Chapter Five: Office Hours

Matthew Murdock walked into his office. Immediately, his friend, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson cornered him. "Where in the world have you been? I have been trying to call you for hours!"

Matt took a breath. Show time! "I got back very late last night. I have been home, asleep. Nothing to worry about, okay? Now, what's on the agenda for today?"

Foggy wasn't entirely convinced, but he knew Matt well enough not to push him. "Nothing much. I have to write a brief. I don't know about you. Talk to Karen." Then, as an afterthought, he called, "And don't think I'm not still angry with you!"

Foggy turned around again and said, "Maybe you should get a massage. You look really tense."

Matt laughed. He waited until Foggy had gone into his office before he went to find his secretary. He found her quickly. "So, what have I got today?" he asked, as soon as he found her.

Karen Page looked up, surprised. "I didn't think you were coming in, Matt. It's already two o'clock! Where have you been?" She spoke in the same tone as Foggy.

"As I have already told Foggy, I got home late and only woke up a few hours ago." Matt replied. He was getting sick of having to keep explaining his actions. "So, I ask again, what do I have on the agenda?"

"Someone from the DA called, a Mr. Gilda. He wanted to talk to you about the Winkler case. Mr. West called. Oh, and I just got off the phone with a Charlie someone-or-other. I don't know him, but he said he knows you. I told him you were out, but he insisted that I set up an appointment with you. It's at five. Other than that, it's been really slow." Karen finished.

"All right. Give me a minute, and then I'll start calling people back. How's the Brian Etch case going?"

"Foggy got him out on bail. You'll have to deal with that one soon. Apparently he was arrested for a robbery. I don't know the details. The file is on your desk."

Matt sighed and walked into his office. It was a mess. His desk was cluttered with files, his many Braille law books on the bookshelf or in little piles behind his chair. I really should clean a little. Matt thought, as he picked his way around the books. He pulled off his glasses with a sigh, rubbed his eyes, and then called to Karen to dial Mr. Gilda.

-DD-

The phone calls took forever. They were long and tedious. Matt finished around four o'clock. Then he started on Brian Etch's file. It was long and detailed. Matt was still reading it when the intercom buzzed. "Yes?" He asked, pressing the button.

"There's someone here to see you. He's a little early, but he wanted to know whether you could see him now." Karen replied.

"Send him in." Matt suddenly remembered he wasn't wearing his glasses, and quickly grabbed them before Charlie arrived.

Matt heard Charlie thank Karen and open the door. He put down the file he was reading. Charlie quietly shut the door. Matt spoke first: "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I am sorry to bother you so soon as after this morning" Charlie began, but Matt interrupted saying, "Don't be, this is fine. It's a pleasure."

"Thanks. Anyway, I was almost home when a woman stopped me. She told me to give this to Daredevil." He held up the folded note. "I didn't know what to do, so I came back here."

Matt took the note. He felt the wax seal; then broke it. "Let's see what the woman wanted to tell me." Inside was a short note:

Daredevil –

Let's meet again. I did so enjoy our last encounter. You cost me a fortune, and you will pay. Meet me under the FDR Bridge, midnight Saturday. Come alone. I trust this will get to you soon,

- Angelica Demon.

Matt read the letter, feeling the impressions of the ink on the paper. "Interesting, the woman you met was Angelica Demon. She wants me to meet her at midnight tomorrow, under the FDR Bridge. I am to come alone." He told Charlie.

"You aren't actually thinking of going, are you?" Charlie asked, surprised.

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

Charlie didn't have a good answer.

"Did she follow you here?" Matt asked, suddenly.

"I don't think so." Charlie replied.

"Good. Here's the plan. I don't want you going back to your house; she knows where it is. You can stay with me or I can set you up at a hotel. If you decide to go to my house, I'll meet you there in half an hour." He quickly told Charlie his address. "If you aren't there when I arrive, I will assume you are at the Comfort Inn, got it?" Charlie nodded. "Good, now go. See you soon."

Matt walked him to the door, and then said, "Make sure no one follows you. Be careful." Charlie was about to turn around, but then decided against it. There was nothing to say.