Web of Deception: The Webbed Avenger

Chapter Sixty-three: Brad Michaels

 What had to be one of the more peculiar days he's had in a very long time was only cemented by the fact a wanted criminal by the NYPD, the FBI, and more than likely S.H.I.E.L.D was now in his apartment lying unconscious on his couch. Matt didn't know where else to take him. Wherever he had gone, the werewolf most likely would have been able to track them, if the fight at the office hadn't gone in the Wall Crawler's favor that is.

It was funny when he thought about the fact he was sitting in the dark, waiting silently for his client to wake up. The poor guy would probably have a heart attack when he woke up and saw the lawyer waiting in the shadows. It wasn't like Matt didn't have lights, it was just that he didn't really need to waste the electricity if he couldn't see like everyone else.

As Brad laid there on the couch, a small groan left his lips. Matt smiled lightly, knowing he was coming to. The groan was one of exhaustion, something Matt was all too familiar with. Through the fiery environment his senses built the image of Brad's face scrunching up in discomfort.

"What the..." Brad whined, slowly sitting up as he caught sight of the lawyer ominously sitting in the dark glaring at him through the crimson lenses of his glasses. "Mr. Murdock, is that you?"

"Hello Mr. Michaels. Sorry about earlier, I hope your head doesn't hurt too bad," Matt greeted sourly, having done a little bit of research into why Brad was wanted by so many people. He was a career criminal, murdered many people, and in the brief moments he was caught by the authorities he always made claims that someone was controlling him, but never was able to remember his face. How convenient that was.

Truth be told Matt wasn't all that inclined to believe him. It was an excuse he was making so he could avoid taking responsibility for his actions, but the only objection to his belief was that Michaels was willingly giving himself up this time, so there must have been just a sliver of truth behind it.

"My head?" Brad asked, rubbing his head where Matt had hit him. "What, what happened?" He was oblivious to the previous events of the day it seemed. Matt muttered "of course" under his breath as he rubbed his forehead out of frustration.

"If you recall, you were attacked by that thing, the Omega, I believe is what he's called. Thankfully Spider-Man showed up and allowed us to escape. Unfortunately you were rendered unconscious as we made our escape," Matt explained.

"S-Spider-Man?!" Brad asked, a hopeful smile spreading across his face that even Matt could see. "He was there?"

"Yeah, he was. Consider yourself lucky. Now that we're alone, I'd like to ask you a question," Matt cracked his knuckles, leaning forward. This earned a gulp from Brad as response.

"Sure."

"Many of the officers that took you into custody claim that your boss, something about him makes him unable to be identified. Why is that?"

As if the devil had just been summoned, Brad's face drained of color, and the fear radiating off of him made it clear to Matt this was no mere excuse. There was a truth behind the fear after all, one Matt couldn't ignore. "I, I can't talk about him."

"Why not? Brad, the only way you'll be safe from him is to talk to me," Matt tried to explain, as Brad panicked, jumping to his feet.

"Look, you don't get it. I say his name and I'm a dead man, more than I already am. Do you have any idea what he'll do to me? He doesn't just get to you physically, he digs himself deep into the back of your mind. You can't escape him, he's like a virus, slowly taking control until you aren't even yourself anymore, and all you can do is watch as your own body moves against your will. Saying that man's name is a death sentence!"