Chapter 5

Further Investigation



The Gotham News Wire Service was located in Gotham's downtown area. The building used to be the office of the Gotham Globe. Now long gone, only the facade was left behind. Everything else was different on the inside, as reporters gathered information that would be given to subscribers of their service. Such subscribers included several major players of the net media who relied on such services to offset costs.

The place was always moving at nearly the speed of light as deadlines were trying to be met. At the helm was a woman in her late 40's who was born and lived in the business. She was shouting orders into the phone when Bullock came into her office.



"What is it you want?" The owner and editor in chief J. Johanna Jenkins shouted at him across from her desk.

"I'm Captain Bullock, GCPD" Bullock dropped his badge right in front of Jenkins face.

"What does one of the city finest, want with the GNWS?" She used the acronym for the Gotham News Wire Service in the high stakes media game. There was no time for anything except the bare facts.

"I'm looking to someone new running around fighting crime?"

"Who we've got meta-humans up and down the coast. From Gotham to Miami."

"This isn't Meta-Human. I've checked with the DEO. They've got nothing on this one."

"Who is it?"

"Spider-man"

"Spider-man? I think we've done a couple of pieces on him."

"How come no one has heard of him if there's news on him?"

"Because as Mad Stan once claimed. There is media overload. It's even more cut throat then it was thirty years ago. The net has become a force so great you've got the get the most dirt or you're gone. Besides a lot of stuff has been happening. Including your act up in Coventry. That caused a small spike. Got anything else, juicy?"

"Just an orange I had for breakfast."

"Ha ha" Jenkins said sarcastically.

"Who did work on the Spider-man stuff?"

"Let me check" Jenkins punched several keys and then found what she was looking for.

"A Peter Parker."

Bullock wrote down the name. "What does he do here?"

"He's an intern but he's been doing occasionaly photo work for us. The shots he's been getting of Spider-man are damn good."

"How so?"

"The fact he's getting angles not even a yoga instructor can pull of. I swear if the kid can do more I'll use him as freelance."

"Freelance? Why not just hire him?"

"Because Captain that's too expensive. Now personnel can give you his address."

"Chief we've got word of a coup going down in East Treblock." Someone shouted out from the press room.

"Get Deans on it now. I want pictures and sounds in five minutes." Jenkins demanded. "If you excuse me, Captain."

"No prob, I'm done here."

"Good"

Bullock left the office and stopped by personnel to get Parker's address before going back to his unmarked WP530.

The address led him a new massive multi-story complex in Robbinsville. A section of East Gotham that was once again going through urban renewal. This time it was affordable housing something that was also in short supply in Gotham.

The Parkers lived on the 58th level of a massive apartment complex. However, the place was close to both trains and transit elevators.

Bullock came to the door and pressed down on the buzzer. A moment later he heard a voice call out.

"Who is it?"

"Ma'am I'm Captain Bullock, GCPD." Bullock held up his badge to the peep-hole. There was a pause which Bullock took as a sign of reluctance. Their had been occasions of perps passing themselves off as cops. Although Bullock had never heard of case of someone passing themselves as captains.

"Ma'am, I can give you the name and number of my second in command. Please I'd just like to ask you a few questions."

"No need to do that." The voice said to him. Then the sounds of locks becoming undone were heard and right after that. The door was opened.

"May Parker?" Bullock asked.

Standing at the door was a woman in her early to mid fifties who had strands of gray hair mixed with her hair style. She appeared to be again well and judging from what Bullock could see from where he was. She made a decent living working at LS Financial.

"Yes, that's my name. What can I do you for Captain?"

"I've got a few questions about your son, Peter."

"He's not my son, I'm his guardian." She told him sternly

"Oh my apologies Ms. Parker. By the way your son hasn't done anything wrong. It's just I wanted to ask him about what he does at his work."

"Well you can speak to his boss at the GNWS."

"I did actually, you see your son has been doing work involving someone, we only know as Spider-man."

"Spider-man? Never heard of such thing. Although I've heard, Gotham has got a Batman. Any truth to that rumor?"

"Well Gotham has a lot to it many people don't know."

"So you're saying he exists."

"I'm saying he existed at one time. But I'm not here to here discuss urban myth. I would like to know if I can speak to your son?"

"He isn't here right now."

"Know where he'll be?"

"I'm sure in a few hours."

"Okay, could you tell him to speak to me when he has a chance. I would like to ask him a few questions." Bullock produced a card and handed it Parker. "Like I said, he isn't trouble but I would surely be greatful if he contacted me."

"He'll get the message, Captain."

"Thank you, you have a good day, Ms. Parker."

"You too, Captain." Parker then closed the door leaving Bullock once again alone in his investigation of Spider-man. He went back to his car and tried to figure out his next move.





It was the late afternoon when Peter came home from work. He found Aunt May cooking in the kitchen.

"Peter how was work?"

"It was okay."

"Good, school?"

"The same"

"Meet anybody new?"

"Actually I did" He said with a sly smile.

"Good, I'm glad you're adapting to your new surroundings." She then threw in some spices into the mixture that was going to be tonight's dinner. "Uh honey, there was someone who came by earlier."

"Who?"

"He was a police officer. He wanted to ask you a few questions about something that relates to your job. I told him you weren't here so he gave me his card. Try and call him when you get a chance."

"Where's the card?"

"On the counter by the vid-phone." She pointed to the phone sitting on the counter. Sitting next to it was a small white business card.

"I'll take care of this now." He said to Aunt May

"I'm sure it won't take long, dinner should be ready in about ten minutes."

"Would it be okay to call from my room? I've got some things to take care of."

"Sure honey, go right ahead."

Parker walked away from the kitchen and into his small room. His room was littered with stuff normally found in teenagers rooms: Clothes, bed not made up, papers not pushed together, all kinds of stuff that would be seen as trash to a parent. But to a teenager, they are more important than finding a usable cred card on the street.

He looked at the business card and read the name on it. He had a very good idea why someone was trying to ask him questions. It had to involve Spider-man. Parker found the name familiar and ran it through the net. He found that the cop looking to speak to him was quite well known in Gotham. He hopefully wouldn't have too much difficulty in finding him.