"Bella."
She turned at the sound of her name. Seeing Officer Ethan, she quickly stood up. "Officer Ethan," she said softly.
Ethan walked toward her, his expression calm but searching. "Cadet Bella," he began, "what were you doing here last night after nine?"
Bella lowered her gaze. "I… couldn't sleep," she murmured. "So, I came out here."
Ethan let out a quiet sigh, then gently tilted her chin upward with his finger. "You won't even look at me when you talk?" he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Bella, I want us to talk. I'm trying to understand your behavior — but you're not letting me."
Slowly, Bella lifted her eyes to meet his. For a moment, she forgot everything she'd wanted to say. His face — calm, composed, and impossibly compelling — his deep eyes holding hers… and the world seemed to pause around them.
Seconds passed in silence.
"Bella!"
Ellena's voice broke through the stillness. Both Ethan and Bella startled slightly, stepping back from each other. The old banyan tree beside them cast a wide shadow, and perhaps because of it, Ellena hadn't noticed them right away. But as she came closer, she spotted Ethan.
"Officer Ethan," she said quickly, "class time has started. I came to get Bella."
Ethan nodded, regaining his composure. "Alright," he said simply.
Bella looked away, her heart still unsteady, and followed Ellena toward the academy building, while Ethan watched her go — the morning breeze rustling through the silence left behind.
*******************************************************************************
Ethan stepped into his office, finding Officer Matthew already there, leaning casually against the desk.
"Where have you been?" Matthew asked the moment Ethan walked in.
"Nowhere," Ethan replied, shaking his head. "Just… taking a round."
Matthew nodded, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Right. Or you could just admit you went to see your wife."
Ethan shot him a sharp look. "You're starting again."
Matthew raised his brows teasingly. "Then tell me I'm wrong."
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "If you're here just to talk nonsense, you can leave."
"Alright, alright," Matthew said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "No more jokes. Here's the file you asked for."
Ethan took the file from him, flipping it open. His expression grew serious as he scanned the contents. "I have a feeling," he said slowly, "that all these high-ranking officers' murders — all this chaos — it's just a distraction. Someone's trying to divert our attention."
Matthew's earlier grin faded. He nodded grimly. "The deeper we study this case, the more tangled it gets."
Ethan closed the file, his jaw tightening. "Exactly," he murmured. The air between them grew heavy — the playful tone gone, replaced by the weight of something far darker looming ahead.