In The Web Of Gotham

Detective Parker

Peter Parker left for work, Peter Parker got on the train. Peter Parker got off the train. Peter Parker walked the last bit of the way to work. This was the mental mnemonic device that Peter had developed to affirm to himself who he is. Affirming to himself that he is in control of his own actions. That Peter Parker was really the one in control.

Peter had pumped the brakes on being Spider-Man for now, acting as another way to keep Batman and his allies an ear to the floor of the street. Especially since it seems like the GCPD still has some sort of corruption on the inside. Ian Hall was ratted out to Scarecrow and killed because of what he told the police. Not just that, but the truck with the Scare had to be moved from impound for the Banedoleros to get it. If they broke into the Impound, the rest of the precinct would have heard of it.

A fear he's gradually realizing is that the GCPD has more rats inside it than they know. The police are being paid off again, and Peter needs to figure out who's getting paid off and why they're taking payments from Scarecrow and Bane....or if not them, then who are they taking payments from. He told the Commissioner about what had been happening to him, with Spider-Man being its own persona that Peter doesn't necessarily have control over at the moment.

"Well damn, Parker. I didn't know your family's death did all that to you," He said, lamenting the consequences of running dry on leads on that murder.

"I didn't either, sir. Up until recently, I thought I was the one giving Spider-Man the orders. I didn't know Spider-Man was able to go off on his own," Peter said as a little joke at his own plights. He needs to try and make jokes, get used to cracking jokes at a lot of things. To try and keep a hold on his identity so that Spider-Man doesn't...well try to flatten anyone else. Gordon chuckled a little at the little crack.

"There's actually someone here to see you. I think you'd want to talk to them," Gordon said, walking with Parker towards his old desk. Busted up, but still presentable was Assistant District Attorney Matthew Murdock. He was occasionally tapping his walking stick on the chair, as if he was giving himself an echo based map of the precinct. Peter had a little trip in his step as he walked over, noticeable to the blind attorney but not to the commissioner.

"Mr. Murdock said he had some potential leads into what's been going on with the underworld. Might be able to help us get some ideas," Gordon said as he left Peter alone with the ADA. There were a few solid minutes of awkward silence, and it was obvious. Peter got up and went to grab some coffee for the two of them.

"First off, I apologize for how I acted towards you in your apartment. I didn't know you had a secret like I did. It wasn't my business to know," Peter said as he brought the coffee towards Matt. Tapping the cup with a pen to inform Matt's senses that it was there. Matt picked up the cup and sipped it gently.

"No no, it's fine. I imagine Batman put you through his test and the only way you figured it out was to stick your nose into his business. I'm sorry for how I reacted, it was completely inappropriate. It didn't cross my mind until after you left that nobody told you," Matt apologized. Peter sat down and sipped his coffee as well.

"So care to uh....start on a new foot, Detective Parker?" Murdock asked with a candid smile, that smiled that managed to charm a courtroom with its sincerity. It was a smile that Peter couldn't help but return in earnest.

"So...boxing, right? Those were some mean hooks you threw," Peter asked, remembering those punches.

"Dad was Mad Jack Murdock. I recognized some wrestling from you. Those moves were right out of luchador," the Assistant Attorney complimented.

"My build allowed for it. Um....so...who are you? That other side?" Peter asked.

"Daredevil. The Demon of the Bowery," Murdock explained.

"No wonder you beat me up so well. The Demon of the Bowery leaves the common thug with broken bones," Peter said, remembering the police reports.

Peter finally decided to cut through the nonsense. Given what just occurred, he gives the next question some weight to it.

"You said you know Fisk is involved in what's going on. Bane recently broke out of Santa Prisca, taking a gang member named Mac Gargan with him. What's going on, based on what you might know?" Peter asked, putting everything that he knows and everything that they especially don't know into consideration.

"It's hard to really say, but it seems like whoever Fisk is working with is trying to assemble a kabal of enforcers. Trying to diversify a portfolio of illicit activities that can be diversified. The waters to get muddier, the trail to get more splintered," Murdock explained.

"Make it borderline impossible to tell if a crime is being committed...dear God, we need to get a read on him," Peter realized. Murdock folds his cane up and puts it onto the desk.

"You are correct, so what are we going to do? I already have the Midnight Mission digging through whatever files can and can't be found. Obviously that isn't enough," Murdock explained.

"I can ask Oracle to keep an ear out for phone traffic, see if she catches something that raises Batman's alarms," Peter explained.

"Why not go out as Spider-Man and hunt him down?" Murdock asked. Peter explained the underlying mental condition that their encounter had actually unveiled.

"Oh. Well apologies. I do hope that you figure out what to do with yourself and Spider-Man. Hopefully you manage to get it together," Murdock explained.

"It's a work in progress. Until then, I can guess that the Demon of the Bowery is going to be exploring the rest of Gotham?" Peter asked. Assistant Attorney Murdock just shrugged.

"I think people will just think Nightwing started wearing a lot of red," Murdock said as he got up, grabbing his cane and unfurling it, tapping it along the ground.

Peter Parker had some time to think, and he looked around. Peter Parker was very quickly getting tired of mentally affirming to himself that Peter Parker was doing things of his own will.

What he needs to do, is try and understand what's going on in the station. There's a mole somewhere on the police, and he needs to try and figure it out. He still has a few keys to pull from Batman's gear. Although...

He's fairly certain that he needs to start pulling off some tricks worthy of his sister.