Alex arrived at Oscorp Tower at 8:45 AM. Fifteen minutes early for his meeting with Norman Osborn. He wanted time to compose himself. To prepare mentally for whatever interrogation was coming.
The executive floor was quiet this early. Most employees didn't arrive until nine. Nora Chen sat at her desk typing something on her computer. She looked up when Alex approached.
"Mr. Carter. Right on time. Please wait here. Mr. Osborn is finishing a call."
Alex sat in one of the leather chairs. His hands were steady. His breathing was calm. He'd prepared for this. Knew what questions might come. Had his answers ready.
The key was staying consistent. Not elaborating too much. Answering only what was asked.
Five minutes passed. Then Norman's office door opened.
"Mr. Carter. Come in."
Alex stood and walked into the office. Norman gestured to a chair facing his desk. Alex sat.
Norman didn't sit immediately. He walked to the window. Looked out over Manhattan like he always did when thinking. The silence stretched for nearly thirty seconds.
"I've been reviewing the incident," Norman finally said. "Multiple times. Looking for anything we missed."
"Have you found something?"
"Several things." Norman turned around. His cold blue eyes fixed on Alex. "The specimen disappeared during a very specific window. Eight seconds when nobody was directly observing that location."
"Yes sir. I mentioned that in my report."
"You did. Very thoroughly." Norman walked closer. "Tell me again. What were you doing during those eight seconds?"
"Walking to the storage room. You asked me to get a ladder to check the ventilation shaft."
"And you saw nothing unusual on your way there?"
"No sir. The hallway was empty."
"Did you see any maintenance staff? Cleaning crew? Anyone at all?"
Alex paused. Thought carefully. "Actually, yes. There was someone at the far end of the hall. Near the service elevator. I didn't think about it at the time."
Norman's expression sharpened. "Maintenance?"
"I think so. They were wearing a work uniform. Dark blue. But I only saw them for a second before I turned into the storage room."
This was a calculated risk. Alex was inventing a detail. But it was plausible. There were always maintenance workers moving through the building. Security footage would show people in the area even if not specifically on the observation deck.
Norman pulled out his phone. "Nora, pull the maintenance logs for Sub-Level 3 on the fifteenth. Between nine and ten AM."
He waited. Alex kept his breathing steady. This could backfire completely if there were no maintenance workers logged in that area.
Norman's phone buzzed. He read something on the screen. His expression shifted slightly.
"Interesting. Maintenance worker named Rodriguez was in that section. Routine cleaning and debris collection." Norman looked at Alex. "You're saying you saw him?"
"I saw someone. Can't say for certain it was Rodriguez. But they were in work uniform near the service area."
"And you didn't mention this in your report because?"
"I didn't think it was relevant. I was focused on getting the ladder quickly. Didn't connect it to the missing specimen until now."
Norman sat down behind his desk. Steepled his fingers. Studied Alex for a long moment.
"Rodriguez's job includes collecting debris from various locations. Papers, broken equipment, anything that doesn't belong. He had a collection bag with him that day."
"So he might have collected the spider thinking it was just debris?"
"Possibly." Norman pulled up something on his computer. "The collection bags get incinerated at the end of each day. Everything in them is destroyed."
"Then the specimen is gone. Permanently."
"Most likely." Norman leaned back. "Which means this wasn't corporate espionage. Just an unfortunate accident compounded by bad timing."
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