Matt's Morning

Matthew

Matthew rolled to his side and slammed the off button to his alarm clock. The automated female's voice began her usual announcement of the time, date and weather update. He squeezed his eyes shut then forced them open. A couple hours was literally all he got, all he had time for.

He had to be up and ready to follow Fauna to work. He was going to have to forget about taking down some of the city's top bosses, vying for the leader position left vacant by Fisk. Fauna was his number one priority now. She'd have to be dealt with, controlled, until he was sure she would never leak any information about him.

Right now she was a wrench thrown into his engine. It would help to find someone she cared for enough to threaten. Perhaps someone from her work? Matthew pushed away the guilt filling him as he stood to dress.

She wasn't lying to him about her cell phone. It was the only one she had. Odd for a girl to have no other contacts except work. No photos. It was a flip phone for crying out loud. She did have a father. That's who she went to see, then he, much to his surprise, found her being dragged out of the shipping yard. Did her father work for Grayson too?

Matthew turned and poured his coffee into a to-go cup and headed for the door. He also wanted to know who had hit her across the cheek and why. A slight scent of a man's aftershave was present around the wound. She had lied to him about what happened, but he didn't have time to press her for the truth. The question served its purpose. It gave him a better read on when she was lying or not when she was frightened.

He had a hard time reading her. He wasn't sure if it was because she was so completely and utterly terrified of him, which he understood. Grown men balled like babies when he threatened them. Or was it because his senses wavered in her presence. Matthew hopped in the taxi and gave the driver the name of a grocery store a little ways from Fauna's apartment. He'd walk the rest of the way.

He had to work and focus a little harder around her. Matthew couldn't explain why. But he guessed it was connected with how he saw her. He focused on her shimmering figure in his mind's eye. It was beautiful.

It didn't take long to reach the store, Fauna's place was only a couple miles from his and the store was a couple blocks from her building. As he stepped out on to the curb, he stretched his cane out, his cell rang out the name of a caller.

"Thank you." Matthew said to the driver. "Good morning, Karen." He said into the phone.

"Oh Matt, I didn't wake you did I? I was just going to leave you a message."

"No, I'm awake." Just barely, thought Matthew.

"Okay great. I just wanted to let you know I put the transcript of yesterday's meeting with Flora on your desk."

"Flora?" Matthew asked.

"Yeah, Foggy said you wanted it…" She paused. "You know, the girl that bumped into you yesterday."

Now Matthew understood. Flora, huh. That girl sure likes to lie about her name. "Oh yes, of course. Thank you, I'll come by and pick it up later today."

"Also," continued Karen. "I won't be in the office today, Foggy wants me with him during the jury selection for the Abbott case."

"Right." Matthew replied sitting down on a bench with a view of the Fauna's apartment.

"Is there anything else you'll need?"

Matthew thought for a moment. "Actually yes, your investigative talents are amazing. I would like you to look into the background of a girl named Fauna Grace. Nineteen. Everything you can find, please."

"Sure, perhaps I can dig something up while I'm bored to death in court today."

"Thanks. I'll talk to you soon."

"Bye."

He knew it wouldn't take Karen long to realize Flora and Fauna were the same girl. He'd have to explain himself when she did.

Matthew hung up the phone and slid it back into his pocket. Flora? One corner of his lips curved up and he shook his head. He took a sip of his coffee and stretched his senses, searching for her in the apartment.

Fauna stirred from the floor where he had left her. She had fallen asleep, crying. It took several hours. He listened as her feet scooted across the floor performing various tasks, reading herself. He heard water running and a long sigh.

"Ouch." She yelled out. "Well, perhaps some make-up will do."

Matthew assumed she was talking about her bruised face. He sat listening to her for a while, she finally began her descent out of the building.

BANG. Matthew diverted his attention for a moment to inspect a loud sound. BANG.

An old woman was pulling a rolling grocery tote up the sidewalk steps toward Fauna's building. BANG. Matthew looked to the entrance as Fauna emerged into the sunlight. The swirls of light seemed to stretch toward the sky as she made her way down the cemented path.

BANG.

"Well, good morning dear." The old lady addressed Fauna.

"Hello, Mrs. Carmichael. Bye Mrs. Carmichael." Fauna replied as she hurried past the woman.

"Okay, we'll talk later." She replied as she pulled on the tote. BANNG!

Matthew watched as Fauna halted and sighed. She turned and made her way back to Mrs. Carmichael.

She took the rolling tote from the old lady's hands. "Mrs. Carmichael, you know there is an elevator behind the building, right?"

Fauna dragged the cart along the ground picking it up when she reached the steps to avoid the loud banging. Matthew's guilt bubbled to the surface as he watched her good deed and genuine concern for the old woman.

Whether she was a sweet girl or not, he had to do what he had to do in order to keep her quiet. Helping out an old woman didn't mean she would keep her promise to him.

Matthew made a mental note the old woman might be useful in controlling Fauna.

"Oh dear, I never use elevators or go to the back of buildings." She cupped her hand over her mouth in a whisper. "You know we got rapists and murders in this city."

"Right, of course." Fauna replied. After last night she couldn't argue that point. "I… didn't think of that."

"Well you should!" Mrs. Carmichael scolded. "A pretty thing like you, well... Any dirty old rotten scoundrel would love to get their hands on you."

Mrs. Carmichael finally looked up at Fauna once they reached the top of the steps. "Oh honey, what happened to your face?"

"Oh, um… I fell last night walking home from work."

Another lie, thought Matthew. He was enjoying the calmness of her heart beat. IIt was a nice change from the terrified version. The breeze brought her scent to him and he inhaled deeply. He still couldn't place it.

Mrs. Carmichael clicked her tongue in disapproval as the two entered the building. "I just don't understand why you insist on walking all the time."

Matthew heard Fauna hoisting the rusty grocery tote up the stairs. The old woman was just ahead of her.

"Well, I just love the fresh air." She grunted. "And the views of the sky I suppose."

"And I don't understand why you work all the time. Work, work, work. You'll never catch the eye of a nice, handsome man that way."

"Oh I don't know Mrs. Carmichael. Cinderella worked all the time, she managed to land a prince."

Matthew huffed at her reply.

The old lady bursted out laughing. "Oh, you silly girl! That is true, but she managed to enjoy herself at a ball."

"Well, here we are." Fauna announced. "You have yourself a good day Mrs. Carmichael."

Matthew sat up and Fauna emerged from the building yet again.

"Oh, Fauna dear!" Mrs Carmichael yelled down.

Fauna glanced up, turning just slightly at the old woman leaning out of her window.

"That's your problem! You need to learn to enjoy life, go to the ball!" The old woman giggled as Fauna turned, embarrassed and glanced around. She hurried down the steps and away from the building as fast as she could.

Matthew stood, tossed his cup in the recycle bin, without glancing its way, and began to follow her.