"Peter's missing?"
"How could that be."
As Gwen hung up the phone, Hawk hurried after her toward the car parked by the curb, speaking quickly: "Wasn't Peter supposed to be in Seattle with Mary over Christmas break?"
He and Gwen had planned to go too.
But Helen had changed their minds with one sentence.
In her words, this was their first year as a couple, their first year living together. Spending New Year's outside wasn't right—they should spend it at home.
So even when the Stacy family went to Long Island for New Year's, Gwen stayed behind.
Hawk and Gwen were good kids; they listened to Helen. Which was why they'd obediently stayed in New York for Christmas.
(Their short trip to Kamar-Taj didn't count. That was "working vacation.")
"Peter didn't go," Gwen said.
"Didn't go?"
She nodded. "Mary's family went, but the call wasn't clear. She sounded frantic. Come on, let's go."
"Alright." Hawk nodded. "You drive, or me?"
"You. Faster. Mary sounded like she's about to lose it."
"Got it."
Hawk snatched the keys from her hand, reached the car first, and slid behind the wheel. By the time he started the engine and released the brake, Gwen had climbed into the passenger seat.
With a roar, the Toyota Corolla shot down the street toward Queens.
…
Half an hour later.
Queens, Fifth Community.
The Corolla drifted around the corner and rolled to a perfect stop between two suburban houses.
On the left—the Parker house.
On the right—the Jamesons'.
Mary burst out of the Parker home, rushed across the yard, and flung herself into Gwen's arms. "Gwen, Peter's missing!"
Gwen held her, soothing the tears already forming.
Aunt May followed them out, worry etched across her face.
Hawk nodded respectfully at her.
She forced a thin smile. "Sorry to trouble you, Hawk."
"Peter's my friend," Hawk answered simply.
Inside, Mary clung to Gwen, sobbing.
Hawk turned to Aunt May. "When did he go missing?"
She sighed. "This holiday, he came with me to New Jersey to see family. After Christmas Eve, he said he wanted to head back to New York. I let him go ahead. I only came home last night—I thought he was already asleep."
Hawk frowned and turned to Mary. "What about you? When was his last call?"
"About a week ago."
"A week?" Hawk's brows shot up. "And you're only telling us now?"
"Peter said he was busy with something important. He told me not to worry. I didn't want to bother him. When I came home yesterday, I saw his car was gone. I thought he was out delivering pizzas, so I didn't think twice. But today, when Aunt May and I went into his room, we saw—it hasn't been lived in for a week."
"Delivering pizza?" Gwen blinked. "Isn't he working for the Daily Bugle?"
Mary glanced at her. "He picked up another job in October. He didn't want me telling you."
Gwen shot Hawk a look. "Did you… never mind. You wouldn't say anyway. Brothers' code."
Hawk's mouth twitched. She wasn't wrong. He had known—but not from Peter directly. And if Peter hadn't shared it, Hawk wouldn't go blabbing.
So instead, he asked Mary, "Did you check with the pizzeria?"
"I called this morning. They said they're looking for him too. On the 26th, he picked up two pizzas. He only delivered the first. The second customer called to curse them out."
"The 26th?"
She nodded.
"That's exactly a week ago," Hawk muttered. He looked sharply at her. "What time did you call him that day?"
Mary pulled up her call log. "Around eleven a.m."
"So right in the middle of deliveries. One house got their pizza, the other didn't." Gwen crossed her arms. "That's not like him. Unless something serious happened."
Hawk agreed.
Say what you will about Spider-Man, New York's so-called friendly neighborhood hero—Peter was the kind of guy who'd refuse to use his powers to rob a bank, who scraped by on Bugle photos, who took a delivery job to make ends meet.
Running off with someone's pizza? Not his style.
So where had Peter gone?
Wherever it was, it wasn't New York.
Hawk had spread his Sixth Sense across the whole city. No trace of Peter's presence.
Sure, maybe some tech was blocking him. Or maybe someone stronger was hiding Peter.
But who?
Thor? Maybe stronger—but he wasn't the type to play tricks. He'd just swing his hammer and shout for a fight. Besides, they were on good terms.
The Ancient One? Odin? Neither would stoop to that.
So that left two options:
Peter had been snatched by some tech-wielding villain.
Or he'd left the city of his own will.
Hawk leaned toward the second.
He turned back to Mary and Aunt May. "What was Peter busy with before this?"
Mary shook her head, lost.
But Aunt May frowned, then said, "Felicia. Felicia called him often while we were in New Jersey."
Hawk raised a brow. "Felicia? Felicia Hardy?"
She nodded. "I asked him what it was about. He wouldn't tell me."
Even before she finished, Mary had pulled out her phone and dialed.
No answer.
Mary shot to her feet. "I'm going to find her."
Gwen grabbed her arm. "Like this? You can't even drive."
"Then what do I do?"
"Come with us," Gwen said, then glanced at Hawk.
He nodded. "We'll check with Felicia. Maybe she knows something."
They left, Hawk at the wheel, Gwen up front, Mary in the back, repeatedly calling Felicia.
"No answer," Mary muttered after hanging up again.
Gwen frowned. "You know, she missed the NYPD charity gala on the 27th."
Hawk glanced sideways. "George told you?"
"My mom." Gwen nodded. "Actually, it was the 28th. You were off dueling Thor that night. She came over for dinner. Remember? You asked where the lemon bass came from."
Hawk thought back, nodded. "Right."
"She mentioned Felicia was supposed to attend, but her assistant came instead."
At the time, Gwen hadn't thought much of it. Guests cancel all the time. As long as the donation clears, the NYPD doesn't complain.
But now…
"Wait—Peter vanishes, Felicia vanishes, and they were calling each other?" Gwen's pupils tightened. She darted a glance at Mary in the mirror.
Mary only looked anxious, eyes locked forward, not following Gwen's train of thought.
Soon they pulled into Osborn Manor.
The butler let them in, waiting by the door.
Mary rushed ahead. "Do you know where Peter is?"
The butler blinked at her. "Peter left with Miss Felicia on the 26th. They flew out of New York that afternoon. Didn't he tell you?"
"…"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]