Chapter 4
Who Are You?
"When were they stopped?" Bullock asked
"We found them at a Lex-Mart on Dillion." A uniformed sergeant said to him. They were in the Garner street Precinct. A couple of levels below where the interview rooms were. Bullock had received the call about thirty minutes ago. Even with the siren and flashing red light. He still had difficulty getting through the Liberty. Despite the lateness of the hour, rush hour was still in full swing.
"Who's ready to talk?" Bullock asked
"The leader" The sergeant said. "We had to use to some hot cutting tools to remove the s&(* around his mouth. Kid's a freak. He was smiling all the way through."
"That's Jokerz for you. By the way does he have a name?"
"Buttons"
"Buttons?"
"Like you said, Jokerz" The sergeant stopped at a room mid-way down the hall. "This is it, I'll be here outside and there's a panic button if need be."
"Hopefully I won't need it."
"You probably won't. We got him strapped down pretty good." He then unlocked the door and allowed Bullock to enter.
The room was painted a stark white and was being lit by a single flourescent bulb that was secured as to prevent some from trying to use it as a weapon for the cops.
"I'm Captain Bullock" He said as he sat himself down across from the gang leader.
"You're the guy who saved the woman from that plant freak. That was some great footage."
"Of what?"
"You running out of that warehouse screaming. It was right out of a movie. I'm a little surprised you didn't go 'NOOOOOOOOO!'"
"Well you don't think striaght when you're running away from a situation that could cause the end of your life.
"Anyway, enough idol worshiping. I heard about your cred withdrawal over at the Lex-mart." Bullock said to Buttons. Who had his arms shackled to the table and was secured to the chair that he sat on. The chair was also welded to the floor to try and make sure he wouldn't try and attempt escape.
"Think you can tell me what happened?" Bullock asked
Buttons looked at him and took Bullock in with his gaunt soulless eyes. There had been some scaring around his mouth. Evidence that the webbing removal had not gone as smoothly as it had been planned.
"So tell me what happened?" He said to the freakish wannabe clown
"We were getting some necessary funds for some projects and then suddenly some killjoy in red and blue stops us."
"Red and blue, eh? Didn't know Superman was in town?"
Buttons smilled. "That's good, didn't know you were a comic?"
"Oh the humor comes with the shield. Anyway cut stop f&^*%(* with me and get right to the chase. I've got people asking me about whoever is slinging spider-webs."
"Whew I'm glad it was webbing, I feared it was something else."
"Tell me what you know?"
"What do I get?"
"That's up to the DA. Maybe if you don't give me a hard time you get to come out without the clown make up. Although I've heard that's a big thing at Blackgate."
"This guy has been causing trouble all over the city. Leaving a mess wherever he goes."
"You think is connected to Batman?"
"Bats? Please" Buttons snorted. "This guy is something else. Although I've heard rumors."
"What kind of rumors?"
"Stuff out of New York. About how this freak is going around causing trouble and harshing our buzz."
"This guy got a name?"
"Let's see what was it? It was.......Spider-man"
"Spider-man?"
"Yeah just change species from a rodent to an arachnid and you've got it."
"I'm surprised you knew spiders weren't insects."
"Please Captain, I'm maybe crazy, not stupid." Buttons than gave a wide smile.
"Got any idea where he might be?"
"Captain, come on, that's your job. That's why you're not wearing the shackles. Unless you got something to tell me."
"Sorry clown, you get nothing." Bullock said and then got up and knocked on the door. The same uniformed sergeant appeared and opened the door.
"Wait!" Buttons called out. "Do you mean a deal or your habits?"
"Your so smart, figure it out." Bullock then left the room and headed out of the Precinct. He had a name, now if he could get more than that to please the Deputy Commissioner.
It was a new day at Hamilton Hill High School. Terry McGinnis caught Peter Parker leaving one of his classes. Surprisingly little was said about what happened.
"Hey Peter" McGinnis called to him
Parker turned around. "Yes?"
"Terry McGinnis, You're in my American History class. You sit behind he."
"That's right, what can I do for you Terry?"
"I didn't come here to ask for a favor from you Pete. I'm asking if you know, you want to go hang out with me sometime?
Parker was taken aback, he had rarely experienced someone asking for if he'd like to be friends with someone. He had experienced many times the "friends" he would make were looking to use Parker for their gain. He had been somewhat hardened by that but there was something about Terry McGinnis that he couldn't turn down.
"Uh sure. Why not?"
"Good" McGinnis than switched gears. "You know if you need someone to talk to about something. I can help you. Even if you need help with computer stuff I know someone."
"That won't really be a problem." Parker said
"What exactly?"
"The computer stuff, that's what I do for a job. I work for the Gotham News Wire service. Do you have a job?"
McGinnis nodded. "I do, I work for Bruce Wayne. Ever heard of him?"
"I have, just because I lived in New York doesn't mean I learn about other places. What's it like working with him?"
"Well there's a routine and Wayne likes to keep a schedule. He usually needs me to take care of things quite often. Yourself?"
"My boss is okay if you can deal with someone barking and shouting orders at you."
"I think I can understand."
"But I like my job. Besides I get to learn about the city more that way."
As they continued talking, Dana and Mary Jane Watson appeared.
"Terry, are you coming to the club tonight?" Dana asked
"I hope so" McGinnis said to her.
"Well I hope you do," Mary Jane said to him, "They've got a brought one of the top deejays of the seaboard. You cannot miss this."
"Well you don't know Mr. Wayne." Dana told her
"She's right" McGinnis said
As the three of them continued to talk, Parker was smitten by the red-haired beauty that stood in front of him. He suddenly felt nervous and tried to say something.
"I think you're pretty." He said to Mary Jane
"Excuse me?" She said to him
"I'm Peter Parker, the new guy. I just think you're beautiful."
Mary Jane smiled, while she did comments like that from a lot of guys. She did notice a certain sincerity in Parker's voice and attitude.
"Do you want to come, Peter?" She asked him
That took Parker aback and he was really tongue tied. "Um uh uh um" He stammered
"He'll go" McGinnis said to her.
"Good," She produced a piece of paper and dropped into the palm of Parker's hand. "Here you go, be there at seven thirty will you."
"I will" Parker said nervously
"Calm down tiger, you've just hit the jackpot."
"So we'll meet you there at seven-thirty then?" Dana asked
"Schwaay" Parker said
"I'll take that as a yes. So you there guys."
The two girls walked away leaving them behind. Parker turned to McGinnis.
"Thank you, Thank you so very much."
"Hey I didn't do anything. That was all you Pete."
Peter smiled brightly. He now had the chance to have a girlfriend. Things appeared to be looking up for him.