chap. 10 - Spheeris Case

On Monday morning, I arrive at ours at the office, where I see a Jess making an appointment for a new job.

I wait for her to finish the call while I signal for her to meet me soon after. Less than 5 minutes later she walks into our office, yes, we now share one, we already have an agreement to try our best to solve cases together.

"Now that you have solved your first case by yourself, I am confident that from now on, everything will come natural to you. Just trust yourself," I offer her a cup of tea.

"I know Ric, but this one looks big. Jeri Hogarth asked for OUR help" she emphasizes our. "Not just any investigator". I sense her a little frustrated.

"Jess, how many cases have you taken so far today?" I hand her a nice sweet tea, just the way she likes it.

"One case. Which was solved in less than a fortnight." she tastes the tea and nods as she likes it.

"Now do you understand why she didn't ask for you? She doesn't know the skills of Jessica Jones, she knows the founder of Alias Investigations and Advocacy." I sip a cup of tea to accompany her.

"What we will do now is, we will go to the meeting, you will lead the case and I will help only when you ask. Otherwise I'll just be your stalker," I tell her as I go to the coat rack and grab her coat.

She with all the charm and elegance of a mammoth takes it from my hand. I just laugh at it and follow her as I take mine and we leave the office.

Now she and I are back to square one, since Maria no longer works for us as a secretary. She has decided to join May in her volunteer work.

We get in my car and drive towards Hogarth, Chao and Benowitz LLP.

Man, this is very confusing, we are a private investigation agency that also provides legal services, whereas they are a law agency that provides a dirty private investigation service. The wonderful capitalist world.

When we arrive at the law firm, a woman in her 30s or 40s is waiting for us. Now that I stop to pay attention, she looks like that actress from The Matrix, who played Trinity.

What I find strange, some people in this world look like those in the movies and TV works, while others go more to the comic book side. Jess is much more like her comic book counterpart than the actress who played her in the series.

Anyway, we follow Trinity, I mean, Hogarth to his office.

"I have a case for delivery to a man named Gregory Spheeris, since he refuses to answer our investigators and has disappeared in a strange way, I would like to hire you to find and deliver the subpoena."

"I see it's not just that Jeri Hogarth, there is something more to this story." an insightful Jess retorts.

"Yes, he has some gentleman's clubs that some of my associates is interested in, and since one of his female employees apparently injured herself on a dance pole..." she let the end of the sentence be implied.

"I'll take the case." Jess tries to pick up the document.

"I want Emeric Nox on the case, he's the best in the business right now, and I'll pay good money for HIM to solve this problem of mine." she pulls the document close to her.

Jess looks at me and I continue to stare at the conversation, not moving a millimeter, nor showing any kind of reaction.

She looks at me, at Jori, at me again and decides. "Good luck finding the third best in the business." she stands up and I follow.

Jori seeing that she wouldn't get what she wants gives up, "Okay, whatever. And why would I only find the third best?" she hands Jess the documents.

"Because you just closed the deal with the second best." she takes the document and leaves.

As soon as we get to the parking lot and get in the car, I can't help myself and start laughing.

"Second best, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you are hilarious Jess, second best, HAHAHAHAHAHA."

"And I'm not?" she pokes me with her eyes.

"Do you think I'm really helping you be second? I want you to be the best girl, not even SHIELD and their spies will do a better job than you." I put on my seat belt, which is followed by Jess and we go after the missing guy.

After walking around the establishments belonging to Spheeris, we find him leaving a business meeting.

"Jess, in our case, since we are special investigators, the first thing you must do is, command respect." I look at her, I see her confusion. "Stop his car with your force."

She follows the hint and stops in front of Spheeris' car, which she smoothly stopped with her body with her hands in her pockets.

Spheeris gets out of the car, completely startled "You are an enhancement, if you don't let me go I will tell everyone." the man is sweating bullets.

"I didn't try to hide when I stopped your car." she retorts with her disgusted face. "Now you will answer this subpoena or I will visit you and cut your little toy with my laser eyes." she hands over the subpoena which he promptly puts away.

We get back to the car, and again I start laughing like crazy.

"HAHAHAHAHA cut your balls off with laser beam, HAHAHAHAHA and you still think you are second best. HAHAHAHAHAHA"

Which makes Jess laugh with me and feel better for finishing the job so easily.

As I drive to the office, "Now you understand how I work, no fear and no restrictions. So the cases I have, I will pass on to you. That way you can get used to it faster. Any questions, call me."

As soon as we arrive at the office, we see it completely dark and empty. It looks like Matt and Foggy are on a case. I finish setting up the papers and when I turn around, a fretless Jessica Jones kisses me.

Let's just say that after this, the office may have been a bit of a mess.

When the clock struck 5 a.m. and we stopped our activities, I turn to Jess.

"What the hell was that?"

"Well, besides thanking me for all the help, I needed to unload some of my stress, so why not, have casual sex with a friend?" she looks at me like I've done something wrong.

"See Jess, I really don't mind having casual sex, or having friends with benefits, I just don't want you to think something else, something I can't offer." I carefully explain my situation.

"Don't worry Ric, it's just casual stuff, I don't want and am not ready for relationships." I feel relieved for that.

"But promise me Jess, it will never go beyond casual. I don't want to be committed to anything like that, other than casual." I ask her carefully.

"Relax." she leans back on me, looks at her watch, looks at me "Do we have time for one more?"

I don't answer, I just turn her on the table and do what she wants.