Return to Me 3 (Peter Parker/Spider-Man X Reader)

Part 9

Peter had been quick to determine what route you would've taken from the apartment to the corner store. He swung through the city, looking for the puddle that Dr. Stafford was sure would help. He was quick to find it right next to the corner store door. Knowing you, Peter was certain that you wouldn't have been able to get into or out of the store without stepping in it, especially in the state you were in last night. You probably had stepped right in the puddle without even knowing. He quickly obtained a sample in the tube that Dr. Stafford had provided. He looked around carefully. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary, just a big puddle of soda and the normal trash that littered the streets of the city. He took a few pictures and then noticed a large soda cup a few feet away at the foot of a trash can. A critter had probably dragged it out of the full can. He walked over to it and picked it up. When he turned it over he noticed blood on the side of the cup. Dr. Stafford would be ecstatic! Peter shot a web to a nearby building and shot off in the direction of the precinct. He knocked on the morgue door when he arrived and waited for the doctor to open it. He nearly knocked the man over as he entered, excitement radiating from him.

"Dr. Stafford, I found the puddle and there was nothing exciting about it, just a big puddle of soda, so I got a sample, like you asked, and then took some pictures," Peter stated, talking a million miles an hour. "At first, I couldn't find anything at the scene, but then I kept looking and found this cup," he held the cup inches from Dr. Stafford's face. "Look! There's blood on it!" Peter nearly shouted, his excitement getting the better of him. Dr. Stafford chuckled at the young man's enthusiasm. It was good to see him in such high spirits. The doctor took the cup with a gloved hand and placed it in an evidence bag. Then he took the sample and prepared it for testing. After only a few moments, he turned to Peter and began to speak.

"Come on, let's go talk to Detective Lewis and see if we can get some fingerprints off of this cup. That'll at least give us another suspect and take some pressure off of Y/N," he said, heading to the door that led to the hallway. The pair entered the hallway swiftly and nearly collided with a tall, attractive woman whom neither of them knew.

"Pardon me, madam," the doctor said kindly as he took a step back, "is there someone I can help you find?"

"I'm looking for Dr. Stafford," the woman replied curtly, seeming in a hurry.

"That's me," Dr. Stafford said. For the first time, the woman glanced at the young man in the red suit. Peter nodded at her, but remain silent.

"I am detective Kate Ortega, I'm looking into the murder of Justin Beaumont. I was told that you are the lead coroner here and you could fill me in on the autopsy details," she said, turning once again to address the doctor.

"Yes, I am the lead coroner. I'm sorry, I must have misheard, did you say you're looking into the Justin Beaumont case?" the doctor asked, clearly confused.

"Yes," Kate replied.

"But I thought Detective Lewis was handling the case?" Peter asked, beginning to get nervous.

"The Captain determined that he was too close to the case, considering her knew both Beaumont and Mrs. Parker," Kate said matter-of-factly. Peter tensed at the mention of his wife, but the detective didn't seem to notice.

"Spider-Man, why don't you go check in with Detective Lewis about that business we were discussing and then be sure to come tell me what you think. I am going to catch Detective Ortega up in the morgue. You can meet me there after you speak with Detective Lewis about that burglary," the doctor lied. Peter knew that Dr. Stafford wanted him to snoop around and see what was going on with this new detective. More importantly, Peter needed to inform Detective Lewis about the cup and check in on Y/N. Having a new detective snooping around was going to make things even more difficult. Peter nodded to the doctor and then walked down the hall toward Detective Lewis's office. When he entered, he found the man with his nose in a case file. He looked up as Spider-Man entered the room. He quickly rose, walked toward the door, and shut it after looking around so be sure no one was paying attention.

"What've you got?" He asked.

"I found a cup with blood on it near the puddle. The puddle was right outside the door of the corner store. Dr. Stafford is going to run it for prints. That should be enough to get us another suspect and to take some of the pressure off of Y/N," Peter said.

"That's great. Unfortunately, little miss I-have-to-prove-I'm-the-best has already sent Y/N to jail with no bail until her trial," the detective stated, unaware that Peter was so invested in the lead suspect. Peter's breath hitched as he inhaled, and he coughed.

"What?!" he said, trying to sound less interested than he was. He didn't quite succeed, and the detective picked up on it.

"You heard me, son. Y/N is on her way to county as we speak. But what is that to you? She's one of us," he said, hitting a fist on his chest to signify that she was part of the precinct, "but she's nothing special to you. We've worked a lot together, I understand you wanting to help, but I think we should keep this in the family. Especially with the new detective snooping around. No offense, Spider-Man, but I think you are better off staying out of this." Peter was quiet for a moment, weighing his options. He trusted Detective Lewis very much, and so did Dr. Stafford.

"Sir, I can't get into details, but Y/N is family. Literally. So, I would appreciate if you would allow me to continue helping. If you still don't want my help, no offense sir, but you're not going to stop me. I won't stop until we find who is framing her and prove her innocence," Peter stated with authority. Detective Lewis understood what he meant and knew that he shouldn't ask any more questions. If Y/N was that important to Spider-Man, then he should be allowed to help. Plus, Detective Lewis knew they needed all the help they could get.

"Understood," was all the detective said as a uniformed officer burst through his door.

"Um, sir, I have some urgent news," the young officer said, looking from the detective to Spider-Man.

"Yes?" Detective Lewis said, "what is it?"

"Um, the prison transport carrying a Y/N Parker has been ambushed. Everyone is dead, it seems the prisoner and the driver got away. It looks as if the driver was in on it. It would seem that the prisoner was not involved. The CCTV cameras caught the ambush on camera, but the driver got away in an unmarked vehicle. The prisoner was thrown in the trunk and seems to be missing. Captain's called all hands on deck in the bullpen to start a manhunt," the officer said. He turned an exited the door.

"You'd better come too," Detective Lewis said toSpider-Man. He's going to want everyone we can afford to find her. Looks likewe don't have to prove her innocence after all. It would seem this whole thingwas just a ploy to kidnap her." Peter nodded and followed the man into thebullpen. He needed answers, and he needed them now.