Chapter Text
“Ms Park?”
Lisa looked up from her desk. It'd been an uneventful day all things considered, which was odd. Today marked the beginning of the countdown for the Walker family's case finally going to trial against Murkoff. She'd expected there to be more outright resistance from Murkoff, their lawyers had teeth, sure, but the evidence that had been presented to the world had damned them beyond all hope. Or at least that's what she had thought.
“That's me. Who are you?” Her eyes narrowed as she studied the man in front of her.
He was tall with a shaved head, white and wore a black suit that made him look like he'd just come from a funeral. He radiated Murkoff sleaze. The man smirked in response and set a piece of paper in front of her.
“I'm here to tell you that the courts have rejected your client's case.” When he spoke it sounded like a death rattle, no doubt from the amount he smoked, judging by the acrid stench of his breath. But his words made her feel gaunt.
“Excuse me? On what grounds.”
“Your client's son was signed over to us by them. Nothing that happened to Christopher was outside of what was mentioned in the fine print.” He shrugged, adjusting his cufflink “That and when this was adequately explained to your client they stated that they'd drop the case.”
“I'm sure I'm supposed to be present when you go behind my back to speak to my-”
“Check your calls or emails, they should have let you know. However we will be looking into this. You are after all something of a trouble maker.” Thankfully no one else in the office was especially paying attention to their conversation. Despite the dire tone there was something about the man that made him seem easy to miss. If she took her eyes off him for more than a moment it was as though he'd disappear. She couldn't even check the cameras to see if he had appeared at all.
His smile grew cruel, his lips peeling back to expose his tombstone teeth. “You should know that your efforts against Murkoff haven't gone unnoticed. You wanted our attention, then by all means have it. We have tolerated you, your ex-husband and Gluskin's efforts to slander us at every opportunity. We will be in further contact.”
The man turned on his heel and breezed out of the office. Lisa finally let go of the breath she'd been holding. It was true that her own case against Murkoff for the wrongful holding of Waylon had somewhat ground to a standstill, a costly, costly standstill. That was partially the reason for her moving to New York. A prestigious firm had asked after her personally and they challenged her in ways she had missed since settling down with Waylon. But it eternally felt as though she was wary of something leaping from the shadows. Murkoff by all rights should have been dying as a company. Especially with their ties to the Nazis, not like that was anything new to American history (thanks to Operation Paperclip and a handful of corporations that had funded them), but a revelation like that should had had catastrophic effects on their business. No, instead they had the American Military sniffing around for shreds they could use.
Through gritted teeth she opened her inbox, sure enough the first message was from Marianne Walker with the subject: I'm Sorry. The message was short and to the point. Murkoff had barged into their house and told them they didn't have a leg to stand on and threatened them with counter-suits for defamation used a lot of legal jargon to terrorise until they promised to drop the case. It should have constituted harassment, but she couldn't force them to keep pressing charges. Even if it was in the small print of 'experimental methods' the result didn't equate.
Fine. She'd get justice in her own way.
“You've got that look about you.” A familiar cocky tone droned. She looked up and saw Mr. Specter. One of the named partners of the firm. He was arrogant, sometimes pretended to not care but was their best attack dog. As irritating as he could be, she had to give him his dues. He was damned good.
“And which look is that?” She rested her chin on her palm with a brow raised.
“That one where you look like you're about to kick a hornet's nest.” His hands were stuffed in his pockets as he gave her a glance over. “Who's rattled the cage today?”
“Murkoff.” Lisa replied flatly.
“I thought you said you had them on the ropes?”
“I did. Turns out their fine print apparently covers mutilation and Chris' ultimate demise.”
“On what grounds?”
“Most of it was self inflicted due to anxiety. What they failed to understand is that their experimentations caused the anxiety. But none of their files cover that. It's a he said she said.”
“Shit.” He shook his head, mouth pressed into a line. “Looks like public appearance doesn't mean much to them.”
“Nope. They're still opening new facilities and getting 'unwanted' patients shipped to them for their experiments.”
“I heard they're having trouble keeping them open.” Harvey's brow rose with a slight knowing smirk. “Wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?”
“I can't think what you're talking about.” She said smoothly, “It's none of my business if they don't learn from past mistakes.”
He huffed in amusement.
“So what are we looking at?”
“They paid the family in what amounts to a slap in the face for 'damages'. It was framed as a nice gesture to pay some of the family of a war vet's legal fees. But I think I'm going to be going in the frying pan after this. They've been quiet on my case, but I think it's going to kick off again. Just a little two fingers up to me. Shit...”
“You should have known they'd take action against you.”
“I did, but I have a feeling that it's going to get messy. They're going to want to do everything they can to silence me.”
“But you just keep putting yourself in the firing line anyway?”
Lisa closed her eyes for a moment and breathed. If their case mobilised again then there was no guarantee she'd be able to keep Waylon and Eddie out of it. Those two were used to playing things in a very different way to how the courts viewed it. Eddie had long given up hope with the law and as a result used his own set of rules. Waylon was glad to be out of their field of vision. He didn't have the stamina for long fights. Besides, his form of justice was far more modern and based within 'ethical hacking' or whatever he called it.
“I have to. I've watched Murkoff manage to wash its hands of whatever shit gets thrown at them. It doesn't matter how legit the evidence is, it somehow always manages to get classed as situational. I'm convinced they pay off the juries and the judges.”
“That's a big claim. You got anything to back it up?” Harvey's brows dropped, studying Lisa.
“This is the company that has it's own hit squad and shot up my holiday cabin with Waylon and Eddie still in it. They don't have a concept of what's right or wrong as long as they get what they want. They will stop at nothing.”
“Gimmie your file.”
“What? I can't do that-”
“Call me your consultant.”
Lisa gritted her teeth, but pushed back in her chair regardless. In the cabinet by her desk she pulled out several large files and handed them over.
“This isn't just something to add to your ego, Harvey, this case has lives riding on it.”
“Only reason you haven't won yet is because you haven't had me.” He smirked, “They won't know what hit 'em.”
“Why do you think she has a case?” Jessica asked slowly.
Her hands were laced together on the desk, watching Harvey flip through the case files. He was already on the second file.
“Because she has more than enough evidence.” He answered, sounding exasperated. “Public opinion of Murkoff is as low as dirt, the internet's up in arms against them pushing for justice. The system is failing them and it shouldn't be. They're a big company that's looking to stay top dog. I don't know what they're planning, but they don't want anyone interfering with it. Lisa suspects foul play.”
“And what if Lisa's wrong?” Her brow rose, her tone still steady. As much as it rattled him, he knew she was checking his argument for any possible holes.
Murkoff was a large company. To launch an all out assault on them was going to be difficult, especially with the resources at their disposal. The sharks had circled Pearson Specter Litt enough after everything they'd gone through to stabilise their firm, Jessica no doubt had her reservations about inviting another attack on them. But at the same time. If they were the firm that finally brought down the corrupt titan that was Murkoff... It was a double edged sword. They could gain everything and also lose everything.
“She's seen it first hand, we've seen her performance in cases, she's not wet behind the ears – you know that. We've got someone who hasn't handled a case this slippery before. They're good. Bastards, but they're good.” He conceded.
“So why has her case been on hold?”
“I think Murkoff have been biding their time. They know Lisa could take them down with her case but they're trying to wait her out.”
“Waiting until she can't afford to keep the case going.”
“Exactly.” He paused and looked up from his pacing. “I'm taking her case.”
“You realise you could jeopardise this firm.”
“The law is there to work. I'm not going to let them keep bending it and anyone else they want over the desk. They've overstepped the mark they need to pay the toll.”
“First she has to consent to you taking the case. This has been her life for nearly two years, do you really think she'll hand it over so willingly?”
“If she wants to see them gone she will.”
Lisa had only ever been in Jessica's office once or twice before. First when she accepted the job, and the second when Jessica met with the Walker family. Donna, Harvey's assistant had come to take her up to speak to Jessica once again. Her gut wrenched. Part of her concerned that Jessica was going to throw the book at her for failing the Walker case, the other wondering just what in the hell Harvey was playing at.
“Why the nerves?” Donna glanced over her shoulder.
“I failed the Walkers, now more people are going to get dragged into this. There's a reason I kept only myself in the firing line.”
“You've got a lot sitting on your shoulders.. Look, I know Harvey seems arrogant, but once he sets his mind on something you can bet he'll give it his all. This isn't just about the firm to him.”
“He has no reason to help me.”
“He doesn't always need one.”
It felt as overwhelming as the first time she'd stepped in. Jessica had been her idol for many years, fighting to get to own her own successful firm. Especially as a black woman. It'd given her hope. She was far more scrappy than Jessica ever was, Jessica seemed to just radiate elegance. She was someone to aspire to be like.
“Thank you for coming Lisa.” She gave a small polite smile, whilst Harvey loomed by the desk, still briefly examining the files. “Harvey wants to take up your case. I know it's been close to you for a long time and you've poured a great deal of work into it so letting it go may not be easy on you. But as they've proven to be a difficult opponent, I agree with Harvey that it's time to step things up.”
“As long as they get buried I don't care.” Lisa clenched her fists on her lap. “They've caused too much damage to be allowed to walk free any more. I'll do everything I can to help.”
“First thing you can do is get Waylon and Eddie here. They're who this case is really about, makes sense that they should testify against them.” Harvey closed the file, holding it under his arm.
Lisa grimaced and rubbed the nape of her neck. “I'm not so sure that's.. a good idea.”
“They're the victims of this case, their version of events is going to be vital. If we can guarantee a jury that hasn't been paid off it's going to be easier to get them on side with their testimony.”
“Eddie is... different now. He doesn't make it a habit to get out much.”
“I get he's going to be traumatised after everything-”
“No I mean he doesn't look himself anymore.”
“He got plastic surgery to disappear or something?”
“It's complicated. But travelling here from LA won't be easy. They could drive which would be ideal... but.”
“You think that guy that showed up earlier is going to send a court order?”
Lisa nodded slowly. “They hoped when they captured me that I would die in the wreckage of that facility, I'm a thorn in their side and Eddie is their success they let escape. They'll want him back. I don't want to think of the awful things they'll make him do.”
“All under the guise of him being too dangerous to be in society?”
She hummed in response. “And he believes it too. He doesn't go near the towns. He just sticks to the national park by the back of their condo. Waylon is his only link to the outside.”
“So he's made himself a hermit. We can work with that.”
“You'd know why if you saw him.”
“We'll see. But that could work in our favour. If he really is as... damaged from their experiments then it's more evidence. Get them here before Murkoff send out the subpoena, we want to be ready.”
Just before Lisa could get to her feet Jessica held up her hand.
“You also have another contact, don't you? The missing Investigative Journalist Miles Upshur?” Jessica paused. “He's also in hiding isn't he?”
“No. He just has a very clear goal. He wants to see Murkoff buried as much as the rest of us. He's just.. more proactive about it. He's the reason their facilities can't stay open for long.”
“Noble as that is, it still counts as trespassing and property damage. If he gets involved they could make it messy. For now, we'll leave him as MIA.” Harvey quirked a brow. “Once we start, this could get bad for you all, are you ready?”
“I've been willing to give my life to take them out before, I'm ready to do it again.”