Beyond The Lie

Chapter 32: Chasing Adeline

Eryx.

Tuesday (next day)

I gazed at the financial reports on my screen, the numbers blurring together as my mind wandered back to Adeline. Her text still lingered in my mind: "I'm done." Two simple words that had ignited a firestorm of questions.

I massaged my temples, a headache brewing. The Vector case was reaching a boiling point, and I needed to track down a lead on a suspicious transaction. But Adeline's words kept echoing in my mind, distracting me from the task at hand.

Was she done with the charade, or was she done with me?

I pushed aside thoughts of Adeline and focused on the task at hand. Connecting the dots between Vector's financial records and the Eclipse organization's shell company was a daunting task, but I was driven to uncover the truth. I scanned the rows of numbers, searching for a pattern. I was on the cusp of a breakthrough, I could sense it.

But despite my best efforts, my mind kept drifting back to Adeline. Everything had seemed fine, and then suddenly... nothing. The silence was suffocating. What had triggered this sudden change? The questions swirled in my head, refusing to be silenced.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to concentrate. I highlighted a suspicious transaction and jotted down a note to investigate further. This could be the breakthrough I needed to crack the case.

But as I dug deeper into the financial records, my thoughts continued to stray back to Adeline. I needed to talk to her, to understand what was going on. But she was ignoring my calls and texts.

Frustration simmered beneath my skin. I was accustomed to being in control, but Adeline had turned my world upside down. It was a humbling admission, one I didn't make lightly.

I tried calling her again, my fingers drumming impatiently on the desk as the phone rang. But she didn't answer. I was met with her voicemail instead, and I hesitated for a moment before hanging up.

Frustration simmered beneath my skin. I needed a break from this. I pushed my chair back and stood up, deciding to follow up on a lead related to the Vector case. Maybe getting out of the office would clear my head and help me focus.

I grabbed my jacket and headed out, the cool air hitting me like a slap in the face as I stepped out of the building. I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I would get to the bottom of this case, and I would figure out what happened with Adeline suddenly.

***

I was lost in thought, my mind consumed by the intricacies of the Vector case, as I drove to the Silver Oak Cafe. Suddenly, my eyes landed on a familiar sight - Adeline's car, a few vehicles ahead of me. The distinctive symbol printed on the back of her car made it unmistakable.

My heart skipped a beat as I felt a surge of surprise and curiosity. What was she doing here? I had been trying to reach her all morning, and now, unexpectedly, she was right in front of me.

But before I could react, she took a sharp turn to the right, disappearing from view. I accelerated, intending to follow her, but the traffic light turned red, trapping me behind a line of cars.

I drummed my fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, feeling frustrated and stuck. She was gone, and I was left sitting here, waiting for the light to turn green.

I sat there, stuck behind the line of cars, my mind racing with indecision. I had a meeting with a contact at the Silver Oak Cafe, someone who might have valuable information about the Vector case. But now, Adeline was suddenly in front of me, and I had a chance to confront her about her mysterious text.