Spider Quinn 18 A Birthday and Stormy Sonnets Part 8

 

Officer Peterson was still on duty at the station. William was still in one of the cells, waiting for his parents to come with their part of the story, and for transport back to the hospital as a patient. She knew it was going to continue to be a mess.

 

“Call for you. It’s Helen Morgendorffer.”

 

‘Of course!’ she thought. Given what happened that morning she wasn’t surprised. ‘Too bad I couldn’t get a warrant before SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon tried their rescue. The situation at the Hospital would have been prevented.’ She took the handset. “Peterson here.”

 

“I’m calling about William Morris,” Helen began.

 

“He’s in protective custody, until he can be officially admitted to the hospital.”

 

“That’s good news, but what about his parents?”

 

“I haven’t been able to get in touch with them, which may mean that they’re on the way here,” Peterson answered.

 

“I expect that they will cause problems.”

 

“They might, but there are more officers on duty than usual.”

 

 

‘The situation has the LDPD spooked,’ Helen thought. She didn’t know what they would do. “I hope they’re level headed.”

 

“I’m sure they are, but most are worried about another Groundhog Day.”

 

“I hope that won’t happen again.”

 

“I do too. But I’ll let you know what happens.”

 

“Thank you for that. Bye.” She then turned to Daria and Quinn.

 

“What was it about his parents?” Quinn asked.

 

“They may be on the way to the station, but it seems there are many officers on duty,” Helen said.

 

“That’s good,” Quinn said.

 

“I hope so,” Daria said. “I also hope that there are many watching him.”

 

“I doubt the LDPD is corrupt in that way.”

 

 

At the same time, Jane arrived back at Casa Lane, where Jennifer was getting ready to leave. “Where have you been?” the latter asked, when Jane entered the kitchen.

 

“I was looking for clues, as I said.”

 

“You went after him, didn’t you?”

 

“Probably,” Jane admitted.

 

“Despite SpiderGirl’s warning?”

 

 “I guess so.”

 

“Reckless,” Jennifer commented.

 

“I know that, but you don’t know what it’s like being kidnapped by a maniac and then watching one of the other victims struggle with what she experienced…”

 

“With Beck? Have you sought professional help?”

 

“I talked to the FBI shrink on the day,” Jane said. “And I have talked to Trent. Not to Daria yet. I have mostly poured it into my artwork.”

 

“Oh.”

 

‘And I have been the Shadow a little more.’

 

“I’ve already said bye to Trent,” Jennifer said. “I need to get home before dinner.”

 

“See you another time, then.”

 

“I did learn some things from those maps.”

 

“Such as?” Jane asked.

 

“Lawndale’s layout is more complex than I thought it was.”

 

 

Jane found Trent in the kitchen. “How did it go, Janie?”

 

“I didn’t do anything. SpiderGirl came up with an idea and the situation got resolved.”

 

“That’s good, but that’s not it.”

 

“It seems like the fourth and fifth vigilantes are pushing the third out,” Jane answered quietly.

 

“That’s not true, Janie,” Trent said as he hugged his sister. “Lawndale still needs you.”

 

“I realise that,” Jane responded. “But sometimes I have doubts.”

 

“Everyone has doubts, Janie. You think I don’t have doubts about Spiral?”

 

“This is completely different!’

 

“No it isn’t,” Trent said. “And I’m sure that SpiderGirl and the others also have doubts about whether they are making a difference for Lawndale. And I remember, late last year when Mom started training you after SpiderGirl had appeared, that you were excited to make a difference.”

 

“I was,” Jane said. “And I’m not giving up. Just maybe, I don’t need to respond to every major thing that happens. Something like Groundhog Day, of course I’ll respond.”

 

“So, you’ll think before you leap?”

 

“Yes. But maybe I’ll need a partner, like SpiderGirl with Ninja Talon. But I know I don’t want to do that with the fourth vigilante.”

 

“That would leave Dafoanairi,” Trent said.

 

“Maybe,” Jane considered.

 

 

Peterson was at her desk when William’s parents came in. She went up to them. “William is fine,” she said.

 

“I want to see him,” his mother said. “Somehow the Morgendorffers told SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon.”

 

“Apparently, the news spread through the school like wildfire,” Peterson said.

 

“I still want to see him.”

 

“We’re having him admitted to the hospital.”

 

“Not without permission!” his father said.

 

“He’s been taken into custody we can do that. It’s the LDPD that will foot the bill. Besides, considering that you had him declared dead when he was still very much alive, you don’t have a leg to stand on. You can see him at the hospital.”

 

“That was to protect him from people like Norman Osborn!” Mrs. Morris said.

 

“I wouldn’t repeat that here,” Peterson said. “But you can still see him at the hospital.”

 

“We’re going to wait!”

 

Peterson turned and then rolled her eyes. ‘Of course they are!’ she thought in exasperation.

 

 

After the Morgendorffers had dinner, the phone rang. “Hello?” Helen said as she picked up the handset.

 

“William is now at the hospital,” Officer Peterson said. “There was no incident. His parents were patient. It seems that the wife has a calming influence on her husband.”

 

“That’s good news,” Helen said.

 

“And William is asking to see Daria. It’s probably to do with the poems.”

 

“I’ll put her on. It is up to her if she wants to see him.”

 

 

“I’m here, although Mom and Quinn are still here in the kitchen,” Daria said quietly.

 

“I wasn’t going to bring that part up, yet. Just, you don’t want to see him if you don’t want to.”

 

“I will see him. At least there’ll be some closure to the situation.”

 

“For you, maybe. But not for him,” Peterson said.

 

“Of course not for him. But I won’t be finding poems at my father’s grave anymore.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

 

“You are going to see him now?” Helen asked.

 

“It’s not too late,” Daria responded.

 

“Of course not,” Helen said.

 

“Just, be careful, OK?” Quinn said.

 

“Of course,” Daria responded.

 

 

Less than fifteen minutes later, Daria entered the hospital room to find William with his mother doting over him.

 

“Daria, is it?” Mrs. Morris asked.

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “I’m sorry for the shock that Quinn and I must have given you.”

 

“We didn’t realise that he had been sneaking out to the cemetery.”

 

“That still doesn’t excuse your husband threatening us with a gun. He’s lucky my mother has decided not to press charges.”

 

“Yes, Peterson gave him a long earful about that,” Mrs. Morris said. “I’ll be out in the hall.”

 

“Thanks,” Daria said before turning to William. “How are you holding up?”

 

“I’m fine. It’s all a blur from when SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon appeared in the basement until I reverted in Osborn’s room.”

 

“So, you didn’t see Dafoanairi and the fourth vigilante?”

 

“Only briefly,” William answered. “But I’m sure that’s not why you’re here.”

 

“No, I brought you some light reading,” Daria said as she handed over some books.

 

“Edgar Allen Poe? How is that light reading?”

 

“I figured ruminating on The Raven might give you a slightly different perspective. Besides, some of his detective stories are there too.”

 

“Are you sure you want to give me these?” William asked.

 

Daria shrugged. “I have additional copies, and various stores in Lawndale and Oakwood sell the others.”

 

“Thanks, actually I do remember some things. I did hurt Ninja Talon, and tried to push through the fourth vigilante’s forcefield. Why doesn’t she give out her name, I wonder?”

 

“She wants to lie low, I guess,” Daria said quietly. She was thankful for the low lighting that would hide any discomfort she might have shown.

 

“Probably.”

 

“Anyway, enjoy those books.”

 

“You’re leaving?” William asked.

 

“Shortly. Why did you want to see me?”

 

“I thought we could get to know each other.”

 

“No. It was still creepy, leaving those poems on my father’s grave,” Daria said with a slight annoyance showing in her voice that would otherwise be monotone.

 

“I guess not. I guess I’ll have to stick to being an anonymous pen friend. And no, that’s not online, actual letters.”

 

“Almost the same thing, but at least handwriting shows more character.”

 

“We could keep meeting like this, trade barbs,” William suggested.

 

“Sorry, I have Jane, and now Sandi, for that.”

 

“What about Quinn? You two seem pretty close.”

 

“It wasn’t always like that,” Daria admitted.

 

“I guess losing your father brought you closer.”

 

“Yes. But I’m going now.”

 

“Oh!” William said, in a disappointed tone.

 

“I’m sure you’ll remember me.”

 

“I will.”

 

 

Daria emerged from the room to find William’s mother waiting. “How was it?” she asked.

 

“Closure-ish.”

 

Mrs. Morris nodded. “Although Lawndale is smaller than some places.”

 

“It still isn’t likely we’ll cross paths again. Just make sure he stays out of trouble.”

 

 

Peterson had waited in the office that Cuddy had vacated for the evening. She saw Daria enter. “What did he want?”

 

“Friendship, given that he had spent years in that basement with only his parents for company. But I’m not the person to be his friend.”

 

Peterson nodded. “I guess so. But it must have been difficult for you and the Enigma to fight against him.”

 

Daria shrugged. “More so, for the Enigma, because she didn’t want to hurt him inadvertently.”

 

“Obviously. So, she was on the defense. It must have been hard for her.”

 

“Yes, but that’s all that I’ll say.”

 

“Don’t worry, I don’t want to know her secret identity,” Peterson said. ‘Not at present, anyway. But that could change, but I will tell Daria if that is so.’

 

“Really?” Daria asked sceptically.

 

“I might change my mind if her rivalry against SpiderGirl proves to be detrimental to Lawndale, but otherwise…”

 

“Got it. I’ll try to temper her in that area, but those would be her choices to make.”

 

“I realise that,” Peterson said. “But given that you two are sometimes working together.”

 

“I’ll see what I can do. I’ll be off home now.”

 

 

Elsewhere in the hospital, Harry was back at his father’s side. “I’ll have to stir up some feathers, father. I want to know what happened to cause William to have the condition he has.” He looked at his father again. ‘Still the same.’

 

But something was different. His father had moved. Did that mean he was regaining consciousness? He looked at the monitors. They looked the same to his untrained eyes. ‘But would the nurses see something in that data?’ But he didn’t want to call their attention unnecessarily. As he was thinking on that, something changed and his father stirred again.

 

His eyes opened.

 

“Father!”

 

“Harry.”

 

 

Doctor Davison checked Osborn over. “It seems that whatever you took, had no long-term effects.”

 

“That’s good,” Norman said.

 

“However, you need rest and I advise staying for another week so we can continue to observe,” Davison said.

 

“That would be best,” Norman said.

 

 

Harry watched as Davison checked his father over. It was good that whatever had happened seemed to have no long-term effects. Eventually, Davison left.

 

“You have been spending every evening here, Harry?”

 

“Most evenings.”

 

“You don’t have to,” his father said.

 

“I know. I’ll see you in the morning, before school.”

 

“That would be good.”

 

Harry then turned to leave.

 

“Wait,” his father said, propping himself up.

 

“What?”

 

“One thing; your friend, she isn’t exactly as she appears.”

 

“You mean, Sandi?” Harry asked, wondering what his father might have dug up on the Griffins.

 

“Yes. She and her mother have secrets.”

 

“Everyone has secrets,” Harry said as he left.

 

 

“Not like these,” Norman murmured after his son had left.

 

 

After midnight, Dafoanairi arrived at her father’s grave again. It seemed to her a good way to help her process the events of the day. “Hi, Dad, I found the source of that poem. It’s quite tragic really…”