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The morning came too soon. I barely slept, not with Blake in the next room, her breathing shallow but steady. I left a note, letting her know I’d be back, though I wasn’t sure if she’d even see it. She needed rest, and I needed to keep my cover intact.
The rain had stopped by the time I stepped out of the building, the streets slick and gleaming in the early morning light. I tucked my hands into the pockets of my jacket, the cool air biting at my skin. The walk to the Detective Society’s headquarters wasn’t long, but it gave me time to think. Too much time.
Blake. The jewel. The guards we barely escaped.
And now I was walking into the lion’s den, surrounded by people who would love nothing more than to see me hanging if they knew the truth. But I had a role to play, and I played it well. Always have.
I pushed through the glass doors of the building and made my way to the third floor, where the real work happened. Rows of desks, some cluttered, others immaculately neat, stretched across the open space. It was a hub of organized chaos, detectives poring over case files, phone calls buzzing, coffee brewing in the corner. My kind of place.
“Damien!” A familiar voice called out as I stepped inside.
I turned to see Nate, my closest friend in this cesspool of secrets, waving me over from his desk. He was buried in paperwork, as usual, but his grin was easy, the kind that didn’t ask too many questions.
“Nate,” I greeted, sliding into the chair opposite him. “What’s got you so buried this early?”
He shrugged, pushing a folder aside. “Same old. You know how it is. But you, man, you missed quite the party last night.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral. “Yeah? What’d I miss?”
Nate leaned in, lowering his voice. “Two nobodies tried to steal that jewel. The one everyone’s been whispering about. They failed, obviously, but the whole place was a mess when the guards found out.”
“Two people?” I asked, my voice casual, even though my pulse quickened.
“Yeah, no one’s got a clue who they are,” Nate continued. “It’s like they vanished into thin air. The guards are going nuts trying to figure it out. But the real kicker? The jewel’s already been bought. Some high-profile guy, private deal. It’s locked up tighter than ever now.”
My mind raced. Someone had swooped in and bought the thing while we were bleeding out in that van. Whoever it was, they weren’t just a collector. They were playing a game we didn’t even know we were part of.
“Any leads on the buyer?” I asked, leaning back in my chair, hoping I sounded like I was just making conversation.
Nate shook his head. “Not yet. But you know how these things go. Sooner or later, someone will spill. Always do.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. I needed to get back to Blake, figure out what our next move was. But for now, I had to play the part of a detective, just another guy on the inside, trying to solve a case that was way too close to home.
“Anyway,” Nate said, stretching his arms above his head, “you still up for drinks tonight? We could use a break from this mess.”
I forced a grin. “Sure, I’ll let you know. Got some things to take care of first.”
As I walked back to my desk, I couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. Someone out there had the jewel, and if we didn’t move fast, they’d have everything we risked our lives for.
I sat down, opened a case file, and pretended to work, all the while thinking of Blake lying in my apartment, and the storm that was about to hit us both.
