Earth-717: Daredevil Vol 1

Chapter 12: Without Fear

Rachel scowled as she burst into the room, with Sarah at her side.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?"

"Trial's over," said Foggy. "Jacob's going free. Sounds like you just got a loss on your record."

Rachel folded her arms as she looked at Dakota, Matt and Foggy.

"What happened?"

Dakota smirked.

"We caught the real guy. Lawrence Cranston. He's in there right now."

Dakota pointed towards the interview room. Larry was inside, with his heavily bandaged hands chained to the desk. Brett was with him, writing down some details on a document.

"My partner's making some final adjustments to his statement," said Dakota. "Cranston has confessed to the murders of Jennifer Leigh, Stacy Krisman, one police officer and several other women, as well as the kidnapping and attempted murder of Karen Page. We found multiple bodies at a condemned building on 48th Street, where he was arrested. All of the bodies match his M.O. The 15th Precinct is combing over the building now, gathering enough evidence to lock his ass behind bars for three lifetimes even if he didn't confess."

Rachel clenched her jaw as she glared at Larry.

"He also confirmed how he managed to enter the apartments of both victims," continued Dakota. "He worked at the same Oscorp chemical facility as Griffin, explaining the toxicant. But he was also sneaking into the building next door. Mack's Mattresses. He cut holes in the bottom of mattresses the victims had ordered and hid himself inside. That was how he smuggled himself into the apartments without leaving any signs of forced entry."

"This case is over," said Matt, holding his cane with both hands. "We've already contacted Judge Lewis. Jacob Griffin is being released pending final approval of Mister Cranston's statement."

Rachel sneered. Sarah gulped.

"Oooh," said Foggy. "That's gotta sting. Don't worry. Maybe you could balance the scales again if you prosecute Cranston? I mean, he's more than likely going to plead guilty, so it shouldn't be that hard. I'm sure you can handle it."

"You think this is a joke?" asked Rachel.

"No," said Matt. "We think this is justice."

Rachel flared her nostrils.

"You may think that today is a victory for Nelson & Murdock. But this is just one case, and someday, you might find that the eventual cost of this will far outweigh the immediate gain. We'll see each other again. I'll make sure of it."

Rachel and Sarah then turned around and walked away.

"I'll go and check to see how Brett is doing," said Dakota.

Dakota then entered the room, closing the door behind her. Matt sighed. Foggy looked at his friend before gently punching him in the shoulder.

"Hey," he said. "This is a happy moment, right? You don't look happy."

"I just, I don't know how to explain . . . ."

"Hey, it's alright. No need."

Matt raised an eyebrow.

"Dakota called me. Told me the whole story."

"The whole . . . .?"

"Yeah. Said that Cranston called you and threatened you, told you about him taking Karen. You freaked out, thinking you could do something, before you put your head back on straight and told Dakota. I mean, it's alright, I get it. You wanted to help, and that's good. But Dakota's a cop. Should probably leave the whole beating up the bad guys thing to her."

Matt chuckled.

"Heh. Yeah. Sorry. It's not like I'm a hero."

Foggy smiled and put his hand on Matt's shoulder.

"Yeah, you are. Lawyers are heroes too. I bet Jacob would agree with that."

"Yeah. Bet he would."

"Come on. We got things to do, partner. Karen could probably use a visit, and Jacob needs the good news."

After retrieving Karen from the hospital, and her insisting that she was okay, the three members of Nelson & Murdock returned to the court house. Jacob Griffin was officially released, and he changed from his inmate uniform back into his civilian clothes. They told him about Larry, and about how he had confessed to the murders after his capture.

"Still can't believe it," said Jacob, as they walked down the steps of the court house. "Larry Cranston. I always considered him a friend."

The group stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Jacob sighed.

"Shows what I know."

"None of this was your fault," said Karen. "You couldn't have known. What's important is that you're free, and you're innocent. We're just happy we could help you out of this."

"And you did. All of you. Thank you all so much."

"It's what we do," said Foggy.

"Doesn't change that she's gone," said Jacob, frowning. "But at least now, she can rest. And maybe someday I can put my life back together."

Matt held out his hand.

"We wish you the best of luck, Jacob. If you ever need further legal counsel, don't hesitate."

Jacob shook Matt's hand.

"Just don't forget the cheque," said Foggy, chuckling.

Jacob smiled.

"I won't."

Jacob then turned around and started walking down the street. Matt, Karen and Foggy all turned to each other.

"Gotta say, Murdock," said Foggy. "I think this is the start of something beautiful."

"Certainly hope so."

"I just hope not every case we take on involves me getting kidnapped by some psycho," said Karen. "Not the kind of workplace hazard I was expecting. And uh, once Jacob's cheque clears . . . ."

"You'll get your share, don't worry," said Matt. "We keep our promises. I'll make sure Foggy doesn't blow it all on hot dogs or something."

"I like hot dogs," said Karen, shrugging.

Foggy smiled and pointed at Karen.

"Thank you! See, this is my kind of woman!"

Her arms folded, Rachel silently stood inside her office. She stared out at the city as the sun disappeared over the horizon. She lost track of time as she fumed, knowing that the outcome of the Jacob Griffin case was going to have an adverse effect on her campaign platform. Then, she was suddenly jostled out of her thoughts by her phone ringing.

She pulled her cellphone out of her pocket and held it to her ear.

"Rachel Dreyfuss."

"Rachel."

"Senator. What can I do for you?"

"Please, call me Randolph. I called as soon as I heard about the outcome of the Griffin case. That had to be something of a blow. I know you wanted to look good right before the election."

Rachel sighed.

"Yes, well, that's not going to happen now."

"Don't sound so defeated, Rachel. That's not the woman I know. The one who would throttle anyone who got in her way."

Rachel scoffed.

"Why don't you just go ahead and ask me whatever it is you called to ask me?"

"I want to have another meeting. Dinner this time. However, we're going to be joined by someone I want you to meet. Someone who has helped me, and now, I believe, he can help you."

"Help me with what? Who is this man?"

"You'll find out. Let's just say, that if you're still interested in being District Attorney, you'll strongly consider his offer."

Rachel narrowed her eyes.

Letting out a deep breath, Karen stepped into her apartment. After locking the door, she placed her purse on the floor and headed for the bathroom. She took a long, hot shower, crying the entire time. After drying herself off and putting on more comfortable clothes, she returned to the living room and stared down at her purse.

Karen sighed as she reached into it, finding the heroin bag she had purchased from Blackie after she left the court house. Rubbing her forehead, she then walked over to the cupboard where she kept her needle.

Matt was in the middle of meditating when he heard a knock at his door. After standing up, he made his way to the entrance. He knew who would be waiting for him on the other side.

"Dakota."

"Can we talk?"

Matt nodded before gesturing for her to enter. He closed the door behind her.

"Dakota, listen, I can . . . ."

"I don't need you to explain. I don't really think you could. Not in a way that will make any sense to me. Like, how you could do all the things you do when you're . . . ."

"I am blind, Dakota. I am. But when I lost my sight, my other senses, they . . . . improved. It's why I can do what I do."

Dakota shook her head.

"Unbelievable. I don't care how you pull all that parkour shit off, Matt. You lied to me. I told you about Ricky. What happened when I found out the truth. How could you keep that from me?"

"How was I supposed to tell you?! Oh, hey Dakota, sorry about your brother, but by the way, I happen to jump across rooftops at night as a costumed vigilante! You wanna let me know how I'm supposed to bring that up?!"

Dakota closed her eyes. Matt frowned.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"You don't have to apologize. But I can't be with you if this is what you do. I can't do it."

"Dakota, please. Don't, don't walk away. I know we can have something good. Something real."

"We did, Matt. We could have. But not like this."

Dakota walked back to the door. She was about to leave when she looked over her shoulder.

"Your secret's safe with me," she said. "I promise."

And with that, Dakota was gone. While Matt spent some time lamenting her walking out of his life this way, he was also more convinced than ever that being Daredevil was the right choice. He had stopped Mister Fear. He had saved Karen. And as Matt ran across the rooftops of Hell's Kitchen, he remembered another name the press gave him that he finally felt he could embrace.

The Man Without Fear.

THE END

Daredevil Will Return

Epilogue

Turk, along with two of his crew, were dragged into an office by security staff. The office was in a luxurious building, and the decor inside indicated that it was owned by a man with refined and expensive tastes. Turk noticed that there were several pieces of art hanging on the walls, including one he recognized from when he had tried to kidnap a woman from the Scene Contempo Gallery.

"On your knees."

One of the security officers kicked Turk in the leg, and he fell to his knees. The other two men went down without hesitation. Turk looked forward to see Vanessa, the woman he had tried to kidnap, standing before him. She was next to a tall, imposing man with a bald head, a black suit and the kind of glare that could break a man without a single word.

Turk gulped as he looked up at the man before him. He fiddled with the cufflink on his left sleeve for a moment before he spoke.

"You tried to take something from me. I don't appreciate that."

"Yo man," said Turk. "We was just followin' orders. Take it up with Don Rigoletto man! We, we work for him! D-Didn't know we were kidnapping your lady!"

Vanessa sneered.

"I know who you work for," said the man. "Worked, I should say. Mister Rigoletto is no longer with us. He suffered greatly before passing. He paid the price for trying to hurt Vanessa."

Turk and his friends glanced at each other in fear.

"But, you need not share his fate. I'm looking to, to expand my operations. You would continue your work, but now you would work for me."

Turk smiled.

"Sure thing, boss man! Anything you need. You're aces in my books! What do I call ya?"

"Call me . . . . the Kingpin."