When Spider-Man pulled off the Prowler mask, he gasped back in surprise who was behind the secret identity. The man had pale skin and short black hair. Peter could also recognize. He had seen him about two times before. Once he saw the man storm out of Jack's Sporting Goods after getting an argument with his boss. Then he saw the man at the diner who winked at him and give him a bit of a weird feeling.
"Who are you?" Spider-Man asked, "I definitely recognize you from somewhere. And I'm telling you unless you give me some answers."
The man sighed and said "I'm Hobie Brown. Now can you please tell me how recognize me. We barely even know each other."
"I saw you walk out of Jack's Sporting Goods the other day. Did your boss fire you or something?"
"Yes, he did. And I had little money and no insurance. I needed that job, Spider-Man. Not only to be paid for my own good but I owed my landlord a lot of rent. I had no car with me, barely any cash left on my account after I spent some of it while trying to get insurance from the government but they refused to give it to me. My landlord then got fed up and kicked me out. My girlfriend Mindy then broke up and moved in with her mother in Sand Francisco. I was devastated/ The only thing I had l left of me now is this costume."
"But why did you try to commit crimes?" Spider-Man asked, "we all have a choice you know."
"So did I. But I was angry. I knew that I had a choice but I was too angry to decide on what to do with my life. So I went into life of being a criminal. And it just turns me into something that I never even wanted to be: a supervillain. I'm sorry if I nearly killed you and that poor man Mr. Jameson."
"Who, J. J.? My boss? Hell no, why would he be scared? He's more ill-tempered then panicky."
Prowler was confused.
"Who are you really? Behind the mask, what is your identity?"
"Promise you won't tell a soul about it?"
"Promise," chuckled Hobie.
Spider-Man sighed and took off his mask, revealing the face of Peter Parker.
Hobie gasped.
"Peter Parker?"
"Yeah," chuckled Peter, "but how do you know my name?"
"How could nobody know your name? You take shots of Spider-Man for the Daily Bugle. It's all around the news and finally I've met you. I've always wanted to."
"Thanks."
"Wait a minute, if you, Peter Parker, are Spider-Man, how do you get those shots?"
"The camera from high up. Then I change into my Spider-Man suit and get to work at fighting crime throughout the city."
"Cool," gasped Hobie.
"Yo, spidey," shouted a cop.
Peter quickly put on his mask and turned against Captain Stacy and a few cops who looked ready to cuff Hobie.
"Wait, wait, don't," said Spider-Man, "he's innocent. I can prove it."
"Prove it after he tells it to the judge," muttered a cop.
"Get him outta here," ordered Captain Stacy before turning to Spider-Man, "great work, spidey. You wanna come to join us down at the NYPD station. We can sort this guy out and find out why he was doing these crimes."
"I know why and I can tell you."
"Save it then. We'll meet you at the police station."
Captain Stacy then walked outside and hopped into a police car. Spider-Man watched as the police drove off into the night. He then shot a web into the air and took off for the NYPD station.
At the station, Hobie was being held a chair, Spider-Man sitting next to him, ready to tell Captain Stacy the news.
Captain Stacy sighed.
"Hobie Brown. You've committed to a very few crimes in this city but very serious ones to add to that. Not only did you try to steal priceless jewels or a sculpture resembling our city's pride but you tried to kill our friendly neighborhood here, didn't you?"
"By accident," sighed Hobie.
"Don't give me that crap!" boomed Captain Stacy, "you're nothing but a thief! Explain yourself before I have you locked up for the rest of your goddamn life!"
"I can explain for him," put in Spider-Man.
Captain Stacy sighed and calmed down a bit.
"Go ahead, Spider-Man. But please make it quick. I got a family to feed."
Spider-Man took a deep breath and started to tell Captain Stacy the story.
"This man, sir, Hobie Brown or clearly known as Prowler, is under a great deal of stress. He had just struggled a divorce, a lack of insurance for our government and the loss of his job as a window washer."
"Get to the point, Spider-Man. Do I look like a democratic to you?"
"No, sir. But my point is that the only reason this man stole from our city was because of his stress and I believe that he shouldn't be locked up before he has nothing left as it already is and I think he deserves more then that."
The room was silent. Captain Stacy thought for a moment before speaking up again.
"Alright, I believe both of you guys. That's why I'm gonna let you go, Mr. Brown. But if I catch you stealing from my city, I'm afraid we're gonna have this same conversation again, leading to bigger consequences."
"Thank you, Captain Stacy, sir," said Hobie, "you won't regret this."
"I haven't regretted it one bit for my life as head of this department and I'm not regretting it now. Spider-Man, he's all yours. I'm afraid you're gonna have to look after him now. He does need a home after all and you look like someone who actually cares.
Spider-Man looked at Hobie, his head down and then he turned to Captain Stacy.
"Captain Stacy, sir, you can count on me."
Hobie looked up at Spider-Man and smiled. Spider-Man bowed his head back at him.
Later, Spider-Man swung back to his apartment building, Hobie around his arm. After he quickly changed out of his Spider-Man suit, Peter and Hobie walked upstairs where Mr. Diktovich was waiting.
"Good evening, my boy. Who's this? A friend of yours?"
"Mr. Diktovich, this is Hobie Brown. He's a lonely little fella and I'm afraid that he's gonna be part of our little gang from now on. I'll pay you extra rent if you let him stay."
"My boy, it's not big deal. You can pay me as much rent as you want. I'm not charging for letting this poor man stay here. Ursula and I will prepare an air mattress right away."
"Thanks," muttered Peter, surprised and staring at Mr. Diktovich as he walked inside his room.
"Nice landlord," chuckled Hobie.
"You'll get used to Mr. Diktovich. He's a great guy. And his daughter's pretty nice as well."
"Cool. Is she hot?"
"Get inside," chuckled Peter.
Soon Ursula blew up the air mattress. Peter and Hobie helped to flatten it out a bit from both sides.
"Here you go," she said.
"Thanks," said Hobie.
"No problem," said Urusla, walking outside of the room and closing it.
Hobie sighed and lie down on the mattress. It was quite comfortable and he even had a blanket and a pillow to keep him warm and comfortable. He was quite curious on the history of the Statue of Liberty and he thought that Peter was the right person to talk to about it.
"That sculpture was made before the real Statue of Liberty was created, wasn't it?
"Yes, it was," said Peter, sitting on his bed with knees bent and his feet down against the bed. "In fact, it was Frederic Bartholdi himself who was inspired to create the Statue of Liberty from the perspective of it's alternative. That's why the sculpture, in the 1880s not many years after the Stature was created, it was dubbed the Statue of Liberty sculpture. They were both inspired by the Roman goddess of freedom after all."
"Liberta?"
"You got it. How do you know who she is?"
"I know my history, Peter. And I knew from learning about that sculpture that it was definitely created before the Statue of Liberty which seems interesting for a piece of work that looks so similar to the sculpture itself on Liberty Island at New York Harbor."
"The NYPD and I knew from the start that it was a mock either. It was just similar to the Statue of Liberty which is quite fascinating for both sculptures themselves."
"Well," groaned Hobie calmly, stretching his arms out against the mattress and puling his blanket over, "I guess it's that time, huh? Good night, Peter."
"Good night, Hobie," said Peter as he pulled the blanket over himself and turned off the light.
Chatham Square was quiet. It seemed quite empty and there were no cars or people around. In that part of the city, mostly everyone was asleep. But not everybody. A shadow of a bird flew down towards the apartment building where Adrian and Valeria lived.
Valeria was in the penthouse, snoring away on her bed when CRASH! She woke up in a start to see Vulture standing at her window. She screamed and panicked and leaped back in surprise.
"Hello, Valeria," cackled Vulture, "recognize me?"
Valeria's eyes widened at the sight of her own father. She knew it was by his voice and his look.
"For god's sake, Peter was right," she muttered.
"He sure was. And that stupid friend of yours is working with Spider-Man and the NYPD on their case which will end by putting me behind bars. Quite a coincidence, huh?"
Valeria was still panting for breath and finally replied "why would they do that?"
"Because I'm a criminal!"
"You, dad?" gasped Valeria, "a criminal."
"Yes! And everyone's stupid friendly neighborhood and his stupid friends down at the NYPD department refuse to deny it!"
"Dad, what's gotten into you? And what are those things you're wearing behind your back?"
"Come with me, my daughter, and you'll find out. Your memory will be refreshed by the power to take over Spider-Man's fame. It is the perfect crime after all."
Valeria moved back a bit more in reluctance. "I won't do it," she claimed boldly.
There was a short silence before Vulture spoke up again.
"Fine then. I'll just have to make you do it."
"NEVER!" cried Valeria.
"DON'T DISOBEY ME, MY DAUGHTER!" shouted Vulture, lunging at her, grabbing her by the chest and flying back out the window into the city.
"You don't know what you're doing, dad!" Valeria fumed.
"Oh, we'll see," said Vulture calmly and quietly, "you're gonna learn to be like your father whether you like it or not."
Soon Vulture and Valeria arrived at B&T Electronics.
"What are we doing here?" Valeria asked in curiousity.
"Watch your old man himself and he'll get to the point for ya."
Quickly, Vulture used his harness to break open the window. The alarm sounded.
"DAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" shouted Valeria.
But Vulture didn't reply. Quickly, he ran inside and came out about half a minute later, holding the other green suit and pair of harnesses in front of Valeria. Sirens sounded but not from the distance.
"Put these on, my daughter."
"But dad?"
"Put 'em on, now!"
Valeria sighed, still reluctant, but slipped put the green suit.
"Now what?" she sighed.
"Fly, my daughter. Fly."
"I can't, dad! What do you think I am? A bird?"
Vulture flew up into the air. The sirens were getting louder and louder with the alarm from the store still off.
Valeria sighed and flew up into the air in surprise and flew after Vulture. Somehow, she felt a jolt of craze going through her vein as she flew higher. Preceding from her father, Valeria Toomes was now Vulturess, forced into the life of crime.
Vulture and Vulturess flew back towards Chatham Square and out of sight as the police showed up at the broken window. Gregory Bestman was with them.
He walked angrily up to the broken window.
"What the hell is going on with my store?" he fumed.
"Relax, Greg," said Captain Stacy, "I assure you that I've got professionals who know how to sort this out."
Some of Stacy's deputies walked inside the store and came about half a minute.
"The other piece of Toomes' invention was stolen," said one of them.
"Only god knows who might've taken it," said another.
"Spider-Man," gasped Bestman, remembering Toome's hatred for Spider-Man, "that petty crook. Jameson was right about him and so was Toomes."
"What?" chuckled Captain Stacy, turning towards the guilty old man, "you're nuts, you know that? Spider-Man is our hero and our friendly neighborhood. If you, my friend, are too stupid to believe that then keep your opinion."
"I know, it's him, George."
"Ah, Captain Stacy to you! You don't know crap about this investigation so why bother!"
"I know more about it then all you goddamn politics! What's your job? Sitting around and drinking coffee and donuts all day?"
"Shut up, you moron!" said a police officer, "Captain, cuff his ass already!"
"Relax!" shouted Captain Stacy who turned to Bestman in frustration, "Mr. Bestman, I assure you that it is NOT our job to sit around lazily like you said we do! You and Toomes are both the same so there was actually no point in firing him, was there?"
"I did what was best for the company! He tried to steal profits from me so I took his away and withdraw him from the business!"
"Change that stupid attitude of yours, you stupid old cheapskate!" shouted a cop.
"Let me handle this!" boomed Captain Stacy before turning back to Bestman, "my men are absolutely right! You shouldn't have taken his profits away no matter what he did! It's still so considered a crime! And you better be grateful enough to realize that you're a businessman, having an excuse not to be told the judge! Or else I'll have you charged for deducting profits of another businessman! Or maybe even arrested! You got that?"
"Yes, sir," said Bestman, calming down a bit.
"Go home, Bestman. I don't wanna see you for the rest of the night."
"Neither do we!" shouted another cop.
Angered, Bestman stormed away with Captain Stacy watching him closely and glaring at him as he fumed away in the distance.
"I'm getting really suspicious about that man! Guys, tomorrow we're gonna sort out this Toomes and Bestman business for sure. I'm really starting to hate that guy who calls himself a financer and I understand that so do you guys. Since none of us trust him and we're all getting the feeling that he's involved in these crimes, we're gonna have to watch him every step. If we catch doing something suspicious…"
"…we'll cuff his ass immediately," put in a cop.
"That won't be necessary one bit. We're gonna ask him a few questions. If he refuses to answer them, we'll charge him with the crimes that we believe he's committing against his own business. If he refuses to cooperate in court and in the name of the law…."
"…then we can put him behind bars," said a cop.
"Precisely," sighed Captain Stacy.
"For the rest of his life," said a second cop.
"A life sentence," said a third.
"Alright, alright, chill out," chuckled Captain Stacy as he walked towards his police car, "but still we'll think of something."
"We always knew we could count on you, captain," said another cop.
They all hopped into their police cars and took off into the night. They were definitely gonna evolve a plan to put both Adrian and Bestman behind bars. Not an excuse for hating Bestman now with a passion but because they thought he was suspicious.
As Bestman arrived back at his apartment and counted up all his and Adrina's financial profits, he smiled. He knew that he had gotten away with stealing his former associate's financial profits and he felt proud of it too.
"Suck on that, Toomes!" he muttered with a smirk on his face. His plan to cheat out Adrian had worked from the beginning and now he had all the money he ever dreamed of. The reason for betraying Adrian though has yet to be revealed.