[center][b][color=fff200][sup][h1]T H E  I R O N  F I S T[/h1][/sup][/color][/b]

[b][color=fff200][sup]Issue #3: [i]To thy law...[/i][/sup][/color][/b][/center]
[COLOR=fff200][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]Chinatown, New York City[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][sup][color=darkgray]December 22[sup]nd[/sup], 2018  |  7:34pm | 5th Precinct Station, NYPD [/color][/sup][/INDENT][/INDENT]

Detective Bard stood on the other side of the glass, staring at the individual in the interrogation room. He tapped his right foot nervously, as he always did. He always got antsy when things didn't quite add up. [color=gray][i]Rich guy shows up out of nowhere after being gone for over ten years. Around the same time, a guy stalks Chinatown with a glowing fist and taking down the Triad... the Tigers in particular. Same person? It's got to be...[/i][/color] With a brief sip of his coffee, Bard eyed over Daniel Rand carefully.

It was a breath of fresh air when Detective Santiago entered into the viewing room with Bard, holding a file in hand out towards her superior. [color=gray]"Tested negative for the metagene. He doesn't have powers."[/color] The elder detective gave a nod at the news while taking the file, setting down his coffee to examine the test results personally. The lab had gotten the result back quickly on this one. It's not every-day that you have to bring in a millionaire through the back door secretly to question him, especially when you have suspicions he's a super-human vigilante. Best to get him checked out as quickly as possible.

The news wasn't exactly what Bard expected. Certainly Daniel Rand had to be the same powered individual. A series of alternate theories ran through his mind. [color=gray][i]Could just be some monk from the monastery he stayed at. Somehow came back at the same time, has powers. Or it's some sort of magic. Or maybe it's just coincidence...[/i][/color] Bard knew that dwelling on it would only lead to complications. He stepped out of the room before circling over towards the interrogation room, entering in with a swift motion before slamming the door behind him. His gray suit still had a bullet hole through the lapel from a case worked seven months back. The edges and seams were somewhat frayed. Bard wasn't paid enough to afford new suits, so he made due with what he had.

The person sitting across from him... Bard could tell he wasn't comfortable wearing his suit. Rand's skin was practically crawling. He couldn't find a comfortable position. Bard took a moment to take a seat across the cold metal table from Daniel, leaning back and looking his suspect over again. The millionaire's nervousness drove him to break the silence. [color=fff200]"I'm not fully confident I understand the legal system, but I've been watching some Law and Order and I'm fairly confident that I have a right to have a lawyer in here with me."[/color]

Bard gave a nod and a smile. [color=gray]"Of course, Mr. Rand. Your lawyer is on his way. But we both know the longer you're in here, the better the chances are that someone's gonna start talking to the media. And I don't think that's going to go over well with the investors in your company."[/color]

Danny knew that the detective across from him was right. Joy, Ward... they would have a heart attack if they found out where Danny was at this moment. [color=fff200]"I get that detective... what is it you want to know?"[/color]

Bard had to keep himself from cracking a smile. This was almost too easy. He was fighting the clock, but there was a good chance he'd be able to get genuine information as long as Rand was alone. [color=gray]"You walked into a Chinese restaurant right next to a Community Center your company owns earlier this afternoon. What happened in there?"[/color]

[color=fff200]"I heard a noise coming from the kitch-"[/color]

A loud banging nearly shocked Danny and Bard out of their seats, with the detective reaching for the sidearm at his side. Standing in the now open doorway was a 5'7" man in an italian suit, carrying a briefcase and a set of glasses. Jerryn Hoggarth was not the most athletic man, but he knew how to sprint when he needed to. After taking a moment to pant heavily, he made his way to Danny's side, tossing a briefcase onto the table and wiping his sweating forehead with a handkerchief. Bard got up to close the door, grinding his teeth at the realization that he was less than a minute away from getting exactly what he needed. Hoggarth raised an eyebrow at Detective Bard. [color=gray]"I'll have a suit in by the morning if you even thought of questioning my client without me being in the room. Did you bother to inform Mr. Rand that he had the right to an attorney?"[/color]

Clearly, Hoggarth was not going to be a fun individual to deal with. Bard sat back down and spoke, [color=gray]"I did, in fact, inform Mr. Rand of his rights. That was clarified moments ago, after which I asked him a question which he clearly only had to answer if he felt he needed to."[/color]

[color=fff200]"I'm going to answer the question."[/color] Danny's tone was harsh and authoritative, and Bard was surprised by how quickly the disposition of the man he was interrogating shifted. Hoggarth found himself unable to speak against his client, which was certainly a first. [color=fff200]"I wanted to look in the restaurant and see what it was like. I've been here for two months but never bothered to grab take-out. Figured today might be a change. The sign said 'Open' but I couldn't see any servers or patrons. I heard a sound coming from the kitchen, and wanted to investigate..."[/color] Danny's voice trailed slightly, his eyes turning up towards Bard and Hoggarth to connect with them and see their reactions.

Bard was impossible to read, and Hoggarth was rather shocked and was planning his next words carefully when he felt it important to interject. [color=fff200]"I saw... criminals beating up the store owner. They turned their attention my direction and tried to attack me. I-"[/color]

[color=gray]"Mr. Rand found himself in a hostile situation in which the chance of serious bodily harm was beyond a reasonable doubt, and therefore invoked his right to self-defense when attacked. Is that what you're trying to say, Mr. Rand?"[/color]

Hoggarth's intent was clear, and Danny knew what that meant. [color=fff200]"Yes. I defended myself. Once I was out of danger I left the restaurant."[/color]

[color=gray]"You didn't bother to wait for authorities to arrive on the scene to give a statement?"[/color] Bard's voice had an edge. He was pressing into Danny, hoping to elicit a reaction.

[color=fff200]"I called the authorities, informed them of the situation, and told them that I would be able to stop by the station-"[/color]

Hoggarth interjected, giving a smile towards Danny as he did so. [color=gray]"My client deescalated the conflict, as is his right under the law, and went out of his way to ensure that the NYPD would be able to get his statement while preserving the best interests of both the business owner who was victimized by criminals, but the lives and well-being of the thousands Rand-Meachem Inc. employs. We both know, Detective Bard, that Mr. Rand staying at the scene of the crime would only hurt the comp-"[/color]

Bard raised his hand, staring daggers into Hoggarth. It was almost supernatural the effectiveness it had in cutting off the prestigious lawyer. Bard's voice relaxed slightly, seeming to be more questioning than interrogating. [color=gray]"Which the NYPD understands and appreciates. We just have one more question before we let you go, Mr. Rand: One of the individuals we apprehended at the scene claimed that you broke a table with a 'glowing fist.' You wouldn't happen to know anything about that accusation, would you?"[/color]

Danny's eye twitched subtly, and Bard's lips curled into the tiniest of grins. He knew the truth, even if Danny wasn't going to give it freely. Bard didn't even listen as Hoggarth stood up and spat out some excuse and right Danny had to not answer "baseless, slanderous rumors." Bard didn't have enough evidence to convict Daniel Rand of any crime, let alone make a charge stick with Hoggarth's legal team on the case. All the detective wanted was to know that he was right. Daniel Rand wasn't a metahuman, but he was certainly more than a rich kid who finally returned home. He was a vigilante. Bard stayed seated as Rand and Hoggarth left the room to get Danny out of the station as quickly as possible. The detective needed to relish the small victory for just a moment longer. [color=gray][i]A millionaire with a glowing fist... we supposed to throw him in a cell with the Devil or the Spider? Feels sometimes like we're fighting the only people trying to save this city.[/i][/color]