Hells Messenger

Detective Hoffman sat across from Fiona and Foggy in the dimly lit interrogation room, flipping through a file. The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, casting a harsh glow over the table between them. Fiona sat back in her chair, arms crossed, while Foggy leaned forward slightly, his jaw tight.

Hoffman finally looked up. “Miss Nelson, can you explain what you were doing near the site of the explosion that night?”

Fiona nodded, keeping her expression neutral. “I was working. I’m a journalist. I was researching a story.”

Hoffman raised an eyebrow. “A story?”

“Yes,” she said plainly.

“A story that just so happened to put you in the same place as a terrorist?”

“She’s not answering that,” Foggy cut in quickly, before Fiona could say anything. He turned to her, lowering his voice. “Don’t answer that.”

Fiona let out a slow breath, looking back at Hoffman. “I was following up on a lead. The Russian mob has had a lot of suspicious activity lately, and I was documenting what I saw.”

Hoffman leaned back in his chair. “And the masked man? The one who, as you must be aware, was also at the scene?”

Fiona met his gaze evenly. “I don’t know him.”

Hoffman exhaled, flipping through the file again before pulling out a printed still from the security footage. He turned it so both of them could see it.

The image showed Fiona standing next to the masked man, surrounded by unconscious cops.

Foggy groaned and ran a hand down his face.

“This doesn’t look like just being in the same place,” Hoffman said. “Looks like a conversation to me.”

“She doesn’t know him,” Foggy jumped in before Fiona could answer. “She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she had nothing to do with any of this.”

“Then why didn’t she come forward sooner?” Hoffman countered.

“Because I didn’t do anything wrong!” Fiona said, exasperated.

“She doesn’t have to answer that,” Foggy added quickly.

Hoffman sighed, setting the file down. “Miss Nelson, if there’s anything you want to tell me about him, now’s the time. Maybe you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you’re making yourself look bad by refusing to cooperate.”

“I am cooperating,” Fiona said firmly. “I told you—I don’t know him. I didn’t plan to be there when he showed up. I was doing my job. That’s it.”

Hoffman watched her for a long moment, then looked at Foggy.

“You’re her lawyer?”

“Damn right I am,” Foggy said. “And unless you’re charging her with something, I think we’re done here.”

Hoffman exhaled, then tapped his fingers against the table before closing the file. “For now.”

Fiona glanced at Foggy, who gave her a pointed look before nodding toward the door.

“Let’s go,” he muttered, standing up.

Fiona followed without another word, her heart still hammering as they stepped out of the interrogation room.

Fiona stepped out of the precinct with Foggy right behind her, the afternoon air hitting her like a wave. She let out a sharp breath, tension still coiled in her chest from the interrogation. They walked in silence down the sidewalk, the low hum of traffic filling the space where words should have been.

She glanced at Foggy, who had his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw tight, staring straight ahead.

“Foggy,” she tried, her voice careful.

No response.

She sighed, trying again. “Come on, are you really going to be mad at me all day?”

Still nothing.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, great. You’re giving me the silent treatment? What are we, five?”

Foggy exhaled heavily through his nose, like he was barely keeping himself together. Finally, he stopped walking, turning to face her.

“Out of all the guys in New York,” he said, shaking his head, “why him?”

Fiona blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“Why Matt?” Foggy repeated, his voice quiet but full of something heavy.

Fiona opened her mouth, then closed it. She hadn’t expected that to be what set him off. But now that the question was out there, something inside her cracked open.

And suddenly, she couldn’t stop.

“I didn’t pick him, Foggy,” she said, voice unsteady. “It wasn’t some random decision, like I just pointed at him and went, ‘yep, that one.’”

Foggy just watched her, waiting.

She swallowed. “I’ve liked him since the first time we met. Since you dragged me to some stuffy law school event and introduced me to your really nice, really charming best friend, and I thought, ‘God, this guy is so out of my league.’” She let out a breathy laugh. “And I tried to ignore it because he was your friend. I told myself I wouldn’t—because I knew you’d react like this—but it didn’t matter. It didn’t go away.”

Foggy’s expression didn’t change, but something in his shoulders shifted, like he was bracing himself.

Fiona ran a hand through her hair, trying to slow down, but she couldn’t stop now.

“He’s sweet, Foggy. He’s genuinely sweet, not in some fake, charming way—he just is. He was always so nice to me, even when I was just your annoying little sister crashing your study sessions. And when I’m with him, I don’t have to try to be anything, I can just be myself. And it’s easy.” She let out a breath. “And I really, really like him. And I think this could actually lead to something real.”

She hesitated, then added, softer, “There’s a reason you picked him, Foggy. There’s a reason he’s your best friend, your business partner. Because Matt is a good guy. You know he is.”

Foggy looked away, exhaling sharply through his nose.

Fiona waited, her heart pounding.

Finally, after a long pause, he muttered, “Yeah. I know.”

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Foggy shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face before looking at her again, his voice quieter now. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, Fi.”

Fiona smiled softly. “I know. But I’m a big girl, Foggy. I can handle myself.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

She nudged him lightly. “Are we good?”

Foggy gave her a long look before sighing. “Yeah, we’re good. But if he breaks your heart, I will sue him for emotional distress.”

Fiona grinned. “Duly noted.”

• • • • • • •

Fiona stepped up to Matt’s apartment door, the cool night air nipping at her skin as she knocked. “Matty, it’s me!” she called, waiting for the familiar sound of footsteps inside.

Nothing.

She frowned, knocking again. “You know, if you’re gonna out us to my brother, the least you could do is answer the door.”

A second later, the door swung open—but before she could step inside, Matt slipped out, shutting it behind him.

That was weird.

Her brows pulled together. “Oh… um, is everything alright?”

“Now’s not really a good time,” he said quickly.

She blinked. “Okay… do you have someone over?”

“Yeah,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Old friend.”

Fiona tilted her head, eyeing him. “Oh. Okay.” She wasn’t jealous exactly, but the way he was acting—like he didn’t want her to see inside—definitely raised some questions. Still, she shook it off. “Well, I just… I wanted to talk about—”

“I know,” Matt said, cutting her off. “And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blurted it out like that.”

“Then why did you?” she asked, searching his face.

Matt exhaled, glancing back toward his door before turning to her again. His shoulders were tense, like he was carrying something heavy.

“After that night—the bombings, Foggy and Elena getting hurt…” he trailed off, his voice quieter now. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if you… if something happened to you.”

Fiona opened her mouth, but he wasn’t done.

“I can’t lose you, Fiona. Okay? I can’t.” His fingers flexed at his sides like he wanted to reach for her but was holding himself back. “And then Foggy started going off about your exes and I just—had to tell him. I want to tell everybody.”

Fiona let out a slow breath, staring down at her shoes for a second before mumbling, “Harry.”

Matt’s brows furrowed. “What?”

“The DJ who owes me money,” she said. “His name was Harry.”

Matt huffed a small, amused breath. “We should sue him.”

Fiona laughed, finally looking up at him again. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it. You know any good lawyers?”

“Two, actually,” he said, lips twitching. “Very tough. Professional.”

“Hmmm. Well, I can’t really afford a lawyer right now…” she teased, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I think one of them might be persuaded to take another form of payment,” he murmured, his hands settling on her waist.

Fiona smiled before pressing her lips to his, the tension melting away as his arms pulled her closer.

After a long moment, she grinned against his mouth. “Are you sure I can’t come in?” she mumbled.

Matt sighed, dropping his forehead against hers. “Trust me, I’d much rather have you in my apartment than this guy.”

She giggled, kissing him one last time before pulling away. “Okay. Should I say hi? I don’t wanna be rude.”

Matt shook his head. “No, it’s fine. He won’t be in town long anyway.”

She arched an eyebrow but didn’t press. “Alright. Oh, but you should probably talk to Foggy. I think I’ve talked him out of killing you.”

Matt chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll talk to him.”

“Good,” she said, squeezing his hand before pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Bye, Matty.”

“Bye,” he murmured, lingering as she stepped back. “Get home safe.”

• • • • • • •

Fiona was only a few blocks from home when she pulled out her phone, dialing Karen’s number as she walked. The city was quieter at this hour, the streets empty except for the occasional car rolling by, headlights flashing against the wet pavement.

The call rang twice before Karen picked up. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Are you busy?” Fiona asked, tucking her free hand into her pocket to fight off the chill in the air. “Wanna come over?”

Karen hummed like she was considering. “Yeah, sure. You got wine?”

“Obviously.” Fiona smiled. “I’ll see you—” She cut herself off mid-sentence, her steps slowing.

A man was standing on the sidewalk across the street, facing her. Watching her.

Something about the way he stood—still, patient—sent a cold shiver up her spine.

Her fingers curled tighter around her phone as she reached into her bag, gripping her pepper spray.

“Karen,” she said, lowering her voice. “There’s some creepy guy just standing there watching me.”

Karen’s voice sharpened. “Fiona, where are you?”

Before she could answer, an arm wrapped around her from behind.

Fiona screamed as she was yanked backward, dragged into the alley. Her phone slipped from her hand, clattering onto the pavement.

"Fiona? Fiona!" Karen's voice shouted from the speaker, but she couldn’t reach it.

She thrashed, but the man was strong, shoving her against the brick wall. A second man—the one she had seen on the sidewalk—walked toward her, his expression calm, calculated.

"Alright," he said, voice low. "You tell us about your friend in the mask, and I don’t have to hurt you."

“Get off me!” Fiona shouted, her pulse hammering. She raised the pepper spray, aiming for the man holding her—

But he was faster.

The man tightened his grip on Fiona’s wrist, his breath hot against her skin. “Come on, sweetheart. Just tell us what we wanna know. Who is he? Where can we find him?”

“I don’t know!” Fiona snapped, twisting in his grasp. “And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

He sighed like she was annoying him before tightening his hold. “Wrong answer.”

Fiona gritted her teeth, then drove her knee up—hard.

The man let out a strangled grunt as he stumbled back, clutching himself in pain.

Before she could make a break for it, the second guy shoved her hard, sending her sprawling onto the cold pavement. Her palms scraped against the rough ground, but before either man could grab her again—

A baseball came flying through the air and smacked the second guy right in the head.

The man crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.

Fiona snapped her head up, eyes wide.

Standing at the entrance of the alley, gripping a baseball bat, was Foggy.

“Foggy?” she gasped, pushing herself up onto her elbows. “Oh my god, what are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” he shot back, gripping the bat tighter.

“I live here!” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, well, I was coming to talk to you!” he huffed, glancing at the groaning men on the ground.

One of them started to push himself up—

Fiona grabbed her pepper spray off the pavement and sprayed him right in the face.

The man screamed, clutching his eyes.

Foggy’s jaw dropped. “Jesus, Fi.”

She shot him a glare. “Foggy, I can take care of myself.”

“Let’s discuss thataway from the maniacs, okay?” he said, waving her toward the street.

Fiona groaned but grabbed her purse and phone, hurrying off.

Behind them, the other guy started to stir.

Without missing a beat, Foggy turned and whacked him over the head with his baseball bat.

Fiona let out a breath, shaking her head as she led the way out of the alley.

As they walked toward her apartment, she finally looked at him. “What are you even doing with that? You don’t play baseball.”

“I was down at Chelsea Piers,” he said, still gripping the bat. She scoffed, unlocking her apartment door. 

It didn’t take long for Karen to show up at Fiona’s apartment, practically barreling through the door the second it opened.

“Jesus, Fiona, are you okay?” Karen rushed, eyes scanning her up and down. “I heard you scream, and then you just-”

“I’m fine,” Fiona assured her, waving a hand, though the adrenaline was still buzzing in her veins. “I was… sort of attacked by these two guys. They wanted to know who the man in the mask was.”

Karen’s eyes widened. “Oh my god. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Foggy showed up and threw a baseball at them.”

Karen snapped her head toward Foggy. “You what?”

“It was very badass,” Foggy said, crossing his arms smugly.

Fiona rolled her eyes. Karen shook her head before focusing back on Fiona. “Do you have any idea who they were?”

“No,” Fiona said, exhaling as she ran a hand through her hair. “I didn’t recognize them. But I am adding them to my board.”

Foggy’s brows pulled together. “Your board?”

Without a word, Fiona walked into her bedroom, returned with a large corkboard, and leaned it against the TV stand.

Foggy took one look at it and groaned. “Oh, of course. Of course you have a murder board.”

“It’s not a murder board,” Fiona said defensively.

“It has red string and everything,” Foggy deadpanned.

Fiona huffed. “Okay, look. This is everything Karen and I have put together so far. And it all leads up… here.”

She traced one of the tangled lines with her finger, landing at a single playing card pinned to the top of the board.

Foggy leaned in. “The King of Diamonds?”

“Yeah,” Fiona said, nodding. “Whoever’s at the top—controlling all of this.”

Foggy rubbed his face, exhaustion settling in. “Do you have any idea who he is?”

“No,” Karen admitted. “But we think he might have been behind Union Allied.”

“And there’s someone else,” Fiona added. She grabbed another playing card from the deck sitting on the coffee table and pinned it to the board.

It was the Jack of Spades.

“The man in the mask,” she said.

Foggy squinted at the board. “You think he’s working for the king?”

“No. There’s no way he is,” Fiona said immediately.

Karen shook her head. “Yeah, he never would’ve helped expose Union Allied if he was.”

Foggy exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Great. So now that just leaves the million-dollar question…”

Fiona’s eyes locked on the board, a fire burning behind them.

“Who the hell are these people?”

• • • • • • •

It was early the next morning, and Fiona sat at Nelson & Murdock with Foggy and Karen, the three of them huddled together in discussion.

“Absolutely not. We’re not telling Matt,” Fiona said firmly, arms crossed.

“You know what he would say,” Karen pointed out.

“That we’re awesome?” Foggy offered.

“No,” Karen scoffed. “That we’re being stupid.”

“I prefer the term foolhardily provocative,” Foggy said with a grin.

Fiona rolled her eyes. “Where is all this enthusiasm when I’m working on a story?”

“Well, I’m working this one with you,” Foggy said. “So I can keep an eye on you.”

Fiona shot him a look but didn’t argue.

“Okay, let’s say we keep Matt in the dark. How long do you think—” Foggy started but abruptly cut himself off as the office door swung open. He barely missed a beat before saying, “I should grow my hair? Matt, what’s your take on that? Mullet? Full ponytail?”

Fiona, however, wasn’t distracted. The second she spotted the two small white bandages above Matt’s right eyebrow,her stomach dropped.

“Oh my god! What happened to you?” she asked, rushing over to him.

Matt barely reacted. “It’s nothing.” Then his focus shifted, his expression unreadable. “Don’t tell me what?”

“Damn it,” Foggy muttered under his breath.

“You heard that?” Karen asked.

“Guy’s like a bat. Not blind like a— I mean, you know, with the hearing,” Foggy tried to recover.

“Bats aren’t blind, Foggy,” Matt said dryly.

Fiona turned to him, frowning. “They’re not?”

“It’s a myth,” Matt replied.

“Oh. Well, the more you know,” Fiona said, before abruptly pivoting. “Anyway, I should go—”

“Fiona,” Matt cut her off. “What don’t you want me to know?”

“What? Nothing. There’s nothing,” she said quickly, far too quickly. “Why wouldn’t we want you to know anything? It’s nothing.”

Karen let out a quiet, exasperated, “Jesus Christ.”

“Shut up,” Fiona hissed at her. “I don’t like being put on the spot!”

“Fiona,” Matt said, more gently now. “You can tell me.”

She sighed, knowing she wasn’t getting out of this. “They’re helping me with a story about Union Allied.”

Foggy threw his hands up. “Remind me to keep you off the witness stand.”

“That’s not fair! It’s easier to lie to you than him,” Fiona defended.

“Wow,” Foggy deadpanned.

Matt, however, wasn’t amused. “You can’t be doing that.”

“What?” Fiona frowned.

“Karen signed legal papers and took money to leave it alone,” Matt reminded her.

“No,” Karen corrected. “I signed papers saying that I wouldn’t go public. And I won’t.”

“Yeah, that’s my job,” Fiona said. “And I happen to be very good at my job. I mean, I am never wrong about this stuff. Union Allied, or whatever they’re calling themselves now… I’ve looked into cases like this before. They harass people exactly like your client, Elena, into giving up their homes so they can build condos that no one can afford—”

“And what do you think is gonna happen when they find out what you’re up to?” Matt cut in, voice tight.

“We already took care of it,” Foggy said.

Fiona whipped her head toward him. “Foggy!” she hissed.

Matt’s brows furrowed. “Took care of what?”

Fiona exhaled sharply. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to overreact.”

“What happened?” Matt demanded, his patience already worn thin.

Fiona hesitated, fiddling with her nails. “Well… last night, when I was walking home, there was… an incident.”

Matt’s jaw tightened. “An incident?”

“There were these two guys—”

Matt let out a deep sigh, hands landing on his hips.

“Don’t freak out!” Fiona said quickly, holding up a hand.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low—controlled, but barely.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Foggy showed up with a baseball bat,” she admitted.

“I was coming from Chelsea Piers,” Foggy added, like that was an important clarification.

Matt didn’t even look at him. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. There are things out there, Fiona. You can’t keep doing this. You’re gonna get yourself hurt.”

“I get that, Matt!” Fiona snapped.

Karen and Foggy both froze, eyes wide. They’d never heard her react like that before.

Fiona took a step forward, frustration clear in every movement. “I know the risk. But this is my job. And I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve been doing it for longer than you’ve even been a lawyer. And I’ve helped people! Maybe not in the same way you have, but I have. And that means something to me. I get that you don’t take what I do seriously—”

Matt’s head snapped toward her. “Is that what you think?”

“That’s how you act!” she shot back. “Like because I’m not writing for The Bulletin or The Times, it doesn’t mean as much. But it does to me.”

“I know what it means,” Matt said, his voice firm but not unkind. “I know you’re trying to do the right thing here, but we have to be smart about this.”

Fiona folded her arms. “We?”

“First rule,” Matt continued. “No more skulking around, asking to get hurt. We do this, it’s going to be on our turf. The legal system.”

Fiona let out a short, humorless laugh. “You’re giving me rules?”

“I just want you to be safe. And I want to protect this firm and everything we’re trying to build here.”

Fiona stared at him for a long moment, then exhaled sharply. “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing I don’t work for you.”

She grabbed her bag and stormed out.