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

20) (Revelation) In the light of day

For Vera, the Sunday morning was... unpleasant. Firstly, it wasn't even morning when she woke up at her alarm set to eleven a.m. Secondly, she didn't feel rested, like at all. Thirdly – and that was the worst part really - she was alone.

She blinked in surprise when she found her bed empty, pricking up her ears, trying to catch the smallest noise indicating Matt was somewhere in her apartment at least. She couldn't hear any. It didn't necessarily mean he wasn't there, but... she made her way to the bathroom, checking the blurry picture of her kitchen. No Matt. No Matt in the bathroom either. Her mood, already not par excellence, fell below freezing point. That day would be shit, she was sure of it.

Vera brushed her teeth and hair on autopilot, looking at the girl in the mirror discontentedly – even when she put on a mascara, it was a sad image - she kinda missed the make-up from Terri. Her favourite black tea didn't cheer her up either. Flapjack had no effect. She went to work early, stepping out into the cold weather.

"You slept in," a voice behind her accused her and she jumped, hand over her heart.

"Ježiši Kriste. Terri!" She turned to her friend, her mood getting better instantly despite the fright. "What are you doi- what are you wearing?"

Her friend was all in black – black woollen hat, scarf covering not just her neck but also the lower part of her face, coat, jeans, boots. Everything. She even had sunglasses, which were totally useless that day. The only bright parts were her hair peeking from under the hat and scarf and a newspaper folded under her arm.

She raised a finger, wait a second, pulled out something that looked dangerously like a walkie and pressed one of the buttons. "Meeting the target. You can leave your position. Do you copy?"

Was Vera dreaming? It would explain a lot.

"Roger that. Status without change. Meeting at the café?" a mechanical, but undeniably male voice answered her.

"Copy that. Yes. Twenty minutes. T out."

"Copy that. V out."

Vera watched the exchange in disbelief and pinched herself on the cheek. She didn't wake up. What was it in the wine yesterday? Or the shots? She didn't have many of them...

"What the hell is happening? What is this?" She gestured towards Terri.

Her friend grabbed her arm and led her the way she usually walked to the café. Right. Work. "You need a bodyguard since you're famous now. I decided to take care of that."

Vera blinked in surprise. "What?" She was not famous. She did not need a bodyguard. She already had one, no matter he wasn't present at the moment or bothered to leave a message before vanishing. "And who were you talking to? Where did you even get hold on a walkie?"

Terri shrugged. "Victor. And Victor. He was watching your boyfriend ever since he sneaked up from your apartment at half past nine."

Vera gasped. "Victor?" Terri's boyfriend was- "He's watching Matt? Terri, what the hell!"

Whatever was this about, it was crossing the line. She hoped – and it was a fool's hope, she was well-aware – that Matt hadn't noticed Victor on his tail. Or at least hadn't jumped him and broken his arms or something, when he finding out he was being followed.

"He didn't even say goodbye, did he? Bastard. Typical male individual. Use the opportunity and disappear in the morning. He's lucky he went to church..." Terri fussed and then stopped in her tracks.