"I need help." Ava said.
"Come in," he said finally.
The door opened, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to tilt again.She stepped inside quietly, as though afraid the room might reject her while she now clasped her hands together in front of her like she was holding herself together by force alone.
She didn't look like trouble and that was the problem.
Ethan stood slowly, his sharp gray eyes taking her in with trained precision again as he noticed her that she made no wasted movement and no emotion allowed to surface. He catalogued details the way he always did.
Mid-twenties,no visible jewelry,no makeup except the bare minimum and eyes too alert for someone pretending to be calm.
Her gaze met his, and something flickered there—fear, yes, but not weakness.
Ethan gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."
She obeyed, smoothing her coat over her knees before folding her hands again. He noticed the faint tremor in her fingers,she was scared deeply but she wasn't panicking and that made her dangerous.
"Your name, please?"Ethan asked as he threw the cigarette into a bin.
"Ava"
"Avaaaa what?
"Ava….Ava Brooks." She answered as she adjusted in the seat
"What can I do for you, Miss Brooks?" he asked, returning to his seat.
She hesitated and then lifted her chin. "I need a detective."
"You found one,"Ethan said as he almost laughed.
Her lips parted, then pressed together again. "I'm being followed."
"Being followed?How long?"
"A few weeks or maybe longer." She swallowed. "I only noticed recently."
"Why now?"
"Because they stopped trying to hide it."
Silence stretched between them as Ethan leaned back slightly, folding his arms.
"People think they're being followed all the time," he said calmly. "Ex-lovers,paranoia or guilt."
"This isn't paranoia." Ava said as her eyes darkened.
"No?"
"No," she repeated quietly. "Because someone broke into my apartment last night."
"Did they take anything?"He asked as his gaze sharpened.
"No."
"That's unusual, maybe they were looking for something." Ethan said.
"They weren't looking for something," she said. "it's someone and they left something instead."
She reached into her bag and placed a folded piece of paper on his desk.
"What did it say?" Ethan said as he stared at the paper
Ava's lips pressed together. "You can't hide forever."
"Did you report this?" he asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because whoever this is," she said quietly, "they aren't afraid of the law."
Ethan watched her closely as she spoke, noting the way she chose her words with care, like stepping around landmines only she could see.
"Why come to me?" he asked.
Her eyes flicked to the rain-streaked window, then back to him. "Because you don't work for the police anymore."
"You did your research."Ethan said as he felt the familiar tightening in his jaw.
"Yes."
"Then you know my rates."
"I'll pay," she said immediately. "Whatever it costs."
Money never sounded like that unless fear was doing the talking.
Ethan reached for the folder on his desk.
"Before we go any further," he said evenly, "I'll need your full details,address,work and background."
Ava's shoulders stiffened as she heard him.
"Is there a problem?"Ethan asked as he noticed it.
She hesitated, then shook her head. "No. I just… I don't like talking about myself."
"That's unfortunate," Ethan replied. "Because that's my job."
"You want protection?," he asked
"Yes."
"And investigation?."
"Yes."
"Then you should do well by starting to tell me everything and you have to trust me because if you don't, there's no way we're working together.You get that?"Ethan said as he studied her again as he held her gaze for a moment longer, waiting.
Ava inhaled slowly. "I get it."
"Good," he said. "Because if you lie to me—"
Knock, knock, knock.
A sharp knock cut through the room before Ethan could finish his words.Both of them froze and Ava's breath caught instantly. Her hands clenched in her lap while her knuckles whitened as her entire body went rigid as if the sound had struck something deep inside her.
Ethan noticed everything,the way her eyes flicked to the door before she could stop herself and tàhe way her shoulders lifted, not in surprise—but recognition.
The knock came again but harder this time.
Ava swallowed. "I didn't tell anyone I was coming here."
Ethan finally stood, slow and unbothered, like this was an inconvenience rather than a threat. He reached for the desk drawer, sliding it open just enough to slip his hand inside.
"Stay seated," he said calmly. "And don't speak unless I ask you to."
Ava nodded once as the knock came a third time.
"Private office,Come back during business hours."Ethan said in silence,then unhurried footsteps shifted just outside the door.
Ava's pulse thundered so loud she was sure Ethan could hear it and just then the doorknob turned slightly which made Ethan's eyes.He moved towards the door but then the knob stopped turning which made him stop mid way.
Then he heard footsteps retreating down the stairs.Ava exhaled shakily as air rushed out of her lungs like she'd been holding it for far too long.
Ethan reached to the door and locked it this time.When he turned back to her, his expression was unchanged but something colder had settled behind his eyes.
"You said you wanted protection," he said evenly.
"Yes."
"You're getting it."
He crossed the room, stopping in front of her.
"But from this moment on," Ethan continued with a low and precise voice, "you don't leave my sight unless I say so and you have to tell me everything,every single thing."
"Okay."Ava responded quietly as she looked up at him with fear still tight in her chest.
"Good," Ethan replied as he nodded once. "Because whoever just knocked on my door already knows that I'm involved with you."
Ethan studied her for a long moment before asking her.
"Do you know why they're after you?"
Ava paused before answering—not out of surprise, but because she considered truth the way a cartographer considers distance. She took her time, every moment with a careful measurement.
"No," she replied.
Ethan didn't challenge her; he simply leaned back against the desk, arms casually crossed over his chest, looking relaxed as if he hadn't a care in the world.
"Alright," he said, as if merely inviting her to continue. "Let's start with what you're willing to share."
Ava swallowed hard as she looked up at him.
"Your background," he clarified. "The version you'd like to have on record."
Ava nodded almost imperceptibly, her gaze falling to her hands as her fingers laced tightly together—not trembling, just a bit tense.
"I grew up in foster care," she said with a steady voice. "I don't have a family. No parents, no siblings."
Ethan listened without interruption while his eyes focused on her.
"I work in logistics," she continued. "In Midtown. It isn't glamorous, I assure you. Paperwork, shipping schedules, inventory audits. I keep my head down and pay my rent on time."
"What part of the city do you stay in?" he inquired.
"Lower Manhattan," she answered. "Near the bridge."
"I don't have enemies," she added hurriedly. "No bad relationships,no debts. I don't gamble and I owe no one a thing."
"Does anyone owe you?" Ethan asked.
"No."
"And friends?"
She hesitated, contemplating. "Well, there are coworkers and acquaintances but no one really close."
Ethan seemed to sharpen, his gaze reflecting a flicker of thoughtfulness.
"Why New York?" he wondered aloud.
"It's a big place. You can live your whole life here without anyone truly noticing you." Ava said as she shrugged lightly.
"Is that what you wanted?" he asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Yes," she replied simply as silence hung like a heavy curtain between them which was broken only by the distant hum of the city.
Ethan straightened up, pushing himself off the desk. "You live alone?"
"Yes."
"No pets? No roommates?"
"No," she confirmed.
He nodded once, as if finding it all rather predictable.
"You're careful," he said. "You have structure and you avoid risks."
"I didn't think I was."Ava said as she looked up.
"You are," he said matter-of-factly. "That's why all this troubles you."
She let out a breath that almost resembled a laugh, though it lacked any real humor. "I just want it to stop."
Ethan turned slightly, reaching for the window blinds. He adjusted them just enough to peek out at the bustling street below.New York was always alive even in the dark, with taxis zipping by and crowds moving as if nothing mattered.
"You must understand this, Miss Brooks," he said as he glanced back at her. "People don't escalate like
this without a reason. Following you,breaking into your home and making their presence known."
He turned back to her with seriousness etched on his face.
"They're not just trying to frighten you away," he said. "They're cornering you."
Ava felt a tightening in her throat. "So what do I do?"
"You have to….
BANG.