Spider Quinn 20 The Imitation Tempest Part 7

 

It was still quite early when Daria arrived at the Historia. It was early enough that Angie was still setting up the café when she arrived.

 

“You haven’t been this early before,” Angie said.

 

“I wanted to get here with plenty of time to spare before school.”

 

“It has been one of those weeks, hasn’t it?”

 

“Yes. But every week is different. This time last week, the robodactyl had just appeared and the fake interview was about to happen that night.” Daria answered.

 

“Don’t remind me,” Angie said, as she checked the coffee machine. “Over a month since Groundhog Day.”

 

“I’m looking into something a lot less troublesome, although it’s still troublesome in a different way.”

 

“You mean the knock offs? Mom told me there aren’t that many coming into her store asking about them.”

 

“There aren’t?” Daria asked.

 

“There haven’t been. But maybe most would know that the boutique wouldn’t have them.”

 

“That could be it.”

 

 

Peterson arrived at the Historia shortly after seven. She saw that Daria was already there, waiting for her breakfast. She went to order a coffee first.

 

 

“Morning,” Daria said when Peterson had sat across from her.

 

“You’re here early.”

 

“I wanted to be sure that I met you this morning, as I’ll be busy with the play this evening.”

 

“You mean the new rooftop activity?” Peterson asked.

 

“Yes. I encountered one yesterday evening.”

 

“And the Enigma?”

 

“She did too,” Daria answered. She didn’t mention the fact that the Enigma had damaged a house in dealing with him. ‘She would think she’s more of an antihero than she already is.’

 

“And you have suspicions.”

 

“Oscorp, but there’s still no proof.”

 

“And actual proof might be difficult to obtain,” Peterson mused.

 

“Even if the other heroes may have had their own encounters.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And then there was Tania last night,” Daria added.

 

“Tania Ashworth? What happened?”

 

Daria explained what had happened.

 

 

Peterson took in what Daria had said. That Oscorp were suspecting Tania as one of the vigilantes and was having her followed was troubling. ‘It still doesn’t mean that she’s not one of them, either Ninja Talon or the Shadow.’

 

“Obviously LDPD can’t be present at the Park all the time,” Daria said.

 

“We can’t, but I can talk to Tania after school, or tonight before the play starts.”

 

“That might be a better idea.”

 

“As for the agents, we can only intervene if they are caught red handed,” Peterson said. “But I will talk to Osborn later.”

 

“I suspected that.”

 

“I can’t tell you everything, of course.”

 

“Such is the lot of an amateur when working with someone with a badge,” Daria responded.

 

“You’re lucky I like your wit,” Peterson murmured lightly.

 

 

SpiderGirl looked at the High School from the strip mall across the street. It wasn’t open yet, but she wanted to get there early, to be sure of catching Ted before homeroom. The area was calm, quiet compared to later when students would be rushing to get to class. She didn’t see any Oscorp agents nearby. ‘One thing at a time,’ she thought.

 

 

Tania was still a little jittery as she arrived at school. She heard a sound and turned to see Quinn walking towards her. She let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Are you OK?” Quinn asked.

 

“Not really,” Tania admitted.

 

Quinn put her hand on Tania’s shoulder. “If you want to talk about if…”

 

“I did talk to a couple of people last night, but thanks.”

 

Quinn smiled.

 

 

Quinn and Tania waited near the front doors for a short while before Pavlov opened them.

 

 

Ted arrived at school at his usual time. “Quinn?” he asked when she came up to him.

 

“We’ll have to talk to Ms. Li about the clothes today,” she said.

 

“Have you come up with a reason?”

 

“A few,” Quinn answered.

 

 

Daria parked the Lexus in the school’s parking lot to find Jane waiting for her. “You’ve been waiting long?”

 

“I didn’t want to head downtown this morning,” Jane said with a slight shrug.

 

But Daria could tell that something was up. “Something happened?”

 

“More the ongoing situation with Oscorp. I have seen agents on the rooftops during my runs.”

 

“Are you sure they aren’t the vigilantes?”

 

“They are different to the sketches I have of them,” Jane answered.

 

“Of course.”

 

“Just more evidence that Lawndale is changing,”

 

‘There’s more to it than that,’ Daria thought as they walked into the school.

 

 

Norman Osborn arrived at the Headquarters, but first he looked at the graffiti that the Shadow had left in the night. It showed the Oscorp logo being squished by a stylized version of Lawndale’s municipal crest, along with a stylized ‘S’ in a dark grey.

 

“What message do you think it’s sending?” one of his workers asked.

 

“Defiance,” Osborn answered. “Clean it off.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

 

Fields saw Osborn come in. She then turned back to her screen, where a small portion of the routes through West Lawndale had been mapped.

 

“What’s your progress?” Osborn asked.

 

“Not sure. Lawndale is sprawling, remember.”

 

“I am well aware of that. I still expect results, Ms. Fields.”

 

“Yes, sir. I’ll post daily updates,” Fields said.

 

“Get on with it then.”

 

 

At the beginning of lunch, Quinn and Ted entered Ms. Li’s office.

 

“So, you want me to let the Lowdown investigate the SpiderGirl knockoff clothes?” Ms. Li asked.

 

“Yes,” Ted answered. “It is obvious that they are aimed at Lawndale’s young people.”

 

“Maybe, but it doesn’t seem to be something a high school publication should be investigating.”

 

“Or maybe it is,” Quinn said.

 

“What are you getting at Ms. Morgendorffer?”

 

“I have looked at them a few times. It obvious that whoever had them made is looking to exploit not only the image of Lawndale’s first superhero, but also the young people who look up to her! You’re always going on about the honor and glory of this school. But what would be more honorable than exposing such a scheme?” Quinn answered as she leaned forward.

 

“You make a good argument,” Ms. Li said. “But it is very risky.’

 

“I know that, but that is part of journalism isn’t it?” Quinn responded.

 

“I agree,” Li said. “But I am allowing you to do it.”

 

“Thanks!” Ted said.

 

“But I expect updates every week; say each Friday,” the principal said.

 

“No problem,” Quinn said. “I’m sure we’ll have something to start with by this time next week.”

 

Ms. Li nodded. “That will be all.”

 

 

After the two students left, the principal opened a document on her computer. It contained a picture of Norman Osborn. “You think you have this school under control because of our agreement, Norman?” she said quietly. “I can outmanoeuvre you by encouraging the curiosity of my students. Lawndale High will thrive where Oscorp won’t.” She then closed the document and went back to work.

 

 

“That was easy,” Ted said as they walked away from the office.

 

Quinn shrugged. “I knew what to say.”

 

“Maybe.”

 

‘But it was easy,’ Quinn thought. ‘Li probably has her own reasons for agreeing.’

 

 

At the same time, Daria, Jane, Sandi, Tania and Harry were talking as they had lunch.

 

“So, you were followed last night,” Harry asked Tania.

 

“Yes,” Tania answered. “It’s good that the fourth vigilante and Dafoanairi were there. But I’m sure it was Oscorp.”

 

“My father wouldn’t be aware of everything,” Harry responded.

 

“I’m sure he’s aware of this!” Tania said.

 

“He’d probably deny it anyway,” Daria said.

 

“Unfortunately,” Sandi added.

 

Daria took out a sheet of paper a mind map she had made earlier that morning on it. “This is what we already know. That Oscorp has been present in Lawndale for nearly a decade…”

 

“That long?” Tania asked.

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “The Morris incident proves that.”

 

“Oh, of course,” Tania said.

 

“But, there was still no proof of wrongdoing there,” Harry said.

 

“Didn’t your father say he’s chasing down those responsible?” Sandi asked, in a tone of slight disbelief.

 

“That’s what he said,” Harry answered. “But I’m absolutely certain he was obfuscating.”

 

“That’s obvious,” Sandi responded while rolling her eyes.

 

“But if he is having people followed because he thinks they are the vigilantes, even if they aren’t, that just makes Lawndale more dangerous!” Tania said with a tremor in her voice.

 

“I’ll try to talk to him about it,” Harry said.

 

 

Daria thought about it. ‘Dafoanairi can’t always be there to protect Tania, nor can the Enigma or the others.’

 

“What good will that do?” Jane responded to Harry.

 

Harry shrugged. “Something.”

 

“Probably would make him more on his toes,” Sandi said.

 

 

“Penelope Jericho to see you, sir,” his assistant said.

 

Osborn sighed. “Send her in.”

 

The journalist entered the office like a silent storm.

 

“Good Afternoon, Ms. Jericho.”

 

“There have been reports of figures moving along rooftops downtown and in some neighborhoods that don’t match the hero vigilantes,” Penelope said.

 

“And you think I have something to do with them?”

 

“They match what has been reported of Oscorp agents in other places with an Oscorp presence.”

 

“What do you expect me to say, Penelope?” Osborn asked.

 

“So, you’re denying that you have anything to do with them?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I don’t believe you,” Penelope said.

 

“No, you believe in facts. And the fact is, you don’t have proof.”

 

“I don’t. But I will keep digging.”

 

“You won’t find anything,” Osborn said.

 

“I will find something. If there are agents, they will be noticed by more people. They will think that Oscorp is spying on Lawndale for some reason.”

 

“No comment.”

 

 

After Penelope left, Osborn went up onto the roof and looked out over the town. “How difficult is it to find the four vigilantes in this suburban town!” he complained to himself. ‘The information so far indicates that they have been seen all over town. That doesn’t give me any information on where their secret identities are.’

 

 

As school let out, Quinn entered the library to see that Anna and Ben were waiting.

 

“I heard you went to Ms. Li earlier,” Anna said.

 

“I did,” Quinn responded. “She agreed to let me investigate the knockoffs with school resources.”

 

“She did?” Ben asked in surprise.

 

“Like, I said that It’s the school’s responsibility to protect it’s students, even from something like a dubious clothing line,” Quinn said.

 

“That’s taking things further than people would usually expect,” Ben said.

 

“Not the first time,” Quinn responded with a shrug.

 

 

Gerald entered the library to find Quinn, Anna and Ben looking over back issues of the Sun-Herald. “Reading the paper?” he asked.

 

“Yes. I thought we could talk about recent events,” Quinn answered.

 

“I suppose,” Gerald said. “But not just Groundhog Day.”

 

“Of course not,” Quinn responded. “More what has been happening since then.”

 

“Like the robodacytl or may have happened to Lynn Anders? Pass,” Gerald said as he sat down.

 

“More those clothes that have appeared,” Quinn said.

 

“Like, I was going to buy some, but I realised that they probably wouldn’t last long.”

 

“Really?” Gerald asked.

 

“Yes. Quite poorly made, probably in a sweatshop,” Quinn answered.

 

“I suppose that is why you want to investigate. But it will be difficult,” Gerald said.

 

“Duh!” Quinn said as she turned a page in one of the papers.

 

Gerald sighed. “I will help you.”

 

“Good,” Anna said.

 

 

Fields got home from work. After making some tea she got out a map of Lawndale she had bought earlier in the week. ‘Now, how to sabotage Osborn’s plans?’ she wondered. She colored in the areas she remembered working on that day. ‘But how to get it to one of the vigilantes? Just leaving it on the Historia’s roof wouldn’t be a good idea.’ She looked at the Historia on the map. ‘Maybe it is a good place to start. Seeing the play might be comforting.’ She made a decision, she would see Tempest and try to meet SpiderGirl or Ninja Talon afterwards.