Norman continued. "Over the next few days, Oscorp security will be conducting interviews. We'll be reviewing all security footage. Analyzing evidence. We will find the person responsible. It's only a matter of time."
He paused. Let that sink in. "But I'm giving you a chance now. Come forward. Make this easy. Or face the consequences when we inevitably discover the truth."
Silence. No one moved. No one spoke. Peter stayed perfectly still. His enhanced Mind had already accounted for this possibility.
FSIS had erased all evidence. All footage. All digital traces. The security systems had been restored perfectly. There was nothing for Norman to find. No matter how hard he looked.
"Very well," Norman said after a long pause. "You've made your choice. Remember, Oscorp has resources. Experts. Technology. We will find the truth. When we do, there will be no mercy."
He stepped back. Nodded to Principal Morita. "Thank you for your time. Students, you may return to class."
The students filed out. Talking in hushed voices. Scared. Suspicious. Wondering if one of their classmates was a criminal.
Peter walked calmly. MJ and Gwen flanked him. Protective. Supportive.
In the hallway, Harry approached. "That was intense. Norman really thinks someone from our group did it."
"Seems like it," Peter said neutrally.
"You don't look worried," Flash observed. "Everyone else is freaking out."
"I didn't steal anything. I have nothing to worry about." Peter kept his voice steady. Confident. "Oscorp can investigate all they want. They won't find anything on me."
"Still. Fifty thousand dollars reward." Flash whistled. "That's a lot of money. If I'd seen anything suspicious, I'd definitely report it."
"Did you see anything suspicious?" Gwen asked pointedly.
"No. I was too busy listening to the tour guides." Flash shrugged. "But someone must have seen something. Thirty students. One of us had to notice the thief."
"Maybe they did it when we were all together," MJ suggested. "During the conference room presentation. Everyone was focused on Norman's speech."
"Or during bathroom breaks," Peter added. "Easy to slip away for a few minutes without anyone noticing."
They were helping him build the narrative. Creating plausible explanations that didn't involve any of them. United in protecting each other even though MJ and Gwen didn't know they were protecting the actual thief.
Felicia appeared. Her green eyes focused on Peter. "You're very calm about all this. Most people would be scared. Worried they might be falsely accused."
"I'm innocent. Why would I be scared?" Peter met her gaze evenly.
"Because innocent people get accused all the time. Especially when powerful people like Norman Osborn want answers." Felicia's smile was sharp. "But you're right. If you're truly innocent, you have nothing to fear."
She walked away. Leaving implications hanging in the air.
Peter's sense tingled for a moment. He felt there's something about Felicia recently.
"She's weird," MJ muttered.
"She's observant," Gwen corrected. "She notices things others miss."
"Does she suspect Peter?" MJ asked quietly.
"Doesn't matter," Peter said. "But suspicion isn't proof. Norman can investigate all he wants. He won't find anything."
Because FSIS had been thorough. Perfect. Every digital trace erased. Every security log rewritten. Every piece of evidence that could point to Peter simply didn't exist anymore.
Norman Osborn would never find his thief. Because the evidence had been deleted from reality itself.
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