Chapter Text
It’s 13:02, the clouds part in the grey sky, and Dolph Laserhawk is a free man. After an arduous two months of court hearings, proceedings and cell time, it’s all done. The man hasn’t seen the sun in what feels like a decade, and the prosecutor is more than happy to usher him outside. Strangely enough, she’s been at his side this entire time, prioritising truth over wins. Her attitude is commonly seen as unthinkable, so is her appearance in the press, but none can deny her wisdom.
Jade taps out of her document with a sigh, stumped on this case. Of course Laserhawk wasn’t guilty of manslaughter, given how he felt about the victim it’d probably be more likely that was intentional. But no, he was stressed and erratic, not even behind the wheel himself. But what was weirder was the prosecution becoming his defense, and the defense simply letting her take his job off his hands; he’d mostly stand there and let her take the wheel, and they were both happy to hear the verdict, but something’s off about that prosecutor.
She opens another document; filing what little she knows about the woman.
Sarah Fisher; born 1998, daughter of two international intelligence agents, which explains her cold and bitter energy. Not much else is known except that she’s been a prosecutor for two years, an exact split on guilty and not guilty verdicts, constantly handling retrials of old, unfair cases and pulls it off every time. She works miracles, but not much is known about-
“Huh. Didn’t realise I was ‘famous’ enough for some… glossy mag gossip.”
Jade freezes: the other woman is just behind her, eyes laced with malice.
“Oh god- no, no, that is not what I do-“ She attempts to defend herself, immediately steeling her gaze as the woman behind her laughs like some overbearing noblewoman.
“I could tell, I know who you are. You’re that freelance journalist that focuses on breaking down our government’s propaganda, aren’t you?” Sarah says, placing her coffee cup next to her, clearly here to stay.
“Before you panic, I’m not saying anything to anyone. I could tell by your writing style… and the fact that I always see that bright makeup of yours when I’m stood in the stand.” There’s not a chance in hell she knew just because of that, Jade knew that all too well. She immediately clams up.
“Really? What’s wrong with my makeup?”
“Nothing. It suits you… but if you were trying to be discreet, that’s not going to work,” Sarah smirks before rolling her eyes, though if it’s at her own callousness or a slight against Jade, she wouldn’t know. “Anyway, I have a request. I’m going to need help with an investigation I’m working on. Cold case again, and the police are being as useful as a broken tea pot-“
“So same as always?”
Silence and a hard glare follow before the lawyer chuckles.
“Same as always.”
Jade blinks, searching the other’s eyes and body language for some form of tell. She’d learnt how to read people quite young, mainly just to tell if she’s been lied to, but there’s not a sign. She’s always quite stiff physically, and Jade’s sure aside from how open she seems to be when it comes to mocking others, including her. God, she seems so high and mighty, and all Jade wants to do is take her down a peg, maybe not in court but definitely in person. She’s downright insufferable.
“You don’t have to. It’s just a request. Besides, you get the job done, and that’s more than I can say about most of that lot.” She points out, taking a sip of her coffee, and Jade takes that chance. “I can pay you, more than what you’re seeing right now.”
“If I do this, it’s not for the money.” Jade says, before realising what she’s just said. A proposition, a dare, and the devil has the audacity to smirk. She has to be quick on her feet here, she can’t just ask her about all she is, what’s her aim in being so chaotic when it comes to taking cases.
“Ah. Well? State your claim, what is it? Fame, a general raise? My body? I’m no whore but I’m sure you can find some way to… entice me.” Sarah whispers, and Jade fights the urge to recoil, cheeks warm. She wasn’t thinking when she said what she did, nor the aftermath.
“Uh huh… yeah uh- maybe not your body, yet? How about a date? Or a few?” She asks before she shuts up, praying she doesn’t appear too mortified. Jade raises her hand to her own cheek, noting how warm it is to the touch, maybe she looks into it.
“Oh really? How interesting,” The lawyer moves her hand over the other’s, feeling Jade’s fingers quiver over her flushed cheeks. She squeezes her hand tight. “So you’re interested. Very well. I accept.” Sarah stares her down before pulling the other into a private booth, only to be interrupted by a man clearing his throat.
“Ah, mes amis? What can I do for you?” He blinks. Bullfrog seems mildly irate at being crashed into, but he knows both of these women well.
“Bull-“
“Bullfrog. Forgive us for our transgression, we need to use this space for a business conversation. It seems she and I have a similar goal.” Sarah speaks reverently as Jade recognises the space, this is her usual research room, it’s dark, private, and the endless drinks aren’t so bad. There’s also Bullfrog, owner of this quaint little cafe; beloved by all that have ever met him. He has this ‘sweet’ and ‘delicate’ charm to most, but Jade swears he’s hiding something, given that sometimes she can see him brandish a knife out of nowhere… and it doesn’t seem like it’s about cake.
“Very well. Should I stay or should I go? We aren’t so busy during afternoons like this.” The hybrid smiles warmly, and Jade implores him with her eyes; ‘don’t leave me alone with her.’ Thankfully, Sarah’s on her side for once.
“Stay, would you? I think you might have a stake in this too,” Is what she says, the hybrid perks up and moves to sit in the spare chair away from the table, watching like a hawk. “I know about that project of yours.”
“Which one?” Jade’s quick to ask, given what she’s been doing recently it could be anything from a set of blogs on the state of animal welfare or-
“I wouldn’t be asking you about environmental issues personally. I’m talking about Pagan Min.” Oh. Oh God.
“Oh! Yeah. That’s been on the back burner for a bit, I know, I know it really shouldn’t be something I should worry about and-“
“Shush. I don’t give a shit about the roles we play. What matters here is that you’re resourceful, reliable, and write well. What I’m looking for here is help,” The last words sound nearly pained, like it’s some blow to the other woman’s ego.
“Pagan Min has been active here for 12 years; and in that time he’s paid his way through the circuits, you name it and someone’s probably got him down for it; directly or not. It would mean everything to finally put an end to part of that cycle. I don’t do this, but I know you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and if you don’t do this for me-“ She pauses, side eying Bullfrog. “I’m sure something else can befall him.”
Jade barely thinks before she responds. “I’ll do it. That motherfucker deserves hell, I’ve been trying to do this for years now.” She offers her hand out to Sarah, who scoffs before taking it.
“I know. We’ll make sure of it,” The cold woman speaks softly before slipping her a small black card, her business number printed, and her personal number handwritten in green gel pen.
“Anytime you learn something, no matter how trivial. Let me know.”
Jade blinks, her mind only slightly clearer; a lawyer asking her to investigate something, when she probably has multiple private investigators in her pocket- or more illicit contacts. The thought of some deep state detective with years of experience taking this on makes sense so why would that not be the case here?
“Yeah. Sure, I can do that.” She slips the card into her coat pocket.
“One more thing,” Sarah calls out, tapping the table behind her. “Use my personal number for everything. The firm I work for has a wire-tapping issue.”
“Okay. I’ll be off if you’re done here. I have this one article to write and that’s kind of where all the money is-“
“Deal. I’ll be in touch, Jade.”
She can’t fight the way her stomach drops at that, recognising her is one thing, but acknowledging her by name? Her employer is cryptic, and the stuff of nightmares as she heads out, ordering a slice of marble cake to go home with and attempt to make sense of it all with a cup of tea.
“That’s the plan? Milady, you know I don’t doubt your intelligence but I don’t see why you wouldn’t have had one of those teams on this case.” Bullfrog points out, voice hushed. They’re still in the small room, the thin crack of light casting a comically dramatic shade.
“Simple, I need to continue proving myself. It’s not enough to have the respect of the public,” she speaks, it’s quiet and almost like she’s speaking in riddles that Bullfrog has the answers to, “It’s also not enough to silence him for good. I need to push it open and then whatever happens then is God’s will, not my own.”
The baker sighs, biting his tongue back. “I know justice means a lot to you, Sarah, I respect that as much as I have respected you all these years; but does it mean more than your ego?”
“Of course. I’m just done with going uncredited or-“ Sarah averts her eyes. “I’m not having this conversation today, I’m heading off, thank you for your time.” She offers a short bow, and then exits the cafe. It’s around a twenty minute walk back to her apartment, and the city is as awake as ever. Bullfrog sighs, having dealt with both of the women separately, he’s resigned to their antics.
Jade lays her cup down on the coffee table as she finishes her article; something to do with a local bird sanctuary. She’d usually go into detail about her work but here it’s just written, her mind isn’t in it. How could she be in it right now? A reason to go further into her exposé into Pagan Min, his long list of connections being so fascinating to tear into and a reason to research Sarah Fisher.
It’s not that she dislikes her, not by any means and she usually wouldn’t conflate a mafia boss to an alleged nepo baby (emphasis on alleged, Jade’s never been one to just throw words around, and if anything the woman’s competent) but Sarah’s complicated; only the basics of her life are public. Of course, no one in the public eye owes an explanation of everything they’ve ever done and been through but that woman is perplexing to say the least. And having met her, the other fully knowing all she’s ever done is alarming.
Sarah’s words from earlier did nothing to comfort that shock, they were just cryptic, arrogant and flirtatious.
Jade grabs her phone idly, typing the woman’s number in. She remembers the warning as well; wire-tapping. It’d make sense really, legal proceedings in Eden were just as exciting as celebrity gossip, so much so some lawyers have modelling careers, no matter how unattractive she personally found them. It’s a small group of six, showing up to the offices in their gaudy matching suits… and aside from one of them having a good taste in heels, they weren’t really fashionable, or likeable really. The idea of them being so… famous is bizarre, and they don’t even do their day jobs properly. Maybe it was rude to think, but maybe some people should be fired to make space; especially when it comes to protecting the public with words and bars and not guns.
Hey! This is Jade, I was just making sure I have the right number.
She sends off, lying in wait. This was a business interaction, even though the other came on strong earlier. Then again, that was on Jade really. Who declines payment hoping to get to know someone and suggests going on a few dates? Clearly not someone with their head on right.
Hello, you do have the right number.
Jade stares at the response, it’s so formal it feels clunky. It checks out, and for a moment Jade forgets every question she has just to mock the other.
Great! I was just making sure but considering how dry your texts are, you literally could not be someone else :D what do you not text people or something?
Of course I do. I just don’t see the point in being informal, especially when it comes to a business contact.
You were coming onto me Really Strong for just being a ‘business contact’. I’ve worked with people even more reclusive than you so you don’t have to give me shit lol
Do you always flirt with people just for favours like this?
And who said they wanted to go on a “few dates” earlier? For the record, I don’t and if you had gone a bit further in that research of yours you’d know that.
You were the one who said they weren’t in it for the money.
Jade groans, taking a sip of her tea again as she attempts to sift through her thoughts; and Sarah was right, she did say that. She’s really in it for curiousities sake but she can’t just say she wants an interview with no chance of it coming to put a bullet in her neck later. She decides to dig deeper.
Yeah… sorry I panicked. It was the first thing I could think of that wasn’t money because I’m like, fine on that front. I don’t know what I was thinking either
How altruistic. Luckily for you, I like that in women.
Wait you’re serious?
And gay?
When am I not serious? Also yes, I would’ve thought a shutterbug like you would know that. Here I thought I was being blatant.
No, no you are, that makes sense I just didn’t wanna assume, that and there’s those rumours
That I can probably cross off right now.
Oh god. That. No. I am not involved with the guy you’re probably thinking of, or any man, I’d rather have all of my veins single handedly peeled out of my body than handle any of that.
Happy now?
Yeah. Sorry, I just needed to know, just curious
That curiosity is going to get you killed one day. I can’t deny that it’s a good trait of yours.
Anyway, I have some emails to attend to. Come back when you have more on the case, okay?
Yeah. Bye! Have a good night
There’s no response after that as Jade cracks open her document, quickly updating it. She’s not surprised at anything she’s gleaned but any amendments to the file are great to see. There’s also a small part of her that rejoices at the knowledge that Sarah’s not with one of those models, or one of her previous clients, and it’s not just because of power imbalances and the other people in her field being awful. It means that if Sarah’s taken her seriously, she’s got a way in.
Twitter is a hellscape as usual, more politics, more lawyers and Dolph’s back online? She switches back to her contacts and texts him;
Hey! Long time no see! I hope you’re good but I’ve got a problem 0_0
How would you feel if I said it was girl trouble 0_0