Chapter Three

The squad car pulling away from the sidewalk as Peter couldn't meet the shocked gazes of the people standing in the street, instead focusing on the descending snowflakes as they fell from the sky, sticking to the window of the squad car as the snowflakes slid down slowly into nothingness. This seemed to mirror his own rapid plunge from the carefree experience of Christmas shopping to being pursued, shot at and arrested as a murder suspect. Not just any murder mind you, but the murder of your own wife. Falling like a snowflake into nothingness.

Nothingness is what Peter Parker felt right now. Shock, rage and disbelief had numbed him as he had run through a whole series of emotions, leading up to the possibility that his wife might be dead and Mary Jane would be lost to him forever. Peter swore at himself, angry for even thinking about it as he gazed up at the front seat.

"I can't believe I was caught by the New York Police Department's version of Abbott and Costello." Peter thought wryly, frowning as he started considering his situation.

Slowly, Peter began to assess the situation before him. Peter's gaze traveled up to the front seat, where the two cops sat, talking in low voices back and forth. The first cop driving the car to its destination was a portly fellow with reddish hair, slightly graying and a bristly mustache. When reading him his Miranda rights, the police officer had spoken in a thick New York accent. Peter named this first officer Costello.

The second officer, sitting in the passenger seat, was a thin fellow with blonde hair and a gotee, who seemed to speak in an accent that hinted slightly at a Southern heritage. This one he dubbed Abbott.

Almost, as if on cue, the second officer turned sideways in the seat to face him. "Abbott" wore thick, dark wraparound glasses, which he removed to look Peter in the eye, his eyes filled with obvious contempt and distrust.

Meeting the officer's gaze, Peter kept his face neutral as "Abbott" spoke, "Well, Parker, it's good news and bad news time. The good news is the doctors have managed to revive your wife, so she's still alive at the moment. The bad news is that the doctors have managed to revive your wife, so she's still alive at the moment."

Peter felt a surge of elation run through him, unable to suppress the smile that crossed his face as he suddenly frowned, looking at the officer, "May I ask why would that be bad news?"

Abbott gave a condescending smile as he responded with, "Well, she's in a coma right now, but that's bad since it means she can testify that you were the one who tried to kill her if she regains consciousness. You sure don't need any more evidence against you."

Peter was confused still, mind reeling with the whole implausibility of his situation, as he said, "Why are you so convinced that I killed, or tried to kill, my wife?"

"Because we have witnesses, Parker. From what I've heard, you're supposed to be a smart guy, but you're not impressing me very much right now.", the other officer said with a rueful chuckle. This came from Costello, the driver.

"Witnesses?" Peter thought in amazement, stumped by this latest revelation as he tried to imagine who would testify to him murdering Mary Jane, the love of his life. How could they have seen him attempt to murder his wife when he was out Christmas shopping? Peter tried to wrap his mind around this, yet found that he couldn't. But, the important thing is that Mary Jane was alive, fighting for survival and Peter couldn't lose hope now. He had to see Mary Jane.

"But, Mary Jane isn't dead, right?" Peter asked suddenly. The nothingness began to be replaced by a sense of enthusiasm and relief as Peter gave a heavy sigh. Inspiration filled him as Peter gave a hopeful smile, leaning forward in his seat as he made the inquiry.

"Not yet.", Abbot said, glaring at Peter.

"Not for lack of trying though." said Costello, accompanied by a derisive snort, "Not for lack of trying, Parker."

Slumping back in his seat as Peter felt relief that Mary Jane was alive, even if she wasn't quite well. Peter had to see Mary Jane as soon as possible to be there for her in her time of need – just like she was there for him whenever he needed. But how?

The handcuffs weren't a problem at all – he could easily snap apart these shackles to get his hands free. The locked door hardly presented a problem – his Spider strength would see to that. But, doing so in front of Abbott and Costello here would cause problems of its own. This line of thinking led to more worries, however.

Once Peter arrived at the Police Department, he would be searched and in doing so, they would discover his web-shooters and worst of all, his Spiderman costume. With those in the possession of police, the obvious conclusion would be reached. In a matter of hours or even minutes, the entire world could know that he was Spiderman. Peter began to sweat, as his jubilation slipping into distress. Once again, Peter found his spirits falling like a snowflake. Kicking open the door and breaking the handcuffs would obviously raise a few questions, but the alternative was certain discovery of his secret identity as Spiderman.

Frowning and gritting his teeth, Peter began to slowly utilize his strength as he tried to slowly tear apart the handcuffs when the Police band radio came to life, breaking his concentration as Peter craned forward to listen to the urgent message.

"All available units respond immediately" said the disembodied voice over the radio as Abbott lunged forward to respond, "Bank robbery in progress at 40 E. 52nd Street – Bank of America. All available units respond immediately."

"It's only a couple blocks away." said Abbott, turning to his partner slightly, his eyes glistening with anticipation at the prospect of some more action.

Costello gave a nod, gripping the steering wheel a little more tightly as he reached over, flipping on the lights as the sound of the siren blared through the air, speeding now through the city streets in the haste to answer the call for help.

"Let's roll.", Costello called out as the vehicle roared to life, the speed increasing as they headed towards the scene of the crime, taking a little detour from their final destination. For the moment at least, impending discovery and disaster was averted.

"Who would rob a bank now in the middle of the day?", Peter thought to himself, "They'd have to be out of their mind."

It was beginning to be one of those days where Peter Parker would hate being right.