Damned If I Do *Matt Murdock* (book one of Damned)

4) (When food is gone...) You are my daily meal

The day off was something Vera wasn't prepared for. She woke up in the morning and realized she didn't have a plan. She texted Terri whether she wanted to hang out, but she had the morning shift again, then she would nap and get ready for a date night - she was out of picture.

Vera decided to text Nina too. She would like to talk to her again and actually get to know her – it occurred to her as she was texting that the woman asked her questions about her life, helped her with everything and all Vera knew about her was that her husband was quite unlikeable and a very antisocial person (how those two got along so well, she didn't understand), that she lived downstairs, and probably had no kids.

Vera dedicated her morning to cleaning up her flat. Until Nina answered her text, Vera considered going shopping (and finding a shopping centre, because she wanted to explore the beauty of shopping in New York). However, Nina invited her over for late but healthy lunch and coffee and she couldn't decline.

They met at 2.30 p.m. Nina welcomed her with a hug and a warm smile. She reminded Vera of her mum – they looked completely different, different hair colour, different build, different voice - but something in her smile was motherly and the way she treated her was painfully similar. It only backed up her theory she was childless. (Later, she learned that it wasn't the truth. Nina had a daughter – Maria - who left for Washington D.C. years ago and was intensely captivated by politics.) She also learned about her job – Nina was working as a secretary for an insignificant real-state agency. Their office kept only morning hours and in the afternoon, agents met with their clients outside the office.

"I'm sorry to keep asking you about things, but... do you know about any fitness or sport centre around here? With reasonable prices? When I walked the neighbourhood, I only found-" What was the name again? Fader's? Foster's? "-Fogwell's?" she asked, unsure she got it right.

Nina nodded. "Yes. Fogwell's. It has been here forever. An old building, hasn't changed in decades. It's probably not the kind of gym you're looking for, but I could be wrong... I think there is a fitness centre, which doesn't exactly have low prices, but it is just a couple of streets from Hell's Kitchen, within walking range. Well, your walking range. I swear, you walk like someone is chasing you and you just don't want to draw his attention by running..."

Vera laughed and had to admit it was quite accurate description of her gait. "What makes you think I would despise Fogwell's?"

"Nothing really. It's just... I would reckon you as a group lessons type. Then again, I could be wrong. Fogwell's is..." she seemed to be seeking for the right word, "...old. They have a little equipment for working out, few punching bags and a boxing ring. The days of its glory are long gone."

Vera could tell Nina didn't expect her to light up. "Did you say punching bags?"

"You like boxing? No, wait, don't answer. I should've seen it coming. You do, don't you?"

Vera shrugged. "Well, not exactly. I used to do fit-box back home. It's more fit than box, group lesson," she smiled at her, "with music and everything. But yeah, I kinda miss punching something. Something, not someone, can't imagine doing that. I fail to see what people like about beating each other up. And I think I might handle a lesson in the other centre once a week... How much is the Fogwell's?"

Nina appeared to be lost in her thoughts and then she gave Vera a brilliant grin. "Actually..."

---

So, apparently, Mr. Fogwell (who was the owner of the gym) had a grandson, who used to clean up the gym every other evening or so, but had left for college this year. While dealing with customers (the little, who would still come there) the old man could handle, cleaning up was another case.