“It’s bad idea for you to go alone. It’s crazy out there.”
“Matt, I’m not arguing with you about this.” Karen laced up her boots.
“Frank will be fine.” Matt folded his arms over his chest. “He wouldn’t want you to…”
Karen laid her hand over his folded arms. “I understand that you are worried. But, please don’t tell me what Frank would want.”
“I know he wouldn’t want you in harm’s way.”
She zipped up her hoodie, “He also knows better than to argue with me when I’m being stubborn. My gun’s in my purse.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Matt sighed.
She snickered. “I’m hoping you won’t follow me if you know I have it.”
“Karen, please. Why do you need to go check his place out now?”
She fidgeted with her fingers, knowing full well that Matt could hear her heart rate increasing. “Frank and I have a signal…and he missed it.”
“So you've really been talking to Frank.” Matt’s tone was concerned and maybe a little jealous again. Karen couldn’t be bothered to care right now. She was worried.
She checked her gun, before putting it back into her purse. “He reached out to me first. He’s less murderous when we’re talking.”
“He seemed pretty murderous when I saw him earlier this year.”
She grabbed a bottle of water and took a long drink. “We had an argument after Foggy.”
“You’re grieving and he picks a fight, that…”
“I was defending you and he didn’t appreciate it.” She cut him off. “Just trust me, please. Everyday Frank sends me a picture of a dog, so I know he’s alive. He hasn’t sent one for two days. I need to check his place to see if he’s okay or if he's not.”
The silence was deafening before a car drove by the brakes screeching. The city was so much quieter now. Fisk's curfew, his patrolling army, and all the anarchy that was unleashed. They were part of the rebellion, but they weren't too many, yet. Daredevil had friends, they just had to figure out how to reach out safety.
After the car passed, Matt relented. “He’s got security at his place. I don't think you should just go over there."
“He gave me the code.” Karen checked the charge on her phone.
Matt swallowed, “You two really are close.”
“You said you heard our heart rates.”
“You said it was adrenaline.” He countered.
“I lied.”
"I know." Matt pulled open the door. “Stay there if it gets past curfew. I’m gonna be on the other side of the city.”
“Be as careful as you can.”
“You too.”
***
Karen stepped over the trip wire, knocked on the fake brick panel, and entered the code. She waited thirteen seconds before opening the door, Frank had been very specific with his instructions.
“Frank?” She called out quietly. “Frank, are you here?”
The quiet was unsettling. The smell of coffee ever present was dulled the machine hadn’t been on today. She walked through the spartan style spaced looking for any signs of life, there were none. His bed creaked when she sat down on it, checking under the pillow. The photo of his family was still there. He hadn’t picked up and left.
“What did you do, you freaking idiot?”
She put the photo back and checked her watch: 8:05pm. So much for going back home tonight. At least she knew how to use his coffee pot, she started the machine and sat down on his bed. Frank wasn’t one for furniture. She reclined for just a moment and closed her eyes. The last three days had been exhausting, it wasn’t like she’d be asleep for long. She felt sleep pulling at her and she surrendered to it with Frank's scent in her nostrils.
***
“You know there’s a story about a blonde girl sleeping in someone’s bed when they’re away.”
