In A World Gone Mad, Who Investigates Potential Danger?

Written in collaboration with Cross C

“Please… please save my wife…”

“Sir, we don’t really do that here,” The woman in front of him sighed, so many sob stories in a single day will really drain your empathy after a while, “if your wife is in immediate danger then please contact local law enforcement. I can give you the name of a lovely-”

Slamming his hand on the desk did not help the situation’s tone, “I can’t go to the police because she’s not in danger!” He yelled, tearful and angry that this person wasn’t listening to him, “Please, you have to get her to help!”

Another long sigh, “I’m afraid that she isn’t even in right-”

Gachlunk-dingaling!

“-so with finders fees, and the time spent on the case, this is going to be your final price, you good with that?”

“Yes! Yes, absolutely. You are an absolute lifesaver!”

Two women had walked into the room that caused the assistant in front of the man to sigh once more. Timing had never really been her strong suit after all. One was a blonde lady in high heels and a long flowery dress, clutching a tiny chihuahua in her hands like it would burst into flames if she let it go. The other was the one that made her sigh, the raven haired girl in a leather jacket and a recovering bad attitude addict was smiling at a job well done.

“Alright, well, happy to be of service.” Jessica gave the woman a thumbs up before silently pulling a face to her assistant. Gillian smirking back to her boss as she collected the money from the blonde. “And remember to recommend Alias Investigations to all your detective or… heroic needs.” Jess seemingly had to swallow some level of repression to get the word ‘hero’ out her mouth, like the concept was still foreign to her.

“Of course! If it wasn’t for you, I’d have thought my little Shnookums died in the blip all alone!” The blonde gushed, rubbing her face against the dog in her hands, “To think that he was just out in New York all by himself… oh, mommy’s going to take good care of you from now on! Thank you, Jessica Jones!”

Taking one last look at the snarling rat in her hands, the detective dryly nodded, “My pleasure.” before guiding the pair out of the office.

“You’re late.”

Gillian received a hearty middle finger for that, “She’s just lucky I didn’t punt Shnookums to Jersey. Little shit wouldn’t stop pissing.”

“Yes, well I had a full day lined up for you. But perhaps there’s a cat in a tree you’d rather save instead?” Her assistant sassed, handing her over a whole pile of documents that Jessica just grumbled at. “Hey, this is the best business we’ve ever had. Don’t start getting lazy on me just cause you wanted to add ‘hero’ to your business card.”

“Guess I shouldn’t be surprised the Avengers caused me this much fucking headache,” said the investigator while rifling through the documents, “who’s the guy?”

Her assistant looked back to the weeping man with his head on her desk, “Another unfaithful wife from the sounds of it. Twentieth today on the punch-card, so I think the next one’s free.”

“She wasn’t unfaithful!”

Jessica didn’t look up from her documents, “Five years is a long time sir.” Her voice was droning, like an over rehearsed and underpaid stage actor, “I’m sure she waited the appropriate amount of time of mourning and grief before deciding to move on with her l-”

“We both got blipped, you asshole!” He yelled, though it still wasn’t enough for Ms. Jones to look up, “But she’s d-dumping me for the man in her building!”

Kicking back in her chair, Jessica mumbled to herself, “Hmm, an old rich man’s safe got robbed in the blip? Haven’t gone to the black market in a while…” The ignoring pause was enough to get the man halfway to turn and storm out before she added, “So, what, you want me to investigate the other guy? If she’s already dumping you then that won’t achieve much.”

He huffed, “I’m worried he’s…. He’s-!” Words were catching in his mouth, but Jessica finally looking at him with an eyebrow raised made him take a beat to explain, “We were happy… talking about getting married… e-especially after everything that happened and how chaotic the world is-” Her frown made him refocus, “A-anyway, then she went back to her place, we were staying at mine for so long she’s b-been meaning to move out, a-and as soon as she was home she said that it was over! That this guy named Mark made her ‘see the light’ and that I wasn’t worth it anymore!”

Gillian had brought her boss a coffee, frowning at the guy’s statement, “Sounds like a piece of work. Did it sound like she was under duress on the phone?”

“This was in person,” He explained, “But, no not really. If anything she sounded like-”

“Like someone else was speaking through her?”

Jessica’s face had gone quite pale, like this was the most serious topic in the world and it had made her blood run cold.

The man in front of her swallowed, “I… I know you t-took care of that one guy. K-Kill-”

“Don’t say his name.” Jess snapped, cracking her coffee cup in one squeeze. He snapped his mouth shut in fear, “Yes. I killed him. Which means whatever new cock your ex is sucking is not any of my concern.” She snapped her fingers and pointed to the exit.

“B-but what if someone else has the same powers?!” He asked, frantic to be heard, “There’s new freaks appearing everyday! What if this other guy has-”

Gillian was ushering him out the door, “Ms. Jones has deemed your case to be unworthy of her time, please come back with more evidence or-”

“Please!” He yelled, “I-I just want to know if it IS me! I’ll accept it, I promise! B-but if there’s a chance she’s under some spell… PLEASE!”

The two of them looked over to the superpowered detective. Clearly chewing on the thought. Fears and anxieties plaguing her mind from that other man, long buried wounds that she’d wished never to reopen… but knowing that there was always a chance that he could be right. And what would she be if she ignored that chance?

“Leave your contact details, I’ll see what I can do.”