Chapter 21 [Ten Minutes Earlier]
Gwen stepped off the A-Train onto the stop's platform. The ride from home had proven a bit longer than expected in the packed car. "You flat back there, Mr. P?"
"That's what we get for taking the subway at rush hour." Peter made his way through the crowd. Truth be told, he didn't care for being packed in either. If he'd been by himself, he'd webbed his way overhead. Having the two suitcases and his Lady Fair with him precluded that.
Sardines would've fared better in that particular subway car.
"Anyone ever tell you you're cute when you mused up like that?" Mischief arched an eyebrow. She smirked back at him. After all of their packing, she definitely felt ready for some r and r.
"You should see the other guy." He brought the suitcases up to her side. "How's the time?"
She glanced at the station's clock. "We're ahead of time, My Prince Sublime! I think our friends' chariot awaits in a few minutes."
He chuckled. Rhyme's presence meant she was in a great mood. "You lead, I follow."
Euphoria could've made her heart float in that minute. "Careful, Mr. P. One might think you were buttering me up. Still I do like the sound of that."
"Still like hearing you say those words." Teasing lightened his tone. He ascended the stairs toward the street overhead.
"Glad to hear that." Her smile widened by the second. She pulled her purse's bag onto her shoulder and headed up the stairs after him. "Which way to the factory from here?"
"It's a couple of blocks east. Come on. We've got time." He led her in that direction. They wound their way around a couple of passersby. They crossed a small side street. Within another few minutes, they'd reached the former OsCorp Building.
Lex's Porsche sat by the gate. A security guard stood at its side chatting presumably with their friend.
Chaos broke loose at that point….
The guard rushed toward the exit lane. He held his hands up as if to signal someone to stop.
"WILLIAMS! GET BACK!" Lex hustled out of the car. "HE ISN'T GOING TO STOP!"
Williams managed to jump aside with mere seconds to spare. He watched the truck with the fireworks crash through the gate. It hooked a hard right into the street.
Lex rushed to the fallen guard's side. He checked the other man over to make sure he was all right.
"That is the truck with the fireworks! By the Prophet!" She got out of the car and stared down the street. Then she pressed the trunk button. "Carpet!"
"The fireworks!" Gwen gasped. Outrage erupted in seething flows inside of her. "Peter, maybe you should…?"
The suitcases apparently heard her because he was already gone.
I should've known! Gwen shook her head. She saw the blur from Lex's library speed by her. Then Jasmine rushed by her. "Jasmine?"
"Please help Lex and that guard! I have to follow that truck! Where's…?" Jasmine spied the alley. "Ah! I believe I shall follow!" She rushed around the corner and into the alley.
Spider-Man cleared his throat from the adjacent brick wall. "I figured it was you. I saw your carpet." He pointed to the floating carpet underneath him.
"Yes, my Friend!" She took her blazer and slacks off. "Go on! I shall follow!"
"Another lady who knows the score. Music to this Spider's ears!" Spidey scampered up the wall and onto the roof. He rushed across the rooftops. He vaulted a few alleys with relative ease. "A white truck..a white truck…Now let's see if I was a white truck, where'd I be?"
Crash echoed to his ears.
"That's where I'd be!" He shot a web line toward an adjacent rooftop along 5th. He swung briefly over Lex's and Gwen's heads. Then he banked onto the side street. Widening Parabolas enabled him to gain ground on the hijacked truck.
Gridlock handed him an assist as well. Red lights and honking cars slowed the truck's pace ever so slightly. Wreckage however showed how little that had mattered in the long run. Crumpled Cars marked the fleeing vehicle's trail.
He winced. Another bozo with a pay day. Can't a fella even enjoy a holiday? Disgust curled his lip. He swung over the scene. His eyes spied the paramedics already on the scene. He waved to them and pressed on after the truck.
Spidey Sense needled him.
"You go my way?" Jasmine pointed to Carpet. "I can go faster!"
"Lady, I'll take a ride with you any time!" He backflipped in mid-swing onto Carpet. "It's ahead of us!"
"Not for long!" She urged Carpet onward to faster and still faster speeds. "Perhaps you might wish to use your sticking ability?"
"Yeah. Us Spiders don't like getting knocked off by the backdraft." His feet stuck to the woolen fibers underfoot much as he would a brick, wooden or concrete wall surface. He noticed Manhattan's skyline blurring past them. "You've got a license for this thing?"
Impetuousness pushed a snort from her mouth. "Do you for your swinging?"
"Good point." He rolled his eyes under his mask. Then he spied the truck straight ahead. "There it is! White rental truck! I'll try to slow it down. Maybe you can work your purple stuff on the street?"
"A workable plan I believe. Very well." She slowed them down. "Good luck!"
"Same to you. Let's disarm that thing. I don't need that lighting up my life right now!" He dove off of the carpet. A web line attached itself to a nearby building. Within two swings, he'd landed on the truck's roof. Caution already urged him to take care with this situation.
Sparks would blow this mess sky high.
"Yeah." He crawled along the roof toward the truck's cab. "Hope Lex is insured." He pushed his fingers right through the steel. Yank peeled the metal back much like a sardine can. He peered inside.
Prospero had one eye on the road. He raised a pistol in his right hand.
"Another kid who doesn't know anything! You don't go pointing nasty things, Tex!" Spidey webbed the pistol and yanked it across the floor. Then he bounded down and landed in the seat beside the driver. "Oh what does the big stick do? Let's find out!"
"You crazy Bug! You ain't screwin' this up for me!" Prospero swiped a knife blade through the air at him. Then he slashed again.
"Eyes on the road!" Spidey webbed Prospero's hand and knife to the metal behind them. "Nighty, night, Tex!" His webbed fist knocked the hijacker out cold. "Yeah. Sleep it off!" He climbed over the unconscious driver and pushed him out of the way.
The truck lurched throwing Spidey against the seatback.
Tar stench threatened to clog his nose even through the mask.
Spidey stepped down on the brake. Through the windshield, he saw Jasmine floating on Carpet. She pointed toward Pitch straight ahead. "And she tells me to stick around? Geez! I don't think I stink that much!" He frowned at the stick shift. "Sorry. I don't know how to work with you."
The speedometer's needle fell below forty to thirty. Brake and Pitch slowed the vehicle before finally bringing it to a rest.
Spidey leaned back in the driver's seat. "Whew!" Relief elicited three deep breaths from his lungs. "Well you're all snug." He shook his head at Prospero. Then he webbed the fallen pistol to the floor where it sat. He took his camera out. "Might as well get one for the Planet."
"Spider-Man!" She pointed toward the south and east.
Sirens greeted his ears. "Yeah. That's our cue!" He flipped back onto the cab's roof. He took several pictures of the scene. "Get a ride?"
"Of course. I will not leave you for them." She could see Strobes' flashing lights in the distance. "Come!"
"What the lady wants, she gets!" He bounded onto Carpet. just before it streaked away from the scene.
[A Few Minutes Later]
Peter smoothed down his street clothes. Let's hope those fireworks can be through NYPD's evidence lock up in time. We don't need disappointed kids up in Cherry Plain. He emerged from the alley to find Jean DeWolff speaking to Lex and Gwen by the car. Another patrolman took Williams' statement.
"Peter!" Worry flashed across Gwen's face. She rushed over to him.
"There you are. We were wondering where'd you were." DeWolff raised an eyebrow. Dispatch had radioed updates about the chase to her. "Get some good pictures?"
"Took a few around here." Peter shrugged. "There's a mess up Fifth."
"Yeah. Imagine that." Jean smirked. She wasn't about to push it for the sake of his secret identity.
"So what happened to the fireworks?" Lex interjected.
DeWolff shrugged. "Apparently Spider-Man and some guy on a flying carpet stopped the truck. We'll know more later. I'll see what I can do to get those fireworks processed ASAP." She scribbled a few more notes. "Gwen, try to keep Peter out of trouble. Will you?"
"I do my best." Gwen coughed. She linked her arm through his. "Right now, he needs to carry our bags to the waiting car trunk."
DeWolff nodded. "I thought you two were going to be moving?"
"We're house hunting next week." Peter hefted the suitcases for emphasis.
"I'm giving them a ride down to Metropolis. I'm heading that way anyway." Lex took a suitcase from Peter. "Let's get these in the trunk. I need to speak with my foreman about Jenkins' activities."
"Sure. Peter, can you email me copies of those pictures?" DeWolff handed him a business card.
"Sure, Captain. Anything to help." Peter nodded.
"I'd appreciate that. Well you two stay in touch. Stop by before you leave. Okay?" DeWolff tipped her hat. Then she walked toward her waiting car.
Lex leaned close to Peter. "Thanks for that, Peter."
Peter looked around to make sure everyone was out of earshot. "You're welcome. Truck's a wreck but the fireworks are okay." He shrugged. "I had to peel the roof off of the cab."
"Small price to pay. I'm more concerned with the damage to the cars in his way. I can't believe this is going to happen now. I can't wait to tell those folks Upstate." Lex hauled the suitcase toward the waiting car. His mind spun with the implications.
Holiday could be hijacked too….