Chapter 35 [Bank of Metropolis—Twenty Minutes Later]
Metropolis' oldest financial institution had stood at the corner of Madison and Furbush for a century. Depression, Financial Crises and Investigations could not bring it down. Good Business expanded its resources and holdings. Community Involvement allowed them to surpass the national behemoths in Metropolis and her suburbs. Robberies had been few by Luck's grace.
But today would be a first….
An overweight balding man shivered in the office chair. Despite Summer's warmth outside, his breath blew forth in Frosted Puffs. Ice bound his arms and legs to Chair's metal frame. He saw the phone just a foot away from his hand but beyond reach at that point. He glanced through his office window toward the lobby outside. Who and what are these thieves?
Lobby languished under the thieves' thumb. Ice sealed the doors and windows shut from the outside. Black Disguise obscured Henchmen's identities. They rooted through cash drawers. They worked on the vault. For the most part, they ignored the staff and the three unfortunate customers.
Those poor souls gasped and writhed on the floor. Screams escaped their lips. Worst Nightmares tortured them.
A brown-clad man made his way through his handiwork. The burlap mask over his face obscured his features. The ratty-looking hat, rope around the mask's base and a few strands of straw at his wrists and ankles helped to sell his image. "Blizzard!"
"They're your men, Scarecrow. Hurry them up!" Blizzard glared at the other villain. He'd traveled there from New York to get away from the super powered interference. Cobalt Blue and White played at icy designs across his costume….
…almost as blue as the security guards encased in ice across the lobby from himself….
"Patience! I know of the alarm! The Malibu Diamond! It will fetch a handsome price for our employer!" Scarecrow narrowed his eyes under the mask. Impatience burned at him.
"You know about it then do something!" Blizzard shook his head. He pointed at the door. Ice Beams applied another round of ice to the door.
Fighting Sounds came from the vault area.
"Who could have entered that way?" Scarecrow hissed. He stalked over to the vault. He's right. We don't have time for this! He stepped inside and froze in his tracks.
The half dozen henchmen lay strewn across the area. Webbing secured their hands and feet. Unconsciousness rendered them unable to fight back.
Scarecrow yanked at the webbing. He scowled. "This isn't netting. Webbing?"
"Sorry, Straw Tick, we're fresh out of flying monkeys." Spidey crawled into view. "You know…I'm not in Oz for five minutes. And here someone came out as the Scarecrow. Gotta say! I am so touched! I didn't think anyone could have a brain big enough in their straw head. Whoops!"
Scarecrow rolled his eyes under the mask. Recognition discerned the Wall Crawler's identity. "Do not compare me to that literary misanthrope. I have heard much, Spider-Man. What are your nightmares? Let's find out!" He released cloying psychedelic gas from his wrists and mask vents.
Spider Sense blared in Spidey's head. "All right! Don't go raising a stink already! Geez! And here I come out to say hi!" He leapt away from the mists. Before his adversary could adjust, his webbing covered the other's mask and hands. "Keep it to yourself." He dropped his shoulder and rammed Scarecrow into the wall. "Another bad habit dropped. They'll be so proud and…."
Spider Sense went off again.
Spidey's skin dimpled under his costume. Chill confirmed Instinct's warning. He managed to evade the ice beams and darts by sheer seconds. "Great. Only one creep that gives the cold shoulder like that." He crawled onto the ceiling to get the best view.
Blizzard frowned under his mask. "I should've known it'd be too easy!" Irritation ground at his teeth. He'd almost rather deal with Iron Man or Thor than put up with the Wall Crawler's insulting wit. "Out of your territory, Insect."
"I'd say the same of you, Frosty." Spidey coughed. "You do know the fees here aren't bad. You could've just gone to the ATM. Three percent's better than another thirty years and….HEY!" He evaded another icy blast.
"I'll freeze you until the end of the next ice age, You Pest!" Blizzard flung Hail and Beams at the bounding hero. He fired a last time.
Spidey twisted out of the way. Wish he was the Trapster. I'd just take the gun away from him! He sighed. "And here I'm supposed to be on South Beach in the morning! Geez, Frosty! They're going to take away your union card yet! By the way, I thought you were all like…Jack Frosty…or something?"
"It was Jack Frost before!" Blizzard raised his hands to fire more ice….
…only to find Webbing jamming the palm nozzles shut…
"And you don't know Jack about robbing banks either!" Spidey pulled his punch. He still knocked the costumed villain out (dare we say it?) cold. "Yeah. I'd say the heat's getting to you. The locals will find a nice freezer for you, Snowball. Really nice." He bound the unconscious villain in more webbing. "That'll keep you warm and cozy." He hauled Blizzard and Scarecrow from the vault and into the bank proper. He saw the writhing victims all around himself.
"It was that one! The one in the brown. He gassed them with some drug! They're in pain. I don't know what to do!" The pinned man struggled against the ice bonds.
Spidey shook his head. That must be the gas he used in the vault. He broke the man's icy bonds. "Call 911. I'm going to work on that door." He noticed Blizzard's melting handiwork and the puddles on the carpet. Those people are going to need serious detox. What the Hell? He yanked the doors open.
Sirens screamed. Strobes flashed in procession from down the block.
"The boys in blue are on their way. You okay?" Spidey turned toward the older man.
"Y…yes. Wait! You're that Spider-Man, aren't you? I thought you were in New York?" The man shivered.
"Just passing through on my way to Miami, Guy. Just wanted to do my good deed for the day. Can you let the police know that their goons are webbed up in the vault?" Spidey heard the sirens getting closer.
The man nodded. "Thank you, Spider-Man. I'll let the police know you stopped these ruffians! Go! I'll see that my staff and customers get medical care." Appreciation warmed his heart.
Spidey nodded. He ducked back into the vault. He retrieved the webbed camera in the vault's far corner. Then he disappeared into the ducts on his way to the street beyond.
Seemed he'd have another email to Travers forthcoming….