Chapter 113 [OsCorp]

Osborn set his desk phone back onto its cradle. He ground his teeth and narrowed his eyes. Even with the elder Luthor rotting in a jail cell, the business deals still ran aground. Golden deals suddenly turned to lead. His stock prices had hit nearly zero.

The Board of Directors now looked for someone else to lead….

This is my family's company! How dare they? They'll see! I'll show them! He exhaled a coarse breath. His shoes tromped along the now-indelible trail across the carpet. He stared out the window across the Manhattan skyline.

Failures…Ineffectual partners' and associates' failures…trusts misplaced…resources misinvested…

Dubois…Grandfather, Father and Son,

Luthor…Grandfather Father and Son

Harry… Parker….

PARKER….

He shook his head. When they'd first met, Peter had been a recent high school graduate—a genius as a matter of fact. Potential seemed to have its fingerprints all over young Peter. Even Harry admired Peter's knowhow. Through his resources, he'd arranged for Harry and Peter to have the world on a string. Even with those tag along girls who flitted around them. Gwen Stacy had slighted Harry for the aspiring genius. Mary Jane Watson played coy.

All of them drove Harry to madness….to drugs and Addiction's morass….

And now, Parker stood on the verge of making all of his dreams come true. Despite the recent failures at Empire State and now the Daily Bugle, he had choices again. According to Harry, Peter was set to interview at the Daily Planet for a better job. He might get into Metropolis University and get that second chance. And within the next eighteen hours, he would marry the love of his life.

"NO!" Osborn brought his hand down on the fine cherry table. A crack radiated from the impact. "DAMN YOU, PARKER!" Hate seethed within his heart and mind. Lights danced in front of his eyes.

You can deal with that ungrateful brat! the low voice whispered in his mind. Let me out. We'll give them a show out at their fine party! HAHAHAHAHA!

"No…no…it…" Osborn trembled but it was too late. His mind went blank. He rasped a low throaty chuckle.

The Goblin now had full control.

He shoved his hand in his pocket. His finger jingled a certain set of keys….

Keys to a certain door…A door to a specific place….

He grabbed his overcoat. Maybe by Monday, they'd take everything he'd worked for, sweated over and bled for. But he'd deal with the current issue by then.

If he was going down, he'd take down Parker and his bride before they could cross Happiness' threshold. He'd deal with the other so-called friends…those backstabbing sharks….

He took one last look around the sanctum. He curled his lip at Norman's precious toys and dreams. Well, the villain determined to succeed where the businessman had failed in many regards.

His phone buzzed into the air. It called for his attention.

He shook his head. "Not now, you blasted thing!" He opened the door. His feet carried him to his assistant's desk. "I'm done for the day. Take messages. I'll be back on Monday or Tuesday."

"Mr. Osborn, you need to see them. They insist." She pointed toward the reception area.

"Going somewhere, Norman?" Lex sipped on a mug of coffee. He regarded the drink. "You know I could set you up with a great deal on coffee. Much better than this blend."

"Get to the point, Alex." Dubois narrowed his eyes. Impatience practically soaked his tone.

"Yes, Alex, do get to the point. I so tire of the games." The Goblin spasmed ever so slightly.

"Do we really want to have this conversation out here?" Lex raised an eyebrow. He knew the elder Osborn was in mid-breakdown. "Let's go back in your office. The three of us can have a chat."

"Like I really want to chat with you, Ingrate? I'm surprised! The big party's tomorrow. Isn't it? Why aren't you overseeing it? Typical lack of detail." The Goblin's eyes glinted green.

"He ain't there, Lexie." The Child rose from his seat.

"Says the freak show. I see the Big Boy's come out to play again. HAHAHAHA!" The host industrialist's eyes narrowed. A caustic smirk spread across his face.

"Ooh…ya'll missed a party. Yer buddy was trespassin' this mornin'." The Child stalked across the room.

"Control, Dave. Please." Lex frowned.

"Na' Big Bro! Ah ain' gonna touch 'im. Ah jus' don' wan' 'im gittin' no ideas tomorrah!" The Dark One curled his lip. "A boy almost lost his arm cuz a Ari-Snotto an' his crap! But ya'll don' care! YER AS BAD AS LIE BOY! YA KNOW THA'!"

"Temper, temper…" The Goblin spat at the carpet by the Child's feet.

"Ya don' git it! Ya sent me out there! Ya let Lexie find us cuz ya knew! Ya knew THEY'D be waitin'!" the Child snapped.

"You want that shot. Don't you? Well take it! I'm here! You think Big Daddy Lionel was the only one? Fool! I knew where you were! I waited and then this whole opportunity came up! Dubois, you can screw up anything." The Goblin pranced around. Glee danced in his eyes. "JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER!"

The Child frothed with rage.

"STOP!" Lex grabbed onto him. He knew he risked getting hurt both by friendly fire and worse. Still, he wouldn't let the other lose it now. "Don't. Remember Picture Place. Remember Pretty."

The Dark One choked back a sob. He bowed his head.

"PATHETIC!" The Goblin sneered.

"Na' true, BOY! Ah ain' ya, DUM'ASS!" The Child gulped down what was left of Dubois' coffee. He belched rather loudly and obnoxiously. "Clark got help. Bug Boy was out there fer the party. Imagine tha?"

"Oh I bet he was. I'll bet he swung in. Did Arighatto squash him like the obnoxious insect he is? I so want the dear Gwen to see his bloody carcass!" The Goblin grinned with Anticipation's promise. He wanted to hear of his enemy's death.

A knock came from the glass.

"You might look out the window." Lex pointed toward the glass to his left.

Spidey waved to the onlookers.

"HOW? HE SHOULD BE DEAD!" The Goblin backed away from the others in the room.

"Maybe. The Bug Boy sure tries. Did real good." The Child snorted. "Ah pulled 'im out. Yer boy's gone fer good."

"And everything is set? Maybe your niece might want her twisted paradise? Now that the kidnapper's dead…." The Goblin chortled. "That bomb must've blown up really nice."

"They're at peace now, Smart Ass." The Child looked at Lex. "Ya got 'nough?" He grinned snidely. "Ah like baitin' twits!"

"I think so." Lex opened the door. "He's all yours."

"Thank you, Mr. Luthor." Burke walked into the area. Fear stabbed at him at the Child's presence. "You too."

"Wha'ver. Jus' let Petersen know." The Dark One muttered something low under his voice. He swiped the tears from his face.

"Oh he does." Burke stepped up to the Goblin. "Norman Osborn, you're under arrest for fraudulent business activities, co-conspiracy to commit kidnapping across state lines, domestic terrorism, murder and extortion. We've got everything, Osborn, including that call to Javalastan from an hour ago." He saw Diana and the aforementioned Petersen step into the room with their guns drawn. "I'd come quietly. Petersen?"

"Agent Petersen." Lex bowed with a playful flair.

"Cut it out, Lexie." The Child nodded. "Steve."

"Thanks, Buddy." Petersen took his cuffs out. "Thank you, Agent Burke." He yanked the man's hands behind his back. The cuff's metal bands snapped into place in his own fingers around the Goblin's wrists. "This has been a long time coming."

"It isn't over, Steven. I'm surprised Burke let you in on his game. He so likes them for himself. It's a rush." The Goblin sneered at the agents.

"Arighatto killing my friends and his family was no game. I mourned them. This is for Agent Garth Singleton as well and for every agent in the Bureau. Mr. Parker, is this him?"

Peter stepped into the room. He nodded. "That's him, Agent Petersen. Thanks." He stepped beside Lex. "Mr. Luthor?"

"It's all right, Peter." Lex waved to Spider-Man.

The Wall Crawler shot a web line toward a nearby roof. He swung away from the scene. Fun was fun but he had other things to think about.

"No! No! NO!" The Goblin frothed. "You're Spider-Man! I don't know how you did that, Parker! I'LL FIND OUT!"

"Let's go, Mr. Osborn. It's over." Petersen turned to Burke. "This is your jurisdiction, Agent Burke."

Burke shrugged. "What's your take, Agent Carrigan?"

"He's been on this one for a decade. We're all bureau. Let him lead Osborn out." Diana nodded to Petersen. "Just remember. By the book, Petersen."

"Absolutely. Just one thing." Petersen looked to the Child. "Tell Dave and Angie I'll be in touch. We've missed you."

"Yeah. Ah know." The Child motioned toward the door. "Git 'im outta 'ere."

"Right." Petersen sucked in a deep breath.

"How touching! You are the stuff of steel, Petersen. Still a boy…" The Goblin scoffed.

"Move it, Osborn." Petersen pulled the arrested man from the spot. Carrigan joined him at the hallway door in that effort.

"Thanks again, Agent Burke, for allowing Petersen to be in on it." Lex held his hand out.

"Our pleasure. Thanks for bringing him to our attention. Guy's got a great arrest record." Burke sucked in a ragged breath. He turned to the Dark One. "For what it's worth, thanks. Thanks for letting us do our jobs."

"Saw ya at Lie-Boy's office. Ah know yer good. Jus' treat Steve right." The Child nodded in a curt motion.

"We will. Oh and with what we just heard on the wire, you're clear. Welcome back to the world, Mr. Dubois." Burke put his hand out.

"Shake it." The Smirk spread across Lex's face.

"Fine!" The Child took Burke's hand. "T'anks." He bowed his head.

"From your file and Agent Peterson's account on you, I know you don't believe there's justice. Luthor and Osborn will pay. Just have faith. Have a good trip back to Kansas, you two. I'll make sure Petersen talks to you soon." Burke holstered his gun and marched back out into the hallway. He followed Carrigan and Petersen with the Goblin toward the elevator.

"So it's over?" Peter presumed.

"It's over." Lex agreed. "We get a lift now?"

The Child shrugged. "Wan' a Dandy." He grabbed onto Lex and Peter. They vanished in a dark flash from the office.

The assistant dropped her cup staining the carpet with the coffee therein. Disbelief reined supreme in that office…