By the time that a weary Gwen had gotten back to the hospital, Jean DeWolff was already taking Craig and Ted into custody, and was none to happy to hear that not only had the stolen plutonium been used to build an atomic bomb, but also that, according to the brief statement from Gwen, the bomb itself appeared to have been stolen by gangsters. Soon, Craig and Ted were locked up in a holding cell at police headquarters, trying not to flinch at the stern glares that Jean, Gwen, Teresa and Agent Sitwell were giving the two of them.
"Look, we're sorry!" insisted Craig defensively from behind the bars of the small cell he and Ted were occupying. "We were just trying to show how easily it could be done."
"Yeah, we only wanted to play out the need for better security," joined in Ted plaintively.
"It can't be detonated without a large quantity of C-4," added Craig, trying his best to sound practical.
"I doubt that the people who took the bomb will have any trouble finding themselves some plastic explosive," said Gwen sourly. "The neutron reflector was made of wax, right?"
Craig nodded. "Inside an aluminium hemisphere."
"Basically that's a very simple implosion device," Gwen explained to Jean, then turned back to Craig. "What kind of detonator controls did you use?"
"I made a computer circuit," said Craig, who could not help but let some self-pride come through in his voice regarding his part in the construction work on the bomb. "Micro circuits carry the signal. It's instantaneous response, the best!"
"Best!" bellowed Sitwell with surprising ferocity in his voice, his face turning purple with rage as he banged the top of a nearby table with his clenched fist, so hard that several objects on it flew a little into the air and tumbled down, scattering all over the floor. His incensed mood feeling like it was at boiling point, he moved nearer to the cell and spat his next scornful words right into Craig and Ted's faces. "You punk geniuses! I hope you have enough room on your consciences for all the lives that could be lost as a result of this."
Quickly composing himself, Sitwell turned to Jean. "May I have a word with you and Doctor Stacy in your office, Captain? You too, Parker."
The four of them began to file silently towards Jean's office, but Gwen paused when she heard Ted speak.
"Doctor Stacy, has there been any more news about Carla?"
At this, Gwen's face softened a bit, her heart sympathising with how worried the two men were for their friend. However irresponsibly they had behaved, the three misguided students were good people at heart, and despite what they had done, Carla did not deserve the terrible suffering she was going through now.
"The doctor says she's got a chance," Gwen said gently. "Not a great one. A slim one in fact. But there is hope that she'll pull through."
Turning her back on the two locked-up students, Gwen joined the others in the office and gently shut the door behind her.
"Ladies, I say we have a situation here," stated Sitwell pensively, keeping his voice low so that no-one outside the office could easily overhear the intense discussion taking place.
"If this bomb were to explode in the city, what might happen?" asked Teresa, feeling as anxious as everyone-else in the room was about the current crisis.
"If it's still in the city," Gwen quickly pointed out.
"Well let's assume for the moment that it is," said Jean, managing to maintain her cool despite the gravity of the situation.
"Ten pounds of plutonium can have a yield of as much as fifteen kilotons," said Gwen gravely. "Now if that were to explode in Manhattan in the middle of a weekday..."
Gwen did not need to complete her sentence. They all knew too well the terrible implications she was getting at.
"If the public hears about this, there'll be unbelievable panic!" stated Sitwell dourly, before turning to Teresa. "This must be kept out of the news as long as possible, do you understand that, Parker?"
"Yeah, I understand," promised Teresa with a nod.
Jean looked at Gwen. "Let me ask you something, Gwen. Deep down, do you really believe this bomb will explode?"
Gwen's sombre response chilled them all right to the bone. "Well, let me put it to you this way. As far as we know since 1945, everyone who has attempted to explode an atomic bomb... has succeeded on the first try."
As it was, the Atomic Bomb that was causing so much trepidation was no longer in New York. After a brief cargo flight, Marko, Johnston and Varley had landed in Los Angeles and brought the white Limousine carrying the device straight to a large mansion-like vila on the hills. There, the Rose was already waiting for them. The criminal mastermind had set off ahead in his personal jet along with the Prowler, and was now leaning back comfortably in a chair placed by a large outdoor swimming pool on the terrace, waiting patiently for his men to arrive with the 'merchandise'.
"Ah, Mr Johnston, you made good time," said the Rose, as Johnston came out onto the terrace and went over to report to his boss. "Were there any problems?"
"None whatsoever, boss," smirked Johnston. "Varley and Marko are just getting the bomb out of the boot now."
"Splendid. I want the device completed and ready for use immediately."
"You already have a buyer?" asked Johnston.
The Rose shrugged. "Well, several curious nibbles from HYDRA and AIM, but nothing that you can call a real bite. Truth be told, it's been rather disappointing. I think I may have to raise my game and try a new approach with this particular piece of merchandise."
"You don't get your hands on an atomic bomb just everyday," pointed out Johnston.
"Too true, too true," agreed the Rose. "It is a rather unique opportunity. An opportunity that should really be exploited with considerable imagination and a true sense of style. Wouldn't you think?"
"Sure, but like what?"
With an evil smile behind his mask, the Rose picked up a folded newspaper from one of the nearby drink tables, and handed it to Johnston, gesturing to one particular article, the title of which read:
PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS GOVERNORS IN L.A.
Johnstone gave an impressed whistle sound as he immediately caught onto the Rose's shrewd idea. "Yeah, that would certainly qualify as an imaginative use of the merchandise. I gotta say, you sure do think big, boss."
"Indeed. The address will take place in a few days. Can we have the device ready by then?
Johnston grinned. "I'd say we'll get right on it."
Spider-Woman paced about the ledge of the Chrysler Building agitatedly, trying her best to be patient as she waited for her contact to arrive. It was now ten in the evening, and from her position, she had a great birds-eye view of the whole city, lit up like a Christmas tree. On another day, the wall-crawler would have enjoyed the fantastic view, but right now, she had too far much on her worried mind.
As she glanced about the cityscape, Spider-Woman was delighted when she finally saw a familiar figure soaring through the sky up towards her like a dove. It was a young woman, roughly about the same age as Gwen, who had long purple-pink hair and was dressed in a stylish white-and-blue costume, with a large purple diamond-shaped pendent attached to a blue sash wrapped around her waist.
This was Jessica Jones, the private detective and super-heroine known as Jewel. She and Spider-Woman had first met a couple of years ago when they had both happened to be investigating a violent disturbance in a local restaurant, that turned out to have been caused by Zebediah Killgrave, the Purple Man. The sadistic and psychotic criminal had been using his formidable powers of mind control to cause ordinary members of the public to fight one another, simply for his own amusement. The Purple Man had next tried to use his brainwashing abilities on Jewel, but while his attention was focused on her, Spider-Woman had managed to sneak up on the villain and knock him out cold before he could do any further harm. Since that little episode, Spider-Woman and Jewel had worked together on-and-off on various cases, with Jones' private eye sources proving an immense help in solving the most puzzling of crimes.
"Lovely view from here," grinned Jewel, as she landed gracefully on the ledge beside Spider-Woman. "You sure pick some great spots for a secret rendezvous."
With a grin hidden by her mask, Spider-Woman gave her friend a quick hug. "Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, Jess. Were you able to find the information I asked for?"
"Sure have," said Jewel. "I checked that Californian licence plate number you gave me with my friend in the police force in that state, and she tells me it's registered to the 'Rose Import/Export Company' in Los Angeles. Appears perfectly legit on the surface, but there are rumours of the company being involved in quite a lot of shady activities. Smuggling, drug dealing, you name it! What's more, that particular Limo the license plate belongs to has been reported having returned to L.A. in a cargo flight just a few hours ago."
"I thought so," said Spider-Woman thoughtfully. "The Rose is too smart a guy to keep the bomb in New York while there's a major search on. He may be planning to sell it in Los Angeles, or worse..."
"Or worse what?" asked Jewel.
"Well, you know that the President will be holding an address in L.A. in a few days? If the Rose got it into his sick mind to detonate that bomb during the conference..."
Jewel shuddered. "Ah man. That would not be great at all! Are you going to tell the authorities?"
Spider-Woman shook her head. "I could try, but aside from the licence plate, we've no evidence. S.H.I.E.L.D. will want something more concrete before diverting the search away from New York. I doubt that Sitwell guy would be so willing to accept the word of a masked vigilante."
"I see what you mean," said Jewel sympathetically. "So, what are you going to do?"
Spider-Woman smiled. "As luck would have it, Gwen Stacy, a friend of mine with some detective experience of her own, will be heading off to Los Angeles tomorrow for a science conference. I'll pass the information onto her, get myself a flight there too, and maybe if we work together, we might be able to find the bomb before the Rose thinks of detonating it."
Jewel pondered this plan skeptically. "Won't be easy, scouring the whole of California for one Limousine. It'll be like searching for a needle in a very large haystack."
"True, but so long as my spider-tracer is still stuck to the car, then there is a good chance I'll be able to track it down. Anyway, I better get going and make ready for the trip. Thanks so much, Jess. You are terrific!"
"Ahh, you're just saying that," grinned Jewel. "But you are right!"
With a cheery wave of goodbye, Jewel flew off into the distance, flying through the air like an angel, while Spider-Woman fired out a web-line and began web-slinging her way back to her apartment. As she made her way past the tall buildings and astonished civilians looking up at her from the streets below, Gwen considered just what a major coincidence it was that she was the one that the University was sending to Los Angeles, which seemed to be exactly where the stolen plutonium had been taken. It was in many respects a really lucky break, as it gave Gwen a perfect excuse to go to L.A., and search for the Rose and the atomic bomb in his grasp. Of course, as Jewel said, it would still be quite hard to track the bomb down after Gwen would arrive in California, even with the tracer attached to the Limo, so Spider-Woman would just have to hope that another lucky turn of events would come her way to help her along.
"What? You say the bomb is in Los Angeles?" said Jean in surprise, as she and Teresa stood in Gwen's apartment and watched as the young scientist finished the last of her packing.
"That's what Spider-Woman told me," said Gwen, as she dumped the final suitcase in the hall. "Don't ask me how she knew I was heading off to California, but she wants me to help with tracking the plutonium down, since I'll happen to be there."
"Makes sense I suppose," said Teresa.
"Well, I don't like it," said Jean doubtfully. "I think I should call L.A. and go through proper channels, especially with the President holding his conference in a few days. We should get the police department there or the FBI to run an investigation into this 'Rose Import/Export Company', if they are indeed involved as the webhead claims."
"On what evidence, Jean?" argued Gwen. "Besides, we want to avoid a panic, right? If I search Los Angeles myself, I'd be less likely to draw attention. Remember, I do have some experience of discrete detective work. I got that from Dad."
"Oh, very well," sighed Jean reluctantly. "But I still don't like it. If you do find proof of the bomb being in California, you contact the authorities there right away. I don't want any foolhardy heroics. Meanwhile, I'll continue with the search at this end, just in case the bomb is still in New York."
"Great. So we better get going then, hadn't we?" remarked Teresa.
Gwen looked at her in surprise. "Wait, what do you mean 'we'?"
Teresa grinned. "Have you forgotten that I'm booked on the same flight as you are? Aunt May has already helped pack my own bags and is having them sent to the airport."
Gwen allowed herself an inward groan as she realised that she had indeed forgotten that Teresa was also heading to Los Angeles to do that article for the 'Weekly Examiner'. It was perfectly understandable why it had slipped the young scientist's mind, considering all the drama that had occurred since the plutonium had been first stolen. But this could pose a potential problem. It had been hard enough convincing Jean to let her conduct her own investigations in L.A., but how was Gwen going to go after the bad guys as Spider-Woman without Teresa getting caught up in any potential battles? More to the point, how could Gwen go out as Spider-Woman without arousing the freelance journalist's suspicions?
"Just a minute," Jean cut in sharply. "You can't seriously be thinking of getting involved in an unofficial investigation?"
"Jean's right, Teresa," said Gwen firmly. "This is more than likely going to turn out to be a really dangerous situation. Your Aunt would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you."
"Hey, I'm a experienced journalist, remember?" retorted Teresa. "I deal with dangerous situations on a regular basis. And this could prove to be the story of the century! No way am I going to pass up an opportunity like this."
"I cannot allow it!" said Jean firmly.
"On what grounds can you stop me?" said Teresa challengingly. "Relax, I'll keep quiet, at least until the plutonium is recovered, if that's what you're worried about."
"Has anyone told you that you are an incredibly stubborn woman!"
Teresa smiled sweetly and gave a disarming shrug. "I prefer to think of myself as persistent."
Gwen and Jean exchanged weary looks with one another, as they could see that there was no way to change Teresa's mind, no matter what either of them could say.
"Oh, all right, you can come along too," sighed Gwen in defeat, hoping that she would not come to regret this.
The commercial flight to Los Angeles had proved to be a pleasant, if uneventful one, and as soon as the plane had landed and the passengers disembarked, Gwen and Teresa got a taxi that took them straight to the hotel they were staying at. As both girls clambered out of the cab and got out their luggage from the boot, they were greeted by the hotel doorman.
"Good morning," said the doorman pleasantly. "Welcome to the Beverly Sunset Hotel."
"Gee, thanks," smiled Teresa, as the doorman set about putting their suitcases on a cart. "This sure looks a swell place to stay. Say, once we're settled, why don't we meet up at the pool, Gwen? I always did like the sun."
"Sounds like a good idea," said Gwen, as they walked into the building and made their way over to reception. "I'll meet you there soon. There's just something I'll have to check on first."
As soon as they got their keys, Gwen and Teresa headed for their respective rooms. After getting her everyday stuff unpacked, Gwen checked on her spider-costume and equipment, hidden under a false bottom in one of the cases, including the spider-tracer tracker that she had been able to repair in time before the journey. Satisfied that everything was in order, Gwen changed into a light-blue bathing suit, grabbed a towel, and picked up the tracker, before making her way up to the top of the hotel building. As she emerged onto the roof, she saw the top of the hotel gave a perfect view of the whole of Los Angeles, including the famous Hollywood Sign in the distance, sitting proudly on the southern slope of Mount Lee.
Switching on the tracker, Gwen began scanning the surrounding area with it, searching for any sign of the signal from her spider-tracer. As she slowly waved the device about and gazed with some awe at the tall skyscrapers dotted about the city, the tracker gave an enthusiastic series of beeps, indicating that the white Limousine that the tracer was stuck to was close by. That was a hopeful start to the search. Now, if Gwen could just work out the car's exact location and pattern of movement...
"Gwen, what's that?"
Gwen turned to see that Teresa, also dressed in a swimsuit, had come up onto the roof to join her, a curious expression on the young journalist's face as she regarded the device in Gwen's hand.
"Oh, this?" said Gwen innocently. "Well, it's a new phone I brought a few days ago. I just wanted to make sure it was picking up the mobile network okay."
"Oh really?" said Teresa, crossing her arms, evidently not fooled. "Doesn't look like any mobile I've seen in the shops."
Gwen grinned sheepishly, seeing that she would have to come clean. "Okay, you got me. To tell you the truth, this belongs to Spider-Woman. It picks up a signal from the homing device she had planted on that white Limousine I told you about."
"Are you getting a signal?" asked Teresa.
"Yeah, it has a range of fifteen miles. It should take us right to them."
Teresa looked at her new friend thoughtfully, as a crazy idea began to form in her mind. She remembered how Spider-Woman had turned up so quickly after the break-in at Gwen's apartment; she considered the way the masked webhead had disclosed the information to the young scientist; and now she had found out that Gwen had been trusted with Spider-Woman's tracking device. If she did not know better, it all seemed to suggest...
"Gwen, are you Spider-Woman?"
For a moment, Gwen stared at her, then burst out laughing. "Me, Spider-Woman? Do I look like the kind of girl who could run up and down the side of a building?"
Now it was Teresa's turn to laugh, and once they both started chuckling, it was hard for either of them to stop.
"No, of course not!" chuckled Teresa at last, as they both managed to calm themselves. "I don't know what got into me. But you do reckon she is here in L.A., don't you?"
"As a matter of fact, she's a lot closer to you than you'd expect," said Gwen cryptically, as she put the tracker away and they began to head to the pool.
TO BE CONTINUED!