Pieces to the puzzle
Peter parked his motorcycle outside the Shield HQ. He walked in at the guest entrance and stopped at the front desk.
“How can I help you today?” A woman said looking up from her papers.
“Is Director Brax busy?” Peter asked the woman.
“No, but i am afraid I can’t just let walk up to his office,” The woman replied apologetically.
“Here,” Peter said as plopped down his Avengers ID card.
“I’ll call him,” The woman said quickly and dialed a number on the phone, “Um yes sir this is the front desk… Yes, there is a Peter Parker here who wants to you…. Yes sir.” The woman hung up the phone, “He’ll see you.”
“Thank you so much,” Peter and walked quickly toward the elevator.
Peter walked down the long hallway that lead to the Director’s office. He stopped and knocked on the heavy oak wood door.
“Come on in,” A voice called from inside. Peter opened the heavy, and stepped into the room. Almost immediately the hairs on the back his neck stood on end.
“So your Peter? I am Director Brax,” The man sitting behind the desk said and rose to his feet. He extended his hand.
“Yes, I’m Peter. It’s an honor to meet you,” Peter said and took his hand. Touching Brax sent what felt like an electrical shock through Peter. Every hair on his body tingled. He pulled his hand back a little faster then he probably should have. Brax looked a little surprised, but not offended.
“Are you okay?” He asked tilting his head in concern.
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Peter sat down cautiously in the closest chair.
“So what did you want to talk about?” Brax asked, as he sat back down.
“Is it true?”
Brax leaned back in his chair and nodded solemnly.
“I should have known that’s why you were here,” Brax rubbed his chin, “From what I’ve heard you were like a son to Stark.”
Peter only nodded.
“I am afraid it's true. I wish someone had caught Hill before ruined everything. I feel terrible for Pepper, and their baby,” Peter developed a new itch under his skin as Brax spoke. What the hell were his spider senses telling him? Brax seemed truly upset and sympathetic. Peter liked him, “Pepper is lucky to have all you Avengers around to take care of her.”
Peter felt a shiver crawl up his back. He glanced nervously around the room. Nothing. It was just him and Brax. What was going on?
“I have a team out searching for his body right now--”
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” Peter interrupted. The itch under his skin was getting unbearable. He had to get out of this room.
“Oh, alright,” Brax said calmly. Then Peter caught it. The voice it had a hint of familiarity to it, but he couldn’t pinpoint.
“I’m sorry… good bye,” Peter was about to leave when he remembered he had to ask one more question, “Did you tell Carol that Mr. Stark was looking into Hill and that's why she got him killed?”
“That is what we believe. Yes.”
“Thank you,” Peter said quickly and ran back down the hallway. He skipped the elevator, and went to the stairs. He ran down the stairs. Slowed to a walk as he entered the lobby, and then as soon as he was through the doors he sprinted for his motorcycle.
“Karen, please call Pepper,” He said as he started the motorcycle.
“Hello Peter,” Pepper said answering the phone as Peter was pulling onto the highway. She sounded like she had been crying, which Peter understood. He had cried almost the whole four hours that it had taken to drive down from New York.
“Hey Pepper. I’d uh… I’d ask how you are, but considering… I guess I just…” Peter fumbled over his words.
“It’s okay Peter you don’t have to say anything,” Pepper said quietly, “He was just as much your father as he was my husband. I think we are both at a loss.”
Peter wished he could say something to cheer her up. She sounded so broken, and scared.
“Um, Pepper do you think you could maybe send me copies of his files and projects?” Peter hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that, but he needed to see Mr. Stark’s file on Hill.
“May I ask why?” Pepper asked sighing deeply in Peter’s ear.
“Oh, I um… I was trying to figure something out, and I um… I am sorry, I shouldn’t have asked like--”
“It's fine Peter. I was just curious. I’ll send it all over to you,” Pepper said forlornly. Peter felt like he was going to through up. He had never heard any one sound that sad and broken ever. May hadn’t even sounded that bad after uncle Ben died. There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Pepper finally spoke again, “I need to go Peter. I am really tired, and I have the baby to think about.”
“Alright,” Peter said quietly, “Take care of yourself.”
With that Pepper hung up. A few minutes later Peter’s phone dinged.
“Ms. Potts has sent the files to you,” Karen informed Peter.
“Great, where is the closest hotel?”
“Just off this exit. Are we not going back to the compound?”
“No Karen. I need some time away,” Peter replied to the AI’s question, and pulled off the exit.
Peter checked into the motel and went to his room. He locked the door behind him.
“Alright Karen open those files.”
A huge array of 3d files showed up. Peter squinted at them.
“Find the ones that mention Agent Hill.”
“There aren’t any.”
“Mr. Stark had one.”
“If he did, it’s not here,” Karen informed Peter. He flopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. His mind went back to that warning his spider senses had given him in the presence of Brax. What if he had it backwards?
“Search for files on Jonathan Brax.”
“I have one file.”
“Open it.”
“Peter if you are thinking what I calculate you are thinking do really think this is a good idea?” Karen questioned.
“Yes. Open it.”
Peter read through the file. There wasn’t a whole lot of information, but it was enough.
Tony Stark was not looking into Agent Hill.
Tony Stark had been looking into Director Jonathan Brax…