Chapter 9

Gwen looked up and down the hall. She couldn't see a single pay phone nearby. She knew the officers guarding the elevator and stairs wouldn't let her leave to find one. Then Idea struck her. She marched toward the elevator and the two officers guarding it. "Excuse me, Officers!"

The two cops sprang to attention. Granted Gwen was now Spider-Man's wife. Still Captain Stacy had been their superior and her father.

"Mrs. Parker, have you seen your husband?" one officer asked.

"NO! OOH!" She stomped a boot on the floor. "I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE HE IS! WE HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM!" She pointed toward the waiting room. "While you're out here on a wild goose chase, do you know a crime just happened? Peter's aunt just died in there. The nurse who was supposed to be on duty deserted her post!"

"Mrs. Parker, if this is a trick…" The other officer cleared his throat.

"Trick? TRICK?" She got right up in his face. "Look! I'm at the end of my rope right now! Bad enough you all are chasing my husband! Bad enough you and those others busted up my wedding and are responsible for us being here right now! Now I'm mourning his aunt too! I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!" She motioned toward their walkie talkies. "Call Lieutenant DeWolff. I want to talk with her."

"Ma 'am, we…." the left officer started to protest. He remembered May fainting at the ceremony from Accusation's impact.

"Ingersol, I'll do it. She wants to speak with the Lieutenant. She isn't going anywhere. Let her. They know each other." The other officer got his walkie talkie out. "Dispatch, this is Jenkins."

"Go ahead, Jenkins. Any sign of Parker yet?"

"Negative, Dispatch. We have another situation here. I need Lieutenant DeWolff on the line. Gwen Parker has requested her specifically. We have a situation here." Jenkins eyed Ingersol. Whatever had kept him from the wedding bust, he thanked his lucky stars for that break. "It's related to May Parker's situation here at Roosevelt. Over."

"One minute please."

Jenkins regarded her. "Dispatch is getting the Lieutenant right now, Mrs. Parker. Sorry."

"That's all right. I'm grateful someone wants to do his job right." She glared daggers at Ingersol.

"Officer Jenkins, the Lieutenant's on the line. One moment please."

"Jenkins, this is DeWolff. Whatever's going on, it had better be damn good." DeWolff sat up on the edge of her bed. She grabbed at the clock. "1:45 AM? Dammit!"

"I'm sorry, Ma 'am. Gwen Parker's asking for you. There's something that happened to Parker's aunt." Jenkins shook his head.

"Of course there is! Her nephew's secret identity and you knuckleheads busting in there gave her a heart attack! That's why she's there!" DeWolff pushed a cigarette into her mouth and lit it.

"Lieutenant, I'm sorry. I'm putting Mrs. Parker on." Jenkins surrendered his walkie talkie to Gwen. "Just stay here please. Sorry, Mrs. Parker."

"Thank you, Officer Jenkins." Gwen composed herself. "Jean, I'm sorry. I asked them to get you on the phone."

"Gwen?" DeWolff rubbed her forehead. Tension pounded at her temples. She knew Gwen wouldn't have called like this in the middle of the night for nothing. "You haven't seen Peter. Have you?"

"NO! NO! NO! Jean, stop it! All right! It's about Peter's Aunt May! Do you know while your officers have been out here, the nurse at the Nurse's Station walked off her shift? Mrs. Parker's dead!" Gwen swiped at the tears.

DeWolff mouth slackened. Her hand caught the cigarette before it could fall to the carpet. You've got to be kidding me! "His aunt's dead? That Nurse's Station was unattended?" She imagined the potential charges mounting against the department and hospital. "Gwen, I'm sorry. You may not believe that but…."

"I know, Jean. Thank you. I want this handled properly. I know how your Dad feels about Peter. Can you get a crime scene unit up here please?" Gwen managed to hold herself together. "Flash Thompson, my lawyer and I are here. We're not going anywhere."

DeWolff set the cigarette in an ashtray. "I'll be there in twenty minutes. I'll radio ahead for CSI. Gwen, go and take a seat. Can you hand me back to Jenkins?"

"Thanks, Jean. I appreciate it." Gwen handed the walkie talkie back to Jenkins. "She wants to talk with you."

"Uh…thanks." Trepidation shook Jenkins. "Yes, Sir?"

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU TWO DOING? WE HAD A CASE OF NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE ON YOUR WATCH! INGERSOL CAN STAY BY THE ELEVATOR! YOU GET YOUR TAIL TO MAY PARKER'S ROOM! I WANT THAT ROOM WATCHED! NOBODY ELSE GOES IN THERE UNTIL CSI DOES! AM I CLEAR?" DeWolff stormed across to her closet. She grabbed for a turtleneck and slacks.

"Right away, Lieutenant! Out!" Jenkins signed off of his radio. "Ingersol, you better make sure this area's clear. Lieutenant DeWolff will be here in twenty minutes. "Mrs. Parker, can I walk you back there? Sorry. I…."

"You were close to my Dad. I know. Thank you, Officer Jenkins. Let's get back there." Gwen led the way back toward the room.

Ingersol shook his head. Can this get any worse? Stupid kid should've known better!

Deflection for some seemed the better way….