Chapter 11 [Roosevelt Hospital—Fifteen Minutes Earlier]
DeWolff tapped her boot against the elevator's tiled floor. Consternation burned at her mind. Bad enough that the Force had lost Peter during their pursuit. Bad enough that her friend and deceased police captain's daughter, Gwen, stewed in the middle….
…but the elderly aunt had died because of their bungled bust….
…and oh yeah to top it all off, she'd died while under police surveillance…
Dad's going to be insufferable. Not that I blame him. She rolled her eyes. Cravingtugged at her fingers wanting (yet another) cancer stick. Why didn't her doc show up? Heads are going to roll over this!
The bell dinged. The elevator doors opened.
DeWolff stormed out into the hall. She didn't even look in Ingersol's direction much less speak to him. Her eyes scanned everything around herself. She turned the corner into the waiting room. There she found Flash, Gwen, Murdock, Liz and Rivers waiting. She hoped Jenkins stood by May's room. "Good Morning, Folks." She flashed her badge. "Lieutenant Jean DeWolff, NYPD."
Rivers turned away from Murdock. "Lieutenant, is that your officer by the door? He won't move to let us get Mrs. Parker prepared for…"
"Yeah! Jenkins is there under my orders. Who are you?" DeWolff raised an eyebrow.
"I'm Dr. Rivers, the overnight administrator and charge physician. First Murdock and now you? We have an autopsy to conduct and a report to file!" Rivers sucked in a deep breath.
"I had Mr. Thompson stand watch outside until your officer came, Lieutenant. I wanted the crime scene intact," Murdock explained.
"Appreciate that, Counsellor." She frowned. "As for you, Rivers, NYPD's investigation and report come first! Our Crime Scene Unit's about to arrive. You are to stay OUT of their way. Mrs. Parker's heading downtown. Maybe you can call her doctor? I'll need to speak with him."
Indignation flared across Rivers' face. "Not without a warrant you won't! Don't you respect patient-doctor privilege?"
"Not when the patient's dead due to your negligence." She shook her head and raised an index finger at Rivers. "I was in the wedding party. Bad enough I had to deal with Jameson's stunt. I had to watch my father's best men make fools out of themselves! And for what? The rantings and supposed proof of an insane man?"
"You believe he could be innocent? The shock put her in that bed!" Rivers pointed at the room.
"Actually, she's right." Murdock tapped his cane on the floor. "The Green Goblin devises weapons and gadgets. That ingenuity and genius could easily fake a few pictures, Dr. Rivers. Jameson loses his objectivity where Spider-Man's concerned. Jameson and Commissioner DeWolff crash the wedding ceremony. Jameson reveals Peter's identity to everyone. His aunt can't deal with the shock." He sighed. "I want a ME brought in. I do not want anyone from NYPD to touch that body either. Conflict of interest."
She slapped the desk. "Look, Mr. Murdock, I have a job to do!"
"Yes you do. It's also a matter of integrity." Murdock held up his hand. "I'm not doubting you, Lieutenant. It's strange as the attorney on the other side to say this. I don't want anything wrong with the autopsy and report. I'll be filing an order with the Court in the morning on that. It covers all of us."
"Damn it. You're…right." She frowned knowing full well the storm about to hit 1PP downtown. Despite her father's upcoming rants, she knew there'd been enough brainfarting for one week. Murdock was resetting the case's integrity.
"I don't enjoy it, Lieutenant." Murdock folded his arms across his chest. "I want Mrs. Parker treated in a respectful fashion. I think we can agree on that. Thank you."
"Yeah. Come with me. I'm talking with Mrs. Parker. I want to make sure she's all right." She arched an eyebrow. Craving struck at her yet again. She stomped down the hall. "Gwen?"
"Jean?" Gwen forced herself out of the chair. "It's okay, Flash. Thanks for coming. This is a disaster! I wanted to make peace with Aunt May. Now she's gone. I just can't believe this!"
"I'm sorry." DeWolff forced herself to stay back. "You have my condolences. I still can't believe my father crashed your wedding."
"Tell me about it." Gwen heard the elevator door's opening again. She saw four people in matching jackets and slacks down the hall with them. "CSI?"
DeWolff nodded. "Give me a minute." She walked over to the newcomers. "Hey, Murphy!"
"Lieutenant, thanks for the heads up. We'll make sure the report's good." The tall African-American man inspected the area.
"Yeah well the department's more than likely going to get sued. I know you do good work. Make damn sure everything's in order. Got it?" DeWolff pointed toward Murdock. "The lawyer's here. Just make sure."
"Yes, sir." Murphy led his team toward the room.
"Now if…." DeWolff glanced out the window. "Look at that!"
Worry stabbed through Gwen's heart. Oh now what? Please, Peter. I hope you didn't get into more trouble! She sighed and followed her longtime friend's lead.
Across the night sky, they saw the flaming message as well.
"Meeting place? Who would write like that now?" Gwen narrowed her eyes. Her mind struggled to understand the message's meaning.
"It's got to be the Human Torch. He and your husband are close." DeWolff got on her walkie talkie. "Dispatch! This is DeWolff!"
"Dispatch here, Lieutenant."
"We have a message in the sky asking to meet with Spider-Man. Repeat. Message in the sky asking to meet with Spider-Man. My assumption is the Human Torch is trying to find him as well. Follow him and you may find the Wall Crawler. Copy?" DeWolff put the walkie talkie to her ear.
"Roger that, Lieutenant. We'll have a chopper in the air shortly. Thanks. Update at the hospital?"
"CSI's on scene. When May Parker's body gets there, we're going to need to bring in a coroner for this one." DeWolff raised an eyebrow at Murdock. "The Parkers' lawyer's insisting on that."
"I'll let the Watch Commander know. Thanks, Lieutenant. Dispatch, out."
Gwen shook her head. She knew Duty and Friendship held DeWolff between a rock and a hard place. She could imagine the issues her father would've had at that point. Dad, if you're watching, we need a break right now….
Urgency crackled in the air.