A Circle of Shadows
Ethan's fingers drummed against the desk, a restless rhythm that betrayed his frustration. The blinds in his office were half-open, casting slanted lines of light across the room. It was late afternoon, but the dull ache behind his eyes made it feel like midnight. He glanced at the phone screen again. A single message blinked back at him:
"Can't meet today, Ethan. Out of town. Let's talk soon. – Mr. Carlos"
Soon. That word had lost all meaning.
He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath his weight, and let out a slow breath. He'd lost count of how many times Carlos had canceled on him. Each time, the excuse was carefully worded, polite but distant. Busy schedules. Sudden trips. Always a reason, always just believable enough to keep him hanging on.
But not enough to shake the gnawing suspicion in his gut. Something was wrong. He could feel it, like a splinter beneath the skin that refused to work its way out.
The door creaked open, and Anita stepped inside, her presence a brief balm to his stormy thoughts. She wore a concerned look, a coffee cup in one hand and her phone in the other.
"Still nothing?" she asked, setting the cup down on his desk.
He shook his head. "Nothing solid. Just the same song and dance."
Anita sighed. "And the investigator?"
He clenched his jaw. "Same report every time. He keeps telling me I've reached a dead end. That there's no trail, no deeper conspiracy. Just… nothing." His voice was tight, edged with frustration. "It doesn't make sense. How can everything lead to nowhere?"
Anita's gaze softened, and she stepped closer. "Ethan, maybe you need a break from this. It's been months. You're wearing yourself thin."
He rubbed a hand over his face. "I can't stop now. I know there's something going on. I can feel it. And Carlos…" He hesitated, his voice dropping. "I trusted him, Anita. But lately, it feels like he's hiding something."
Anita's eyes searched his, a flicker of something unnameable in her expression. "Do you think he's involved?"
Ethan shook his head slowly. "I don't know. I just know that things don't add up." He paused, his thoughts racing. "What if the investigator is lying to me? What if he's feeding me the same dead-end story because he's scared? Or worse — compromised?"
Anita stepped back slightly, her expression carefully composed. "You think someone's controlling him?"
"Maybe. I can't shake the feeling that he's holding something back. His words are always so… careful. Like he's walking a tightrope."
He picked up his phone, thumb hovering over the call button for Mr. Carlos. The thought of dialing it again filled him with dread, like he was standing at the edge of a cliff. He put the phone back down, exhaling sharply.
"No. No more calls."
Anita frowned. "What are you going to do?"
Ethan's eyes hardened. "I need to see Carlos face-to-face. No more excuses, no more phone calls. I'm done playing this game."
She hesitated, the corners of her mouth twitching. "And if he refuses?"
"Then I go to him." His voice was resolute. "No more waiting. No more trusting shadows."
Anita's lips parted slightly, and for a brief moment, something passed over her face — hesitation, calculation — before she schooled it into concern. She nodded slowly. "Just… be careful."
He stood up, grabbing his keys. "I will."
As he brushed past her, Anita watched him go, her gaze lingering on the door long after it closed. A chill settled in her chest.
He was getting too close.
She took a steadying breath and pulled out her phone, her fingers gliding over the screen. A single message was sent to a number she knew by heart:
"He's coming for you. Keep him in the dark no matter what."
She slipped the phone back into her pocket, her expression calm, serene.