Chapter Seventeen
Ethan's apartment was dimly lit, the faint glow of a table lamp casting long shadows across the room. Aria sat cross-legged on the couch, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her knee as she stared at the coffee table cluttered with notes and documents. Ethan paced the floor, his jaw tight and his movements restless.
"I don't like this," Ethan muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Caleb Hart isn't just some small-time thug. If we keep digging, he'll know. Hell, he probably already knows."
Aria looked up at him, her eyes steady. "We can't stop now. If he's behind all of this, if he's the reason James is dead, then we need to expose him."
Ethan stopped pacing, turning to face her. "Expose him to who, Aria? The cops? You think they'll take down a guy like Caleb Hart because of what we've found? He's probably got half the city in his pocket."
Aria took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Then we need more than just suspicions. We need proof. Something solid that ties him to James's death."
Ethan sighed, sinking into the armchair across from her. "And how do we do that? Walk up to Caleb Hart and ask him nicely to confess?"
A small, humorless smile tugged at Aria's lips. "Not exactly. But if he's watching us, then maybe we can use that to our advantage."
Ethan frowned. "What are you suggesting?"
"We make him come to us," Aria said, her voice firm. "If he thinks we're close to uncovering something, he'll make a move. And when he does, we'll be ready."
Ethan leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "That's a dangerous game you're playing, Aria."
"It's the only game we have," she shot back.
Silence fell between them, heavy and charged. Ethan's gaze softened, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I don't want you to get hurt," he said quietly.
Aria's heart clenched at the vulnerability in his voice. "I don't want you to get hurt either. But if we don't do this, if we let Caleb get away with it... what's the point?"
Ethan studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright. But we do this smart. No risks we don't have to take."
"Agreed," Aria said.
They spent the next hour devising a plan, poring over the details of what they knew and what they needed to find out. They decided to dig deeper into Caleb's connections, looking for any weak link they could exploit. Aria suggested starting with the people who worked for him, the ones who might be more inclined to talk if they felt cornered.
As the night wore on, exhaustion began to creep in, but neither of them wanted to stop. The stakes were too high, and the danger too real.
Finally, Ethan stood and stretched, glancing at the clock. "We should get some rest. We'll need a clear head for this."
Aria nodded, though sleep felt like a distant possibility. "You're right."
Ethan hesitated, then crossed the room and sat beside her. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We'll figure this out," he said softly.
Aria leaned into his touch, the warmth of his hand grounding her. "I know we will."
For a moment, the world outside their small bubble of light seemed to fade away. But the shadows lingered, a silent reminder of the danger that waited for them beyond the safety of Ethan's apartment.
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