Chapter 6 [Same Time as Adams' Arrival]

Spider-Man and Miranda alighted on an adjacent rooftop. He watched Adams' lights speed up the street and peel around the block. "She should ticket herself. It's only three blocks. This isn't Manhattan."

She snorted. "Maybe she could make herself pick up trash and wear an orange vest?" She shook that notion off. "You'll have to ask Clark about that." She checked her gloves and boots. "Those look good."

"What looks good?" He scratched his head. Then, he went back to his vigil. "Come on, Lady. Radio for back up. Granville's not far away. Come on." He watched her get out of the squad car. Without a look toward the trunk, she charged across the street. "She's nuts."

"A lot of us think so." She peered over his shoulder. "Yeah. That's our sheriff all right." She pointed toward the alley. "Their truck is right below us. The back door and loading dock are behind that. It was a distribution center before the military took it over."

He watched Adams slipping in and out of the shadows. "You know. She's surprising me. Not too smart doing it alone but she's surprising me."

Her eyebrow raised. "Says the guy who throws himself at every super bad guy singlehanded." Her eyes rolled. "Jas is going to have my head. Gwen's not thrilled with you, I'm sure, Chief." She took a deep breath. I'll go telepathic. That way, we talk quiet. Ninja thing. She jumped over the side.

"What the…?" He started down the wall's façade. About a third of the way down, Silhouette came into view against the dark. At least she's okay. Glad I don't have to deal with ex-Princesses in that regard. Don't need that!

Some of us accessorize, Pal. You can do it on your own. She alighted softly on the asphalt driveway. Your turn!

Show off. He pulled out his camera. He sized up the truck and its open back. Then, he bounded off the wall and onto the truck's roof. I'll take the high road, Fists of Fury. Remember, you get hurt and I get your Other Half and the Dark Uncle. Yeesh! No thanks! He crawled along the roof to stay low and out of sight. He watched the two elves bearing their sacks out the back door. He heard the sacks hit the truck's floor. Now, where are…?

Spider Sense blared at him. He scampered to the edge. We've got trouble! He watched Adams edge up the dock's stairs and toward the door. Come on, Lady. Watch your back!

Miranda squatted low. His aura stood out to her of course. His Spider Sense's alert raised an eyebrow. So that's his danger thing. Pretty handy. Shadows obscured her from Adams. Her eyes narrowed. Come on, Lady! You're by yourself! Don't be stupid! She watched Adams charge through the door. Don't…just…

"ALL RIGHT! DROP 'EM! HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE 'EM!" Adams announced, "I'm the Sheriff! Yer all under arrest!"

She did. Watch out here! And… She saw a metallic glint in the darkness.

Yeah. She's screwed! He tensed to spring into action. Risk weighed in his head. Arrest could happen…or Adams would try to arrest him….

…emphasis on try

Introspection, however, slowed him for a heartbeat. A second too late, shots rang in his ears. A second too late, Man Mountain's silhouette advanced to the doorway. He ground his teeth. Once again, the Parker Luck struck hard. He cleared his throat. "I thought Santa gave toys. Not take them away."

Man Mountain spun. He brought his semi-automatic weapon to bear. His finger pulled at the trigger several times. "HEY! IT'S THE DAMN SPIDER-GUY! WE NEED HELP HERE!

Spider-Man danced, spun and evaded every shot. Web lines sprayed from his wrist nozzles. He yanked Man Mountain's gun away from the latter's hands. "Spider-Guy? Spider-Guy? Come on! I've been around long enough! Then again, someone who'd shoot a cop, you lose that!" He alighted on the ground. He knew Adams and the deputy needed immediate medical assistance.

Man Mountain drew a pistol. "Keep taking! I've got more, Damn Bug!" He squeezed off shot after shot. Frenzied efforts failed to keep up with the bounding hero. Behind him, shots and fighting rang out through the door. "Now what?"

"Hey! OVER HERE!" Spider-Man punched Man Mountain into the wall. Webbing secured the unconscious goon to the wall. He left the pistol and rifle by Man Mountain's feet. He hustled inside and stopped in his tracks.

Miranda cut Murphy's bonds. All around them, fake elves lay out cold. Dreams not exactly of sugar plum fairies, we're sure. "Took you long enough."

"Took me…" He smacked himself in the side of the head. "Had to make sure the Sheriff didn't get hit." He assessed Murphy. "He needs help like her. Not good." He hauled the thieves into a pile. His webbing secured them in the room's center. "Sorry. Which way to the Med Center?"

"Due north. We're going to need help though." Miranda shook her head. Hey. We could use some help here.

The Child appeared in a dark flash. "Yeah? Wha'?" He noted Murphy. "He's hurtin'. Shereef Stoopid's hurtin' too!"

"She lived up to that title all right." Spider-Man reevaluated his priorities. First, he snapped a few pictures of the scene. "Planet needs a few for the front page." She's right out here." He rushed out toward the loading dock. "You coming?"

The Child glared at his niece. "Ya'll an' Ah gonna talk, Short Stuff. Ya jus' can' stay outta crap!" He made Murphy float up into the air.

"Neither do you, Big Guy." Miranda rolled her eyes at him. "I take after you. Okay?"

Terse snarl escaped through the Dark One's clenched teeth. Open left eye rolled at her. He stalked toward the loading dock. His telekinetic 'leash' eased Murphy's floating form after himself. He stepped through the door to find Adams' prone form. "Ah'll git 'em help!" He, Adams and Murphy disappeared in another dark flash.

"I could've got them to the med center. Oh he of little faith!" Despite Protestation's complaint, Spider-Man's mood eased. While he didn't know where, he figured that their ally would get help for the fallen officers.

"He's dealing with it. That's why I sent the mental call." Miranda pointed toward her head. "At least, Sheriff Adams can shut up about him and you." She looked around at the secured Man Mountain and his weapons and the truck.

"Handy trick, Miri." Steve Petersen walked toward them. "Ty Rogersen." Admiration prompted a nod. "Lot of people after him. There's a reward for his capture." He walked around the truck. "Sacks." He pulled on a pair of gloves. He yanked a sack open. "More toys." A sigh escaped his lips. He rubbed his forehead. "Man, this just keeps getting bigger." He pulled out his phone. "They're going to need to know in New York." He turned. "Spider-Man, maybe you might want to hit the road? Officially, there are folks still out for your head. Off the record, thanks. This is part of a bigger deal."

"Bigger deal, Uncle Steve?" Miranda assessed Man Mountain again.

"Much bigger. These guys are part of a bigger case. Hit the road, Web Head. You too, Miri. I'm not having you implicated in this." Steve motioned toward the alley.

"Yeah. I get it. Come on." Spider-Man picked Miranda up in his left arm. "You're okay, Petersen. By the way, the other elves are webbed up in there." He pointed with his free hand toward the building. Then, he scampered with her up the side of the wall and disappeared into the night.

Petersen exhaled a deep breath. He weighed Adams' and Murphy's injuries and their impact. No police in Smallville. I know she's not the sharpest tack in the box. This isn't good. No wonder the Big Kid came and got me. Maybe Singleton in the Metro office might be better for this. Still, Peter needs to know. He waited another ten seconds. Then, he pressed speed dial. "I just hope he's not asleep yet." Then, he waited for a response.

The work week had begun early….