21. Ava
21
Ava
" I 'm sorry." I rushed into the office, my arms dripping in paperwork. "My tire went flat three miles down the road."
Aria stood beside Whitney near my cubicle, her brow raised as she eyed me up and down. "Is that why you're all sweaty?"
I exhaled and dropped my work on my desk. "I had to walk three miles to get here."
"What?" Aria stepped forward. "Why didn't you call me for a ride? Or better yet, change your tire."
"I don't have a spare. That was the spare." A lock of hair slipped over my face as I tilted my head. "I forgot to get a new one after the Martin incident."
"That was forever ago, Ava."
"Yeah, I know. I've had a lot on my plate."
"What about a tow truck? Your insurance covers that. They'll bring you a whole new tire."
"Yeah, they couldn't get out there for hours. I wasn't about to wait."
"Well, now that you're here, we need to talk." Whitney waved me toward her office, and my eyes shot to Aria, who quickly looked away.
Great.
"Alright. Give me a minute to catch my breath first?"
Whitney bobbed her head and disappeared into her office, cracking the door.
"What the hell am I in for now?" I glared at Aria, who kept her diverted gaze fixed to the ground.
"I don't know, but she's not happy."
Dammit.
I dropped my stuff onto my desk, shucked off my jacket, and made my way past Aria and into Whitney's office.
She glanced up as I entered. "That was quick."
"I figured I'd have you rip the bandage off now rather than later."
She gave a sideways head nod and motioned for me to sit. "Time's up."
"What?" I sat rigid in my seat, my mouth dropping like a fish. "I still have a few more days."
"Not anymore. The story isn't panning out."
"But I just talked to the Mayor today and..."
"It's over, Ava. Find another story."
My face turned red, the heat rising from my throat and coating my cheeks, my fists clenching at my side. "No. You gave me an extension—"
"No?"
"You approved an extension."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze sharp enough to cut glass. "I gave you an extension, Ava, because I believed you could deliver. But all you've done is chase smoke."
I stood and planted my palms on her desk. "It's not smoke. The Mayor's interview proves there's something here."
"Proves what , exactly? You’ve got a handful of vague quotes and an anonymous source who keeps ghosting you. That’s not a story; that’s a liability. We can’t run with speculation, and you know it."
"It’s not speculation." My heart hammered in my chest. "It’s the kind of story that needs time to break open. You taught me that."
God, what is happening here?
Her expression softened before it hardened again. "I taught you to deliver. To nail down facts, get corroboration, and make it airtight. Not to gamble the paper’s reputation on a hunch."
My fists clenched against the surface, the fire roaring inside of me. "This isn’t a gamble. It’s real. And if you’d—"
She raised her hand. "Enough, Ava. You’ve got talent, but this... it’s too thin. And we can’t afford to waste resources on a dead end. This is my final word: drop it and find something else, or you’re done here."
I stared at her, my breath coming in short bursts. "If I walk away from this story, I’m not coming back."
She didn’t even flinch. "That’s your choice to make."
"This is bullshit and you know it." I pointed my finger at her. "Did the Mayor put you up to this?"
"Why would the Mayor have a say in how I run my paper?"
"I find it ironic that he threatened me today, and now you're doing the same."
She shook her head. "Great minds think alike, I suppose."
I stormed out of her office, letting it shut a bit harder than normal, and plopped into my cubicle chair with all eyes staring at me like I'd worn clown makeup.
"What the hell happened there?" Aria said, sliding into my cubicle opening.
"She told me to drop the story."
Aria let out an amused snort. "Now, do you see why I'm going solo?"
"It's looking more appealing." I dropped my phone onto the paper pile, my laptop stuffed in my bag at my feet. "You know, even the Mayor told me to drop it?" Crossing my leg over my knee, I huffed, my arms crossed over my chest. "Something stinks and I don't mean the rotting leftover food in the fridge."
"What are you going to do now?"
"If the Mayor told you not to investigate a specific pizza shop and their rat infestation, what would you think?"
Aria raised an eyebrow. "I would feel more inclined to investigate said pizza shop. Sounds like he has some inside knowledge."
"Exactly." Weird analogy, but she got the idea.
Aria smiled and perched her hands on the arms of her chair. "It's weird, but government officials are usually like that."
"Because they always have something to hide." When there was power involved, there were always secrets, too, and NeuraZene was shrouded in secrecy for some reason. "He could've been more open about the drug problem and explained how it was being handled. I would've taken that. But he..." I lowered my voice and moved closer. "He threatened me, Aria."
"Like full-on physical violence threat?"
"He told me to find a safer story to report on." God, that sounds dumb. "It was more how he said it. Aria, he had this look in his eyes. I don't know, but it sent a shiver up my spine."
Aria nodded, her brows pulled down, creating a wrinkle between them. "Be careful with how hard you poke certain people. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I'll be careful. I'm just… frustrated. This story is so difficult to crack, and it's not just some secret scandal or whatever."
"They either don't know enough, or they know more than they are letting on. That's how these entities work." Aria gave a small shrug.
But that was why journalism was here. We pulled back the curtains so people could see the wizard behind it—the one pulling the strings and making their lives miserable.
"I don't know where to look next. I'm lost." A sigh drifted from me as I pinched the bridge of my nose, lessening the tension building in my head. “Hell, I can’t even find a government vehicle pacing a broken neighborhood.”
"Hey, don't lose hope.” Aria leaned over and planted her hand in mine, giving me a squeeze.“You're in a rut. Get some rest and regroup, okay?"
"Tomorrow is your last day. What am I going to do without you?"
"It's not like I'm dying. I'll be around." She laughed and pulled me in for a hug, which had my muscles stiffening. "You've got this. If anyone can figure this out, it's you."
At least Aria and Nate had faith in me. That gave me enough motivation to take another swing on Monday.
"I hope your story is going better than mine."
Aria let out a sharp breath and released me. "I haven't been doing everything but twiddling my thumbs these last few days."
"Lucky."
"Go home. Have a drink or something."
"It's noon."
Aria snorted. "Since when did that stop me?"
She shuffled back to her cubicle, stood with her purse over her shoulder, and gave me a smirk as she left for the elevators.
Beer does sound good .
A little numbing wouldn't hurt.
Piinngg.
My eyes darted to the computer screen, a message sliding up from the notifications bar.
Subject: For Your Eyes Only
Coldness spread across my skin as my heart stopped. That subject line was familiar. Very familiar.
"No way." I took a quick look around, making sure the coast was clear. What clue did they have for me this time?
I scooted up as close as I could to my desk, my eyes sliding down the message.
A safe won’t keep his secrets still,
They seep like shadows, bend to will.
Behind cold steel, the truth may wait,
But locks can’t stop a twist of fate.
0616
My eyebrows knitted together as I read through the message again, attempting to decipher whatever the hell this person was talking about. The least they could do was make their clues clearer.
Safe. Where had I seen a safe?
The Mayor's office.
Are they talking about the Mayor's safe?
My heart pounded as I wrote down the safe code and sat back in my seat in defeat.
How the hell am I supposed to get in there?
What would be so important to risk jail time?
The place was probably rigged with alarms and cameras, so sneaking in would be damn near impossible. I couldn't walk inside and expect to easily sneak anything out of the safe, even if that was somehow my safest bet.
Have I lost my mind?
I can't break into the Mayor's office, much less his safe.
I stood, gathered my bag, foregoing the papers stacked on my desk, and hightailed it out of the building.
Fuck her.
My feet hit the pavement with my bag over my shoulder, the cars streaming by, their functional tires like a slap in the face.
Two miles later, I stepped into the convenience store and snagged a soft drink plus a larger box of condoms for Mr. Insatiable.
"Will that be all for you?"
"Yep. Just this." I dug into my wallet and shuffled through the pockets.
"Nine dollars even." She tossed the box of condoms into a mini plastic bag as I pulled my debit card and shoved it into the machine.
BEHBEH.
" Um. It says declined."
I raised my brow. "Declined? That's not possible." I pulled the card out of the slot. "Run it again, please."
She snapped her gum and pushed a button on the register. "Go ahead."
Sliding the card into the machine, I watched the processing status.
BEHBEH .
"Declined. Do you want to try a different card?"
My stomach fell. "Have you been having issues with your card reader? This should work without a problem."
"You're the first." She switched her gum to the other side of her mouth and chewed, her lips smacking.
Another customer stepped up behind me, sighing loudly, his rundown shoes sticking to the tacky floor.
"I'll do cash then." Pulling the card, my cheeks burning, I slipped it into my wallet and handed the woman a ten-dollar bill.
"Do you want change?"
I frowned. "You don't work off of tips. Yes, I want my change."
She slapped the dollar into my hand and waved the next customer forward. "Next."
I snatched my bag and drink off of the counter with a glare and stalked out of the store, my hands shaking.
What the hell just happened?
Placing my bag on the bench seat by the bus stop, I tucked my box into the center of the bag as the bane of my existence began vibrating inside my pocket. Fishing it out, I pressed it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Ms. Thatcher, this is Brent with Riverfield towing. I am at the location you've marked on your claim, but there isn't a vehicle here."
"What do you mean it's not there?"
"I mean, the vehicle is gone, ma'am. Do you think the pin might be wrong?"
"Let me check." My heart stampeded as I doubled-checked the notification I’d sent the insurance company, along with the coordinates of my car. "No, I sent the right pin. Are you sure you're in the right location?"
I threw my bag over my shoulder, grateful I chose flats today and marched down the sidewalk.
What in the world was going on?
"I'm in the same spot as the pin—"
A strong arm wrapped around my waist, a hand clamped around my mouth as I screamed. The man yanked me between two buildings, my legs kicking out in front of me, my phone dropping to the ground, my soda spilling open as it hit.
"Shut the fuck up and listen to me now," he growled.
I stilled, my body flush against his, his facial hair scraping against my neck. My nostrils flared as I struggled for breath against his hand. The tips of my toes touched the ground, my heart ramming through my chest.
"Move on, or life as you know it will get a whole lot worse for you. Nod if you understand."
I nodded my head up and down as fast as I could, whimpering against his harsh hold.
"Good. I'm not above burying your body where no one can find it."
My stomach twisted.
"Tell the police, and your little cop friend joins your grave." He spun me toward the wall, pressing my forehead against the brick, my skin slick and clammy. "Count to ten. And remember…I'm watching."
His hold released, and I slumped against the gritty brick wall, cold and rough against my skin. The stench of the alley filled my lungs as bile clawed its way up my throat. My shaking hands found the wall’s filthy surface for support while tears spilled hot down my cheeks. I counted to ten, each number steadier than the last, as his footsteps faded into the distance, swallowed by the city’s relentless hum.
Nine.
Ten.
I peeked with one eyelid, ensuring the man was gone, then pulled away from the wall, my chin trembling. Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I bent over and picked up my cracked phone.
"Hello. Ma'am. Are you still there?"
"I..." my voice croaked, and I cleared my throat. "I'm here. I'll call the impound and see if they picked it up."
Hanging up, my thumb shook over Liam's number, my stomach threatening to erupt near the trash can.
" Tell the police, and your little cop friend joins your grave."
My eyelids pinched closed as I leaned against the wall and bent at the knees, my silent wail causing a crushing pressure in my chest.
Get it together, Ava.
I clutched my phone to the hurricane raging in my belly and stood straight, sucking in a deep breath through my stuffy nose.
With shaking fingers, I dialed Aria's number.
"Hey, did you change your mind?"
I shook my head as I put it on speaker, the screen letting loose shards of glass. "No. Have you started drinking yet?"
"Yeah, four in. Why do you sound like you're crying?"
Dammit.
"I..." Tears sparked fire into my eyes, and I rolled them back as I blinked them away. "It's no big deal."
"Sounds like it is." Her words slurred as though her tongue sat heavy against her teeth. "Tell me."
What if he comes after her?
"I'm fine. Just letting you know I'm going home like you suggested. I've got another call. Bye." I pressed the 'end' button and groaned, no other alternative coming to mind.
Nate. ..
My fingers found his name as though on autopilot and tapped his contact, the phone ringing like a megaphone in a quiet church.
Please pick up. Please…
The phone crackled after a few rings. "Hello?"
"Nate?" My voice gave out once his name passed my lips. A tear spilled down my cheek as my throat tightened. "Do you... Are you busy?"
"What's wrong, Ava?"
"Can you pick me up?"
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah." I nodded, wiping my nose with the tissue in my pocket. "I was attacked." The phone shook in my hand. Bile burned my throat, causing me to gag.
"What do you mean you were attacked? Are you okay?"
"I'm okay. I don't have my car. I think it got impounded."
"Okay, I'm on my way. Where are you?"
"Thank you." I pushed away from the wall and paced the sidewalk. "I'm on the corner of Riverside and Ashland." My eyes darted to the store window beside me filled with cupcakes and macarons. "I'm next to Abby's Bakery."
"I'll be right there. Go into the bakery and sit away from the door."
I nodded and sniffled.
"Do you hear me? Furthest from the door, Ava."
"Yeah..." I inhaled a ragged breath. "I hear you."
When the call went dead, I stepped into the bakery, the bell dinging overhead, causing me to jitter. "Welcome," a woman said from behind the counter. "What can I get you?"
I sat at the table at the far end of the bakery and shook my head. "I'm waiting for a friend."
She nodded, and I dropped my phone on the table before me and picked at my cuticles, my heart racing like a hummingbird in a storm.
Did that really just happen?
He threatened to kill me.
Did the Mayor send him?
What if it was the people Kane warned me about?
"Here you go."
The woman from behind the bakery stood beside me with a small cupcake in hand.
"I didn't order this. My cards aren't wo—"
"You looked like you could use a 'pick me up'." She placed the cupcake in front of me. "It's on me."
I swallowed and gave her a tight smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She bounced on her heels back to the counter, and I stared at the white frosted cupcake.
Poison?
Don't be ridiculous.
I sat back in my seat, my cuticle red and bleeding, as the store door opened and Nate stepped in.
An exhale of relief broke from me as I stood, his face mottled with concern.
He pulled me into an embrace and rubbed my back. "Did he hurt you?" he growled.
"I'm fine. Just shaken up."
"Did you get a look at him?"
I exhaled through my nose. "He came in from behind."
"Did you call the cops?"
"No." My breath hitched in my throat. "He told me he'd kill me if I did."
Nate's jaw clenched, the muscle pulsing as he released me. "Shit. Okay. I know you don't like the bike, but that's all I have."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and tucked in closer to him. "I'll make due. Thanks for coming."
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" He cupped my cheeks and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then walked me out of the bakery, leaving the cupcake behind, the jitters falling off of me with his arm wrapped around my shoulder.
I will not fall for him.
I will not fall for him.
Nate's head moved side to side as if scanning the area around us as we stopped at his bike. He took the passenger helmet off and handed it to me, then put his helmet over his head and buckled it in.
"I don't know how to use one of these."
He laughed and swiped my hands away, his fingers moving with confidence, tightening the full-face mask under my chin.
"Where do I sit?"
"Right here." He patted the small rectangle he called a seat, then swung his leg over the side and held his hand out for me. "We'll go slow."
Pulling the strap on my bag tighter, I swung my leg over the side of the bike, thanking God I wore pants, and tucked in tight against his back as he started the quiet machine.
"Put your arms around me."
"What?" I leaned in against him, and he reached behind with both hands, grabbed my wrists, and wrapped them around his body, pinning my flattened hands to his tightly muscled stomach.
"Hold on tight, and don't let go."
Nate revved the engine, and we took off down the street, my thighs shaking against his, my chest warming against his back.
An odd security washed over me as though we were untouchable. I snuggled into his back, laid my helmet against him, and let him take me away.