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It was an eventful twenty-four hours in holding. Jessica hadn't cooperated much with the officers at the scene, but she had released all of her files to the New York Bulletin in the hours leading up to the nightmare party. Investigation had suggested that maybe the cops had covered the disappearances; she wasn't going to risk her data getting caught with the police.
She'd been fortunate enough to get a phone call upon entering custody.
She'd been sentimental enough to call Remy rather than a lawyer. And, while on the phone, she'd said something vague, and likely offputting about such sentimentality.
It's no wonder that hours pass in a holding cell before she finally gets an opportunity to talk to a lawyer. No surprise it's one of Hell's Kitchen's finest.
She sits at the table, still in handcuffs, with just an obvious chip on her shoulder. Her fingers tap against the table irritably and her gaze oscillates between pissed off and weirdly satisfied. She stares across the table and says, blandly, "Don't drink the coffee. It's a bullshit trap to make you think they're your friend."
*
Matt raises his eyebrows and begins to say something, but then stops abruptly. Then, he exhales. "I try not to have too much caffeine," he admits as he "stares" at her from behind his round glasses. "How about we start from the beginning? I have the files from the police, but I still don't understand why they're holding you, nor have I gotten a clear answer on any charges. Pending or otherwise."
*
"I'm here, because as usual, the police fucking hate me," Jessica says coolly. "Which, is bullshit." Her lips press together tightly — almost uncertainly — as her eyes narrow back at Matt. Her head turns and she peeks about the room, giving it silent consideration, and her lips twist to the side. She's scrutinizing it with her usual charm. "You have a cigarette?" it's been hours since she's had her last, and she'd refused to have one from her cell mate that was obviously some undercover officer.
"Look, Murdock, kids went missing from the Kitchen. A lot of them. And the police covered it up. Or, at least they didn't give it any credence. They want to charge me with something because Imade them look bad." She shrugs.
*
"But they can't decide on what to charge you with," Matt says as he slowly brings up his bag to the table between them. He rummages through and eventually produces a pack of filtered Lucky Strikes. It's clear he does this sort of thing a lot and keeps a pack handy. They're not too stale. He slides the pack, along with a book of matches in front of her. "Why would the police cover up missing children?"
*
Jessica's slender fingers reach into the pack and she extracts a smoke. It's pursed between her fingers, lit, and her eyes drift closed as she takes a long puff off it. The vaguest edge of a smile follows the question and Jessica leans back her chair before slowly blowing out a cloud of smoke. "That's the million dollar question," she says earnestly.
Her eyes narrow slightly. "You read the file?" her jaw tightens. "They were mutant kids. Someone was harvesting them to give people powers." She shrugs. "I finally stopped the supply. But what was going on," her head shakes. "There's layers. I stopped the one that will make the project stop. But there's far more people responsible."
*
"Uhm," Matt says as he tries to think of putting it delicately. She doesn't seem like the type of woman to be corrected. "I'm blind, so no. I haven't read it, yet. But I'll be taking care of that soon. I wanted to get a chance to talk to you before I did." He waits, patiently, as he considers her words and how to proceed. "If they don't charge you within a couple more days, you will be out of here anyhow. I will be pushing them to do that sooner than later." Pause. "What sorts of questions have they asked you?"
*
Jessica stares blankly at Matt a few beats. "I'm not stupid, I can tell you're blind," her eyes roll dramatically. "Doesn't mean you can't read, Skippy. In fact," she offers dryly, "I'd like a lawyer who can read. So, if you can't read, it might be good to pass on my case." She presses her lips together around the cigarette and crosses her arms over her chest.
The mention of questions has her eyes narrowing. "I've been in here before. And they failed to charge me last time." She rubs her nose. "Most of the questions are about whether I'm a mutant, a mutant lover, or a Vigour groupie." She puffs on the cigarette and draws it from her lips. "And then they ask questions about the company I keep." Her nose wrinkles.
*
"Well," Matt says, shifting in his chair slightly. "You're not stupid, and I will have this dictated to me. Unfortunately, they don't offer their files in braille. Something about cost." He nods as she fills in her line of question by the police. "Any idea what they might be digging for?"
*
"They think that I hang out with mutant freedom fighters." Jessica shrugs despite the fact that Matt can't see it. "Or am a mutant freedom fighter," her eyes roll. "Meanwhile I took a paying gig as a Private Investigator. Which is my job. Which means I find people for a fucking living." Her lips purse. "They want to put me in prison for stopping whatever they were part of. They just can'd find a reason to do it."
*
Matt nods slightly, "Well, in that case Miss Jones, I plan to have you out of here rather quick. If they wish to make your life difficult, I have ways of making their life difficult as well. If we must, we go to the press. But I can also have some of my colleagues file suit for intimidation and harrassment. To fight fire with fire, as it were. If that's something you're interested in, I mean."
*
"Whatever it takes to get out," Jessica asserts softly. "I mean," her eyes turn upwards, "I have a business to get back to. A life outside of here." She shrugs. "So threaten if you have to. I can take care of myself and say nothing, it's a fucking talent, but I want out. To get back to things."
*
"I'll begin filing suit as soon as I review the documents," Matt says. "I'll do you the favor of putting in a call for your approval before we go public." He shifts again, feeling badly for having to ask this, but he does in fact have to ask. "It's better if I know the truth, Miss Jones. And, since you are covered by confidentiality, there is no threat of you being outed. But, I must ask, are you part of some mutant freedom fighting organization?"
*
A wry lift of Jessica's eyebrows demonstrates amusement at the question. "Someone once tried to force my hand to be involved in one, but no. I'm not part of any freedom fighting organization." Her lips purse lightly and she takes a puff of her cigarette, as if contemplating something. "My boyfriend is." She levels a look at Matt.
*
Matt nods, "Well, as your lawyer, I recommend you stay as far away from him as possible. At least for the time being. If they're close, and they know they're close, they're not likely to give up until they get what they want. Both his freedom and yours could ultimately be in jeopardy. If not worse."
*
Jessica's eyes narrow slightly. Her chin drops. It might be ascent. Or something else. With Jessica it's always hard to tell. "I'll take that under advisement." Her nostrils flare. "I'm not a people person, I don't exactly welcome people into my life." Her fingers stitch together and she rests her folded hands on the table. "Just get me out. If I have to bait the police to out themselves, it'll make exposing their corruption easier." It's a dare. Although, it's entirely possible she will keep her distance from Remy.
*
"I'll start working on that right away, Miss Jones," Matt replies as he begins to buckle of up his bag. "Is there anything else I may do for you in the interim? Or any other information that you would like to share before I go?"
*
She watches Matt carefully as he goes through his routine, and Jessica is only distracted slightly. "Vanessa Fisk, Wilson Fisk's wife, was involve din this thing. The guy in charge tried to kill her in a room full of people. She had the good sense to run away before the police came. I didn't because I wanted to blow the case open."
*
Matt stops and turns his ear towards Jessica, as if something just clicked in his mind. "I'm sorry." He goes still, except Jessica will likely notice his grip on his bag tightens. "I beg your pardon?"
*
"I think whatever his going on is bigger than some missing kids," Jessica replies. "he missing kids were a component of something much bigger. And, I think, he Fisk's are guilty of something. I doubt Missus Fisk is addicted to Vigour. And if she's not? She had no business being at that party. The fellow not he stage tried to choke her out — had his hand around her throat."
*
Matt nods, "I'll look into it." What he means, is he's going to do some surveillance. Dressed in red. "Who was the guy?"
*
"He was arrested. Spiderman had him web-held against the wall," Jessica shrugs. "I don't know his name. He heads the nightmare parties and was behind this entire drug conspiracy. They used the parties to attract teens, distract them, and take them. It was smart. Anyone not taken had no memory of what happened to their friends because they were living a nightmare."
*
Matt nods again, "Good to know. Thank you." In addition to surveillance on Mrs. Fisk, it seems Daredevil might need to break /into/ jail to talk to one man, even as he is trying to get one woman out. "If you need anything, I've left my number with the guards. My associate, Foggy Nelson, will also be by to discuss things with you." He smiles faintly, "We will have you out of here in short order."
*
Jessica takes a last puff off the cigarette and then grants Matt a small nod. "Thanks." There's a long pause as she watches Matt a few more beats. And then she adds, "Just be careful. They have power."
*
Matt chuckles and he nods to her. "I know they do. But I'm from this neighborhood. They're not." Pause. "I appreciate the concern, though."
*
Jessica studies him longer than she intends and then she adds, "Just remember, their reach seems further than I'd thought. And I'm hard to surprise."
*
Matt gives her a final nod. He knows she's right, but he seems unwilling to admit it out loud. More for himself than for her. As he leaves, rather than go back to his office to read the files, he heads to the court offices to begin filing every lawsuit he can think of on Jessica's behalf. He demands to talk to someone in the DAs office to make his intentions known. He wants Jessica Jones released or charged. Immediately.
*
A few hours later, and Jessica Jones is on the streets again, all too aware that she's made someone else's radar.