"Time is slipping and we only just found out Emris is alive," Elaya said, pulling a juice can from the fridge. "He is still killing people — and Karen and Caius are already moving against the Prime Minister."
Ava poured water from the jug and leaned against the counter. "Before things get more complicated we need to do something. Get both of them behind bars."
Her phone buzzed on the dining table.
"Now who is calling." She sighed and picked it up.
Two minutes of silence. Just listening. Then she cut the call.
Elaya was watching her from across the table, juice halfway to her lips, one hand resting on the surface. "What is it?"
Ava looked at her with the most exhausted expression. "Karen and Caius have been arrested and are sitting in our fake police station. Alhamdulillah — the Ahad Agency members handled everything."
Elaya murmured a quiet shukar and licked her lips. "How did they end up there?"
"They confessed to theft. Five hundred million won." Ava glanced at her phone.
Elaya took one last long sip, tossed the can into the dustbin and straightened. "Go. This is clearly a setup of some kind but let's use it — drag them to court. Make sure they stay there for years."
Ava smiled sideways. "Don't worry. I will make sure of it."
She left in her Ferrari, uniform on, pace steady the whole drive — her mind working quietly the entire time.
Something is fishy, she murmured to herself, eyes on the road.
She pulled up to the station, stepped out, slid her hands into her pockets and walked inside. The officers greeted her. Her eyes went straight to the cell.
Karen. Caius.
She scoffed.
Caius's eyes found her the moment she entered and a slow smile crept onto his lips. He did not look away.
"What made you confess?" She walked toward them, her tone sharp. Then her eyes moved to Caius who had gone completely still the moment she started speaking. "Will you say something?"
He said nothing. Just watched her.
The lawyer appeared from behind her shoulder. "The hearing is scheduled for this Saturday, ma'am."
Ava let out a short, dramatic laugh. "How convenient — it all looks perfectly arranged. Like a made up crime." She tilted her head. "Well. Let's see what the court says. I personally intend to make sure you both rot there." Her gaze shifted. "And you, Karen — where is your daughter?What would she say about her father sitting in a cell right now?"
Karen's face crumpled. "She is with her aunt," he mumbled.
Ava poked her inner cheek and raised both eyebrows.
"Oh," she mouthed.
Thirty minutes later Ava stepped outside with the lawyers, going through paperwork in the corridor.
Inside the cell, Caius leaned slightly toward Karen, voice dropping low, smile still sitting on his lips.
"Keep the killings high this week. There will be no suspicion on us while we are sitting in here. We will make it look like Emris has been caught — but he will still be operating. Everything will move forward exactly as planned."
Karen smirked. "Your plans never fail. A month in here and by the time we walk out everything will already be in motion."
Caius said nothing more.
He just leaned back and smiled at the ceiling.
The morning air outside the hospital was quiet and still when Ayaan made his way through the entrance, moving carefully on his ankle.
He stopped.
Elaya was already there — sitting on the bench near the pathway, mask on, two mango juice cans in hand. She spotted him and waved.
He smiled and made his way over. They sat down together without much ceremony, the way people do when they are comfortable with each other's silence.
"How are you feeling?" she murmured, passing one of the cans toward him. "I am sorry for what happened."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a lunch box, setting it in front of him.
"I know you have not eaten anything since yesterday."
Ayaan looked at the box, then at her. Something quiet and warm moved through his expression.
"Jazakallah, Elaya." His voice was low. "And you do not need to apologize — after all we are friends. Members too."
He opened the box. Fresh beef rolls. He began eating without another word and Elaya leaned back against the bench, juice can in hand, both of them settling into a comfortable quiet.
Ten minutes passed.
Ayaan finished, closed the box and exhaled slowly.
"I have never seen a case like this in my life,"
he said softly.
Elaya nodded.
He stood up, looked down at her for a moment and smiled — steady and certain, the way he always was.
"I will give everything I have to this case. And I hope we will finish it in due time, Elaya."
He turned and walked back inside without waiting for a response.