Chapter 4 – See You in Court

"As soon as I can" turned out to be three weeks, but Jennifer was finally back in New York, just in time for the first status conference in Darren's case.

She wasn't sure where things stood with her and Matt. When she called to say she was returning for the court appearance, Matt said, "You don't have to rush back for that, you know. It's just a routine hearing. Foggy and I can handle it, no sweat."

"No," she'd said. "I need to be there. It's my case. I'm lead counsel. And I want to get a read on the judge and opposing counsel."

He didn't argue the point, just said, "OK. See you tomorrow. Travel safe."

She'd tried to work on the plane, but her mind kept going back to what she'd learned about Matt's ex, Karen Page – if she really was his ex, as Foggy had claimed. Whether she was or not, how could she, short, dark-haired Jen, compete with a tall, blonde beauty? Did that even matter? Matt was blind, after all. Did he care what she, or Karen, looked like? She had no idea what made a woman attractive to a blind man. She only knew that, despite her doubts, there was an undeniable spark between her and Matt. Maybe that was the only thing that mattered.

Then there was her conversation with Foggy. Had he told Matt about it? Was that why Matt seemed so...distant when they talked on the phone? Maybe she should just confess, tell Matt what she'd forced Foggy to tell her. No. Telling Matt could only end one way – badly. She would just have to keep her mouth shut and hope Foggy did the same.

Now here she was again, dragging her suitcase up the steps to the law office of Nelson & Murdock. If she wanted answers, that was where she would find them. Maybe.

She hesitated, then pushed open the front door. A smiling Matt was there to greet her with open arms. She fell into his arms. He kissed her. She kissed him back.

"Miss me?" she asked.

"You have no idea," he replied.

"I might have an idea."

Foggy emerged from his office. "Jeez, guys, get a room."

Jennifer stepped out of Matt's embrace. "And hello to you, too."

She looked at Matt more closely and noticed a split lip and a row of stitches along his jawline. She wondered if his long-sleeved shirt was hiding other injuries. Damn, She-Hulk should have been here. She hated to see him hurt.

"Looks like you've been busy," she observed.

"Yeah, well, the criminals didn't go on vacation while you were away."

"We'll have to do something about that."

And she did. That night, after enjoying a totally satisfactory "dessert" in Matt's bedroom, Daredevil and She-Hulk patrolled the alleys of Hell's Kitchen. Just like before, the criminals didn't put up a fight once they caught sight of her. She worried that Matt's male ego might be bruised, but at least the rest of him wasn't.

# # #

Jennifer looked around as she walked into the courtroom with Matt and Foggy. It was much the same as the courtrooms she was familiar with in Los Angeles: judge's bench, counsel tables, jury box, desks for the clerk and court reporter, the bar with its swinging gate. Maybe a little older, but basically the same. She took a seat in the gallery between Matt and Foggy to wait for the judge to take the bench and for their case to be called. It was number five on the calendar posted outside the courtroom.

The double doors to the courtroom thumped shut behind them. Matt suddenly tensed, clenching his fists. "No, no, no," he muttered under his breath. "Shit."

"What is it?" Jennifer whispered.

"It's Owlsley. He's here."

She started to turn her head, but Matt stopped her. "Don't look."

"Will he recognize you – from before?" she asked.

"I don't know. I – we – changed my appearance, but I don't know if it was enough." Matt shrugged. "I just don't know."

"What's he doing here?" Foggy asked. "He doesn't have to be here, not for a status conference."

"Maybe checking out the opposition, like we are," Jennifer suggested.

"Maybe," Foggy agreed. "Or does he know – or suspect – that 'Mike Murphy' was Matt Murdock?"

"It's possible," Matt conceded. "We haven't exactly kept a low profile, the last couple of years."

The three lawyers fell silent as the judge entered the courtroom and the bailiff called out, "All rise."

When their case was called, they walked forward and took their place at the plaintiff's counsel table. The status conference was routine, just as Matt had said. Jennifer's appearance pro haec vice was confirmed, along with Nelson & Murdock's role as local co-counsel. Both sides agreed the trial would take about three weeks. The judge set a tentative trial date and pre-trial deadlines, but also ordered the parties to participate in mediation to explore the possibility of settling the case. "Fat chance," Jennifer thought, but she kept that thought to herself. Then it was over.

Once outside the courtroom, they headed for the elevators. As they waited for an elevator, Owlsley and his attorney approached. "It looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other," Owlsley said. He held out his hand. "Mr. Murph – Murdock, is it?"

Matt held out his hand. "Matt Murdock."

"Leonard Owlson," Owlsley said, shaking Matt's hand.

He then turned to Jennifer. "Ms. Walters – or do you prefer 'She-Hulk?'"

"Ms. Walters is fine," Jennifer told him, hoping her voice didn't betray her irritation.

As they waited for the elevator, she took a close look at Owlson. Matt seemed certain Owlson was Owlsley, but he didn't resemble any of the photos of Owlsley she'd seen. Owlsley had bushy red hair, accompanied by a mustache and goatee of the same color. She guessed the goatee concealed a receding, "weak" chin. Owlson's thinning hair was dark brown, combed back from a high forehead. He was clean-shaven, with an average-looking chin. Both men had round eyes, but Owlsley's were an unusual yellowish color, while Owlson's were green. Owlsley had a beakish "hawk" nose, but Owlson's was smaller and straighter. Owlsley's face was thin, but Owlson's was more rounded. Owlson was heavier than Owlsley appeared in the photos; his well-tailored charcoal gray suit failed to hide the onset of middle-age spread.

The elevator arrived as Foggy and Owlsley's lawyer, Brent Peterson, finished introducing themselves. They rode down in silence. Jennifer gave a sigh of relief when they went in different directions after exiting the courthouse.

She waited until Owlsley and Peterson reached the end of the block and turned the corner before asking, "You're sure it's him?"

"Yeah," Matt replied. "I'd know that voice anywhere."

"But he looks...different," she explained.

"Different how?"

"Just...different from the photos of Owlsley Foggy showed me – hair color, eye color, weight, things like that."

"Things that can easily be changed," Matt observed.

"I guess," Jennifer said doubtfully. "But – "

"Trust me, it's him," Matt said firmly.

"He knows, doesn't he?" Foggy asked.

Matt nodded grimly. "Damn right he does. And he made sure I – we – know it."

"Do you think he knows what you did, as Mike Murphy?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah, he knows. All of it. He's had plenty of time to put the pieces together."

"So what do we do know?" she asked.

"You and Foggy need to get somewhere safe. I need to know you're safe so I can deal with Owlsley."

Jennifer scoffed. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm She-Hulk. Owlsley's no threat to me."

"Don't waste your time trying to reason with him," Foggy advised her. "Not when he's in 'Matt-Murdock-has-to-save-everyone-by-himself' mode."

"That happen often?" Jennifer asked.

"More times than I can count. It's one of his most annoying traits."

"So what do we do?"

"My advice? Ignore him."

Jennifer looked over at Matt. His face was contorted in a scowl, and he was apparently trying to glare (or something like it) at Foggy, but it wasn't working. She suppressed a snicker. "Advice taken." With that, she started walking toward the corner to hail a cab.

# # #

That evening, Jennifer and Matt were walking back to Matt's apartment after having dinner at his favorite Italian restaurant. Jennifer was happily anticipating "dessert" at Matt's place when she spotted a pair of shoes in a shop window. She stopped to check them out while Matt went on ahead. His shouted warning, "Jen!" came too late. Jennifer felt the prick of a needle on the back of her neck. Then everything went black.