As Andy held Ava in his arms, his laughter was genuine, filled with happiness and warmth. His eyes sparkled with delight as he interacted with the adorable girl, feeling a soft spot in his heart for her. "Children are his weak points, but this girl is too lovely to behold," he thought to himself.
Aliana's reaction was a mix of concern, fear and slight admonishment as she hurriedly approached them. "Ava! Come here! I told you not to run around!" Her tone was gentle yet firm as she apologized to Andy, sorry, about that and reached out to take Ava from his hands.
But Ava, with her innocent charm, looked up at Andy and greeted him in her sweet baby voice, "Hello, mister. Thanks for catching me. My name is Ava. You are?." Andy's smile widened as he replied, "Hi, little miss. My name is Andy."
"can I call you that?" Ava asked expectantly with her bright blue eyes looking at Andy.
"Yes you may," his smiling reaching his eyes as he replied
At that time Aliana reached out to get Ava From him. She squatted down to Ava's height and asked "Ava, why did you introduce yourself to him?
"Because he is a friend," Ava replied
"I told you not to tell strangers your name," she scolded gently.
Ava innocently defended herself, "Oh, mom, you told me to be nice. I was being nice to him."
Aliana stood up and apologized to Andy, intending to return to her office. Andy couldn't help but admire Aliana's beauty as she handled the situation gracefully. In his mind, he acknowledged her as a "strong woman" and hesitantly requested a moment of her time, but then quickly retreated, feeling unsure.
Observing Aliana's composed demeanor, Andy couldn't shake off the feeling of intrigue about her. Despite her strength and poise, there was something about her eyes and demeanor that intrigued him. He made a mental note to investigate further to uncover the truth behind Johnson's death.
Turning to Alex, Andy ordered the special cinnamon rolls and croissant Alex had mentioned earlier. As he followed him to the counter to make a payment, he stole one last glance at Aliana and Ava before they disappeared into the office, the door closing behind them.
While walking down the streets, Andy's mind raced with thoughts of Aliana. There was a magnetic pull towards her, a desire to uncover the mysteries hidden beneath her composed exterior. His eyes lingered on the spot where the bakery stood, contemplating the enigma that was Aliana and the potential secrets she held.
As Andy received the call from Detective Davies, he acknowledged his arrival and agreed to meet at the bar. Hailing a cab, he swiftly made his way to the hotel. Upon entering the bar, he spotted Davies waving his hands from a distance, recognizing amidst the soft glow of the lighting. Andy briskly walked over and took a seat beside him..
Meanwhile, two young men entered the bar, subtly following Andy. Despite noticing them, Andy feigned ignorance and sat beside Davies who noticed the trial, his eyes narrowed. Leaning in, Davies casually inquired:
"How long have they been following you?" he inquired, his tone calm yet observant. While sipping from his glass.
"Since yesterday, I believe," with a chuckle. "Don't bother, they look like amateurs, "Andy remarked, signaling the bartender for three shots.
.
"We should leave them or scare them off," Davies suggested with a playful smile.
"We should do the latter," Andy agreed. They clinked their glasses together before downing the shots in unison..
"I need to use the restroom," Andy announced, giving Davies a wink, and predictably, the young men followed him. Pretending to urinate, he waited until Davies entered.
Davies locked the door with a click, trapping the two men inside. On closer observation one of the young men had a scar on his face that ran down from his across left eye.
Realizing they have been caught, the one with a scar on his face questioned
"Why did you lock the door?,", attempting to maintain a facade of confidence.
"To teach you a lesson never to follow me again, scar face." Andy declared with a firm and decisive voice.
"Who said we are following you?" he demanded with a frown, positioning for a punch.
Davies positioned himself strategically, ready to intervene if necessary.
With a swift sidestep, Andy dodged the first attacker's punch, his movements fluid and controlled. In one seamless motion, he retaliated with a powerful kick to the assailant's midsection, sending him staggering backward with a grunt of pain.
Meanwhile, Davies intercepted the second attacker's aggressive advance with a well-timed block, swiftly delivering a decisive kick, sending him sprawling to the floor.
Andy and Davies moved in harmony, their actions synchronized as they repelled each attack with skillful precision.
With a swift, coordinated effort, their movements are a blur of speed and agility, rendering them powerless and defeated.
Both men where on the floor Andy walked up to the scar face while Davies handled the other one, he
With the scar-faced subdued beneath his leg, Andy applied pressure, his grip firm but controlled as he leaned in close, his voice a menacing whisper. "Who sent you?" he demanded, his tone dripping with quiet intensity. "If you don't answer me, I will kill you, and they will never find your body," he threatened, his words punctuated by a low growl.
The man's eyes widened in fear, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he stammered out "Please, please don't kill me," he begged, his voice trembling with terror.
Ignoring the man's pleas, Andy pressed on, his demand unwavering. "I want a name," he insisted, his voice steely and determined.
"I don't know," he whimpered, his hands shaking as he retrieved a file from his pocket. "Here is your description that was given to me," he offered, desperation evident in his voice.
Andy swiftly snapped a photo of the file with his phone, capturing the information. He also made note of the IP address, a potential lead to uncovering the identity of those behind the surveillance.
"From now on, you only report what I tell you to," Andy commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The man nodded frantically, his eyes wide with fear as he acknowledged Andy's authority. With a final shake of his head, Andy released his grip, allowing the assailant to scramble to his feet and flee the scene.
As the adrenaline of the encounter began to fade, Andy reflected on the information he had obtained.
he wasted no time and promptly forwarded the file to Williams, his contact. The exchange went as follows:
"Hey Wills."
"Hey Andy."
"Why do you sound grumpy?"
"Because I am, you woke me up..."
"Sorry about that, I sent you something, please look through."
"Okay," Williams replied with a yawn, "if that's all, let me return to my sleep."
"Okay, bye then," Andy bid him goodbye.
Once the call ended, Andy and Davies left the bar and headed to Andy's suite. As they settled in, Davies couldn't help but inquire about the situation.
"Who knew of your movements?" he asked.
"Only Mrs. Cody, I guess, because I didn't tell anyone," Andy replied thoughtfully.
"Hmm... then I can bet all I have that she sent them or she knows who did," Davies speculated.
Changing the subject, Andy redirected the conversation to the investigation.
"What have you got regarding the investigation materials? I want the death certificate first," he instructed Davies, eager to delve deeper into the case.
As Davies handed over the death certificate and his investigative materials, Andy accepted them with a nod of appreciation. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he carefully examined the death certificate, his brow furrowed in concentration as he scrutinized the details.
With a meticulous eye for detail, Andy pored over the document, analyzing the cause of death and any potential discrepancies. Each line was examined with precision, his analytical mind searching for any overlooked clues or irregularities.
Despite his thorough examination, Andy found nothing amiss on the death certificate. Satisfied with his analysis, he set it aside and turned his attention to Davies' investigative materials.
With a sense of determination, Andy delved into Davies' findings, his focus unwavering as he sifted through the gathered information. Page by page, he absorbed the contents, his mind racing as he pieced together the puzzle of the case.
They exchanged occasional nods and murmured acknowledgments as they worked in tandem, each contributing their expertise to the investigation.
Occasionally, Andy would pause to ask Davies questions or seek clarification on certain details, demonstrating his commitment to thoroughness and attention to detail. Davies, in turn, provided concise explanations and insights, their collaboration driving the investigation forward.
As they worked together, the atmosphere in the room was one of focused determination, punctuated by the rustle of papers and the occasional tapping of keys as Andy and Davies meticulously combed through the evidence.