completely melted. Bruce took the coffee, drank a sip, and said, "Thank you. I could use the pick-me-up."
Clark pulled out a chair and sat down, but Lex asked, "Why are you sitting out here? Why not go inside?"
Bruce jerked his chin toward the garden. "I have to keep an eye on those two."
Lex