“Boss.” Reporter Hodge Lavis leaned across Richard Carter’s desk with barely concealed excitement.
“You were right.” “General Ross is hiding something.” Richard suppressed the urge to smile.
Well, yes.
I already knew that.
Instead, he gestured for Hodge to continue.
“I’ve spent the last several days digging into everything I could find on General Thaddeus Ross,” Hodge said.
“Remember those military laboratories I mentioned before?
They received enormous government funding every year, but none of their projects were ever made public.” He placed a folder on Richard’s desk.
“After the monster incident in New York…” “Every one of those labs was shut down.” Richard looked up.
“You think the two are connected?” “They have to be.” Hodge’s voice grew more animated.
“I kept digging and found something else.” “Years ago, Bruce Banner was recruited into one of Ross’s research programs.” “Then he vanished.” “But I found witnesses at Empire State University who swear they saw Banner on campus just days before the Harlem incident.” Richard simply nodded.
“I see.” His lack of enthusiasm didn’t discourage Hodge.
“That’s not all.” “I tracked down more witnesses.” “They claim something similar happened on that campus about a week before Harlem.” “They described a giant green monster.” “And soldiers driving armored vehicles onto university grounds.” “They said the military tried to capture it.” “And failed.” Hodge leaned forward.
“I’m almost certain those troops answered to Ross.” “That green monster and the one in Harlem…” “They’re connected.” “So is Ross.” He finished triumphantly, waiting for Richard’s reaction.
Instead, Richard quietly closed the folder.
None of this was news to him.
It was simply the story of Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk.
The problem wasn’t the theory.
The problem was evidence.
He hadn’t sent reporters chasing rumors.
He’d sent them to find facts he could publish.
Hodge took a slow breath.
“Think about it, Boss.” “If Ross was creating monsters with military funding…” “How many more projects are hidden away?” “Doesn’t the public deserve to know?” “They do.” Richard nodded.
“They absolutely do.” He looked Hodge in the eye.
“Do you have video footage of the university incident?” “…No.” “Photographs?” “No.” “Named witnesses willing to go on the record?” “I can’t reveal my sources.” Richard spread his hands.
“Then what exactly am I supposed to print?” “Our readers deserve the truth.” “Not speculation.” “You’re not a rookie anymore, Hodge.” “You know that.” Hodge sighed.
“I know.” “It’s just…” “Ross is careful.” “Every trail goes cold.” Richard cut him off.
“Stop circling the point.” “If you had no plan, you’d still be outside looking for one.” “So.” “What’s your idea?” “And what do you need from me?” Hodge scratched the back of his neck.
“I’ve made a few calls.” “I’ve got contacts who know people in the military.” “Someone’s agreed to introduce me to officers who disagree with Ross.” “If I’m lucky…” “One of them might be willing to talk.” Richard raised an eyebrow.
“You mean leak classified information.” Hodge didn’t flinch.
“That’s part of my job.” Richard considered him for a moment.
Ross had a remarkable talent for creating disasters.
If left alone, there was no telling what kind of catastrophe he’d unleash next.
The last thing New York needed was another gamma-powered monster.
Or several.
Eventually Richard nodded.
“Go.” Hodge grinned.
“I’ll need to spend a few days in Washington.” There it was.
The real reason for the meeting.
Richard smiled knowingly.
“You get economy.” Hodge groaned.
“Come on, Boss.” “Business class?” Richard stared at him in silence.
Hodge surrendered almost immediately.
“…Economy it is.” “Good.” “Bring me something worth printing.” Once Hodge left, Stephanie entered carrying a fresh cup of black tea.
She set it beside Richard’s paperwork.
“You have a dinner engagement tonight, sir.” Richard took a sip.
“Who with?” Successful businessmen inevitably collected invitations.
It came with the territory.
“Mr.
Wilson Fisk.” Richard stopped halfway through another sip.
“…Wilson Fisk?” There weren’t many people by that name worth paying attention to.
Only one immediately came to mind.
Publicly, Wilson Fisk was a philanthropist.
A respected businessman.
One of New York’s most influential civic leaders.
Privately…
He was something else entirely.
The Kingpin.
One of the city’s most powerful crime lords.
Most people had no idea the two identities belonged to the same man.
Richard did.
“Why does Fisk want dinner with me?” “I’m afraid I don’t know.” Richard frowned.
“Decline.” “Tell him I’m busy.” “I have something important to do.” Stephanie remained where she was.
“Mr.
Fisk made a donation to the Daily Planet this morning.” Richard looked up.
“A very generous donation.” Silence lingered for a moment.
Richard straightened in his chair.
“When and where?” Stephanie handed him the invitation.
“I’ll be there.”