OLD DEBTS
769 Words
Old Debts
They didn’t sleep that night.Every noise made Ava flinch.Ethan kept checking the locks,walking from window to window like a man waiting for ghosts.His past had come knocking,and now it wasn’t just his problem anymore.It was theirs.
By morning,they were exhausted but alert.Ava sat on the edge of the bed,phone clutched tight.Mia had called twice,sensing something was off,but she hadn’t answered yet.She didn’t know how to explain any of this.
Ethan paced the room,eyes bloodshot.“We need to go to the police.”
“You think they’ll help this time?”
“They have to.”
Ava stood,grabbed her bag.“Then let’s go.”
They drove in silence.The city moved around them like nothing was wrong.Traffic,horns,people on phones,coffee in hand—completely unaware that danger followed them like a shadow.
At the station,Ethan asked for a Detective Collins.An old contact.A man who once worked the original debt case years ago.
They waited thirty minutes before he appeared.
Middle-aged,tired eyes,coffee stain on his shirt.He recognized Ethan instantly.
“Blake,”he said flatly.
“Detective.”
“You’re either brave or stupid for showing your face here again.”
Ethan motioned to Ava.“She got a threat.They called her.They’re watching again.”
Collins sighed,rubbing his face.“We told you years ago—this crew doesn’t forget.They lay low,then they strike.”
“So help us,”Ava said.“Do something.”
He looked her over.Something in his eyes softened.
“You his girlfriend?”
She hesitated,then said,“Something like that.”
He nodded slowly.“Then I’ll give you one piece of advice—leave town.”
Ethan slammed his fist on the desk.“That’s not good enough.They threatened her.”
“We’ve got no evidence.No names.No warrant.Nothing to hold.”
“So you’ll wait till someone gets hurt?”
Collins stood.“Look,I liked your father,even with all his mess.But he made enemies with people who don’t care about law or reason.If they called her,they’re already watching you both.”
Ava gritted her teeth.“Then we give them what they want.”
Both men turned to her.
Ethan frowned.“What are you talking about?”
She stared at the detective.“Let’s set them up.Use me.Bait them.Catch them.”
Ethan shook his head violently.“No way.I’m not letting you—”
“I’m already in this,”Ava said firmly.“I’m not running again.”
Collins eyed her carefully.“It’s risky.”
“So is waiting,”she snapped.
He leaned back,then nodded slowly.“Alright.I’ll pull some strings.But you both do exactly what I say.No hero moves.No surprises.”
Ethan looked like he might explode.But he nodded.
Ava’s voice was calm,steady.“Let’s end this.”
That night was quiet again.Too quiet.They stayed in Ethan’s apartment,surveillance already placed by Collins’ team.Two officers in an unmarked van outside.Two more hidden in the building.
Ava sat by the window,staring out.Her mind ran wild.What if it failed?What if they found a way past all of it?What if Ethan got hurt again—this time for real?
Ethan came over,sat beside her.
“You’re braver than me,”he said.
She glanced at him.“No.I’m just tired of being scared.”
He reached for her hand,held it tight.
“If anything happens to you—”
“Nothing will.”
He shook his head.“I don’t deserve this second chance.”
She leaned on his shoulder.“Then earn it.”
Outside,the city lights blinked.A van drove past.Slowly.Too slowly.
Ethan stiffened.
Ava sat up.
Another car followed behind it.Black windows.No plates.
Then came the knock.
Three short taps.
Exactly like the voice had warned.
Ava stood.
Ethan blocked her.
She moved past him.
“I have to do this.”
She opened the door.
A man stood there.Dressed clean.Calm.Slicked-back hair and dead eyes.
“Miss Morgan,”he said smoothly.
Behind her,Ethan reached for the panic button.Collins’ voice came over the earpiece.
“Keep him talking.We’re moving in.”
The man smiled.“Ethan Blake owes us a debt.He ran for years.Thought it was buried.It’s not.You’re just interest.”
Ava kept her voice cool.“You came all this way for a message?”
“No,”he said,pulling something from his jacket.“We came to collect.”
The gun was small.But deadly.
Ava’s heart froze.
Then—
“Hands up!”
Officers flooded the hallway.Shouts,boots,metallic clicks.
The man froze.
Collins slammed him to the wall.
“Try anything,and you won’t leave breathing.”
Ava backed into Ethan’s arms,shaking.
It was over.
Or so she thought.
- Writer
