Hellcat

Chapter 86

Matt ripped the hood off of the man we had just kidnapped. We wore our suits, the man kneeling and bound before us, his expression smug. "Kidnapping me will get you nothing," he tried to tell us. "What is Fisk planning?" Matt asked, voice eerily calm. "Planning?" the man – whose name was Manning – asked us. "We scouted his hotel. Extra security. Preparations for some big event. What is it?" I asked, slowly pacing around the two men in a circle. I was restless tonight. I wanted this over with.

"What Fisk will do to me is infinitely worse –" Manning didn't get a chance to finish that thought as Matt elbowed him in the jaw. "Things are about to get very bad for you," I warned, feigning boredom. "What is Fisk planning?" Matt asked a bit firmer, enunciating each word as I pulled a knife from my thigh holster and began to fiddle with it a step behind and to the side of Matt.

"He's getting married," Manning huffed out. "Marriage?" Matt asked, almost in disbelief. "He's been planning the ceremony for months. He's gonna charm the press and the public and make Hell's Kitchen love him again," Manning huffed out. "That must mean Vanessa is back in the country," I muttered to Matt.

"You're gonna tell us everything. I wanna know where everyone is going to be," Matt ordered, dropping to his knees so he was eye-level with Manning. "Anyone who could stop us." Manning's expression turned to confusion at Matt's words. "Stop you?" Manning asked for clarification. "From killing Fisk," I offered plainly. He looked back at me before returning his gaze to Matt. "He controls all of the FBI agents who are guarding him. the hotel is a fortress," Manning almost seemed to warn. "Is that a no?" Matt asked him. "You'll never get to him."

"Sounds like a no," I called out. Matt grabbed Manning by the lapels of his jacket, tossing him over the edge of the building. Of course we foresaw using this tactic, having tied a rope to his ankle. The sickening snap of his leg breaking and popping out of socket sent a slight shiver through me, bringing back dark memories that I forced away.

Matt sat on the edge of the building while I dropped to my knees, leaning over the edge, knife still in hand. "I can give you something better!" Manning screamed up at us. "We're listening," Matt called out. "I witnessed Ms. Marianna order the murder of Agent Nadeem. And Fisk ordered many," Manning shouted up to us through groans and gasps of pain. "Agent Winn. Julie Barnes! I could testify!" Yeah, cause that worked so well for the last two witnesses. "We know about Winn and Nadeem. Who's Julie Barnes?" I called down, fiddling with my knife.

Matt and I spent the whole night doing surveillance. Eventually, in the hours just before dawn, we went back to his apartment and managed to get a few hours of sleep. Or, at least, I did. Matt was awake when I fell asleep, and he was awake when I woke up. I'd hoped he would manage to get some sleep, but I knew him too well for that.

"I'm coming for you, Dex. And my suit," I heard Matt warn over the phone we stole off of Manning last night. He was out in the living room, his suit back on. He'd gone out without me. I tugged the bedding along with me as I moved to the large doorway between the bedroom and living room. Matt's head tilted slightly as I sighed, leaning against the doorway. He knew I was there.

Putting the phone on speaker, he moved over to where I stood so I could listen in. "Where's Felix?" Agent Poindexter asked on the other end. "You'll find out soon enough," Matt responded vaguely. "I've got some free time now. Why don't we meet up?" Dex taunted. "I have a question," Matt responded instead, ignoring the taunts.

"Did you enjoy the feeling you got when you killed those birdies? Is that why you're still killing?" I glanced up at Matt with confused eyes. "Birdies?" Dex asked, mimicking my own question. "The ones you killed with rocks. I bet it felt good at first, right? Then it's never the same after that. What do you think Dr. Mercer would say if she could see you now?" I wasn't sure where Matt's line of questioning was going, but I enjoyed the idea of getting this asshole riled up.