New Plan

Matthew

Matthew sat in the dim lit room listening as Foggy questioned their client. His reading on the man accused of arson told him he was not telling them the truth. The side glances Foggy was giving him told Matt he was beginning to doubt the man as well. Matt shook his head slightly to signal Foggy. He nodded in agreement.

Matt stood and scooted his chair back under the metal table. "Thank you for your time, Mister Morgenston."

"Hey. Hey where's he going?"

"Mister Morgenston, at Nelson and Murdock we have a strict clientele policy- - -"

Foggy continued to explain as Matt closed the door to the room. The precinct was bustling with activity at this time of day. He leaned against the wall shutting out the noise and waiting for Foggy.

Matt's phone rang. Karen was calling.

"Karen ." He answered.

"Matt!" Karen responded. "I've got to talk to you and Foggy!"

She was breathless, Matt could hear her heart pounding.

"Karen, is everything okay?"

"I'm fine!" she said, then paused, to catch her breath. "This is big, Matt, B-I-G. Big!"

"Okay-okay. Me and Foggy are finishing up, we'll meet you at the office."

"Okay. Bye." She hung up without waiting for his reply.

Matt grunted his curiosity and slid his phone back into his pocket.

Suddenly her scent surrounded him. It was so unexpected he jumped to attention. His feet began moving before he could think.

Once he found his way back to the lobby she was easy to spot. Her back was to him as she stood in a long line of people waiting to see the clerk. The fire and darkness scattered and fled in her presence. She lit up the room with the bright swirls.

Her heartbeat was erratic. Her breathing was shallow and fast. She was nervous. Scared. Why was she scared to be in a police station? Matt realized she was getting a little easier to read, and that was a relief. He seemed to be getting used to the odd sensations he experienced around her.

Abruptly the room went silent and his vision blurred. Matt removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Except for that, he thought. A few seconds later his head swirled, then cleared. Matt sighed and shook it off. A part of him wanted her close. He wanted to explore the reasons why he reacted to her this way. The other part of him wanted to help. Something more was going on. Fauna was deeper than she realized. Besides, he had to make things right. After all he's done, he needed to make it right. That's why he has a new plan.

He took a moment to regain his surroundings, then walked up behind her and leaned forward.

"Hello Fauna." He whispered gently.

Her heart jumped at her sharp intake of breath. Then she sighed. Her shoulders dropped in disappointment.

She didn't turn around. She didn't have to. She knew his voice, Matt did not take that as a compliment.

"I've got to be hallucinating."

Matt smirked. "No. What are you doing here?"

"What are YOU doing here?" she responded, keeping her voice low.

"l asked first."

"Are we in fourth grade? So what, I asked second."

Matt didn't need any special abilities to see her agitation.

"Okay." He conceded, calmly and surprising Fauna. "I'm here seeing a potential client. This is a police station, I find most of my clients here...your turn."

Fauna stayed silent. She was debating with herself, by what he could sense, she was leaning hard toward not telling him. She did make her intentions perfectly clear at her mother's house.

"Fauna, your heartbeat and breathing are all over the place."

"Don't do that!" She demanded over her shoulder. " Stop scanning me. Or reading me. Or whatever you call it."

"Alright. Are you.. . okay?" He asked.

"Fine, go away." She replied quickly.

Matt grimaced.

"I feel you probing." Fauna said over her shoulder.

"That's because you're lying."

"Yes. I'm lying. People lie. Congratulations on your recent discovery."

Matt smiled, she had more spunk than usual. Probably because her stomach wasn't protesting as badly from lack of food.

"Matt, ready to go?" Foggy asked as Fauna moved forward in line.

Fauna caught a side glance of the blonde, shaggy haired man.

"Yes. He's ready." Fauna answered before Matt could.

"Oh hi, Fauna. Fauna?! OH! Hey Fauna, wh-what are you doing here?"

"I'm here on business." She answered, surprising Matt. She didn't mind talking with Foggy. She liked him. He couldn't blame her for that. Foggy was more relatable. Foggy hadn't hurt her the way he had.

"Business?" Matt inquired.

"Yes, business. You satisfied? I'm delivering a package."

"What's inside?"

"I'm sure you'd love to know."

"Fauna."

"I don't know." She snapped. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I meant what I said at my mother's house. If you want to know you'll have to take it. Which, I'm sure, you wouldn't mind."

Matt nodded. This new plan might be a little harder than he thought.

"You didn't open it?" Foggy asked, trying to break the tension.

"No. It's sealed. I looked for an envelope on my way here, but I couldn't find one. They were either the wrong color, or too big, or too small."

Foggy poked his head around her and studied the envelope for a moment. "Pretty sure I got one right here."

Fauna turned around to face the two men. She kept her eyes on Foggy and ignored Matt.

He opened his briefcase and handed it to Fauna. She compared the two.

"They're identical." She exclaimed. "Thank you Foggy, you're a lifesaver."

"Sure. No problem." He smiled.

Matt stared Foggy down.

"What?" He mouthed. Matt shook his head. knowing the contents of that envelope could land her in worse trouble than she's currently in.

"Okay, looks like my job is all done here. I'll see you outside Matt." Foggy patted him on the back and headed out.

Fauna stepped out of the clerk's line heading for the ladies room, still ignoring Matt's presence.

He tightened his grip on his cane in frustration. He didn't want her going in on this alone, but what choice did he have? He'd just stick to his plan and hang back until she needed him.