The Power of Hope
Chapter Nine
By: Lily Handle
Author's Note: Darn you finals! shakes fist I hates them! Anyway, finals are only part of the excuse why this was so long in coming. The other part is I just didn't work on it. How horrible is that? Well, I try.
"You gonna stand out there ease droppin' the whole night, Doc?" Hope took a step back and stared at the door in astonishment when Logan called through the door. Damn those heightened senses, she thought as she pushed the door open and walked guiltily into the room. Well, if she was in for a penny, she was in for a pound and squared her shoulders. She might as well try to get some answers out of the two brutes.
Logan and Maverick sat in two armchairs, both watching her with those unreadable looks, though Maverick had a slight smile on his face. "What's going on here?" Hope asked, and instantly Maverick's smile fell away and she received nothing by silent stern looks from both men, "Oh come on. I know there's something going on. You mentioned McKenna, Holtzhour and Fury in the same sentence and if it doesn't relate to my case then there's something else going on that still may be relevant for me to know."
"It's best if you don't, Doktor," Maverick said with shrug. "Keep your hands clean just in case."
"But I take it Mr. Murdock knows what's going on?" She only got more of the silent treatment, "A good ol' boys club, huh? I see. Well, great just great." Hope threw up her hands, "I bet the same reason your old friend is here is the same reason you're going to some warehouse dock."
"Doc," Logan started but Hope growled.
"No, I'm sick of being placated like a child about this Logan. You of all people should know what I can endure, now you may be keeping me out of the loop to keep my hands clean, but it's my life that's on the line here and I demand to at least know something about what's going on behind my back."
Logan and Maverick exchanged a look and had a brief conversation in German, while Hope stewed. Why didn't she suspect something funny was going on before this? It was only logical. The Institute looked out for its own mentality rearing its head again. When the conversation ended Logan looked away from Maverick and at her, "We're trying to find out why you're being put on trial when clearly your innocent. That's all, Doc."
Hope blinked, she hadn't really expected an answer, "Oh, okay. So, now that I'm in the loop, you'll keep me informed as to what's going on?"
"You'll get the information some how, Doc."
"You'll keep me informed about what's going on? Really?"
"Don't act so shocked, Doc," Logan said, sounding amused.
"Well, if it's okay to tell me now, why didn't you tell me in the first place?" Hope asked and watched another look pass between Maverick and Logan.
"Now, promise not to get mad, Doctor," Maverick said and instantly Hope was on alert, "But we didn't think you needed the stress of worrying about it."
"Why should I worry?" Hope asked, puzzled, "You two haven't failed me yet." The two men exchanged grins, "Now, are you going to tell me why you're going tonight?"
"According to Fury, Holtzhour and McKenna have regular meetings with an as of currently unknown party for a while now. He wants us to find out who this person is and why they're meeting with McKenna," Maverick explained.
"What reason could there be for a third party?" Hope walked over to Logan's chair and sat on the arm rest, "A reporter maybe?"
"A reporter wouldn't show up with armed guards. Doc, I told you, let us handle it." Logan placed his hand on top of her thigh, "You've got enough on your plate, leave us to worry about it."
"I'm just curious." And relieved, she thought. She had thought the only reason she was being tired was because of evidence and a paranoid government. The idea that maybe, just maybe there is another reason for her trial lifted a huge weight from her shoulders. There was hope, she thought with a mental giggle. Unconsciously she laid her hand over Logan's, and interlaced her fingers with his. "I'll just wish you luck then."
"Doktor, we don't need luck, we have skill."
Water lapped gently against the pillars of the dock, behind the cookie-cutter warehouses the lights of Manhattan blazed in ignorance of the plot being formed across the water. Holtzhour watched from the shadows of a corner as Meredith Rike walked in. Her four guards stood in perfect formation around her, assault rifles slung in easy reach over their shoulders and night vision goggles already scanning the area and counting the guard he had brought along with McKenna.
The smooth talked stepped forward and kissed the back of Rike's hand, "Lovely to see you again, Ms. Rike."
"McKenna, I caught your performance in court this morning," The woman's voice could make the coldest iceberg look like a tropical beach. "It looks like you have quite the battle ahead of you."
"It will make Murdock less suspicious of any tampering as well as the public."
"As long as the jury still rules the way my employer wants it to, then I have no problem with the circus act." Rike's gaze swept over the Holtzhour and he mentally grimaced, "Everything on your end is secure, I take it Lieutenant?"
"No glitches in the system," He said gruffly. Something about Rike set him off. He didn't like her superior tone when she talked to him, and he hated how she looked down her nose at him. Just because she was pulling the string in this whole situation didn't mean she out ranked him. Modern women didn't know their place and were a pain the ass not worth the trouble, he thought.
"Hmmm," She studied him intently, "Your computers have been hacked, multiple times."
"What?" McKenna said while Holtzhour glared.
"No one can hack our system, the CIA designed it and they said no one can hack it," He blustered, grinding his teeth together.
"Anytime someone builds a better mouse trap, there is one mouse who doesn't get caught. My employer wants it fixed, Lieutenant, and if it's not he'll make sure your new position goes to someone more willing to follow orders."
"Tell your employer…"
"What the Lieutenant means is that he'll get someone right on it," McKenna interrupted, sending Holtzhour a look that clearly said to shut up. Wisely Holtzhour chose to listen. "And when this problem is fixed, would your employer like them prosecuted?"
"He will make that decision when you find who the hacker is," Rike replied smoothly. "Your payments are on their way, sirs. That will be all at present."
"Of course," McKenna gave a charming smile, "It was a pleasure as always, Ms. Rike." Holtzhour snorted but said nothing as the woman and her guards walked out. When the door slammed closed, McKenna rounded on him.
"What are you, Holtzhour, stupid? That woman and her employer are our ticket out of the hell hole we've worked in for years! You just want to throw that away? Ruin our chances of finally having what we deserve?"
"Shove it up your self centered ass, McKenna," Holtzhour growled right back, "I could care less about the money, I just want these freaks off of the streets."
"And if you get your position as head of the MPD taken away, how will you make sure that happens?" McKenna countered, "You're an old fool, Holtzhour, you have to learn to play by the new rules or you'll get no where."
"There are still a few old timers like myself, McKenna that have more power than you or that Rike bitch can ever dream of having."
"You know, I hate to interrupt," A voice said from the shadows, "But, your both in a lot of trouble." Holtzhour drew his side arm, and started looking around for the speaker. Out of the shadows he had chosen to protect himself with a small club came flying and knocked the gun from his hand before vanishing back into the shadows.
"Show yourself!" McKenna ordered, stepping closer to one of the guards.
"Where's the fun in that?" The club came from the shadows once again, wrapping around a guard's gun and pulling it away.
"Who are you!" Holtzhour roared as another guard lost his gun.
"Call me the Dare Devil."
"That son of the bitch!" Logan whispered violently, getting to his feet.
"I take it we're moving in, blutsburder," Maverick's voice chuckled in his ear through the radio connection.
"I'll take the guards, you make sure Holtzhour and McKenna don't go anywhere," Logan ordered, dropping to the dock tens of feet below the roof where he had been watching the exchange between Holtzhour, McKenna and some woman. His intent had been to let McKenna and Holtzhour continue to incriminate themselves and move in only when it looked like they were about to leave. Instead that idiot had moved in. Oh, once Logan got his hands on Murdock, there was going to be trouble. Focusing on the now, Logan charged through the back door to the warehouse, claws drawn and ready for a fight. A few guards switched their attention from the red suit wearing Dare Devil to him. At least Murdock had gotten rid of the guns already, Logan hated getting shot. He grabbed the first guard's vest and smashed his forehead into his nose. The guard crumpled and he tossed him away. Another guard swung his leg towards Logan's chest. Logan caught the kick and used the guard like a bat, slamming him into another guard. He ignored the flash of orange light that signaled Maverick had used his power and ducked a punch. The fight was surprisingly short. Quickly after he and Maverick joined the fight the guards gained some common sense, took off and Logan didn't bother to follow them. They were just listening to orders and in the scheme of things, the only people that mattered were McKenna and Holtzhour.
"Scheiße!" Maverick yelled into the sudden silence, "Where is he?"
"Who?" Murdock asked, picking himself up from the floor.
"McKenna, verdammt, one the guards must have grabbed him," Maverick growled and kicked out at one of the unconscious guards that lay about the floor of the warehouse randomly.
"You still have Holtzhour?" Murdock asked while Logan started picking up guards and tossing them in the corner.
"Ja."
"Then we have enough for now. We can always go after McKenna at a later date."
"I don't think so bub," Logan tossed the last guard and turned to glare at Murdock, "I don't remember invitin' you to this little party. So if anyone is goin' after McKenna, it'll be Maverick and me. Not you."
Murdock raised one masked eyebrow, "A friend of mine, Matt Murdock, sent me to help." Logan almost pointed out that he was Murdock, but Maverick inturupted before he could.
"Murdock? Fräulein Doktor's lawyer sent you?"
Murdock nodded and Logan repressed a growl, "Yes. I often help him out on difficult or suspiscious cases."
"Yeah well, you go back to Murdock and tell him to keep his nose out of our business. We've got it covered," Logan snapped. "He should spend his time preparing for court."
"Ah, but now with Holtzhour he won't have too," Murdock smiled at him, "We'll take him to the proper authorities and the case will be dismissed."
Maverick shook his head, "We take him to Fury, and he'll deal with it. You can go back to Murdock and inform him."
"I think it would be best if…"
"No," Maverick picked Holtzhour up from the floor where he had been laying bound and gagged, "This is S.H.I.E.L.D. business and you are not involved. We appreciate the help." Logan snorted, "But, this is our capture."
"Now hang on a minute," Murdock started, but shattering glass cut him off and Holtzhour's head exploded against Maverick's shoulder. Like the shot that had taken Holtzhour's life, Murdock was off, heading for the window that the bullet had shattered. Logan was right behind him and Maverick behind him. The body armor Maverick habitually wore protected him from the shot, so he had dumped Holtzhour in pursuit of the shooter. Outside, Logan sniffed the air looking for the scent of gun powder and man, but all he could find was the weak trail left by the bullet.
"The killer took his shot from there," Logan pointed across the water to a tall sky scraper.
"He'll be long gone by the time we get there," Maverick pointed out, even as they started running.
"I'll track him down." Logan growled.
"There's only one man I know that could make this shot," Murdock said as they stood on the top of the building Logan had pointed out earlier and looked at the warehouse where they had been only minutes before. "Bull's-eye."
"Gotta scent, blustbruder?" Maverick asked, pretty much ignoring Murdock's comment.
"Yeah, but someone picked this guy up," Logan took a deep sniff of the air again, "In a helicopter."
"Military?"
"No," Logan shook his head, "Probably one of those sight seeing ones, or a news copter. Damn." They'd been close, damn close to finally getting Hope out of trouble and now it had slipped through their fingers.
"Now what?" Maverick asked him.
"We got back to the Institute and call Fury," He turned to Murdock, "You, Big Red, get your lawyer friend to start calling the cops and asking about missing helicopters. These people won't be stupid enough to return it from where they got it from, but somethin' that big'll be missed."
"There's a chance it could be a private aircraft," Murdock pointed out, "I'll recommend he look at ATC records as well."
"Fine, have him come to the Institute in the morning if he finds anything." Logan and Maverick waited until Murdock took a leap off the building and disappeared into the night.
"That was Murdock under that suit, correct?" Maverick asked him as they started down the stairs that led to the roof.
"Yeah."
"Does pretty well for a blind guy."
Logan returned to the Institute with a heavy heart. He didn't like the idea of telling Hope that they'd come close to getting her free, only to lose that chance because they'd been too busy arguing.
"Would you like me to tell her?" Maverick asked as they walked away from the Velocity, which had been their transport to New York.
"No," Logan sighed, "I'll tell her. Get changed, and call Fury." In silence they rode the elevator up to the school portion of the house and then walked up the stairs. Outside Hope's door, Maverick patted his shoulder in silent support and then went into his own room. Logan waited until his door was closed before knocking softly on Hope's. He wasn't surprised that she answered right away, looking up at him with wide, hopeful and fearful eyes. She was expecting bad news, but obviously eager for good news, but she was learning to read him and the hopeful look quickly fell away and her shoulders slumped.
"I'm sorry Doc," He said simply, cupping her cheek in his palm.
"Is there any good news?"
"Holtzhour's dead, that'll probably delay the trial while the MPD picks a replacement. We've got the name of the third party, and we know McKenna's getting paid by her to prosecute you. We've got another place to start digging."
"You keep digging and eventually you lose sight of the sun, Grandma Chandler always said," She sighed, but leaned her cheek into his palm. "Thank you for at least looking, but I don't think…I don't think it's helping any."
"Hey, what did I tell you? No going down without a fight, remember?"
She took a step back from him, "I'm tired Logan. Good night." She closed the door and he stood there, listening to her sobs drifting through the door.
Author's Note: Ah, angsty-fluff. I figured it was a good point to stop at. And look, Dare Devil finally made an appearance! I thought I'd throw him in at least once. You'll just have to wait and see how all of this works out. Is Hope's spirit finally broken? What will happen to McKenna? How will it effect the trial? Please, enjoy the dramatic music while I start chapter ten. Also, I made the dead line! Whoo hoo!