Through The Eyes Of The Guilty.
Note: Spider-man and the main Characters associated are owned by Marvel Comics.
When I came to, the laboratory was filled with cops, as well as Dr. Connors, and half a dozen lab students. Apparently I've been out for at least four hours. The safe door has been broken, the isotope ray machine was stolen. It seemed that Hammerhead didn't waste any time breaking the door, despite the alarms. Either he was that good at what he did, or that crazy. The students where already talking about what happened last night.
"I heard he was fighting at least half a dozen thieves," said one of the students.
"You have got to stop reading those adventure stories," said another student. My roommate said that she saw hi sneak in with four thugs and that Hammerhead guy late last night." And I thought we snuck in unnoticed. Here I thought they were professionals.
The next thing I knew, I was being taken away for questioning. As I was being hauled away, I noticed the camera. Security has it all on tape. Very sloppy, I thought, very sloppy.
On the ride to the police station, I thought I saw a man (I thought it was a man) jump from building top to building top. At first, I thought that was the Daredevil, it seemed to make sense. I mean if the Kingpin is real, then so would the Daredevil. Then I heard someone shouted. It wasn't an angry shout, but a shout of joy. Almost like someone accomplishing some great act for the first time. I did notice that it came above me, like from a third story apartment.
When we arrived at the police station, we headed straight to the interrogation room. They knew I had something to do with the previous night's robbery. I was terrified. Not because I might go to jail, but what might happen to my family. I was afraid to say anything. I just wish I never met Wilson Fisk.
"Okay Mr. Johnson," said Detective O'Malley. How stereotypical I thought. Despite what I was going through, I couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"Nothing," I said as the smile went from my face.
"Now as I was saying, tell us what you know about last night."
"I. . I. . I don't know what you are talking about," I said. I was shaking heavily, my nerves were on end.
"We would have check the security tapes," said Detective Robinowitz, "but they seemed to have disappeared." Robinowitz was tall man about in his forties, and by the sound of his name, Jewish. O'Malley was short a short woman, I would have to say five foot even, she was about the age of thirty-five. Seeing a wedding ring on her finger, I would have to say at least her husband was Irish descent. I was definitely in the wrong business. "We were hoping you could tell us what happened."
"I still don't know," I said. "I was working late, and I was knock out." At that time I was looking around nervously.
"Can you describe your assailant?" asked O'Malley?
"No, I was attacked from behind."
"We have witnessed that identified you walking into the lab with five other men," Robinowitz suggested.
"I'm telling you, I was working late." At that time, someone knocked on the door. Two police officers came in saying that I was to be transferred to another precinct for questioning concerning a murder occurring last month.
"I never killed anyone," I protested.
"You have been linked to the Peterson murder, witnesses have pointed you out," said one of the officers.
I was released to the officers from the Bronx Precinct. It was in the car that I got a good look at the two officers: they were two of the thugs from last night.
"He kept silent, Charley," said one of the officers. "Pay up."
"What's going on?" I asked?
"Hammerhead sent us to get you," said Charley. "If you talked, we were to kill you. However, if you kept silent, we were to break you out. Tommy and I had a bet to see if you were going to talk, I just lost $50 because of you."
"After we got hold of the security tapes, we were sent to keep an eye on you," said Tommy. Tommy was tall and thin, while Charley was short and fat. The both wore goatees. "Apparently you did something right. Hammerhead wanted to leave you, but word on the street is 'you have it in with the Kingpin'. So Hammerhead sent us. Where can we drop you off?"
"Right here is fine," I replied. I didn't want the mafia knowing where I lived. Charley and Tommy dropped me off near the Garden. There I hailed a taxi cab and went home.
When I arrived, Sharon was sitting down watching the news. She had a look of shock on her face. They were covering the robbery last night and listing me as the lead suspect. They just announced that I escaped from the police. When Sharon looked up at me, she had a look of shock, fear, and anger on her face.
"Is it true?" she demanded.
"Yes," I said. "I suppose you want an explanation."
"That would be nice."
So I told her all about it. I told her about Las Vegas and my first meeting with Mr. Wilson Fisk. I told her about my business meeting with Fisk and his associates. I told her about Hammerhead and the Laboratory. I even told her about the breakout attempt, which I had nothing to do about by the way. When I told her my motives, she started crying.
"Why didn't you say anything to me?" she asked between sobs. "We could've worked through this."
"I didn't want you to worry."
"It's too late for that."
"I know."
"What are you going to do?" Sharon asked
"There's only one thing I can do," I reassured her. "Tomorrow, I will tell Mr. Fisk I want out.
We hugged and embraced. Five minutes later the phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hi, Frank, this is Dr Conner." A lump formed in my throat, I knew what was coming next. "Just calling to let you know, because of last nights activities, we are forced to let you go. We appreciate the work you have done for the University. You can pick up your final check when you return your name and access cards. What I don't understand is why you did what you did."
"It's too complicated to explain right now."
The following morning, I hunted down Mr. Fisk. He was eating lunch at a little bistro on Wall Street. I walked up to his table, and told him I quit.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"You heard me. I was arrested, which scared my wife half to death. I lost my job at the University. I nearly got shot, I have a headache a mile wide. I want out."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Fisk said. "You have promise. I guess I have no choice but to let you go."
"So no hard feelings?" I asked.
"No hard feelings. In fact I'll let you walk out alive. I suggest you run, you might live longer."
"What do you mean 'let me walk out alive'? I thought you said no hard feelings."
"I did mean no hard feelings. But you are a loose end. You can't survive with loose ends, it's bad for business. I have no need for you and you know too much, you are a loose end. The Kingpin always cuts his loose ends," he said with an evil smile.
