Hellcat

Chapter Twenty-Two

It wasn't even a half hour later when the news of Fisk's arrest changed to news of the FBI transport carrying him being attacked. Karen snapped the laptop shut, pulling on her jacket. "Jesus, we were idiots, weren't we? Sitting here, celebrating, thinking that it would be that easy with a man like him," she chastised herself as the rest of us grabbed our belongings. "Let's get out of here before they close down the streets or something," Foggy said as we rushed from the office to hail a cab.

When the cab pulled up, Foggy opened the door and Karen jumped inside. "Get her home," Matt told his friend. "No, no, where are you going? We're not leaving you," Karen countered from the edge of the back seat. "Back to my place, make some calls, see what I can find out," Matt lied easily. "We'll drop you," Karen tried to cooers him. "You live on the other side of town. I'll be all right," Matt explained before taking a step back. "Hang on, I'll get them a cab," Foggy explained as I followed Matt.

We were barely five feet away from the cab when Matt turned to me. "Go with them, Allison," he whispered to me as Foggy came over to us. "No way in Hell. Together means together, Matt. We got Hoffman together and we are going to bring Fisk in, together," I insisted. "You got out of this life – a life of masks – for a reason," he tried to tell me. "What better reason to get back in than to make sure you don't get killed," I argued. His eyebrows were creased with worry and I knew he didn't want me to come. But I had to.

"What if you get killed?" he asked. I just smirked in response, forcing my confidence to shine through. "Do you know how many people have tried to kill me?" I asked him. He opened his mouth to either answer or protest, but I cut him off. "Either of us could get hurt, that's the risk of the job. But, the risk is nothing compared to what could happen if we don't," I insisted. Foggy just stood beside us, watching as Matt mulled over the idea in his mind. "Fine," he sighed, shaking his head.

"You guys heard what's going on out there. You can't go up against that in your black pajamas," Foggy intervened, eyes wide with worry. "We won't be," Matt insisted. Foggy tried to argue but Matt cut him off. "I know I haven't earned it, not yet anyway, but I'm asking you to trust me, Foggy. We know what we're doing," Matt insisted as a taxi came into view. I waved it over. "All right. Go be heroes. Just don't get killed doing it, okay?" Foggy said as I opened the door for Matt. He nodded to Foggy and got into the cab. I climbed in after him, closing the door. "Where ya headed?" the cabbie asked us.

When we arrived at Matt's building, he opened the cab door before pausing. "Meet me at 5th and Holden," he muttered quickly. "Okay," I replied before he climbed out of the cab and closed the door. Sighing to myself, I gave the cabbie my address. When I arrived, I paid him quickly before rushing up to my condo.

Changed and ready to fight, I went to the address Matt had told me. The building looked like it was abandoned, but I saw a soft light peaking through the boarded-up windows. When I snuck into the building, I listened for voices. "It'll do just fine. Thank you, Melvin," I heard Matt say. There was a small slamming sound before another voice spoke, fearful. "Betsy? She gonna be safe now from Mr. Fisk?" a man asked. "I made you a promise. I intend to keep it," Matt responded as I slipped into the room. Neither of the men noticed me.

There was Matt in his black outfit, and another man. Tall, slim, and bald, I could tell just by looking at him that he was afraid. But not for himself apparently. There was a case between them, each with a hand on the open lid. "A new toy?" I called out, making both men turn their attention to the shadows I hid in. Stepping into a tiny stream of light, I smirked at them, knowing Matt couldn't see it. The man with him – Melvin, I assume – stared with wide eyes.

"Wh-who are you?" the man stammered, taking a small step back from me. "Hellcat," I responded, to which Matt shook his head disapprovingly. "She's a friend, Melvin," he told the frightened man. "Is she gonna protect Betsy too?" Melvin asked, looking from Matt to me. I felt my heart ache for this man. He seemed to truly care about this Betsy woman. "Yes," I responded seriously with a nod. Melvin nodded in return as Matt closed the case between them. "Let's go," he said to me, taking the case from the table. "After you," I responded before letting him lead me back to the roof.