on thin ice [karen/frank - marvel]

twenty five: analytical vulnerabilities

"Guess where we're going today?"

Frank tried to block Scott's voice out with his duvet as he headed into Frank's room. He pulled the duvet up further, shoving it over his ears and scrunching his nose up. It was cold and he wasn't used to it. Scott's voice somehow managed to worm its way through and irritate him anyway.

"What did I tell you about the "no coming into my room cause it's fucking weird" rule? Fuck off Scott it's like 8am" Frank shouted back, not bothering to look out from the duvet. He didn't want to move or pretty much do anything but he knew he had to go to work soon.

"It is 10am, and if you looked out from under your pit of despair, you'd see that I'm in the doorway with not even one foot into your room" Scott answered. One of the cons of letting Scott move in was the fact he made Frank on time to work every day. Frank was only capable of doing that on good days, and today wasn't one of those. "Fairwood Courthouse, Frank"

Frank sighed loudly, pushing the duvet off him and turning in the bed. He saw Scott in his doorway, a smile on his face. It only made Frank roll his eyes harder and grab the other pillow from the empty side of his bed to stuff back over his face when it was deemed necessary. "What about Fairwood, Scott?"

"We're looking for someone at Fairwood for the Danny Hephner Case but guess who else's office is there?" Scott asked, leaning against the door. Frank groaned at how loud and bluntly he was speaking, tempted to throw the other pillow hoping it hit him right in the face.

"Don't care, honestly" Frank replied, turning back over. He decided against throwing the pillow, placing it back on his bed before his head hit his own. He shoved the duvet back on top of him, his body exposed to the cold air sending goosebumps down his back. It throbbed.

"Joseph Pollack, Frank. Carson Morello's "lawyer"," Scott answered. "Don't supposed we get a little lost looking for Danny Hephner's lawyer and pay him a visit?"

--

Buttoning his jacket, Frank headed up the many steps leading to the courthouse. The building was ancient and crumbling in places and Frank would be lying if he didn't wish that it fell on certain lawyers and criminals that sat inside and killed them. The crooked ones. Scott immediately followed with a case file in his hand.

"What are you gonna say to him, Frank?" Scott asked, side glancing Frank as the two of them headed through the glass doors. People ran everywhere through the lobby, on their phones and holding case files. Scott eyed them as Frank marched ahead.

Frank shrugged. "Something"

"Be careful" Scott whispered, side glancing him.

"I'm always careful, Scott. You can't be a good cop if you're not" Frank replied as they approached the front desk. Frowning at the floor, Scott sighed as they stopped. "Hi. Sergeant Castle and Officer Sardarov from the 41st precinct here to see Miles Cromer about the Danny Hephner case"

"Does Mr. Cromer know of your visit?"

Frank nodded, holding his hand out to Scott to take the case file from him. He pulled a letter out, sliding it across the desk toward the receptionist. "As far as I know Camille LePaul contacted him beforehand to let him know we'd be visiting to talk about his client"

"Certainly. Mr. Cromer's office is on the second floor"

Frank dismissed himself and headed off quickly, Scott almost running to keep up. He took the case file back from Frank's hand as they headed for the stairs, tucking it under his arm neatly. Frank still had hold of the letter. "How are we supposed to know where Pollack's office is?"

Frank frowned, looking at Scott with a scoff. "You think I haven't encountered Joseph Pollack before?"

Scott slowed a little but Frank's walk was still consistent and confident as he headed up the stairs with the letter file in his hand. He had a good 20 minutes before the pain in his back returned and 3 hours before he could have more pills. It was a countdown set inside his head constantly. A countdown he didn't know he needed.