Chapter 35: The Equalizer

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Half an hour later, Link instructed McCall to stop near a subway station. "Let me see your driver's license; I'll make a note of it. If everything checks out, I'll hire you. Your driving skills are impressive."

"Thank you!" McCall handed over his license, and after Link took note of it, the two parted ways.

Checking the time, Link went to pick up Jessica. In the mornings, she focused on her studies, and in the afternoons, she worked out, which Link didn't mind at all. He was thrilled to see his girlfriend in better shape every day. After picking her up, they had dinner together before heading back home.

While Jessica was in the shower, Link logged into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database to investigate Robert McCall. It turned out McCall's resume was fake; he was actually a former CIA operative. According to CIA records, McCall was listed as deceased, but fake deaths were common in that field. It hit Link: Wasn't this the McCall from *The Equalizer*?

McCall had faked his death after his wife passed away. Was he now applying for a driver job because of her recent death? Had he just stumbled upon the job posting by chance?

Regardless, Link was pleased. McCall was highly skilled and seemed to be of solid character, making him more than qualified to be both a driver and a bodyguard. It was likely McCall never imagined someone could uncover his true background. The information he provided was detailed enough to convince most, but given McCall's former profession, this was probably one of his old cover identities.

Satisfied with his findings, Link decided to equip McCall with a bulletproof vest and a firearm. With such precautions, Jessica would be even safer, though she was more than capable of handling herself.

Picking up the phone, Link dialed McCall. "Mr. McCall, you're hired. Please report tomorrow at..." He gave the address of the law firm, initially hiring McCall under his personal account, with the plan to later shift him to the charity foundation once it was fully operational. Staff expenses would need to be listed under the foundation's accounts.

"Thank you very much. I'll be there on time tomorrow," McCall replied, his tone calm as usual. He was just looking for a peaceful life, and the idea of being a driver wasn't so bad. He had a plan to read 100 books, a list his late wife had left for him. As long as he took care of his employer and their vehicle, he'd have plenty of time to work on his reading list.

From his perspective, this job seemed ideal.

...

At the same time, Coulson was busy. Director Fury had assigned him both Hawkeye and Black Widow, though he had not included Link in the operation. The reasoning was clear: Fury wanted to keep Link separated from this particular case. Link was a valuable asset, and his skills were exceptional. The director had personally explained to Coulson that involving Link in this operation could complicate things.

Moreover, Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, wasn't being pursued either, mainly to protect Link's undercover role. This was a highly covert mission targeting the Hand, an ancient ninja order. The secret of the dragon bones they sought was too dangerous to let out. If revealed, it could lead to catastrophe, which is why there were no formal records within S.H.I.E.L.D. regarding the operation. Fury was deploying his secret resources to ensure absolute discretion.

Coulson was meticulously gathering intelligence on the Hand, aiming to completely dismantle their network with a single blow. They had one crucial lead—an audio recording provided by Link—but now the heavy lifting had to be handled by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s specialists. This was where Black Widow's expertise in espionage came in handy, while Hawkeye would handle any field operations.

Meanwhile, Daredevil was still active, though S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't concerned. The blind lawyer's combat skills were decent but not remarkable, and his strict no-kill policy limited his effectiveness. Thus, he wasn't considered for recruitment.

Recently, Coulson had noticed Link interacting with Daredevil, but it was all tied to the charity foundation Link was setting up to provide legal aid. Since that posed no threat, Coulson decided not to interfere. In fact, if necessary, Link could be used to keep Daredevil out of the way during sensitive operations.

...

After finalizing the contract with McCall, Link allowed him some time before officially starting work. Meanwhile, a few arrangements needed to be made.

First, McCall would need a place to live. Link would provide some housing allowance, though McCall would have to cover most of it himself. The apartment needed to be close to Link's, and McCall was tasked with finding a new place.

Next came the matter of attire. Since McCall would be driving a Rolls-Royce, he needed to dress appropriately—suit, tie, and polished shoes, though Link didn't require him to wear a chauffeur's cap or gloves. A standard business suit would suffice, and this expense would be reimbursed.

Finally, there was the matter of applying for a concealed carry permit and getting fitted for a bulletproof vest. However, this could wait until the charity foundation was officially up and running.

Recently, Link had been keeping an eye on the progress of the foundation's paperwork. Things were moving quickly since it was a small-scale operation. With the support of his legal and accounting teams, Link's $60 million in Stark Industries stock provided solid backing for the foundation. Every year, 5% of the dividends would be allocated to the foundation, depending on Stark Industries' quarterly earnings. As a publicly traded company, Stark Industries' financial reports were readily accessible.

Once the paperwork was completed, Link rented a small office space near Hell's Kitchen. The space wasn't large, as there was no need to lease an entire floor. Link simply rented a quarter of one, sharing the building with other tenants. He avoided the higher floors, settling on the third floor.

He took Jessica to see the office, accompanied by the interior designers to plan the layout. Jessica would have her own office as the foundation's manager, with an outer office for her secretary. A conference room, finance department, legal department, human resources, reception area, and staff cubicles were also included in the plan.

It was a small operation, but everything was in place. If the foundation grew, they could always relocate to a bigger space in the future.

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