Peter sat through the rest of the lecture speechless. The comment Debra had made was almost as if she knew or at least suspected his secret. He pretended to be intently listening to Doctor Connor's lecture but his mind raced with thoughts of Debra, thoughts of the Black Cat, thoughts of his job, worries he was unable to shake. He almost didn't hear Doc Connors when he called his name at the end of lecture.
"That's enough for today. Remember to read the next chapter for homework and complete the practice problems. Peter Parker, please come down here for a moment. I'd like to talk to you."
Peter hesitated a moment, but then got up and walked down to the front of the lecture hall. As he passed the other students who were leaving class he overheard a few of them, "Oooh, Parker's in trouble."
"Yes Doctor Connors," Peter said in his most respectful voice as he reached the lab table Doc Connors usually taught behind.
"Peter, I'm sorry that I embarrassed you in front of class." Doc Connors said as he shuffled papers into his briefcase, with some difficulty considering he was only using one arm.
"It's no big deal. I'm just sorry that I was late. I will try to be on time from now on." Peter was relieved he wasn't getting another lecture about timeliness.
"I don't understand you, Peter. You are clearly the most talented student in my class. In fact, you are the most talented student I've seen in a long time and I've been here a while. But you have no regard for rules. I was informed that you missed the last three labs. You have the potential to be very successful but it's almost as if you don't care." Doc Connors sighed.
"No, that's not true," Peter protested vehemently. "I really want to do well."
He spoke with such passion in his voice that Doc Connors couldn't help but believe he was telling the truth. Peter continued, "Right now I have to support myself and my job at the Bugle requires a lot of my time."
Doc Connors rubbed his chin. "I see. Well I certainly know what its like to have a lack of funding. But you cannot continue to miss lab sessions. If you prove to be reliable then maybe we could work something out. You see, I want you to submit a 10 page report on the new technology of Neo-genics and its implications. I have also asked Miss Whitman to submit a report as well as a few other students from my other class. You see I'm in need of another lab assistant and I think this could be a real opportunity for someone who wants to go into science. Hand the report in by 7:00 next Friday, before I leave the laboratory. I would really like to work with you Peter. Please don't let me down."
"I'll do my best," Peter smiled.
"I'm sure you will." Doc Connors replied under his breath as he watched Peter Parker exit the lecture hall. There was something about that boy that he just couldn't figure out. He didn't seem like the kind of person who just missed class. He wasn't arrogant, he wasn't lazy; Doc Connors couldn't understand why he just didn't show up. He was sure it wasn't all because of his job. But Doc Connors walked down to his research laboratory and began his experiments. His mind was preoccupied with numbers and data; he no longer thought of Peter.
***
Felicia met her mother for lunch at a very expensive café close to campus. They were seated right away, although others had been waiting long before they arrived. "It's so good to see you darling. Between my work and you at school I feel like I never see you anymore." Mrs. Hardy said as she glanced at the menu. She was a thin blonde woman, impeccably dressed as always, with just a few wrinkles by her eyes. She could have passed for her early thirties but she was nearing fifty.
"Yeah," Felicia attempted to smile, "It's good to see you too." Her mother lived only a short drive from campus and still she never found time to see her only daughter.
"So how is school going?"
"It's great. Mom, guess what?" Felicia smile was genuine now. She could hardly conceal her delight as she prepared to tell her mom about her new found success in chemistry class.
"What?"
"I got an A on my last chem test. That's Doctor Connor's class and everyone knows he's the toughest teacher around."
"That's wonderful," Her mother replied nonchalantly. "I thought I told you not to take that class though."
"I know, but I wanted to take it anyways. And I'm doing well in it. Aren't you proud of me?"
"Yes, I'm proud. I just don't see why you want to take chemistry. I mean you're wasting your time…"
Mrs. Hardy was interrupted by Felicia, "What do you mean I'm wasting my time?"
"It's just that you're not going into anything with science so I don't know why you bother. Frankly you should just take some easy classes that you know you can pass." Felicia could think of nothing to say to her mother. Sensing that she had offended her daughter she changed the subject, "Who are you seeing right now? Are you still dating that football player, what was his name?"
"Flash," Felicia answered annoyed that her mom couldn't remember his name. "No, I'm not still seeing him."
"Good. I mean he was cute but I think you can do much better," Felicia was sure that by "better" her mother really meant richer. "Mr. Jameson's son is about your age, just a little older. Jameson keeps talking about him. I think you would make a cute couple. Lord knows I'd hate to have Jameson as an in-law but his son seems perfectly sociable. There's a big J3 Communication's charity event this Saturday. I'll introduce you two."
"Great," Felicia said with sarcasm which her mother didn't detect.
Mrs. Hardy's cell phone rang. "Hello. Bruno I told you not to call me on this line."
Felicia had been looking at the menu but as she overheard the name Bruno she looked up and focused all of her attention on listening to her mother's conversation.
"Fine. So what's this big emergency." Mrs. Hardy uttered into her cell phone.
Felicia focused and she realized that she could faintly hear the voice on the other end, probably due to her newly heightened senses. The voice replied, "I think Fisk's gang is onto our activities. Some of my men have been roughed up."
"I don't care," Mrs. Hardy yelled into the phone. She then paused and continued much more quietly, "Do what you have to do to find out what he's working on. It's going to be big and I don't want him controlling the market. It wasn't at the last warehouse so it must be somewhere more secure. He wouldn't risk keeping it at his office building. Would he?"
The voice on the other end said, "No. But I bet he's using one of his enterprises as a front."
"Of course. It must be too important to risk keeping it in his warehouse. What about that new museum he just opened? I bet that's the perfect place to work on his little project. Check it out before he suspects we're onto him and he has a chance to move it." Mrs. Hardy turned her head away and cupped her hand around the phone, whispering these orders. But her actions were to no avail. Felicia still heard every word.
"We won't be able to do it until at least Friday." The voice replied.
"What do you mean, not until Friday?" Mrs. Hardy raised her voice and her eyes narrowed with anger. She no longer tried to conceal the conversation
"The museum has got to be high security. It'll take some time to assemble a few good men and get the logistics of the place." He answered.
"Fine. If it's not done by Friday you won't be paid." With that Mrs. Hardy slammed her phone shut and resumed her conversation with her daughter, "Sorry about that honey. Business. Are you ready to order? I am absolutely famished."
Felicia continued the idle chit-chat during their lunch, doing the best to conceal her growing displeasure with her mother. Not only had she demeaned and insulted her, now Felicia had reason to believe that she was heavily involved in crime. The Black Cat was not going to let this slide.
To be continued…