Spider Quinn 19 Making the News Amidst the Storms Part 7

 

It was still a half hour before the Friday night show would start when Anders saw Fields arrive. She went up to her. “One of the assistants will show you the way to the dressing room,” she said.

 

“Thanks,” Fields responded quietly.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“As much as I can be. Like, Osborn, you, I and that assistant will know that this is fake.”

 

“And my producer,” Anders added.

 

“Right. It might get out.”

 

“Not any time soon, I don’t think.”

 

 

In the dressing room, Fields quickly changed into the fake SpiderGirl suit. She pondered again what would happen again as she looked at herself in the mirror. “You’ve got this, Fields,” she murmured.

 

 

Anders was ready as the show started. “Good Evening, People of Lawndale and surrounding towns. It has been a crazy few months, hasn’t it. Tonight, I’ll be talking to one of the people involved in those events.”

 

 

Norman Osborn was watching. “She’s doing it,” he murmured.

 

 

“Half an hour to the play,” Daria said as she finished dinner in the café.

 

“Thinking of something?” Jane asked.

 

“Just a feeling that something is going to happen.”

 

“It could be paranoia.”

 

“Probably, but I can’t rule it out,” Daria said. “It could be Anders.”

 

“But you can’t let that distract you from the play tonight.”

 

“Oh, it won’t. But I hope that whatever that interview is won’t cause problems.”

 

“Same here,” Jane said.

 

 

Quinn was also in the café, with Stacy and Tori. “What do you think Anders will say?” Quinn asked.

 

“I’m not sure. But something is certainly up,” Tori answered.

 

“But It can’t be anything serious, right?” Stacy asked.

 

“Whatever it is, it will be a surprise,” Quinn said.

 

 

Anders show had gone to break and Fields as the fake SpiderGirl sat on an interview couch.

 

“We’ll be back in 30 seconds,” Anders producer said.

 

Anders nodded. “Are you ready?”

 

“As I’ll ever be,” Fields responded.

 

“You’ll do fine.”

 

 

“And now the moment you been waiting for, an interview with SpiderGirl!”

 

“Quinn? Are you OK?” Stacy asked.

 

Quinn shook her head. She hadn’t really expected a fake SpiderGirl. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just a little shock at SpiderGirl apparently agreeing to an interview. I’m not sure it’s the real one.”

 

“I haven’t really interacted with her,” Stacy said.

 

“Neither have I,” Tori said.

 

“Anna has,” Quinn said. But then she remembered that she had gone home after the tutoring session.

 

“What inspired you to fight crime in Lawndale?” Anders asked.

 

‘A loss and an inspiration,’ Quinn thought.

 

“Something happened after I gained my powers and I felt that I needed to use them to help Lawndale.”

 

“That sounds right,” Tori said.

 

“But something’s off,” Quinn said.

 

 

Peterson knew it wasn’t the real SpiderGirl. It didn’t sound much like her for one. ‘If Quinn Morgendorffer is SpiderGIrl, it’s not her beneath that particular mask.’ But still she didn’t have proof. She was off duty, she could go the Historia during the play’s intermission. ‘See if Quinn’s there.’

 

 

“It is known that you partner with Ninja Talon, but what is your opinion of the other three vigilantes?” Anders asked.

 

“The Shadow is too elusive. We work together sometimes, but she’s cold and no-nonsense. I find the fourth vigilante full of herself and arrogant. Dafoanairi still too inexperienced.”

 

“Interesting,” Anders commented.

 

 

Quinn was more annoyed. ‘That’s not helpful at all. Dafoanairi isn’t that inexperienced and I don’t think the Enigma is arrogant.’

 

“That does sound off,” Tori said.

 

“And she’s anxious,” Stacy said. “All the reports of SpiderGirl agree that she’s confident.”

 

Tori looked at Stacy.

 

“I know when someone’s anxious,” Stacy said.

 

“Yeah, it’s definitely not the real SpiderGirl!” Quinn said with annoyance. She turned to Tori. “I think people need to know.”

 

Tori nodded. “I’ll call the others.”

 

 

Osborn watched as Anders completed the interview and then went to a commercial break. He then called the studio. “This is Norman Osborn. I want to talk to Lynn Anders.”

 

“It’s still in the middle of her show.”

 

“Then repeat some of the ads.”

 

“Yes, Mr. Osborn.”

 

 

“Phone call for you from Mr. Osborn,” the assistant said a after she had led Fields back to the dressing room.

 

“I still have a show to present! I guess he asked for the ad break to be extended?”

 

The assistant nodded.

 

“I’ll talk to him.”

 

 

“The interview has been conducted, but I’m sure that it’s made getting the real SpiderGirl more difficult!”

 

“You both did well. It will have the people of Lawndale questioning the vigilantes and their motives more.”

 

“They’re not going to forget how they helped on Groundhog Day.”

 

“I’m sure that you’re aware that narrative can be spun. People can be fickle.”

 

“I still want to interview SpiderGirl as she is now, not as a disgraced version of her!’

 

“She’s not going to be disgraced, don’t worry.”

 

“I think I’m still going to. I need to get back now.”

 

“Evening Ms. Anders.”

 

 

Having changed out of the faux SpiderGirl suit, Fields looked at herself in the mirror. “What have I done?” she asked herself. “Made Lawndale more chaotic?” She looked at herself in the eye and felt ashamed. She breathed heavily.

 

Anders was involved in her next segment as she left the changing room. ‘I’ll wait until the next break,’ she said.

 

 

Nadia Blackwood knew something was up. Something had felt off about SpiderGirl. “Tori for you,” her mother said as she entered the lounge room with the cordless phone.

 

“Thanks,” Nadia said.

 

“Nadia?” Tori asked.

 

“Hi, Tori,” Nadia said. “I thought you were watching the play again.”

 

“I am, but it is yet to start. This is about Anders’ interview.”

 

“You think something is off too?”

 

“Quinn and Stacy agree. In fact, Quinn thinks it’s a fake,” Tori responded.

 

“A fake? Now that I think about it…”

 

“Exactly. Like, why would SpiderGirl suddenly give an interview?”

 

“I’m not watching Anders anymore,” Nadia decided.

 

“That’s not enough.”

 

“You want me to tell others?”

 

“Quinn as well,” Tori said.

 

“I’ll do it!”

 

 

After Tori called Nadia, Quinn went to find Daria.

 

Daria was already getting ready for the evening’s show. “Quinn?”

 

“I was watching Lynn Anders’ show. They had an interview with SpiderGirl, but I don’t think it was the real SpiderGirl.”

 

Daria looked surprised. “I didn’t think she would go that far. But I would have to watch the show myself to be sure.” She shook her head. “I’ll investigate with the fourth vigilante later. The play’s the priority.”

 

“Of course,” Quinn said. ‘But now I’m more sure that she’s Dafoanairi.’

 

 

Again, the tickets were sold out and the theater was full of people of all ages eager to see Daria’s take on Shakespeare.

 

As the play started, the suspicion of Lynn Anders having faked the interview with SpiderGirl spread as various Lawndale High students who weren’t at the play called each other, starting with Nadia and the others Tori called, and spreading from there.

 

 

Sandi was about to perform another search when she received such a call. She grabbed the energy drink, but then her cell phone rang, almost causing her to drop it. “Ugh! Who?” she asked as she answered.

 

“Hi, Sandi!”

 

“Julia?” Sandi asked. She wasn’t sure why Julia Barbero would be calling her.

 

“Did you see Lynn Anders tonight?”

 

“Not tonight. Like, I don’t watch her every night. I’ve had enough of her latest fixation.”

 

“That’s why I’m calling,” Julia said.

 

“Oh?”

 

“She had an interview with SpiderGirl, but it wasn’t the real SpiderGirl.”

 

“She faked an interview with SpiderGirl?” Sandi asked in surprise.

 

“Yes. Apparently, someone found something off about the interview, and started this string of calls.”

 

“I see. I guess I’ll call a few.”

 

“I’ll be calling Kristen Leung-Bell next,” Julia said.

 

“Got it. I’ll call someone else.”

 

 

After Julia hung up, Sandi looked at the photo of the person she was about to search for. “I’ll search for you. Make sure you’re not at the play.” She grabbed the energy drink again and downed it. “Findu mann sem heiter: Lara Edgars!”

 

She found Lara at her place on Howard Drive, not far from the Lanes, on the phone, talking to someone.

 

“Twenty seven down. But maybe she already knows.” She then grabbed her contact book.

 

 

Fields arrived back at Osborn’s hospital room, half an hour after she had left the studio. She tossed the bag containing the fake suit to the end of the hospital bed. “It’s done,” she said quietly.

 

“I watched it,” Norman said. “You did well, although you should have been more confident.”

 

“I feel like I have betrayed the trust of the people of Lawndale.”

 

“You haven’t. You have given something to think about.”

 

“Or talk about,” Fields said.

 

“That too. You have done nothing to be ashamed about.”

 

“But I still feel that way.”

 

 

As the evening went on, the students of Lawndale High who weren’t at the play called each other and talked about Lynn Anders and the fake SpiderGirl. As the play went into intermission, the Historia was filled with the discussion about it.

 

 

Quinn and Brittany emerged onto the roof.

 

“So, it’s true?” Brittany asked.

 

“Yes, Anders interviewed a fake SpiderGirl!” Quinn answered vehemently. “I didn’t expect that! Osborn must have put her up to it somehow!”

 

“It’s not right!” Brittany said. “What if it’s a fake Ninja Talon next? But what are you doing about it?”

 

“Tori is calling around. I guess most teens in Lawndale know by now. She said that most are in disbelief.”

 

“That’s a good start.”

 

“And after the play I’ll pay a visit to her mom, as SpiderGirl,” Quinn said. “Give my own, limited interview.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Not much choice, but I’ll be careful in what I say. I’ll also talk to Daria again. She’ll have more ideas.”

 

“I’ll probably come to, but I’ll probably need to talk with Andrea as well.”

 

 

At the same time, Daria had called Sandi.

 

“Like, it’s totally wrong.”

 

“Exactly,” Daria said. “I’d like to see the interview for myself, given that we have seen SpiderGirl in action.”

 

“You want to see if someone taped the interview?” Sandi asked.

 

“Yes. And Get in touch with Peterson, given that she’s often seen SpiderGirl. But she may come here first.”

 

“What about others?”

 

“I can’t involve William, given the condition he was in,” Daria responded.

 

“That’s true, but there are others.”

 

“Like the owner of the solarium. But I’ll wait for tomorrow to try to get in touch with him. In the meantime, continue calling. Someone may have taped the interview. I’ll see if anyone here had programmed their VCR to tape it while they were here.”

 

“That’s a good idea,” Sandi said. “I shall do that.”

 

 

Peterson arrived at the Historia and saw Quinn and Brittany enter the lobby from the stairwell and Daria from the café.

 

“Evening Peterson,” Quinn said.

 

“Hi, Quinn, Daria, Brittany. I’m sure you are aware of Anders’ interview?”

 

“We we’re just talking about it,” Quinn said, indicating Brittany.

 

She looked at Daria. “I’m certain that it is a fake SpiderGirl.”

 

“I agree. I’m trying to get a hold of video footage to have a look at it myself,” Daria said.

 

“We need to talk about it.”

 

“Sure, but the play is about to resume,” Daria said.

 

“Of course,” Peterson said. “I’ll wait.”

 

 

As the play resumed. Sandi called other students again, asking if they had taped the interview.

 

“I haven’t,” Phillippa Bynon answered. “But maybe you could try the members of the AV Club.”

 

“Oh, why didn’t I think of that?” Sandi asked rhetorically in an annoyed tone as she grabbed the yearbook again.

 

“You just didn’t think about it?” Philippa asked with a chuckle.

 

“Probably,” Sandi considered. “Here they are. Edward Mayer, Samara Collins, Natalie Grey…”

 

“That’s enough, I’ll try Samara,” Philippa interrupted.

 

“Are you sure?” Sandi asked.

 

“Yes. I can look in my own yearbook.”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

“Let’s see, Edward Mayer…” Sandi considered. “I think he’s that Head guy,” she murmured as she looked through her contact book. His number wasn’t there. But Natalie Grey’s was.

 

 

Natalie Grey had already received several calls about the fake SpiderGirl. She was tired, thus she sighed when her mother handed her the corded phone again. “It’s really blowing up isn’t it?” she asked.

 

“Yes!” Natalie said. She waited for her mother to leave the room before answering. “I know about the fake SpiderGirl!”

 

“Good,” Sandi said. “Because this is related.”

 

“How?”

 

“You’re in the AV Club, right?”

 

“Yes,” Natalie asked. ‘What is Sandi up to?’

 

“I’m, Like, wondering if you or someone else had taped the interview?”

 

“I didn’t, unfortunately. You want to use it as evidence.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Ed probably did.”

 

 

Sandi hung up and looked at the students in the AV Club again. “May as well get Ed out of the way.”

 

It turned out that Ed was at the play. ‘I’ll call him later, then, or maybe Daria will.’

 

 

Samara Collins was reading when the phone called.

 

“It’s for you,” her mother said.

 

“Who is it?” she asked.

 

“Someone named Philippa.”

 

“Phillipa Bynon?” she asked herself. “I’ll talk to her.”

 

 

“…Yes, I did record it. I was sure that whatever her big interview was would be important. Like I didn’t think it was a fake SpiderGirl at first, but once others told me. But why do you want tit?”

 

“It’s not me, it was Sandi Griffin,” Phillipa said. “And probably Daria Morgendorffer.”

 

“I know that Daria has been investigating what’s going on. I’ll call Sandi and then head to the Historia with the tape and give it to Daria as soon as tonight’s performance is finished.”

Church notes - 16th November 2025

 16th

Romans 12:3 - 8

Gifts

Should you be worried? 

Joy

Vs. Danger

vs 3

The gifts are given because of the grace and love of God.

Don't be egotistical or prideful because of them.

vs 4, 5

Don't covet others' gifts.

Faithfully excercise our gifts in a way that points to Jesus.

vs 6

We can grow in our giftings.

vs 7 - 8

Attitudes and mindsets.

Use the giftings cheerfully. Being grumpy about it isn't effective.

Our relationship with Jesus is important.

When and Where

If you love Jesus, it works.

Spider Quinn 19 Making the News Amidst the Storms Part 6

 

After talking to Quinn, Brittany decided to seek out Andrea before lunch ended. ‘It’s barely a week since the last time she helped,’ she thought as she left the library and looked around the courtyard. ‘But is she in the cafeteria?’ she wondered.

 

 

Brittany entered the cafeteria and saw Daria, Sandi and Jane in a discussion about the robo-dactyl. ‘They’re just speculating,’ she thought as she looked around. She then saw Andrea with Jennifer Burns and Dewey Rodgers.

 

 

Andrea saw Brittany come over. “Hi Brit,” she said with a low voice. “You want to talk about something?”

 

“Yes, by yourself,” Brittany answered in a serious tone.

 

“Is it to do with yesterday afternoon?” Andrea asked carefully.

 

Brittany nodded.

 

“I’ll head to the Historia as soon as school lets out.”

 

“I’ll see you there.”

 

 

“What was that about?” Jennifer asked quietly after Brittany had gone.

 

“Something,” Andrea answered. ‘But I can guess. Something to do with the security footage of the robo-dactyl no doubt.’

 

“She wants you to find something?” Dewey asked.

 

“Maybe, but I wouldn’t spread that around,” Andrea said.

 

“Of course not,” Jennifer said.

 

 

The rest of the school day passed without incident. Quinn emerged onto the roof and saw that Daria and Sandi were up there. “Oh, Jane isn’t here?” she asked.

 

“She wanted to talk to Ms. Dafoe about something,” Daria answered.

 

“Right.”

 

“Did you want to talk about something?”

 

“I did have some curiosity about her streetscape project, but that can wait,” Quinn answered. That wasn’t a lie. She did have some curiosity about it. But it wasn’t her focus.

 

“You want to talk about the robo-dacyl?” Daria asked.

 

“Like, do you think more such robots would appear?”

 

“If one did, more might follow.”

 

 

Sandi listened as Daria and Quinn talked about possible events. ‘But what is Quinn doing anyway?’ she wondered. She shook her head, she didn’t want to know! She knew Quinn was heavily involved in the Historia and tutoring and occasionally investigating. “Don’t you have Anna and the others?” she asked.

 

“I do, but I’m meeting them at the Historia in half an hour,” Quinn answered. “I better be going,” she added to Daria.

 

“I’ll see you later.”

 

 

Daria waited until she was sure that Quinn had gone down to the ground floor. “You said at lunch that you had some ideas about keeping an eye on Anders.”

 

“Given that Mother is the director of marketing for the station, she could do some digging.”

 

“But is that the right thing to do?”

 

“Probably not, but you know me, antihero,” Sandi responded.

 

“That’s true, but I still have reservations,” Daria said as she looked towards the main Oscorp building in the distance. “Even if Osborn is somehow involved.”

 

“All the more reason. Harry says that even though he’s supposed to be resting, his father has been talking to a lot of people,” Sandi responded.

 

“Go ahead,” Daria said in a resigned tone. She spun around and grabbed a staff from where she had stashed it next to the water tank shack. “I’ll be patrolling for an hour or so.”

 

Sandi tied her hair up. “So will I.”

 

 

Brittany entered the Historia café and saw Andrea talking to Stacy at the counter. She sat at a nearby table and waited by reading the café’s copy of the Sun-Herald.

 

It wasn’t long before Andrea joined her. “I can guess what you and SpiderGirl want this time. Something to do with the robot pterodactyl, right?”

 

“Yes, to find the person controlling it using the Mall’s security footage,” Brittany answered quietly.

 

“I still have similar difficulties to last week,” Andrea responded. “I doubt Scott Ashworth is going to let me use his college account again.”

 

“That’s a good point.”

 

“But there are still the others who have siblings at Lawndale State, if you want me to try. It may be more difficult if they are elusive this weekend.”

 

“They could be at the play tonight or tomorrow,” Brittany pointed out.

 

“But I only want to watch it once. I guess I’ll watch it tonight.”

 

“That will be good.”

 

“But how are you coping?” Andrea asked.

 

“Daria modified the script.”

 

“That makes sense.”

 

 

Dafoanairi arrived on the top of the Historia and took out her binoculars. She had found that relying on just her usual glasses corrected vision wasn’t enough when it came to spotting something that shouldn’t happen on the streets below. She soon saw something. A young man was trying to throw a rope between two rooftops two streets to the north. ‘That’s definitely something I need to investigate.’

 

 

It took Dafoanairi less than five minutes to arrive on the scene. “Let’s see here, someone doing what they shouldn’t?” she asked rhetorically.

 

“It isn’t what it looks like, whoever you are!”

 

“Dafoanairi. The Snarky Fifth Vigilante Hero. I’d say it is what it looks like, trying to evade the police and hoping that Lawndale’s heroes will not notice?”

 

“You’re not SpiderGirl, but I’m not doing anything wrong,” the man said as he managed to lasso an antenna on the other side.

 

“Oh no?”

 

“I’m not breaking and entering if that’s what you’re worried about.”

 

“You expect me to take your word for that?” Dafaonairi asked.

 

“I’m trying to do something Lynn Anders did a while ago.”

 

“You mean she walked on a tight rope between buildings? But her stunts are obviously staged.”

 

“No they’re not!” the young man argued.

 

“Yes, they are. But I don’t want to be arguing while something else might be going on, like, I don’t know, robotic reptiles running amuck.”

 

“You’re trying to distract me while another vigilante comes along.”

 

“No,” Dafoanairi said. “I often patrol alone, and you don’t want to be with the fourth vigilante instead of me.”

 

The man then stepped on the rope.

 

“No!” Dafoanairi said. She steeled herself to follow him.

 

 

It started out well at first, but there was a gust of wind and the he started tumbling. ‘Uh oh!’

 

Dafoanairi then grabbed him with one hand while she used the quarterstaff for balance in the other. “See!” she said.

 

“I see your point,” he said he tottered.

 

“Crap!” Dafoanairi said as she leaned back towards the roof. “Now, carefully walk back.”

 

“I guess you don’t have powers.”

 

“You guess correctly. I’m doing this through pure guile! But someone has to do it.”

 

The man then made a misstep and fell, but Dafoanairi fell back on the roof.

 

 

It was precarious and Dafoanairi’s arm was aching. “Right, climb up.”

 

“There’s an eave!”

 

Dafoanairi still had a hold of the quarterstaff. She swung it so that it also hung down. “Grab a hold of the staff!”

 

He complied.

 

 

Less than a minute later, they were both standing on the rooftop. “Thanks, Dafoanairi. I was stupid.”

 

“Par for the course in Lawndale.”

 

“You’re not from here are you?”

 

“I live here now, but I didn’t grow up here,” Dafoanairi answered. “Have you learned your lesson?”

 

The guy was sheepish. “Don’t copy Lynn Anders.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

 

Dafoanairi waited for the man to climb down and rubbed her arms. “I’m lucky I didn’t fall down as well. I won’t tell the Engima.” She looked at the time. Still less than half an hour after she had left the school. ‘I can observe downtown Lawndale from here.’

 

 

At the same time the Enigma was down near the creek, near the dock when she heard a cry for help. “Where?” she asked herself as she ran in the direction the call was coming from.

 

 

She found a fellow Lawndale High student stuck high up in the tree. ‘It looks like Sally Anne Garfield,’ she thought. She didn’t really know her, just that she looked sad most of the time. “I’m here,” she said as she came alongside the trunk.

 

“Who is it?” she asked.

 

“The fourth vigilante.”

 

“Oh! I thought it was the Shadow or Dafoanairi.”

 

“Dafoanairi doesn’t have powers, and I don’t think the Shadow does either. But I do,” the Enigma said. “I’m coming up there.”

 

It took her a couple of minutes to climb up to where Sally Anne was.

 

 

Sally Anne looked at the purple clad superhero. “But you do have a moniker, right?”

 

“Yes, I just like letting my actions speak for me, rather than overhype myself like SpiderGirl. Call me the Enigma.”

 

“The Enigma,” Sally Anne considered. “One who’s figuring herself out.”

 

“Yes. Now, how to get you down?”

 

“You have no idea?”

 

“There are a few ways I can do it, but my powers can be tricky. I still need to develop the fine control I know my mentor has,” the Enigma admitted.

 

Sally Anne tried to take her mind off the precarious situation she was in. “A mentor?” she asked.

 

“They’re a retired hero, that’s all I’ll say.”

 

“Right.”

 

 

The Enigma closed her eyes to focus on the branch that Sally Anne was sitting on.

 

“You’re closing your eyes, up here?”

 

“Part of my powers is an enhanced perception. Closing my eyes helps me focus on it,” she said. She didn’t want to explain the synesthetic aspect of it, that involved colors and ribbons in her vision.

 

“Oh right.”

 

‘The branch will hold for a short while longer,’ the Enigma thought. She opened her eyes and looked at Sally Anne in hers. “Right. I like, have ropes, I can tie it around the trunk here and lower you down that way.”

 

“Give it a try.”

 

“Or I can use my telekinesis to lift you off the branch and down to where I am.”

 

“Telekinesis?” Sally Anne asked incredulously.

 

“Yes,” the Enigma said as she snapped a twig near Sally Anne with that power.

 

“That’s impressive.”

 

The Enigma nodded.

 

“Let’s try the ropes first,” Sally Anne said.

 

“Sure.”

 

 

The Enigma tied two ropes around the branch on either side of the Sally Anne.

 

“Done. Try to climb down. I’ll be ready to grab you if you slip.”

 

Sally Anne looked at the rope in front of her and grabbed onto it with one hand.

 

“Now, try to move down slowly.”

 

Sally Anne wasn’t sure. She gripped the rope tightly and closed her eyes.

 

“It’s better to look,” the Enigma admonished.

 

“Alright!” Sally Anne said as she opened her eyes with tears.

 

“Sorry, I can be blunt. Now try to move so that you swing down and move your legs around the rope.”

 

“Really?”

 

“I’m ready to catch you, remember,” the Enigma said.

 

“OK!”

 

 

Sally Anne then did as the Enigma suggested. She swung and slipped on the rope but she managed to grab the rope with her legs and found herself next to the Enigma. She looked into her green eyes and saw determination. ‘One has to be determined to be a superhero,’ she thought. She knew that her own eyes wouldn’t show anything similar.

 

“See, that was easy.”

 

“You call that easy?”

 

“Compared to other things I had to do, yes,” the Enigma answered.

 

“I guess so,” Sally Anne said as she looked down. The rest of the way didn’t seem that difficult, but she looked in the Enigma’s eyes again. “Watch me climb down further.”

 

“I shall.”

 

 

A few minutes later, both of them were back on the ground.

 

Sally Anne breathed deeply. “Thanks.”

 

“You’re OK?” the Enigma asked.

 

“As well as I usually am. I just chose the wrong tree to climb.”

 

“You usually climb trees?”

 

“It’s a way to escape,” Sally Anne admitted. “I wanted to get away from the situation in Lawndale for a few moments.”

 

“The town’s certainly troubled. But there’s hope.”

 

“But Lynn Anders?”

 

The Enigma sighed. “She wants to unmask us, I’m sure of it.”

 

“I hope she doesn’t succeed.”

 

 

At the Historia, Quinn could tell that Gerald was slowly improving. “You’re doing well,” she praised after he had read out information on Titan.

 

“Thanks,” Gerald responded. “But it can be difficult.”

 

“No doubt about that.”

 

She then turned to Anna, but the she saw Brittany enter the bookstore and wave. “Wait a moment,” Quinn said.

 

“Sure,” Anna said.

 

 

Quinn and Brittany slipped over to the staircase upwards. “Is there something else happening? Another robo-dactyl?” Quinn asked.

 

“No, I was having a coffee in the café, when an ad for Lynn Anders’ show for tonight came on,” Brittany answered. “It said that there may be a special interview.”

 

“There’s no way she’ll interview SpiderGirl, as I’ll be here helping with the play.”

 

“But she’s certainly planning something,” Brittany said as she twirled a pigtail.

 

“More pressuring of the public? Or maybe interviewing Osborn! He could reveal the Enigma’s identity!”

 

“I don’t think that’s it.”

 

“No, I was just going to an extreme there,” Quinn said. “But there’s a lot she or Osborn could do to make life more difficult for us.”

 

“I agree.”

 

“But we’ll have see what Anders will say.”

 

Brittany nodded.

 

 

Quinn returned to the bookstore. “Something up?” Anna asked, after she had closed the door.

 

“Brittany wanted to talk about something,” Quinn answered.

 

“Important?” Anna asked.

 

“You could say that,” Quinn answered enigmatically.

 

‘There’s something there,’ Anna thought.

 

“OK, you can tell us about the shamrock,” Quinn said.

 

“I’d like to know more,” Ben said.

 

“I know you do,” Anna said as she picked up her notes. “As you know, St. Patricks Day is two weeks away…”

 

 

Fields arrived at the studio with trepidation. She had gone over the script that Osborn had given her a few times. It seemed to be on the level. There didn’t appear to be anything that would incite anyone to think it had been faked. ‘Only SpiderGirl and possibly the other vigilantes,’ she thought, repeating what he had told Anders that morning. ‘But I am doing this under protest. I’m not sure it’s good for Lawndale, as much as Oscorp overall isn’t.’