Chapter 23 [Daily Bugle]
The Bullpen buzzed at a fever pitch. The Met's situation combined with the two bombings pressed for answers. Photos screamed "STORY!" at the top of their lungs. Phone calls went out to Police Headquarters, the museum and three certain residences seeking answers.
Such as it was….
Betty leaned forward at her desk. Worry and Concern ate at her thoughts. Where are you, Peter? Surely, there's someone who knows? Her fingers tapped on the old desk. She finally hung up the phone. "Still no answer." She shook her head. Thankfully, Ned's not here. He'd be angry over how worried I am about Peter, Gwen and her Dad! I hope Harry Osborn's okay!
"Still nothing?" Ulrich exhaled a deep breath. His frown twisted at the sides of his mouth. Stress accentuated wrinkles and lines. Self-Recriminations burned in his craw. I accused the kid of not caring about a story. I thought that deal at the Met was just fluff. Maybe he was onto something in the woods after all? The apartment gets bombed hours after those photos hit the streets? Then the Stacy house? "That Bannon kid's still dragging his heels? For the love of…!" He stopped his exclamation midway.
"Nothing. Sorry Ben." She rubbed her forehead. "I mean Captain Stacy, Gwen and Peter are missing. Robbie and Mr. Jameson are pushing for details. Mr. Osborn's in with them right now. Please tell me you have something…"
Ulrich shrugged. "The apartment building's rubble. That block took a major hit. The FDNY's working with the gas company to put the fire out. Maye's up at the Stacy House." He shook his head. His finger tapped on the morning's front page. "This stinks. Get this…witnesses say that Spider-Man was scrambling to get away from the scene. He got thrown by the explosion. Then it gets really wild. They claim somebody on a flying carpet rescued him!" His eyes rolled.
"This is New York. Who knows? There are enough superheroes out there and…." She jumped out of her chair. "Look!" She pointed to the trio emerging from the elevator. "That's Gwen's Dad now! Who's he with?"
"That's Lex Luthor! Last I heard he was in some nowhere town somewhere with the wheat." Ulrich noted Stacy guiding Lex and Chloe toward them. "Call me back over if they want to talk. Jameson and Robbie will want this first. Meantime I need a smoke." He hustled back toward his desk.
"Mr. Stacy! What a relief to see you! Please tell me Gwen and Peter are all right!" Betty implored.
Eyes turned toward them. Interest perked up. Pens scratched notes on pads all around. Recorders snapped on.
"Gwen's fine. She's with Lieutenant deWolff. I can't say more about the Parkers. Peter's still missing. His aunt is on her way to the hospital. Are either Jameson or Joe in please?"
"Of course!" She grabbed her phone. "Mr. Jameson? I know you're in a meeting with Mr. Osborn but Mr. Stacy's here. He has Lex Luthor and another young lady with him as well." She listened.
"WHAT? OF COURSE I'LL SEE THEM! OSBORN AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!" Jameson bellowed over the phone.
Betty held the phone away from her ear. A grimace pursed her lips akin to a sour apple. "He'll…see you."
The office door slammed open. Jameson stormed into view. His hair stood more on end than usual. Mania flared in his eyes. The Cuban in his mouth puffed Help signals from his teeth's abuse. "STACY! GET IN HERE! WHAT THE HELL'S LUTHOR DOING HERE?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Sullivan and Mr. Luthor. Follow me." Stacy led them toward the open office. "Please don't yell, Jameson." He rasped out a terse breath. His cane tapped Impatience's code across the floor. Questions as to Gwen and Aunt May pressed him. Lex's agenda and the connections to the Kents and their friends ate at him. Arighatto's threats and presence hung over his head as well.
Chloe surveyed the bullpen. "I can't believe we're here. I know…It's just…." She put her hands up to deflect criticism.
Lex nodded. "Daily Bugle's one of the country's big newspapers, Chloe. Maybe some day you can get back here?" He understood that she knew the stakes. They followed Stacy toward the open door. "Haven't given yourself a heartache yet, Jameson?"
"HRUMPH! Still riding your father's coattails, Luthor? I'd expect as much…" Jameson started.
The Smirk spread across Lex's face. "I'd almost give you an extra star for that response. Sorry but we need some answers. In your office. Norman will vouch for me." He took Chloe's hand and marched her right past Jameson and into his office.
"NOW LOOK YOU…!" Jameson threw his hands up. He turned on his staff. "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? GET BACK TO WORK! THIS ISN'T A SOCIAL CLUB!" He marched back into his office and slammed the door behind himself.
Some things never changed….
"Mr. Stacy?" Robbie jumped to his feet. "We heard about your house! I'm sorry…."
"Thank you, Joe. It's a shame. Commissioner deWolff knows I'm here. Gwen's with Lieutenant deWolff. They were following May Parker's ambulance. It is a good thing she was talking to Gwen. She had some kind of attack."
"Terrible thing, Stacy." A well-built man with short red hair shook his head. Irritation glinted in his eyes. "Lex? It's been a while. How are you involved in this?" He extended his hand.
"I'm in New York on business. Captain Stacy and I have some matters to discuss. Chloe and I were at his house for a meeting this morning. Good thing we were early." Lex shook the offered hand. "By the way, Chloe Sullivan, this is Norman Osborn, he runs OsCorp. He also owns Peter's apartment. Harry okay?"
"Harry was with me fortunately. He's a wreck about Peter and Gwen. His girlfriend's promised to let us know if anyone shows up downtown at her hospital." Osborn regarded the newspaper. "I never figured Hansei Arighatto to be like this. I knew he was a world class martial arts champion. But the demon?"
Lex shrugged. "It's real not a mask, Norman. Look at the pictures. You think he sets his arm on fire like that? You ever been in the Tokyo or Shanghai offices?"
"Offices?" Jameson stalked across the room. "Luthor! What the Hell are you…?"
Osborn put his hand up. "He's right. Arighatto's into spiritualism and different myths. Wait. I remember something between your father and him, Lex." Irony sparked in his eye. "Stuart Dubois ring any bells?"
"Stuart…? Is he…?" Chloe interjected.
"Her grandfather, Chloe. Not a nice person." Lex frowned. He held his right hand up. "Like the scar?"
Osborn raised an eyebrow. "Yes. The ghost. I was at Janet's funeral too, Lex. I remember. That is why Arighatto took the girl. He craves that darkness. Pity that he killed your friend."
"Maybe…maybe not. We buried the family. Dave's body was never found. But the same deal…a gas explosion or a bomb. The house blows up. The police took about a dozen ninjas into custody. If you want to ask about that, Agents Petersen and Singleton of the FBI have been over at the Met guarding the katana until last night. Petersen's in charge of Miranda's case."
"Wait." Robbie raised his hand. "Miranda Dubois? The missing girl from Scituate, Mass? She's been missing for twelve years!"
"She's been in Smallville all along." Lex sucked in a deep breath. "I missed it too when I hired her. Incredible. She showed up a few months later in town. Anyhow, same motive, same method."
"Arighatto's an internationally known businessman, Lex. That would be a challenge to make stick." A spasm shook Osborn's shoulders. A sharp breath rasped in his throat and mouth.
"He threatened Peter Parker in front of my home last night. Then, after Peter put the pictures there, his apartment blows up? My house blows up?" Stacy demanded.
"And that's after he threatened Chloe and me on the phone this morning. Listen to him, Norman. And don't trust my father either." Lex stifled a cough with his hand.
"You mean that plane crash yesterday? Nothing at the site. Ask Ben Ulrich. He's sitting outside." Robbie wadded down tobacco into his pipe and lit it. "Maybe Captain Stacy can get the Commissioner or Lieutenant deWolff to get a warrant on those phone records? Be careful, Mr. Luthor. You have no proof."
"Toxicology showed poison in the pilot's corpse. Beyond that, the NYPD hasn't released any findings." Stacy raised an eyebrow at Lex. "You suspect a link to your own plane crash? That could be hard to prove, Mr. Luthor."
"Impossible I'd say! I'm not into printing anything without proof, Luthor!" Jameson insisted.
"There are those menace editorials." Chloe muttered to herself. She rubbed her forehead. Her eyes rolled at Jameson. "If I did anything like that, I'd be off my paper."
"Chloe's the editor for her high school paper, The Smallville High Torch. You should look it up online. It is good reading for a high school paper." Lex considered the paper. "I'd say Spider-Man saved two FBI agents, two professors, a visiting foreign Princess and my friends too. That merits an attaboy not a 'menace' label."
"Hrmph! He and Arighatto were in cahoots! Maybe when you start writing for a real newspaper, Missy Miss…" Jameson snorted. Condescending puffs flew from his cigar.
"I did intern at the Daily Planet last summer. I had a chance to learn from them too. Felicity Travers is someone I really look up to." Chloe met Jameson's gaze with her own. "Sorry, Mr. Robertson. I like your editorials too. The one on the Garment District last month really was good reading."
"Thank you, Miss Sullivan." Robbie nodded. "I appreciate that. You read that out there in…I'm sorry…where are you? Smallville?"
"Smallville, Kansas, Mr. Robertson. I go to Smallville Regional High School. I'm going to be a junior next year." Chloe cleared her throat. "I know I'm junior league, but I still get some points in."
"She does. She actually got my father's attention. Arighatto threatened her over the phone this morning. Of course, Chloe had to keep going. After that, she's the one that connected Miranda to her family. The agents recognized her last night. Not bad. I don't recall you doing anything like that, Mr. Jameson. Too many editorials?"
Osborn shook his head. "You do know who you're talking to, Miss Sullivan?" Déjà vu reminded him of Gwen's outlook from her Standard High newspaper days.
"She's making a good point, Osborn. And she made a connection that nobody else did in years." Stacy rubbed his chin. "They connect Scituate with the Smallville move. We may have a serial killer on our hands. There are the rumors about his ties to organized crime along the Pacific Rim. Such things should be approached with caution." Respect garnered a slight nod for her benefit.
Betty knocked at the door. Then she opened it. "Excuse me, Everyone! We just heard from Lieutenant deWolff. Mrs. Parker's at Forest Hills Hospital. Gwen's there too! We're still waiting for word about Peter Parker."
Osborn turned to her. "Is there any news about May Parker? I know Peter would be very concerned about his aunt."
"Nothing yet. I'm sure they'll want to talk to Peter first before they release that information, Mr. Osborn. I'm sorry. I'll let you get back to your meeting." Betty closed the door.
"There you go, Stacy! Your daughter's safe! Parker's aunt's being looked at." Jameson shook his head. His mind connected the dots. He looked at Osborn.
"I've only met him a few times, Jameson. Lex knows him better than I do." Osborn turned to Lex.
"I've never worked with him. Now that I know that I never will either." Lex got up from his seat. "Mr. Stacy, do you wish to stay here or come with us? Chloe and I are heading for the hospital."
"I'll go with you. I hope Peter's all right. I imagine that Gwen's a wreck." Stacy efforted himself to his feet. "I'm sorry, Osborn, about your building. Give my best to Harry. Will you?"
"I'll do that. Thanks for those thoughts. Take care." Osborn offered a nod. "Did Gwen and you need a place to stay, Stacy? I would be happy to assist."
"I made a call already. Chloe, do you mind sharing a room with Gwen? Maybe Mr. Stacy and I can share a double with king-size beds? We can figure out everything else tonight." Lex looked to Stacy.
"That would be suitable. I don't know what Peter will do. I hope we find him." Stacy opened the door.
"We're keeping our eyes open, Stacy. Count on that. deWolff hears anything, he'll call." Jameson frowned.
"Let us know if Peter shows up or if there's word about his Aunt May. All right?" Robbie requested.
"I will." Stacy limped out of the office. He glanced back at Lex and Chloe. I suppose having friends like that is a good thing. We can talk in peace.
"Good seeing everyone again." Lex nodded. Then he turned and walked out of the office.
"Thank you, Everyone. Mr. Robertson, it's an honor. Nice meeting you, Mr. Osborn. Take care…." Chloe followed the others out of the office. Bile ate at her about Jameson to be honest. Still, her mind turned to other things.
Not everything was so nice in the newspaper world after all…