FOURTEEN HOURS LATER…
What's happened since breakfast with my neighbors?
I've written down a few notes, everything I know about this place so far, on my burner phone. Still doesn't feel like much.
I checked the elevator again. The number's still six. Weird. Chief said it would change. So far? Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing's happened. And that's what's bothering me.
It makes no sense.
I explored the whole complex. Walked every hallway, knocked on a few doors I had no business knocking on. Nothing. Except one thing: there's a stairwell that leads nowhere. Supposed to go down to the basement, but it's sealed off with solid concrete.
I went shopping. Again. Bought things I didn't need just to kill time.
And now? I'm lying in bed like a fucking rat. Waiting. For what, I'm not even sure.
Until I hear shouting, sharp and close, coming from the hallway outside. It grows louder, angrier, until it's right at my door.
I can't help myself, I yank it open.
There's Maya, locked in a heated shouting match with a tall blond guy. He's built, not quite as solid as me, but definitely goes to the gym. His hand's gripping Maya's wrist, holding her back.
I catch his gaze flicker toward my stare. He lets go immediately, rubbing his wrist like he knows he overstepped.
"Hi, I'm Tyson," he says, trying to sound friendly, and then nodding toward the apartment next door, number 24. "Just moved here." He lifts his hand for a handshake.
I don't take it.
"That doesn't answer my question. What's going on here?" I look at Maya for some kind of explanation, but she just stares at the floor, silent.
"Nothing," she mumbles, voice small.
"Doesn't look like nothing."
Tyson's voice rises. "Hey, man, how about you mind your own business?"
I'm not in the mood to start a fight. I'm undercover, remember? I have to de-escalate, keep my cover intact.
"How about a no," I say, stepping right into his space, lowering my voice but keeping it firm. "I don't know what's going on here, but she clearly doesn't want to talk to you."
He smirks, stepping closer. "Oh, big guy, getting in my face like that. You wanna go?"
"You don't want to fight me, bro." I didn't mean to say it, it just... came out, i guess.
"Stop!" Maya shouts, slicing through the tension like a knife. "My sister is inside, trying to sleep." Her voice is shaking now, but it's not weak, she's just holding too much in. "Tyson, leave. I told you already. It's over."
And just like that, the pieces click together.
The message she got earlier, the one that ruined her mood. The shouting that started at the far end of the hallway. Him moving into this dump despite looking like he belongs in some shiny glass condo uptown. His possessiveness. His anger.
He's her ex.
Well-off. And clearly, still not used to hearing the word "no."
He probably moved in here just to win her back. She doesn't want him. She already told him it's over, probably more than once. And judging from how their shouting dragged all the way down the hallway, I'd bet good money she told him again tonight.
And he didn't take it well.
She started walking away, he followed, shouting. Loud enough to wake half the damn floor.
Pathetic.
"Hey," I say calmly, keeping my voice even, "How about you two talk about your problems in the morning? It's late."
Tyson scoffs, his jaw tightening. "This doesn't concern you."
"Sure it does," I say, stepping just slightly in front of Maya, not threatening, just blocking. "You're standing outside my door, yelling. Woke me up. That makes it my business."
He opens his mouth, probably to throw another tantrum, but then closes it again. His eyes flick between me and Maya, then back to me.
"Tch." He backs off a step. "Whatever. This isn't over."
"It is for tonight," I say flatly.
He turns and storms off down the hallway. No goodbye. No parting words to Maya. Just footsteps and anger.
I don't say anything for a second. Just watch her.
"You okay?" I finally ask, softer this time.
Maya's eyes are fixed on the floor. "Yeah," she lies. Then she looks up at me, managing a tight smile. "Thanks for… helping. Again."
"You sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure," she says. "He's just… stubborn. And stupid."
I nod. "Do you wanna come in? Just until you feel calm."
She hesitates. "No, I—I should be with Mia."
"Alright. Just knock if you need anything."
She nods and heads back to her apartment, shoulders tense.
I close the door behind me, lock it again, and sigh.
So much for a quiet night.
I flop onto the bed, not even bothering to take my clothes off. My body sinks into the mattress, the adrenaline finally draining from my system, leaving only exhaustion. My eyes close almost immediately.
And I had no idea…
That just outside my window, five floors above ground, a tall man stood perfectly still on the narrow ledge. Watching. Silent. Unmoving. With a grin that stretched too far across his face, too full of teeth to be anything human.
His eyes gleamed in the dark.
And he was looking straight at me. While i was asleep.