Chapter Eleven: Visiting Frank
Ginny's P.O.V
I stayed with Foggy that night. I guess Matt and Karen went out on a date. I went to school while Foggy went to work.
"That Frank guy sounds pretty cool," I heard. I stopped in the hallway to listen.
"What do you mean?"
"He knows guns and all that crap. And he killed like how many people?"
"He's a criminal," I heard.
I walked away from the hallway and went through the longer way of getting to my class.
After school, I walked out of my school to go to the bus. I walked in and put on my headphones. I listened to my music as I waited to go to the office.
Once I got off the bus, I went straight to the office. I walked upstairs to see a man walk out of it. I looked at him in confusion as I walked inside.
"I'm here," I said out loud.
"Don't get too comfortable. We might be going out," I heard Matt said.
"Alright," I said. I saw that they were in an office talking. I saw Karen walk out before smiling at me.
"Hi, Karen," I said.
"Hey, Ginny. How was school?" She asked me.
"I heard kids talk about Frank," I told her.
"What did they say?"
"He's a criminal but there are some kids who think he's pretty cool," I told her.
"Karen. Ginny, grab your stuff. We're going to the hospital," Foggy yelled out.
"Why are we going to the hospital?" I asked.
"We're going to see Frank," Karen told me. I looked up at her and smiled a bit.
"You can't have cell phones in this area, sir!" I heard a nurse yell as soon as we walked inside.
"What's going on?" Matt asked.
"Reporters," Foggy told him. I held onto Matt as he held onto me protectively.
"Looks like every outlet in town wants a word with Castle," Karen said before walking to the front desk.
"Or a report on who does. Come on," Foggy said. We started to walk to the front door until a nurse stopped us.
"You press?" She asked us.
" Uh, no, attorneys and intern," Matt said. Foggy and I started to take out some sort of ID.
"IDs?" I showed them my school card making the guard look at me. Karen came over and showed her ID.
"Sorry, no one under eighteen can be behind these doors," The cop said.
"Oh," I frowned.
"She's helping us on this case. Like we said, intern," Matt said.
"Sorry. Intern or not, no one under eighteen," The cop said.
"This is Hell's Kitchen. I'm not too safe being out here alone with grown adults. Also, he's my god father," I said pointing to Matt.
"Can we just make one exception. We'll keep a tight leash on her," Foggy said. I gave the cop and nurse a sad and disappointed look that I knew could work on anyone.
"Fine. But I need to check your backpack," He told me.
"This much spotlight concern anyone else? I mean, we're about to step onto a big proscenium stage here. And how do I know what proscenium means? Because I did theater in summer camp which is exactly the kind of thing that these reporters will find out if they start digging into me," Foggy said as we were in the elevator. The doors opened and we turned around.
"Come on, jazz hands," Matt said as we walked out. A cop stopped us making me hold onto Matt.
"What the hell are you three doing here? And why is there a kid here?" A man in a suit asked.
"Brett! You're wearing a tie, and it's not a clip-on," Foggy said.
"This ain't a good time, Foggy," The man told him.
"How'd you get babysitting duty, Sergeant?" Foggy asked.
"A detective sergeant now."
"A promotion?" Karen said.
"Uh, just lucky. Top dogs like the press of a good collar."
"Yeah, and the cops that get 'em. Congratulations, Detective," Matt said.
"I'm sorry, but the area is restricted beyond this point. You can't be here. Especially the young girl holding onto Matt," The detective said.
" What if we have business with Frank Castle?" Foggy asked him.
"Business? Guy's barely conscious."
"Our firm wants to represent him," Matt said.
"Man's already got a lawyer," Brett said.
"Yeah, we met that benchwarmer. Not the freshest fish the city could've drummed up, but he's in the running," Foggy said.
"Brett, we feel Nelson and Murdock is better equipped to represent Mr. Castle's best interests. Certainly over that of his current legal counsel," Matt told Brett.
" Look, I don't ask questions, but every firm in the city's passed this one by. Must be a reason. You're chasing the wrong ambulance," Brett told us.
"DA wants the death penalty," I heard Matt whisper.
"The public defender is all but ready to roll over and help," Karen said.
"They'll even extradite Castle out of New York if that's what it takes," Matt said.
"So we thought he'd respond to our strategy of, you know, keeping him alive," Foggy told him.
"Come over here. Look, none of this is my problem. But all I know is, you go up against this DA and lose? The only funeral to attend will be your firm's. You're talkin' career suicide," Brett told us.
"If we walk away we're letting him die," Matt told him.
"I'm not sure if I want her in," Brett said looking down at me. I looked over at Matt and tugged on his jacket. He leaned down enough for me to whisper into his ear.
"Am I allowed to tell him that my mom and him dated and that I have stuff on Frank?" I asked him.
"Yes. Make sure you tell him that you're our intern," Matt told me. I looked back at Brett and smiled.
"I'm their intern and I know things about Frank personally," I told him.
"She's harmless, Brett," Foggy told him.
"Alright."
"Bags and briefcases get searched. Do not give Castle anything. Do not take anything from him. Arms up," Brett told us. I went in first, giving them my school bag. They used the metal detector on me until I heard a beeping sound. I started to panic until I realized it was near my ears.
"My earrings," I told them.
"Take it off," I did so and they cleared me.
"They already searched us when we came in downstairs," Foggy told him.
"Yeah? And we're gonna do it again. Everything's been removed from inside the room. He's tied down, but keep your distance and mind the tape. Do not step past it or I get to make my dream come true and arrest you," Brett said.
He opened the door, letting us in. We walked inside to the empty room. I looked over at Frank.
"Oh, my God," Karen said. I could feel my heart break as I saw Frank in the bed strapped up like some sort of animal. I stood behind Foggy.
"Matt, the tape," Foggy warned as Matt walked over.
"Frank Castle. My name is Matthew Murdock. These are my associates, Franklin Nelson and Karen Page."
"Yeah. I know who you are. You protect shitbags," Frank said.
"We came here today to make you an offer. We don't want money for our services, we're not interested in fame or free advertising. Weren't even assigned to your case. We don't have to be here. But you take a quick look around, you'll notice we're the only ones who are. As you may well know, your list of enemies extends well beyond the gangs you've killed. You're very good at making powerful enemies. And the day you were admitted to Metro-General for the round you took to the head, a do-not-resuscitate order was placed on you," Matt told Frank.
"And a shoot-to-kill order, just a few days ago," Foggy said.
"We know, because we heard it given," Karen said.
"These orders were issued by the District Attorney. And the fact that she's had it in for us ever since we started asking questions tells us we're on the right track. Someone in the DA's office wants you dead, Mr. Castle and we'd like to know why. You let us take your case; we can soften your sentence, and give you a shot. Maybe even find out who's responsible for what happened to you. We're talking about your life, Mr. Castle. We can help you keep what's left of it," Matt told Frank.
"Yeah. Kinda like what you did for Grotto, huh?" Frank asked him. Karen walked over to him, pulling out the picture.
"Karen. Karen! Karen!" We said trying to stop her.
"Foggy!" Matt said, needing backup.
"You want answers? So do we, but none of us will get them if you're dead," Karen said, showing him the picture.
"Where did you get that?" Frank asked her.
"From your home," Karen told him.
"You were in my home? Why were you in my house?" Frank asked getting mad.
" Who's in there? What? Open the door! Open."
"You go in my house," Frank started.
"Someone is lying about what happened to your family, Mr. Castle," Karen said.
"You, four, out! Now!" A woman said, clearly mad. I ran over to Frank who looked at me.
"Ginny?"
"Frank, I know you. You had a motivation. Frank, please let them help you," I said.
"Ginny, we have to go," Foggy said pulling me back.
"Think about your family. Think about me and my mom. Think of my mom, Frank," I said to him as Foggy pulled me out of the room.
