The Punisher: Marked For Death (Athene & East)


Suki's head moved slowly from side to side.

"You don't get to make demands. Do you not understand the exact position you're in, Seth?"

Apparently not, as he opted to make a crude suggestion after speaking. Once more, she kneed his back, adding a low "Shhhhh" afterwards. This wasn't just Suki being a very, very dark cop. This was her at her best and most sadistic side possible. She hadn't expected to use this again, but push had come to shove. And really? It wasn't like there were many ways to finish this night with sparing Seth.

In fact, he was - whether on purpose or accident - only making his chances worse. From confirming he'd seen her to his inappropriate remarks, there were more and more reasons to comply with his demand to shoot him.

But not now. She was going to do this her way; it had been what she'd agreed with. This was her first true test to see if she could deal with accepting his terms. And she was willing to prove that she hadn't simply said "Yes" to take the easy way out. She wanted to re-earn his trust, particularly after her own hasty reactions back at Lieberman's house.

.... Odd. Were he anyone else, Suki wasn't sure if she'd feel so eager to want to prove herself.

No matter. The moment the van jerked to an abrupt stop, Suki knew they were at their destination. It wasn't just the pier, but the exact same area she and Booker had been sent to.

She would stay silent while getting out of the van, keeping an arm wrapped firmly around Seth's midsection and dragging him out. Unlike the last time she'd been here, Suki had added a few extra 'props', though none that anyone would have expected.

"So ... you wanted to be my partner, huh? Back when we were all sent out to the piers? A lot of the others had been muttering something about someone bitching about getting the 'wrong partner'; I just never paid much heed to it until earlier today. I thought back long and hard and remembered the more vital details. Unfortunately, we're in a job that doesn't really allow for secrets to last for long. So, of course, there was one idiot whom I did manage to remember mumbling your name."

Suki shook her head again.

"That probably should have been my red flag, huh? But that's okay. I'm gonna make up for that, and it starts with you. See, you're only partly right. I did fuck up, mhm. I'll admit that. But you did too. You should have killed me. But I suppose that'd just result in you being found out faster, hmm?"

Among the many containers was a single crane with a hook already lowered.

"This isn't very well known to many of the others. Not even Booker or Holland. But I got quite a few offers to join the Berets. I was in the right military branch, and I was deemed worthy enough. I just never felt like I'd earned the right. Maybe it was incentive to help me change my mind, but ... I did work alongside a few of them. Watched how they worked. I dunno if you've heard anything, but any rumors you may have heard are very true. Probably the tamer versions, too. Damn. They're great at what they do; there's no real way to explain it. Not without seeing or being on their bad side anyway."

Hoisting Seth up high enough so that his bound wrists were placed over the hook, Suki took a few steps back. The angle would already threaten to dislocate, if not outright break, his wrists and maybe even arms.

"See, the thing about interrogations is there are certain key phrases or actions that once someone resorts to them, they've sealed their fate. You insisting you won't talk has helped ensure that not only will I get what I want, but you will too."

Suki patted her rear pocket where her pistol was.

"You were right in assuming I have it on me. Not yet though. This links back to what I said earlier; you don't get to make demands, nor do I have any obligation to listen to them. I'm a very patient woman, and I have all night to do this. So if I have to wait until dawn, I will. Now then .... why you're with the mafia doesn't really matter, because that membership's gonna expire when I'm done. So I'll skip to the more important question. Don't they get money off drugs also? So ... why did the women from the trafficking seem even more than vital than any amount of cocaine or whatever they tend to sell to people in Hell's Kitchen?"
 
Seth saw the crane, and it was around here that he realized that Suki was not playing around as he felt his arms lift painfully, he went from groaning in pain to actually screaming in pain as his body was lifted, and his arms did a clearly untrained loop around his upper body, joints bending in ways that they had not been stretched to do so, and because of that they audiably popped leaving him hanging at an odd angle as his arms dislocated and he screamed in pain feeling his lungs burn.

Looking around though it was only the three of them. Suki, Seth, and the mysterious driver whom Seth couldn't make out, especially now that his eyes were full of tears, from the pain he was enduring being held up in this unnatural way. Though his arms could be put back together as nothing was broken, it was more surprising that Seth didn't just pass out from the pain. "Fuuuck." he managed to breath between pants and sobs of pain, feeling his body like it was about to fall apart.

"Fuck you..." He said breathing, but shook his head. He hadn't actually expected her to torture him, and with her patting her gun and telling him that he was actually going to be shot, he suddenly wasn't really sure if he could last so long. She started asking about the mafia and he groaned in pain tears started to flow down his face. "I don't know!" He coughed breathing heavily as he cried. He was trying to move about, his feet barely staying on the wet floor the pier.

His pants got darker a small amount of steam left off his body, he realized he was going to die, and the pain, and fear meant he couldn't hold back. He cried for a moment his seemingly strong will breaking after a few seconds of actual torture.

"I don't know why the girls were needed. It was a bust! It was a bust just like any other Suki." he shook his head. "I was just told to hurt you, I got an invite telling me when you would be going to your car, I was told to hurt you okay. I don't know anything about the girls, my job was just to hurt and rape you that's all they wanted me to do. They wanted it on video... okay that's all I know."

Frank's head perked for a moment, and his eyes went to Suki.
 

Though there was no obvious cue appearing on her face, Suki felt very satisfied with seeing and hearing Seth cry his eyes out. Fucker was getting what he deserved. As far as she was concerned, he gave up the role of a cop the second he laid his hands on her. This was a criminal getting what he deserved; Karma. And just like she'd heard time and time again, Karma truly was the biggest bitch that existed in this world. Even more so of one than Suki could be.

"So ... let me get this straight. You're telling me the Italian mafia just randomly chose you? To try to get back at me for ... doing my job at the pier?"

Her head shook.

"There's a lot of blanks you're not filling in, Seth. This is the mafia we're talking about. They're not sloppy, not as a group. They're not perfect, no. But what you're saying is you may as well have been a toy they won in a crane game and decided to give to a random kid. It's the same sorta analogy and frankly? If that's really how it went down? Well ... I guess it'll be easier than usual to deal with and arrest the rest of them. Still .... "

Suki slowly paced in front of Seth.

"Holland may not have mentioned it during the briefing, but I find it difficult to believe that no one else may have noticed something with the girls. Some of the names I got from the files ... we've already saved them in the past. So ... "

She paused again, now mainly to find the right words to use, only speaking after Suki felt confident she'd found them.

"See, the thing about going after a victim you've already hunted and hurt in the past is ... that leaves a trail. It puts you at risk. A really high one. And yet ... it seems like they're very persistent about wanting certain women in their possession."

Her arms went over her chest as she looked right into Seth's eyes.

"You're really sure you don't know about that? Nor the true worth of these women? They're clearly more valuable than just some future escorts to sell off. Then there's also your story about what the Italians wanted you to do. You were supposed to incapacitate me ... and record me being raped? They could have literally chosen anyone to do that. Was that something you volunteered for? Or were you given this assignment without asking to do it?"

Suki would go quiet, allowing this all to sink in. But in case the pain made it too hard to add up, she began to clarify herself further.

"This goes back to the questionable but sloppy work from the mafia as of late. If they didn't want a trail leading back to them, then .... things would have gone done in the garage very differently. More .... permanent. You don't have to kill someone to keep them quiet, after all. You should know. You toyed with that idea briefly, remember?"

Suki rose her hand, grasping it around Seth's neck.

"Granted, it takes a certain amount of accuracy to find just the vocal chords, but in the right hands, it's not at all impossible."

Suki sighed, shaking her head as she moved her hand away.

"Yeah .... no. There's more questions than answers I'm getting here. So one last chance to fill any of them in."

It was false hope. But really, she doubted Seth needed to be told this. Hell, for all Suki knew, he wasn't only crying due to the physical pain, but possibly also due to any psychological and emotional now hitting him. It wouldn't be amazing if his life was starting to flash before his eyes. It was a phenomenon that commonly hit people in life or death situations. Even Suki had experienced a few of them while she was still a soldier, so she knew first hand it was a very real experience.

So now ... she had to wait and see if that was going to hurt her chances at getting what she - and Frank, technically - wanted or help them. Not that she was expecting a miracle, mind you, but Suki wanted to see if maybe one could arrive anyway.
 
"I don't know shit about the women." He groaned in pain, but at this point Seth didn't really have a reason to lie to her. Seth was trying his best to stay awake even as his arms were in agony, his feet barely scratching at the floor keeping him standing, but his body felt broken, his vision kept fading, and when Suki grabbed his throat he actually let out a whimper of pain. "My cell, they text me now and then, give me work, people to hurt, things to do, and then after I get it done, they pay me through transferable funds."

"They found out about you working that night, found some video footage from the docks or some shit. They think you took down one of the big guys that night, they wanted you broken." He looked at the ground he was gonna die, he could already tell that much, and his vision was blurring at that. He didn't know everything, but gods he wanted the pain to stop. "It wasn't personal Suki, just a job. We work in the same precinct, and I hurt people for them, it was a matter of convenience."

"I don't get to volunteer for shit, and I don't get anything more than money, and the occasional rape case thrown my way. My phone has the texts." He said biting his lip. "I'll cut you a deal Suki, let me go. Let me go, and I will give you my phone's password, I'll run, you'll never see me again, I'll leave New York, but if you kill me it's an Iphone, and there ain't anyway you are getting into that shit." He coughed for a moment, trying to barter his way out of the situation.

"If you let me go, I'll run, no words, I'm gone... I'll call the phone from some payphone." He was breathing heavily. "I don't know anymore than that, but with my phone, you might be able to track down something."

Frank's eye was twitching he hated the idea of letting this scum run free, the phone might be useful, but he was otherwise a dead end. He was half tempted to take care of that decision. To kill him, or follow him for long enough that once he called that cellphone he could just kill him, but at this point that would be messy, wherever he was going he was probably gonna stick to well lit crowds. If he ran chances were good that the man was dead either way. If not by their hands by the mafia that had hired him.
 

Suki's eyebrow rose when Seth spoke about the cameras. If he'd talked about the parking garage ... that was one thing. But at the docks? She had walked all over in the harbor. Never once had she found anything to indicate she'd been watched.

Damn. And by now, that's a very clean, ex-crime scene. Hmmm ...

Otherwise, she would have gladly considered talking to Frank about trying to find and look through the footage. Although ... that did bring up another question. One she'd relay to her partner later ... after this was over, specifically.

"Whether this was personal or not isn't the point. We're supposed to be partners. Cops. Semper Fi, you traitor; I use that in and out of the military. The fact you were tempted with something as lame and petty as greed ... and even a chance to rape me .... "

Suki spat in Seth's face.

"You make me sick. You stain the reputation of any cop who may still be half - or completely - decent back at headquarters. Asshole."

Oddly, she didn't need to think nearly as long as Frank may have expected. In fact, she smirked once he uttered the words 'cell phone'. Without saying a word, Suki dug into his pockets and carefully pulled it out, sliding it into her own rear pocket. All while making sure to avoid touching it too much.

"I don't know who you think you're talking to, dumbass. Unlike you, I'm still a cop. You're not needed alive to unlock that cell phone."

Suki held her right index finger up - more to Frank - though it was somewhat directed at Seth.

"If you're any bit religious, get any last prayers outta the way. I'll be right back."

With that, Suki would gracefully turn on her heels. She had originally been ready to pull her own pistol out .. but realized a few seconds later that would have been a death wish. In fact, it embarrassed her that she almost made the most basic mistake ever; using her own firearm. Bullets were very easily traceable, especially if one didn't take steps to cover their tracks.

A door would open. Frank would note that it was the passenger side one. Rummaging would be heard ... and eventually, Suki would return. The gun had been easy to find. A spare glove was a bit more difficult, but her hand indicated 'difficult' didn't equal 'impossible'.

"The honest to gods truth is even if you didn't want this from the get-go? This was gonna happen. You have no one but to blame for yourself."

And with barely any hesitation, Suki rose her arm, pointing right at Seth's head and pulled back on the trigger. No remorse, no hesitation ... one could easily mistake her for someone as ruthless and cold-blooded as Frank could be. Unfortunately for Seth, the moment he threatened her with rape ... well ... all mercy had been tossed out of Suki's proverbial window.

Ignoring the fact that some blood was splattered on her face, clothes, and the gun she was still holding, she looked back to Frank.

"Fingerprints ... I know how to scan and check for them. It's one of the few other material possessions I brought with me. So once we get back, I can check and see about getting that decoded. Worst case scenario? We can wait for a good time to visit your friend again."

They had said, after all, they would try to stay away for a while. They never defined how long that may or may not be. Suki didn't yet immediately move. She first wanted to hear Frank's thoughts, but more than that? She wanted to get at least a hint on whether this display sufficed to make up for her errors she made earlier in the day.
 
Frank watched Suki go back to the car, for a moment he was wondering exactly what she was searching for, till she came back and it became obvious that she was grabbing one of the guns that he kept around the car. He watched satisfied for a moment, he watched as Seth tried to beg, and was summarily executed for his crimes. Frank let out a soft breath feeling his tension ease a bit. He walked up to the small crane they had been using to hoist his feet off the ground. Frank unhooked the locks that kept it firm to the ground, and set it to course watching as it dragged the body off the docks, and dragged it down into the water, where it would cease to be either of their problems.

He looked to Suki impressed, as she looked at him, the explication of ways to get the information off the phone made him nod. "I keep a spare change of clothes behind the drivers seat if you wanna borrow it." He said nodding at her current blood splattered look. The implication was get changed now, so that she didn't scare anyone when they got back to the apartment.

"You did good, sounds like he was a fall guy, he probably didn't know who he was in contact with, but now that they had the phone they could intercept some of the messages he had been sent to get more information from his employers. Once word gets out about his death people are gonna start investigating, but that's part of the job." On both sides really, people would start looking for him. He didn't really like killing cops, but when they were corrupt like this, it was part of the job.

It sucked that the guy didn't know much about the women, but this was only the first avenue they had, and with the phone they had a much deeper rabbit hole they could follow now. Getting the spare change of clothes from the care, he tossed her a shirt that would be much longer on her. "Use your old shirt to wipe your face, and clean your hands up, then put on the new stuff, I'll clean the crime scene." He said opening a compartment in the back of the car, finding a bottle of bleach, which he started to splash over the wooden docks.

"The longer he goes unfound the better for us. We have the initive now to find out who he was working with, but over the next few days we are gonna start loosing that, we aren't just running up against the mafia, but other cops, and I'd rather avoid people who are just doing their job."
 

O... Oh fuck. What ... did you just ... ??

The reality had finally kicked in, and it did so pretty damn hard. Suki gulped, feeling her heart almost immediately quicken in pace. Even from her military days, she'd never resorted to outright murder. Any killings that had happened were done purely in self-defense, or from orders her superiors gave. But this? It didn't fit either of those scenarios.

This was murder. In cold blood, no less.

He would have killed you! Hell, he admitted he was gonna rape you, remember?! That's why you used a different gun and not your own; so you could get away with it!

And yet, no matter what she said to herself, it wasn't working. Suki didn't immediately move or respond. Not even when Frank spoke to her.

In fact, she remained perfectly stationary and silent until something was thrown over towards her. Instincts kicked in as she grabbed the unknown items, soon feeling they were the clothes Frank had hinted getting into.

"Was that really right?" she softly asked, moving towards the passenger door and laying the clean shirt down on the seat. The gun was put away first. Suki glanced back ... and after taking another shaky breath or two added, "Umm ... mind ... not looking? I just ... I'd kinda prefer the privacy."

Regardless of the answer, Suki knew she had to act, and everything had to be done quickly. She grabbed a half-empty bottle of water, removing it from one of the cup holders, and poured some of the cool liquid on her hands to clean them. Luckily, there wasn't much. The side mirror probably wasn't needed ... but she peeked anyway and confirmed that it was indeed her face that needed the most work.

So, Suki tilted her head back and splashed some of the water on her face, particularly near her eyes and on her cheeks.

The water bottle would be cautiously set back down. Suki's hands deftly moved, beginning to dry and rub any lingering blood away. Simultaneously, she started drying her hands off, cleaning them at the exact same time. And finally ... the moment that she hated but knew was a necessary evil.

Suki gripped the hem of her shirt and hastily pulled it off. Save for her breaths, the only other sound Frank would hear were her dog tags jingling lightly. The dirty top would be thrown in the rear seats. The Asian cop, meanwhile, turned around and walked closer towards the scene and, by default, Frank.

"You want me to do anything? Just to help it all go faster?"

The second question had been quickly added. Mainly as a precaution should it sound like Suki wasn't confident Frank couldn't deal with this all on his own. On the contrary, she knew he could.

Still ... the longer they lingered here, the more they put themselves at risk for being found. Common sense implied this was one of those times where an extra person to assist in cleaning up would be better. But .. if he was already mostly finished, then Suki was just as prepared to get in the passenger's seat and wait to return to the Castle residence.
 
Frank kept his back turned to Suki, as she cleaned herself up, he was busy doing his job, making evidence disappear. Honestly it didn't take much. The body, and the hoist had already sank beneath the dark waters of the peer, taking with it the majority of the mess, cleaning the actual dock was a bit easier, a splashing of chlorine killed most of the DNA evidence. the blood slipped off the aged wood, and the ocean would keep most of the actions here kept secret. "No worries my attention is elsewhere." He said giving her little attention.

The main thing he had worried about was the car they had left back in the gym. When the manhunt for Seth began they would retrace his steps, and eventually find his car. He had made sure that they had parked where there no cameras, did he just leave it for the police? In the end, with the secondary crime scene clean going back for the car would cause more problems than simply making it look like he had wondered off in a different direction or disappeared into the night without it.

It would raise more questions, but as long as the cops didn't have answers.

When Suki asked him if there was anything to do, Frank shook his head. "Scene is about as clean as it gets, by the time anyone tracks down this place, new york weather will have worn this place down even more. The only thing we have to worry about is him resurfacing, but considering he was tied to a metal crane, his arms won't give for a few months."

The only real lead the cops had, was Suki, and the fact that she had told her partner about Seth. Of course Suki trusted her partner, but with Seth gone, and that being the only link, it came down to if the man wanted to cover up a murder. A tall order for any cop. Frank wasn't going to say anything. That argument was over, and he would deal with whatever came from it, but it made the timer tick, added pressure to the problems.

Frank made his way to the car, getting in, and waiting for Suki to do the same. "How long do you think it will take you to get the phone unlocked?"

and with the area secured, Frank started to drive back towards home.
 

"Hmm .... "

Suki reached back, carefully pulling said cell phone out of her pocket. It'd be bad to risk butt dialing someone while they were driving back, after all. She lifted it closer to her face, grinning slightly as already, outlines of fingerprints were beginning to be seen. All over the phone, granted, but that was why Frank got the exact answer he did.

"Hopefully as soon as a few hours. A day at the absolute latest. You can keep track from the second I get my kit and begin working, if ya want. I wouldn't object; on the contrary, I'm curious to see if I've lost my touch or not, so to speak."

Either way, it's been a fuck of a while since I've used it.

Once the van started up, Suki pushed herself against her seat, using her purposeful movements and the darkness to keep herself as hidden as possible. She was supposed to be on medical leave, after all. It probably would look weird if any of her colleagues saw her out and about. It'd definitely be even more suspicious if they realized who was driving the vehicle she was in.

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10th September, 2018
New York City, New York
Exact Location: Frank Castle's Residence
23: 22 PM EST

Like Suki had fairly guessed, unlocking the phone had indeed been the easy part. It was just about everything afterwards that was the real challenge. There were more numbers than just family and other people among the NYPD - although that in itself was a bit of a hint. Were all of these names other dirty cops? It was a possibility, and one Suki had typed up on Frank's laptop in case all of the listed individuals weren't there by mere coincidence.

Still, it hadn't escaped her to note the handful of numbers she and Frank could immediately discern weren't labeled as belonging to Seth's wife or any other cops.

But ... how to go about dealing with those numbers?

For now, Suki had typed all of those down and was in the process of trying to do a reverse look-up. Some of the searches came up with results, but a lot refused to give details. Without paying for them, of course; which led her to believe they were other cell phone owners, belonged to people who had purposely wanted to avoid being found, both, or even all of the above plus other possibilities that had yet to cross her mind.

Her hands rose as she wiped some sleep away from her eyes. The past few days had been both eventful, but very much exhausting. The point emphasized and more easily pointed out as Seth's phone abruptly rang.

She left it alone, naturally. Common sense revealed to her why it'd be a disaster if she answered when it should be in Seth's possession.

... That number looks familiar though, she thought, narrowing her eyebrows as she stared down at the numbers. Suki had been ready to shrug the call off, assuming it was another cop.

Her guess was only partially correct. It wasn't until her own phone rang and the same number came up that Suki felt her heart skip a few beats.

"Fuck," she muttered, lightly gripping onto her lower lip before answering. It was probably not the smartest thing to do; she knew that deep down. But failing to answer this could end up being just as disastrous. "Booker, you know I still have a week and a half, yes?"

"You may have even less."

" ... Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb with me, just answer me honestly. Are you linked to why Seth Sutherland is missing?"

" ... Do you hear yourself? I'm out on medical leave, Jonathan."

"I also remember our last talk. I'm not stupid, Suki. Maybe not as brilliant as you, but I'm no idiot."

Suki was glad this was a phone call and not a face-to-face talk. Otherwise the sight of her body beginning to shake would easily give away he was on the right track. "What ... what are you going on about anyway? You call me out of the blue and .... I don't know what you're talking about."

"So you didn't decide to follow through with your theory and make Seth just 'vanish'? Is that what you're telling me?"

"What the fuck would I gain from that, huh?! Look, you said it yourself; I'm not stupid. I don't even know for sure still if he was who assaulted me in the garage. That was just a hunch ... a lead. One I haven't followed."

"So why is your voice shaking?"

"BECAUSE I'M PISSED OFF! YOU CALL ME AND THINK I'M BEHIND SOME SHADY SHIT?! AFTER WHAT I WENT THROUGH?!" Suki paused, trying to calm herself down ... even if only a little bit. "Okay, okay ... fine. So the shouting wasn't necessarily. But seriously, after the state you saw me in .... really now. What would be the point in me trying to be as dumb as my attacker was?"

" ... I'd love to believe that. Really, I would. But with it being two days since anyone saw Seth ... and that also being when we last spoke ... understand that from my point of view, it's pretty ... shady. I'm sure you know that by now, since the twenty-four hour mark has passed, we've began searching. Prove me right, Kimura. I'd hate for my partner to be linked to this somehow. I really would. And it wouldn't be just me. Holland wouldn't be much happier at the thought, either. Hell, I don't think anyone in the force would be glad to know you've become rogue."

Booker elicited an exhausted sigh before continuing, "For now ... you're right. Just as you say you have no lead with your own incident, I don't have any definite proof showing you're somehow a part of this mess. But Suki ... it should go without saying that if I find even the slightest bit of evidence to prove otherwise ... I will bring you in. You know that, yeah?"

"Of course."

"Okay. I wanna be wrong about this. I hope when I talk or see you next, I won't have to slap cuffs on you. Take care, Kimura."

Before she could try to halt them, tears had already started streaming down her face. Her hands covered her eyes, trying to muffle a frustrated scream as best as possible.

He's right. You shouldn't have called him back at his friend's house. Now ... because you did ... this is what's happening. If you hadn't ... you'd be off the fucking radar!

At least for a while longer if not forever. Either way, she hadn't wanted to take this kind of risk so soon. And yet ... any chance of keeping what she'd done secret was threatening to be brought up and known to the public.

Her hands were shaking violently as they lowered and fell to her sides. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as Suki looked around a few times ... before beginning to gather her belongings. She couldn't stay. She'd fucked up, and just as bad as getting caught was knowing this would result in Frank being rediscovered. That in itself would open a whole new can of worms; one the NYPD had been so sure they'd kept shut for good. Murder would be but one of the few charges Suki would need to worry about.

And Suki knew that perfectly well; hinted by her stomach painfully clenching as a tight knot formed.

While she didn't know exactly where to go, she just knew she had to move. Likely out of country, if not at least state. The thought fueled her tears, guiding them swifter down her face and onto her shirt, a few dripping off the fabric and onto the floor even.
 
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10th September, 2018
New York City, New York
Exact Location: Frank Castle's Residence
23: 22 PM EST

Frank hadn't been sleeping so much as he was just resting his eyes, the fact that the Phone seemed to be taking it's time to show up results was annoying him, and he wanted to pull up some of the numbers and check their yellow page posting. See if he could figure out if any of the businesses in the phone were a front for mafia activity. It wasn't that hard to think of, in the past he had dealt with a lot of restaurants that were money laundering businesses. It was a pretty easy book to fudge, that, laundromats, hair stylists and the like were all easy builds for money exchanging hands and fudging books to cover up the sale of illecite items such as drugs, women and the like.

It would be his next step, something he would start to work on once Suki had a better idea of all the companies they would be dealing with. His mind drifted over to her, the two of them hadn't spoken much since the interrogation of Seth. He was used to this kind of thing, numb to shooting someone at close range, and how that felt. He was kinda worried about Suki, there was a very big difference between shooting someone on a battlefield and executing someone for their crimes, most people couldn't cross the line she had. Part of him wondered if it was to impress him, or if she had done so because of what the man had tried to do to her.

that was when he heard the shouting. His eyes opened, and he could hear pretty clearly what was going on. Her partner had called her back, and was doing exactly what Frank knew would happen once the man stopped showing up to his job. This was the problem with having contacts outside of this life. Even David could be a liability in the future and so he had always tried to keep his team as small as possible, the fact that there even was a team now made him slightly annoyed.

Even so he could tell what was going on. Frank got up from where he had been relaxing opening the door to see Suki standing crying, and going for her things, Frank moved to cut her off with ease.

"If your thinking of bugging out, you can't." He said rather calmly, albeit sternly. He was looking at her seriously for a moment. She was a cop, he didn't want to have to fight her, and certainly didn't want to have to restrain her, but he would if he really had too, the two of them had been partners up until this point and he didn't want to harm that relationship, at the same time he wasn't going to allow her to jeopardize his mission.

He cut Suki off from the door, and looked at her sternly. "You run now, and you will be letting down all of the women we are trying to save, not to mention letting the criminals who hurt them go free. You're afraid, but now is not the time to second guess yourself. We've come too far for that."

He moved forward, gently putting a hand on Suki's shoulder, he wasn't exactly the best person to help someone in emotional distress, he was stuck in his own dark world, and she had seen a fraction of it now. "We are going to make it through this." There was no doubt in his voice when he spoke, he was strong and resolute. He knew they would survive, and if they didn't than it wouldn't matter anyway.
 

" ... Can't?" Suki repeated incredulously. Borderline insulted, in fact. "Look, I haven't forgotten your place, your rules. That's fine, but this ... what just happened. That's involving my life. Our lives, if it the whole picture was ever found out. I'm trying to do what's best for us both, okay? So just ... let me do what's necessary, yeah?"

Well ... that was a punch to her gut. Suki visibly grimaced when Frank brought up the women they'd saved.

" ... Have we really, though?" she questioned. Knowing it'd sound off at first, she hastily elaborated, "A lot of those women ... they're repeat victims. If this ... whatever the fuck is going on has been for a while now ... is there really a way we can truly put an end to any of this?!"

At the last part of her inquiry, she stood back up to her full height, arms stretched out to her sides before collapsing beside her hips.

"Let's put it this way, how long have the NYPD thought you to be 'missing' now? A year? A few? And yet .... for all the people you've killed ... shit's still happening. It's going to keep happening. What are we even doing? At best, pausing and delaying some horrible things from happening to people who don't deserve it, yes. But ... there's no such thing as peace lasting forever. That's why we've been in so many goddamn wars, most of them for the dumbest of reasons."

Suki scoffed at herself, her head shaking in annoyance.

"Yeah ... military was easier and better," she muttered, swallowing softly. Her head lowered as she paused, glancing between Frank and her dufflebag. Her gaze jolted quickly back as the hand landed on her shoulder.

"Please don't touch me!" Suki whimpered, a shocked gasp mingling in with the plea as she acted on instincts and smacked the hand off. Even took a few steps back ... a good sign, in its own rights. It at least got her further away from the bag, if absolutely nothing else. When it sank in what she'd done, let alone whom to, Suki fell back on the couch.

"F-Frank I ... what do you want me to do when the next week and some odd days pass? If he goes to Holland and gets a warrant ... then what? I lie? I mean .... granted, there's no definite evidence yet, but .... "

Her head weakly shook as she looked right into Castle's eyes.

"Even if I do ... that's not going to work. Not forever. You know that, I'm sure. This is ... this is exactly why I'm trying to vanish. Yes, that'll put a red flag on me. But at least it'd only be me. You could stay hidden, keep doing your own work. Me? It's ... exactly as you said at your friend's; I fucked up. Really badly. I ... I don't .... "

Her head moved again from side to side, quicker this time, making her hair whip and smack her face a few times.

"Is there even a way to fix this? It doesn't feel like it. Not really, and definitely not in a permanent way. There are very few ways this whole goddamn mess can end, and I am counting if I remain here. There's not many with better 'endings' than what Seth got, and ... there's no way you'd want that. I sure as fuck don't. In the best case scenario, they fail to find jack shit against me. But then .... that doesn't fix the dirty cop problem, nor the target on either of our heads .... "

Not that Frank's was obvious at this very moment. But it was common sense. If anyone aside from Suki ever found out The Punisher was alive, well, and very active ... oh yeah. He'd be in every scope imaginable.

"I really ... really wish you'd just move aside and let me go. I'll be the first to admit I'm probably being a bit selfish, and probably stupid. But ... I seriously see few ways to remedy my mistake. Staying feels like I'm gonna make this much worse before better."
 

"You knew this would happen the moment you signed up with me." Frank gave no quarter his hand pulled back when she said not to touch her, but at the same time he did not stand down or get out of her way. He understood her panic, he heard her but at the same time he didn't think that she was serious when it came to running from her problems, she knew that wasn't an option for them, she was just getting cold feet. He didn't blame her for that, but at the same time he didn't agree with her panic attack.

This was his war, the streets, and the criminal element were his enemy, he had gone into that war knowing it never ended, she was a bystander. Still he didn't just let her go. "If I need to lock you up with your own handcuffs I will, but I am not letting you past me, you aren't going anywhere." On that he was firm, his eyes scanned her to see how serious she was, he would rather not attack her, but he was also not going to stand down if she escalated that situation.

"You are having a panic attack, it's normal, we just went through some shit." He said nodding. "I've had a target on my head for a long time, you get used to it."

"Listen, You are in this with me, and I'm not gonna let someone kill me until my work is done. I don't know if at the end of this you are gonna get to keep your job, your probably not." He admitted there wasn't much room for a good cop on this cities payroll. "If I was one of the other guys than you might get to end up having a normal life after all of this, but you usually don't. What I know is that right now, your work place can't be trusted."

"If I were you, I would resign, say the medical leave wasn't enough and walk away from the job, then work on taking down every single person like Seth. Cause at the end of the day this isn't about us, it's about the innocent people that get caught in the middle, and with people like Seth around that's not gonna stop. These women are going to change from hand to hand, and those people that paid Seth to try and rape you are just gonna find another lacky and the next guy won't be so dumb."

"If you run out of the country, it may stop, but can you really live with that?" Frank shook his head. "I can't, I know there people out there doing wrong, and we have the chance to stop them because no one else will. So this isn't about us living through it Suki, it's about making sure they go down."
 

"I only kinda knew," Suki muttered lowly. Still ... he wasn't wrong. She knew enough that the moment she agreed to help out, things would get messy. To this degree though? Nope. That much she never could have assumed. Hell, the fact she ended up with The Punisher at all was a surprise in its own rights. A man presumed to be dead or at least missing. And yet ... out of all of the people that could have run into Frank and stayed on his good side ... it had somehow been her that met up with him.

I think I finally begin to understand what his friend was hinting at, she realized, fighting off the urge to roll her eyes.

Regardless of how much or little she began to admit knowing things would make a turn for a worse, the fact remained that it didn't change Suki knew. And it fell under the universal law of being a cop. Technically any position of power, but that had been drilled into her head the most when undergoing training at NYPD's Academy; ignorance is never a legitimate excuse for anything.

Either way, there was a very clear expression in Suki's eyes; one that revealed she was very torn. Still seeming to contemplate running, but not making any physical efforts to do so. Her muscles were a lot more relaxed than tensed. There wasn't any indication that made it appear like she was going to run, or try to, anytime soon. To be kind of fair, the more accurate wording was Suki did not want to get in a physical confrontation with Frank.

Even if she could get some decent hits in, it was pretty clear to her whom would win between the two. More than that though, she was just mentally fatigued and stressed. Fighting was a very last ditch effort ... one that she'd only use if push really came to shove.

"Actually .... that thought has been crossing my mind. Telling them to consider my vacation my two weeks. Because ... you've got things you will and won't do. I have a few of my own. Lying is one I ... no. I'm not doing. I'd rather kill again, even at the expense of my sanity, than lie."

Whether it was hearing those words and revelation or something else entirely, Suki let out a long sigh ... and plopped down on the couch. Any tension that may have been lingering in her muscles seemed to fade. Now that she all but confessed that much, it seemed more and more obvious on at least one step that could be taken to work on improving her mess.

"Okay ... fine. Fine, fine. Point made. And ... no. I couldn't really live with myself much better. Plus ... a lot of other countries aren't much better when it comes to women and their own living situation. Lack of, in some specific nations. I .... know that compared to other places, it actually is a lot better to be a woman here in the States."

Considering her immediate option had been to flee somewhere in the Middle East - if only because she figured it would be one of the last places anyone in the NYPD would try to look for Suki - it made her near decision ironic. But that was a perfect example of where life tended to be harder for females.

" ... Fine. Fine, okay ... "

Her hands rose beside her head, with the right weakly moving back and forth, as if she were waving an invisible, white flag.

"I get it. Really, I do. And ... to help prove it, you can look at what I have managed to decipher. It's been a hit and miss. About half of these have been cell numbers. But there have been some actual businesses we can visit that Seth had contact with. I've labeled them all appropriately."

And even when Frank got closer to Suki, it would seem she hadn't just spoken to appeal to him. She didn't get up and run back to the bag. She stayed put, having seemed to agreed that running would be stupider as opposed to smarter like she initially thought.

"Thanks for smacking sense into me. If it ever needs to turn to a literal point ... please do. I umm ... it's been a while since I've had support with these panic attacks. It feels nice to have someone who does actually understand and isn't just bullshitting me."

Maybe not with the attempted rape part, he couldn't relate; at least she doubted that. But having knowledge that Frank, too, was a veteran ... that was enough. Far more than many other people Suki knew had. Even rarer was seeing exactly what Suki pointed out; he was being completely real and serious. Almost anyone else would have likely lied their asses off. And all - or a good chunk - in hopes of being able to get a chance to have an easy, or at least free, fuck session.
 

When she told him that she would rather kill than have to lie about something like this he was honestly a little torn. Frank tried his best to make sure that he never invited people into his world. It was too dark. Too constant. Yet he had brought Suki into his war, and she was starting to see the price of it. He wasn't exactly sure how the war would end, he wasn't sure if she would be able to handle everything, but he sat down across from her. He was glad that she wasn't trying to bolt, and he did listen to her.

"I'm sorry." He said softly. "I try not to bring too many people into the inner circle, cause the way I live it doesn't get better. But I'm here for you." He was about to reach out till he remembered that she said not to touch her, and he backed away, his hands going to his lap as he looked at Suki.

"We're a unit now. Smacking sense into one another keeping ourselves on target it's what we do." He said with a soft smile, despite how this had gone he was glad to have someone he could trust, someone whom could hold their own and watch his back. It was good to know that there were people out here whom could fight with him. "The Panic attacks, I get them too from time to time. Every now and then you have a brief moment where you wake up, and you look at everything you have done and it seems impossible, than I get up out of that bed, and I focus on the parts I need to do."

"I wasn't joking when I said this was my war, you have probably heard stories about how deep this all goes for me. The lengths i put myself through to get the job done. But if I don't, if I don't put myself to those lengths than I feel like I'm just letting innocent people get hurt."

Frank rubbed his face for a moment before focusing on Suki. On the things she had found, and going over them. The cellphones were good, but it was the business numbers he focused on. "Seth was a fall guy, i doubt that he had any cellphone numbers that would call him directly. He was also married." He rubbed his chin. "If people think Seth's a loose end, they may go after her."
 

"Do you regret it? Your lifestyle, I mean?"

Suki took a moment to lock eyes with Frank's before lifting her head and slowly looking around at their settings. From the inside of the small house to any pictures hanging up, curtains, literally anything that reflected in her light blue eyes. Slowly but surely, they landed back on Frank. "I know bits and pieces about you. I can't say nearly as much as the higher ups do, though."

It was here that Suki paused, realizing that due to his absence, her words may sound a bit ... weird. So, she went silent and decided to backtrack and help him get up to speed.

"After you 'vanished' from the public eye, it wasn't just the media that ceased talking about you. NYPD did also. Because ... why bother, right? It didn't matter. As far as everyone else was concerned, the Punisher was gone and out of everyone's hair. Suffice to say, your files have since been untouched. Not erased, mind you; they weren't that stupid. But they're not immediately in reach, either. It'd take a bit for anyone to find and properly retrieve them. So with that being said .... knowing you're still an unknown factor, I guess my main question is .... "

"If you could ... don't be fucking stupid. He basically answered that inquiry not too long ago."

So, instead, Suki altered it to what sounded like a more fair rhetorical musing.

"What's the one moment from your past you'd change? Everyone's got one, and right now? It's steadily feeling like I should have stayed in the Army."

Sure, her sister would still be dead. But the concept of Semper Fidelis had been much stronger there than the past few years cooperating with the police. A saddening thought the more Suki dwelled on it. But ... there was no point lying to herself. Between murdering Seth and everything she'd found on his phone, it all confirmed her fears from when this bullshit started. There was a very high chance that there were other dirty cops. Even though some part of Suki still didn't want to, she knew the right move to make was do what she'd vowed.

Quit. Leave the force.

Well, that'll be a fun call to make tomorrow, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself.

"Is it .... do you ever miss your military unit? Is it weird I do, or ... is that some weird, typical side effect I never heard about?"

Not her best joke, but humor had never been Suki's strong suit. Regardless, a smile managed to adorn her face as she instinctively reached down and grasped the dog tags buried underneath her shirt. The metal necklace was one of the few things Suki never left any place without. Her wallet was one of the other items she always had on her, with her cell phone being the third.

" ... Sorry. I'm rambling, aren't I? You can also hint when I need to shut up."

A slight grimace appeared on her face as Castle gave his own concern. He probably wasn't wrong, but ...

"And we'd go about that how now? I mean ... if I just appeared in her residence with little explanation, wouldn't that imply a bit ... much? Namely regarding her husband?"

Of course, there was a good chance that they may be too late. Hell, for all Suki and Frank knew, Seth's spouse may not even be alive. That thought caused Suki to frown more.

"Even with your logic being right, I don't wanna agree to this and waltz foolishly into a trap. Definitely not without having a plan, because ... that may be exactly what they want. In fact ... wouldn't it be better if you used your sniper rifle again? Like you did at the pier and kept yourself hidden? All it'll take is one domino to tip over and ... "

Suki snapped her fingers.

"It's gonna go around that you're not just alive, but well and very active. Which ... would be fine if that's all everyone would learn."

Her head shook.

"That's not likely what'll be told though, and I'm sure you know that. Me being your partner will likely also be relayed and ... that's just gonna give Booker more incentive to ask for a warrant to properly look into me, if not outright arrest me."

Of course, that'd be what he'd say. The more harsh reality was it'd likely be a coded message. There would be a higher chance of Suki being murdered as opposed to outright arrested.

Still, in order for it to look like a legit accident or whatnot, it would mean the chain of command would need to be followed. Which thus meant steps had to be followed ... including her soon-to-be-former partner getting consent to shift his attention to her instead of whatever task he was actually supposed to be working on.

"Nonetheless, I'll be the first to admit I may just be over-thinking. That is a flaw of mine. So ... if you think that or have a better idea on how to check up on the missus, say it. I'm drawing more lines than conjuring ideas like I usually would."

"You can thank Booker for that," Suki internally quipped. Just because the mess that had come up was partly her fault didn't mean she wasn't still annoyed at it. Besides, that was the keyword; partially her fault. She wouldn't - and outright refused - to take all of the blame about Jonathan hinting he had his sights on her.
 

"I don't regret it. I've tried to leave it behind me a couple times, did odd jobs for a living, demolitions, construction physical body work to keep my mind off of things, but every time i do someone gets hurt. I focus on that. I do what I do because I need there to be a better day. I don't go after little things, shoplifting, petty theft. I focus my effort on crimes where people get hurt, the serial killers, the rapists, the ones that need someone to stop them. Every single person I stop prevents someone else from getting hurt."

The one moment he would have changed, it was a rough question to answer, the answer probably seemed obvious. It wasn't a happy one to think about, he leaned back into his chair, her thought was leaving the army. He supposed in some way had he stayed in Iraq he wouldn't have to think about the one moment he would change. "Central Park." He said after a few more seconds of debate. "Truth knowing what I know now. I don't know how I would change it. Probably would have rather made it that my daughter had lived instead of me."

"Sorry that's a bit of a dark answer, but it's one of the things that always runs past my mind." He shook his head. He was trying to be in a better mood, and he nodded talking about the army was a better relief in his mind.

"It's not unusual. While you are serving in the army, everyone is like a family you keep them safe and they look after you. I have a friend that runs a veteran outreach program, I go to the meetings sometimes. Everyone has a story of being pulled out of a fox hole, or someone who helped look after them." He smiled at the memory of his own stories. "It can be hard to walk away from that."

When she went into what would happen when he was found out he shrugged. "I've been at large before. I've learned a few tricks, I am not worried about being discovered, and if that is what it takes to get the results than it's what I will do. I have safe houses set up through the city, when we get on the news it will get a bit difficult to move around, but at this point... more people are afraid of me than are willing to admit."

He looked at Suki. "If you do get captured by the police you don't have to go down with the ship. You can tell them that I coerced you into working with me, knowing my reputation no one would second guess it."

"I know you said you would rather kill than lie, but working with me doesn't have to be the end of your life. It wasn't for David."

"But right now the important thing is that we get these women free." He sighed leaning back into his chair. "but what about you? if we get this job finished, and you get to go into a free life... what would you do? go back to the army?"
 

Suki grimly nodded. It was unfortunate, but ... he was right. Particularly as of the very recent past, people like rapists and serial killers weren't getting what they deserved. More and more, the justice system was proving it was very flawed in some form or fashion. Lawyers weren't good enough, or they represented the wrong people. Sometimes, it was the jury that got chosen for these cases. But honestly? The biggest issue were the judges who ended up giving the final verdict.

"Yeah ... it ummm .... fuck."

That really was the best answer to offer. There wasn't much more that could be added, nor was required to prove her point.

"You're not wrong. But ... if you'll allow me to play Devil's Advocate for a few seconds, there have been some people who have gotten the right verdicts. Still ... you're not incorrect, either. Too many have gotten off easy, or eluded capture altogether."

Her mind briefly went back to that one evening. The one party she lost her innocence. A few tears pricked the corners of her eyes as Suki chuckled weakly.

"Maybe lawyer was what I should have thought about, not cop. Back then, it seemed like a good idea. Now, I'm twenty-five and suddenly feeling lost. Questioning most of what I've done and if any of it was right or not."

Once again, her job in the military was the only thing feeling even remotely 'right'. Something that was honestly annoying Suki a bit.

So ... justified killings are better than trying to deal with corruption and crime?

"You ... oh shit."

Granted. there had been a few times Suki had wandered through the house and noted certain rooms looked as if people had lived in them before. This didn't really seem like the kind of place that held only one person, after all. It was meant for a family. So the thought had crossed her mind. She just ... didn't know how to bring it up. Or whether to even do that.

"Well ... it is, yeah. But if I ever had a kid, I'd trade places with them in a heartbeat. Allow them the chance to live in my stead. Families though ... you don't start those with random people. So ... "

She shrugged, knowing he could piece well enough where her trailed off thoughts were going towards.

"Some days, I feel like I'd have more luck adopting instead. Or maybe ... that's not a path I should travel to begin with. At least ... not while I'm dealing with this mafia fiasco."

Definitely not that last sentence, though Frank wouldn't be mistaken to note the omitted part Suki had hinted at, but not said out loud. She was also afraid of being a horrible mom.

A soft breath elicited as the topic finally got changed. For now, Suki was more than fine with that. The more precise wording was she'd worried talking about family would come off as a slap to Frank, particularly since he'd lost his own. That was definitely not her intention. Simultaneously, he had been the one to bring it up. He hadn't really ever lashed out at Suki so far. Not even for calling Booker at Lieberman's place.

Upset, yes. But screaming or getting in her face? Nah. He'd never done that.

Still, she wouldn't have blamed him too much for losing a few seconds of his control and done just that with a much more sensitive topic. So in that regard? It was why the Asian was glad the topic had changed.

Suki nodded, feeling at least more confident in hearing Frank did have some back-up plans in the forms of safe houses. Her hands slammed on the table, head shaking firmly no.

"Absolutely not. Frank, this is one argument you're not gonna win with me, nor convince me to change my mind about. I'm not lying. Least of all about being forced by you to work by your side. It'd be the same if we were in the military together. I'd own up to my mistake. This was something I agreed upon to myself; if this goes really far south in the long run, I'm fully prepared and expecting to take every consequence that comes from my actions and decisions. From executing Seth to everything before and after that."

Another exhale, this one meant to help calm Suki down. Her goal wasn't to bitch at Castle, after all. She did, however, want to voice she was very serious about some of her beliefs staying the same.

"Besides ... if they end up using a polygraph test? It'd make your suggestion pointless. The problem with your idea, in fact, is they know me as well as they know you. So even if it sounds like something you'd probably have done ... they know it's not an easy feat to make me - through any means, at that rate - work with someone else. Especially if it leads to breaking the rules. Some people can fool those tests .... "

Suki's head slowly moved from side to side.

"Fuck if I know how they do it, but I'm not one of those people. As for what I'd do? I'm not certain. Military's a possibility, but not a definite answer. Contrary to how I acted a few moments ago, I'm rather enjoying being around you. You're fun in your own weird ways. So unless you accompanied me into the Army, I'm not sure I'd wanna leave so easily."

A more genuine grin appeared for the first time in quite a while. Several hours, give or take. Alas now ... they were both back to the same starting point. To save Seth's wife or not.

"Well ... okay. Let's do a hypothetical scenario for a bit. Let's assume we're not too late and Seth's wife can still be saved. When do we head out and - most importantly - where do we help her go? One of your safe houses? Somewhere else completely?"

In the grand scheme of things, even Suki admitted they didn't have to really explain why or how they knew she was in danger. In fact, if she was in the midst of being hunted down already ... she may be too shaken to ask. Even though it resulted in Suki feeling a bit horrible with herself, some part of her was alright with not being asked many questions. It really would be awkward as fuck to admit she was speaking with the same individual who had made her become a widow.
 

"Oh this house isn't like that." He said softly. "About a month or two back I saved a young mans life, he owned the apartment and after we spent a bit of time speaking to one another he let me stay here rent free while he is flipping a house in main." Frank admitted he was basically squating but it was at least a lawful squat, a form of house sitting as it were. Even so he was prepared to move if the home was found out, and he had made sure to keep enough plausible denyability if it did get raided so that his friend could claim innocence. From the way that Suki had reacted it seemed like she thought this was a former drug den or gang banger home, and while he knew a few abandoned buildings like that his safe houses were usually more innocent than that.

It seemed he lost the argument when it came to her giving herself some plausible deniability as well. The fact that she would rather serve time than attempt to sell him out meant a lot, but when she said that she had enjoyed her time with him he cracked and couldn't help but laugh at that comment. Nothing the two of them had really been fun as the word suggested, but he had to admit that he had enjoyed having someone to talk too, someone who was at least good enough at conversation.

Despite everything the two had to face he had to admit that he enjoyed her company a lot. "I don't know I've been doing what I do for so long now I'm not sure I know what a normal life looks like anymore." He said softly, but he caught something about her words, the way she talked about having him near, and the fact that she wouldn't start a family with just anyone. "The army isn't a bad idea, but I'm not sure if I could. Too many psyche evaluations they may not take me back without demanding therapy hours."

Was she implying that she would start one with him? He tried to deflect from those comments for a little while, when she talked about going after Seth's wife if she was still alive, he ran a hand along his chin and considered. "Honestly I'd want her out of state, probably get her on the next greyhound buss to mane if it were up to me."

Keeping anyone alive who was untrained and unknown at this point would be difficult, it would have been better to just extract and get them out. "Cash for a bus ticket is easy enough to get. The only real issue is do we think that she was in on it, or was she just another victim. Either way we should expect a trap. The Mafia hired Seth to hurt you, by now they probably know Seth is gone, they never tried his cellphone so we can assume that they assume the worst."

"If the first assassin fails, they will hire someone better to do the second hit." Frank said. "Either way we should go in the morning. While I don't like the idea of working in daylight it's probably safer."
 

"I see ... okay."

Well ... that definitely helped Suki feel less awkward. If she'd been in the exact same place where Frank and his family had resided ... it probably would have been too uncomfortable. She was already - unintentionally, but still - taking a role of sorts in Frank's life. Maybe not to the degree of a lover or even wife. But ... it was much more than just an acquaintance.

"Would she even ... ??"

Those thoughts were quickly snuffed before they could even finish echoing in Suki's head. Even if the answer was yes ... that'd require a lot more scenarios to happen. All very specific ones, too ... with each having a less likely chance to happen than the next step.

You're being too hopeful. Maybe get a shower in ...

She didn't need it due to bad odor or anything; however, perhaps to help get rid of any lingering blood, yeah. That seemed like a fair enough idea.

"Fair enough. Psychological evaluations can get really repetitive after a bit. It's typically the same shit, new person. Well ... then even if your other friend was right, I'd rather take the chance and stay near you. I mean, fuck. None of us are immortal to begin with. I'd die even if I hadn't met you. So ... "

She shrugged, allowing her thought to remain unfinished.

"State, huh?"

Suki latched briefly onto her lower lip before slowly nodding. "Hopefully that'll be enough, but ... it's something. Definitely a start in the right direction, so .... sure. Let's try that."

A soft chuckle passed her lips as she heard the rest of the idea tossed over, "Morning, eh? If you're gonna be fine waking up at an ungodly hour, alright. Just don't bitch if I have to wake you up somehow. I'm used to those, so you shouldn't have to worry about me. Well then ... " Her head tilted as she went quiet once again, now wondering if there was anything else to bring up. When the answer came up as a 'not really', she sighed softly and stood up.

"I may as well turn in while it's not too late and get some shut eye."

A quick peek at the lower right corner of the laptop revealed it was a bit past midnight. Twenty-six minutes after, to be precise. Good. She could get a decent seven plus hours of rest and be more than alert for their new mission.

Suki began to walk by, heading for the stairs ... but stopped when she was right behind Frank. She looked down, seeming to think yet again. Without any real warning, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

"You're probably not the kind of guy for these sorts of things, so ... sorry, not really. I'm being a bit selfish. But umm ... really, thanks for helping me out. I did need the wake-up call. And I do appreciate the assistance."

Even though part of her considered pushing her luck and giving his cheek a kiss, Suki decided that was going a bit too far. So, even though his body felt nice against hers, she reluctantly forced herself to let go. Her footsteps would ascend the stairs. Eventually, Frank would hear the water turn on, hinting before she passed out she was getting herself cleaned up and presentable.

The water would only run for about ten minutes, if even that, before shutting off. The light where he'd been letting Suki sleep vanished, leaving Frank alone with the laptop and all of the data Suki had been putting, collecting, and saving since they began working together. The sheets that weren't pulled up were accessible on the desktop, having been put there as opposed to a folder .... though Suki promised herself to change that.

She'd kept everything in the open for simplicity's sake.

However, she knew not everything would remain 'easy' forever.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

11th September, 2018
New York City, New York
Exact Location: En Route To The Sutherland Residence
8:52 AM EST

So ... it wasn't as early as Suki had wanted. But considering it wasn't even ten o'clock yet? This was a good enough start. And probably the best she'd get.

Apparently though, Frank had seemed to need a bit of extra rest. In fact, he looked like he barely got any shut eye, if any ... which honestly worried her.

"You sure you don't wanna stay in the van and I handle this?"

Of course, considering she was asking this as they were already on their way to Seth's house ... it seemed pretty damn redundant. But still ... she could at least extend the offer. It'd make Suki feel better if she tried and failed than outright not mentioning it.

" .... Just ... don't you dare fall asleep behind the wheel. The moment it looks like you're about to, I'm driving."

The lack of a word such as 'deal?' implied this was another thing she wouldn't allow to be negotiated. Not easily, anyway.

Until they arrived, Suki had time. And so, she used that to do a look over .... even though she'd done several of those back at Frank's place. Civilian clothes, check. No blood from the widow's spouse anywhere on her clothes or body? Fuck yes, check. Gun tucked away in her rear pocket? Triple check once again.

The gun, obviously, was more for any mafia that may or may not try to show up.

"I'd like to hope because of the way Seth spoke about her, she's just ... an unfortunate innocent dragged into this. Any woman with enough of an IQ would divorce a bastard like him the second they learned the shit he was into. I haven't met her before or anything, but ... I can hope."

The last few words were mumbled and much more directed at herself than her partner. But she wouldn't object if he replied to them. On the contrary, maybe it'd help her feel less anxious and more reassured he was, indeed, awake and able to drive well enough.

A deep breath resounded as Suki's feet tapped impatiently, her head promptly plopping and resting against the headboard behind the young Asian. She didn't like waiting - least of all when it was for something urgent. Unfortunately, it was all she could do; wait and hope they hadn't acted too late.
 

Frank hadn't had a hug in a long time, and realized shortly just how much he had missed something like that. He felt her body linger against his own, and he even managed to return some of her hug. She told him that she didn't think he was for this kind of thing, but the truth was he had just realized exactly how much he missed being hugged, how much he had missed any kind of physical touch. He had been so long that it had been easier for him to ignore that part of his life.

Watching her go, he was suddenly left with the realization that she was attracted to him, and that wasn't really the scary part of it. The part that was difficult for him to realize was that he had a soft spot for her.

He thought he was more or less immune to having feelings for people, or being attracted to another, but he was falling for Suki.

Was that okay? was he okay with that idea?

What about Maria?

Maria had been dead for 4 years now. Was it okay to move on? could he? He had spent every waking second avenging his family, but everyone who was more or less connected to their death was gone, after getting these girls free what the hell was he supposed to do? He rubbed his eyes feeling a very different kind of tired take over his body, a soft sort of melancholy that stuck with him even as he got up to go to bed he could hear the water running and would take his shower when he woke up in the morning.

Of course he couldn't help but think about Suki's body naked under that water, but he had to snap out of that quickly. She had nearly been raped, and she had told him that she had survived one other attempt. Sex was probably out of the picture.

And even then Maria! Would she have moved on by now if their places were switched? Would he want her to move on? There was the obvious answer which was yes he would have wanted his wife to be happy if he was dead, but there was also a very selfish part of him that had to admit no, the thought of Maria with anyone else even if he had been dead in this scenario would disgust him. So he shouldn't entertain any fantasies about anyone else.

So we just stay alone?

Frank laid down on his bed, and let out a soft frustrated sigh, he already knew he wasn't going to get much sleep tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11th September, 2018
New York City, New York
Exact Location: En Route To The Sutherland Residence
8:52 AM EST

Frank held up the glass of coffee. "I've had late nights and early mornings before I'm gonna be fine." The questions had haunted him all through the night and he had tossed and turned in his sleep, dreams came and went too fast for him to really recognize what was going on in the long run. He hadn't really settled on any options.

The idea of leaving the Southerland house entirely to Suki was a bad one. Really he thought for a moment that he should really be the one to go up to the house. No one expected him, for all they knew the police may have been monitoring the home, and Suki showing up at the place could be used as evidence against her.

He was starting to regret ever pitching this as a mission.

Still the thought that Seth's wife could be an innocent wrapped up in a bad situation had crossed his mind as well. Thinking it over he was pretty sure Seth had called his wife a victim. "People often stay with their abusers out of fear. Divorce rarely works in those cases, most of them end up running away to womens shelters."

He looked at the street as they pulled up. cars were lined up it wasa residential area for sure, but nothing was out of ordinary so far. "Do you see any squad cars that would be used for house monitoring?"
 

Suki stared at Frank, almost half-expecting his eyes to start closing or his exhaustion to kick in. Not everyone could consume caffeine and have it work for them, after all. She didn't know everything about the Punisher; mainly the basics, more than much else. And even then, those were more linked to his work habits rather than food or drink preferences.

In the end, though, it seemed like he hadn't just said he was fine to reassure her. The van remained steady and there appeared to be no dire reason to fret.

A soft breath passed her lips as Suki shifted in her seat. She tugged at her shirt, pulling and making damn sure her bulletproof vest was concealed under her shirt. It likely looked a bit bulky ... and may give away she was wearing one. Hopefully, though, the precaution would go mostly - if not completely - unnoticed should any mafia already be at the Sutherland residence. Simultaneously, she ensured to cover her gun, keeping it hidden as best as possible.

"It didn't come off like he was resorting to physical abuse. Maybe neglect ... not loving her as much as he could have ... "

Suki shrugged. Honestly, at this point, it didn't matter. That bastard was - thankfully - gone. Someone she'd never have to worry about. And if his 'true colors' had been any indication to go off of? She'd done Anna a favor in the long run, even if it could be argued otherwise.

As Frank parked the van, Suki stayed put. Partly to figure out how to go about approaching this issue. It still would be a tad bit awkward, even if she could avoid admitting the reason Seth was dead was due to her. But there was another reason she hadn't immediately exited the vehicle; she was checking their surroundings. Looking for any clues they'd come over too late or even seeking an answer to Frank's question.

"Nah. We're definitely in the clear as far as covert squad cars go. So ... it's whether we got here quick enough or not."

Suki took another breath, a hand running through her hair as she stared out the window for a few more moments before unbuckling herself.

"Well ... I guess here goes everything and nothing, huh?"

Slipping out of the passenger seat, Suki walked up towards the front door. Her fist clenched, but before she could knock, the first red flag caught her eyes. The door was already open ajar. Suki grimaced, turning and nodding firmly to Frank. She then peeked around, double and triple checking no one was about to leave their own house before withdrawing her gun.

"Missus Sutherland?" she called out in a soft but audible voice, finally proceeding to knock.

No verbal response was given. The door merely creaked as it very gradually widened, opening further for the two.

... Goddamnit ...

Already, Suki was wishing she'd been more adamant on Frank staying behind. Ironically seeming to sharing the exact same sentiment he was. But with the door already open and them being in broad daylight like this, time was of the essence. It would definitely be bad if anyone saw either of them here - armed - and looking like they had just taken the role of the bad guys when they were anything but that.

A few muffled whimpers would be the first thing Suki heard. She quickly but quietly as possible followed the noises. Eventually, she and Frank would enter the living room ... where the curtains were pulled shut to help hide an already bound and gagged Anna Sutherland.

"Fuck," Suki whispered, tucking her gun back away as she moved towards the clearly terrified woman. "We're here to help, okay? Calm down ... we're not gonna hurt you."
 

Frank got out of the car, and stayed alert. Coffee was great but there really was no better thing to wake someone up than a warzone, and while this wasn't the war he had fought in the military he was very familiar with the idea of breaching a door. When the door creaked open he knew something was wrong, drawing his gun and keeping it centered to the ground he was more than confident that something was about to go wrong.

The sound of a muffled whimper made Frank more warry, Frank covered Suki. Something was wrong, and while frank knew that he was following her. There was a part of him that screamed for more patience in their approach, checking corners with more than a glance looking for hiding spots, but the threat of an injured woman was more than the two seemed to be able to wait for.

When they got to her, they found her gagged and tied up, and instantly Frank cursed. He turned to press his back towards Suki and check the door, which slammed shut, "It's a trap."

Frank had thought of the possibility last night, and yet somehow they had managed to walk directly into it. The door behind them slammed shut, and suddenly there was movement. Still he stated the obvious and felt stupid for even having to say it.

There was the unmistakable sound of a pin being pulled, and a small metal can was tossed into the room from one of the corners they had failed to check, the small item bounced for a second, and frank cursed under his breath.

But he couldn't hear his own curse as their was a bang that filled the room like thunder, and a light as bright looking into a sun disorienting and painful, Frank felt like he was caught with his pants down, multiple figures more than he could count with guns pointed towards them entered the room.

Frank's eyes couldn't adjust everything was shaking, and he fired into the crowd, trying to aim between the double vision, he was rewarded with a yelp of pain, but not much else as Frank made a dive for any cover that this room provided.
 

" ... We knew that was a possibility, Frank," Suki replied calmly but firmly. The better wording was she'd be more amazed if they had been able to do this without any consequences. This was the mafia they were dealing with, after all. Their crimes were by no means 'perfect' when it came to being organized, but that was exactly what it meant. And so .... it seemed a bit of a given that they may be a few steps behind their opponent as opposed to in front like the two were accustomed to.

However, even Suki couldn't fully admit the door shutting was something she took into account.

"Frank, got a blade on you so I can free her?"

Her eyes widened as the next - and far more dangerous - unexpected factor was literally thrown into the room. "Shit!" she hissed, raising her arms as quickly as possible to lessen the light flashing in her eyes.

... Flashbangs? Why the fuck are they using those?

Being organized was one thing. But this ... it was bordering dealing with people who were good at guerrilla warfare tactics. Already, this made them much more dangerous than Suki originally expected.

Suki's free hand rose to cover one of her ears, though she could feel it had happened a few seconds too late. The flashbang had already landed and goddamn ... that impact. Her head was already beginning to throb.

"Oh fuck! She's -- n --- a -- ne!"

It was at these words her eyes slowly began to open, arm lowering to give Suki the ability to see. Try to, anyway.

"D--'t mo--!!"

It was only kinda understood what was being said, but not very well. Either way, even if it was against her better judgement, she went against the warning and hastily crawled behind a recliner. The couch had been her first thought, but ... not with Anna on it. That'd put her at an even more unnecessary risk than she was already in.

Suki would barely finish hiding before her own cry joined whomever Frank had got. Her head jerked as she found her left leg had gotten hit.

... Well, nowhere near an overly dangerous area, like the kneecap. That much was good.

Still though ... she thought, biting her lower lip in annoyance as she shakily panted and breathed in between winces. This wasn't her first time being shot. Just in a while ... long enough for her body to temporarily forget what the sensation had felt like. Her head lifted as she finally snapped out of her trance and grasped her gun once again.

"Don't even think about it. That last hit was a generous warning. Next time, it'll be worse."

Suki fought off the urge to audibly scoff.

Uh-huh, right. Dude, I don't know who you're trying to fool, but it ain't me.

The Asian cop carefully peeked out from behind, trying to find the nearest person to shoot at. Right before she could pull back on the trigger, a separate barrel found her own head.

"Drop it. Now."

Suki's head shamefully bowed. This was mortifying for her. Third fucking time Frank saw her so easily overpowered and disarmed. And this time, it was even more up-close than the last encounters. A handful of her hair was wrapped in a foreign fist, yanking Suki out from her hiding spot, having little regard or care that she'd already gotten shot.

"You have till five to come out, whoever you are. Otherwise, we just off her now. Five ... four .... "

Please just finish them. You can do this much faster and better than me ... you wanted to save her. So do exactly that. If it means trading my ability to live, then fine. Please, Frank ...
 

In terms of cover there hadn't been much, Frank had managed to roll under a table, while his body readjusted. He hadn't thought anyone would be organized. It seemed the mafia had gotten their shit together quickly. This put them at a caliber of strength that he wasn't expecting. He felt sick, his ears were still ringing, but he was able to snap himself out of it rather quickly.

The feeling of shellshock passed him over thanks to years of traning, he saw Suki get caught and cursed under his breath, the guy was counting, and frank had to make some kind of move.

He brought his knees up folding himself under the table so that his boots could press against the heavy wood, it wasn't much but it was the best he had. the man counted to two, and frank took a breath springing himself up, kicking the table up and over towards the one gunman holding Suki.

The heavy wood went flying and caught the man forcing him to turn away, and in that single moment that his gun wasn't pointed towards Suki's head Frank fired, and struck the man in the head. He rolled forward keeping himself low and shot one more of the enemy watching him fall.

One of the gunmen opened up on Frank hitting his back, the jacket he was wearing hid the vest well enough, that as it ripped open he could turn towards the man and shoot him down.

four of his seven rounds spent. He was looking at Suki now, 'come on partner shoot them already fight back'

There was one more gun shot that rang out not at frank, not at Suki, the bullet whizzed past both of them, and struck Anna in the chest, pushing her chair back over.

Frank had in a sense made his choice, he had chosen to protect Suki and leave the other woman vulnerable to attack.

He didn't want to lose someone important to him, not again.

even if that meant he had to sacrifice the one he didn't know.
 

"Frank .... "

It was the only thing Suki could muster. The only word that could escape her throat with no real restrictions or problems. She stared, clearly looking shocked. Him saving her back at the pier .... that was one thing. He approached her the next day and hinted he viewed her as an aid. An asset to him. So that ... that made sense.

But now? This?

He'd brought up this idea so they could get to Anna and free her.

Why'd you ... ?? Why me?

Suki instinctively ducked down as another shot rang out. However, when another muffled, pained whine resounded, she peeked over to see blood flowing from the couch.

"No ... "

Everything they had just came here to try to fix ... the very person they'd come for ... shot. And from the looks of things? Very much dead. Suki's head slumped against the chair. Staring up in disbelief; this was a goddamn house, for crying out loud! Why were places like this suddenly becoming war zones?

This isn't right ... this isn't fucking right!

"Holy fuck! Is that Frank Castle?!"

Suki's eyes widened and finally, something snapped in her. She didn't think. Her body had abruptly shifted to what could best be described as an 'auto-pilot' mode. She took hold of the man whom had been holding her at gun point mere moments ago and grasped that instead. Her eyes then narrowed, and an even stronger sense of resolve could be seen and sensed within the cop.

Had Seth tried to discard her story about Suki being offered a place within the Green Berets ... now was the moment she got rid of any and all doubts.

Her sight had adjusted well enough for Suki to pivot and take aim at the next closest assailant. The bang! would ring out so fast that it was barely noticed. Same with how quickly and accurately the bullet found the man's forehead; the easiest, tell-tale sign was when he fell forward, bleeding from between his eyes.

Even though these men had come in with pistols and AR-15s, Suki was using them as if they were sniper rifles. And with as great accuracy as Frank showed the first night he found her, if not a tad bit better.

Two more shots would echo in the house, causing two more bodies to slump on the floor. All bleeding, all very much dead ... leaving a heavily breathing and panting Suki, who was slightly shaking. Her gaze moved, looking back to Frank once more ... only to have everything she wanted to say get stuck in her throat again.

Instead, she crawled towards the couch, hissing every now and again as a surge of pain shot through her leg where the bullet was still embedded. Wordlessly, Suki placed her ear atop Anna's chest ... and punched the floor angrily.

"Fuck .... goddamnit!"

An arm angrily wiped tears that had started to form. No more. Not again. She'd done far too much of that shit over the past ... what? Week now? Too long was the point, and even more was the number of times Frank had seen her get this stupidly emotional.

Besides, there was a more valid concern, one that Suki finally managed to voice as she turned back towards Frank.

"We need to leave. Now. None of these really have silencers, so .... someone's probably heard and called the police."

Before moving away, Suki did what Anna hadn't been able to and helped close the poor woman's eyes for her. She then crawled back over. Leaving her gun here would be really bad, after all.

But Suki never got to grab her firearm. Not before something appeared in her face. It didn't click as soon as it should have ... and by the time it did, Suki was panicking.

It was a pillow being firmly held against her mouth and face.

"FRANK!!!!!!!!!!"

Even if her screams hadn't been heard, the struggles definitely would be. But the harder she fought, the tighter the grip got. Suki was definitely feeling each second ticking by faster, and with them, her conscious slipping quicker. Her arms went from flailing frantically in hopes of grabbing her assailant to falling limp at her sides.

Slowly - but very surely - the rest of her body was beginning to follow suit. Her chest was rising and falling ... though not at the pace it should be. Color was beginning to drain from her skin. And even when Suki completely stopped moving and even breathing, the remaining mafia guy wasn't. He seemed determined to get rid of their assigned target this time around. It was bad enough everyone else had failed.

But if his comrades were right in identifying she was with Frank Castle?

All more the reason she needed to die. Now, too, not later.

While still keeping the pillow held, he began to reach for one of the littered guns, ready to make damn sure he succeeded where everyone else had failed.
 
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