Chapter 2
From there, it’s like somebody else is steering her body. Marci grabs Demi’s hand, pulls her up and leads her back inside. Matt is somewhere behind them, gripping his cane like a club. They make it in. The guests gather around them. Somebody calls the police. What had been a glamorous party becomes a crime scene.
“I saw someone standing by the back door,” Demi says, clutching a glass of water. “I went to see if he needed something, but he — he pulled a gun on me, and dragged me outside, and then — then —”
Matt adds, “I was walking by the door when I heard a struggle. I got involved and managed to knock him out. I guess I got lucky.”
Which Marci knows isn’t the exact truth. She doesn’t say anything, though, instead simply keeping a firm hand on Foggy’s sleeve.
Matt was Daredevil. That was the thought that kept repeating in her mind, all pieces clicking together. Matt was Daredevil. Well, his dad had been a boxer, right? One of those down-to-earth, truth-justice-and-the-American-way types. It would make sense if Matt had taken on his father’s fighting skill and moral code. Matt being a violent vigilante would also explain why Foggy looked so uncomfortable whenever anyone mentioned devils in Hell’s Kitchen. His suicide attempt could be a result of that lifestyle, too: depression and fear from witnessing so much crime in his home neighborhood, perhaps.
Two months ago, Marci would have dismissed the thought entirely. Now, she was definitely sure. Just because Matt was blind didn’t mean he couldn’t kick ass — especially in the dark, where his blindness would give him an advantage over sighted criminals.
Now what to do with this information? As an officer of the court, she should turn him in. As Foggy’s girlfriend (and fiancée?), there’s no way she was turning Matt over to anyone. She’s pretty sure “our close friend is secretly a costumed crimefighter” is one of those secrets couples keep when they’re getting serious.
At least she has plausible deniability.
When the police finished taking statements, Officer Mahoney takes Demi home. Matt sticks around Marci and Foggy. He seems to want to say something, but not to say it where Marci can hear.
Well, too bad, Murdock.
“You’re welcome to come home with us, Matt,” she says. She uses her court voice, where a polite request holds a firm demand. Matt definitely recognizes it, because he gives a half-sigh and agrees.
They go to the new apartment. As they step inside, Matt’s jaw drops. It has to be different than what he’s used to, Marci muses. The suite is affordable with her and Foggy’s corporate lawyer salaries; for Matt, who probably took a oath of poverty when he got sworn to the bar, it’s hopelessly out of reach.
“You two — you rent this place?”
“We used to,” Foggy says. “After — well, while you were gone, Danny Rand bought it for us. He’s a wonderful client.”
More pieces fit into place. Danny Rand called himself the Immortal Iron Fist; it wasn’t that big a stretch to think that he and Daredevil were acquaintances. If Danny knew Daredevil’s secret identity, it would explain why the billionaire threw money at Foggy while Matt was gone. It wasn’t just one of Rand’s whims, it was a misguided attempt at comfort.
Matt laughs. “Danny. Yeah, he’s a good kid.”
“He’s one of the best clients at Hogarth and Associates. Though it’s Hogarth and Associate now.” She gives a broad smile, then finds Matt’s arm. “Can we talk for a minute?”
“Of course.”
She takes him to the guest room. “Matt, you care about Foggy, right?”
“...yes?”
“Then you should know,” she says in a low voice, “that after the Bulletin was attacked, Foggy asked me to marry him.”
Matt’s mouth makes an amusing sound as he opens and closes it repeatedly. Then he blurts out: “What.”
“You heard me. Ask him yourself. My point is, Foggy considers you part of his family. If I marry him, I’ll practically be your in-law. So, as your possible future in-law, I want you to know: I know you’re Daredevil.”
“Foggy told you.”
“Nope. I figured it out when you were fighting in the alley. Consider it your good luck, Murdock, because I can keep a secret. Of course, this isn’t a kinky sex club kind of secret. This can have consequences. And if there’s anything else that might bring those consequences down on Foggy and me, you will regret it. Now. Is there anything else I should know?”
Matt tilts his head, like he’s listening for something in another room. “Your friend, Demi, she was — she wasn’t attacked by coincidence. She was targeted.”
Now it’s Marci’s turn to say “What? How do you know?”
“I can — I hear things. You know, because I’m blind. I mean, because I’ve been blind since I was a kid, so my senses are — well, you get the idea. When I was near the door, I heard the mugger talking to someone else. He mentioned her by name.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Demi does trademark law. She doesn’t do anything worth targeting her for.”
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot we don’t know yet.” He shakes his head. “I’m going to ask our firm’s investigator to look into her.”
“Karen Page? Will she do it?”
“Yeah, she will. And Foggy’s listening in from outside the door,” Matt says.
Foggy opens the door and walks in, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just wanted to make sure you two weren’t going to kill each other.”
“Trust me, Foggybear, if I’m going to kill Murdock I’ll let you know.”