Falling for the Target

Come Inside

Two days after the diner, Marley got the text at 9:47pm.

*Ben: You busy? My power’s out. And I hate eating alone. Come over? I’m ordering Thai.*

She should’ve said no. Should’ve forwarded it to her captain.

Instead she typed: *Marley: Address?*

His apartment was in Brooklyn. 4th floor walk-up above a laundromat. No doorman. No cameras in the hall. Perfect for a criminal. Terrible for a cop.

Ben opened the door in sweatpants and a gray tee. Hair damp. The apartment smelled like lemongrass and rain.

*"You came"* he said, like he was surprised. *"Come in. It’s freezing in here."*

The place was small but clean. Exposed brick. One couch. A TV. A stack of files on the coffee table that Marley tried not to stare at. A photo on the fridge of kids at a basketball court.

*"Power’s been flickering all day"* Ben said, setting takeout containers on the counter. *"So we’re eating by candlelight. Romantic, right?"*

Marley laughed despite herself. *"You trying to kill me with pad thai?"*

*"Only if you don’t share"* he shot back.

They ate on the floor, backs against the couch. The candles made shadows on the wall. No wire tonight. She’d left it at home. _Just this once_, she told herself. _To keep cover._

*"You’re quiet"* Ben said, watching her.

*"Just tired"* Marley lied. *"Work’s been a lot."*

*"Gastric Tech is a lot"* he agreed. *"But you’re handling it better than anyone I’ve hired."*

He said it like a compliment. Like she was just his employee. Not a detective. Not a threat.

After they ate, the rain started again against the windows. The city went muffled.

Ben stood and grabbed a blanket from the couch. *"Sit"* he said, patting the spot next to him. *"Movie?"*

Marley hesitated for half a second. Then she sat.

The movie was some action flick she didn’t watch. She was too aware of how close he was. His arm brushed hers. He didn’t move it away.

Halfway through, he shifted and his shoulder touched hers.

*"Cold?"* he asked.

*"A little"* she said.

He draped the blanket over both of them. Now they were under it together. Close.

The room was quiet except for the movie and the rain.

Ben turned his head. *"Ley"*

*"Hmm?"*

*"You ever feel like... you’re pretending to be someone you’re not?"*

The question hit too close. Marley’s throat went dry. *"All the time"* she whispered.

Ben looked at her then. Really looked. Tired eyes. Scar on his knuckle. The man from the file and the man who gave his hoodie to the intern last week.

He reached out slowly, like he was giving her time to pull back. His hand came up to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her jaw.

*"Can I..."* he started, voice low.

Marley didn’t answer. She didn’t move away.

That was answer enough.

Ben leaned in and kissed her.

Soft at first. Testing. When she didn’t resist, it deepened. His hand came to the back of her neck, thumb brushing her skin.

Marley’s brain was screaming _this is evidence, this is compromise, this is wrong_.

But her body wasn’t listening. She kissed him back.

It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t part of the case. It was just two people in a dark room, both pretending for different reasons.

After a minute he pulled back, breathing hard. Forehead against hers.

*"I shouldn’t have done that"* he murmured.

Marley didn’t say anything. She couldn’t.

Ben sat back, ran a hand through his hair. *"I’m sorry. That was... I’ve wanted to do that since you burned your hand and didn’t cry."*

*"I’m not good at crying"* Marley said finally, voice shaky.

He laughed quietly. *"I noticed."*

They didn’t talk about it after. They watched the rest of the movie under the blanket, not touching, but not moving apart either.

At 1am the power came back on. Harsh light flooded the room.

*"I should go"* Marley said, standing too fast.

*"Yeah"* Ben said. He walked her to the door.

Before she left, he stopped her. *"Ley. Whatever this is... I don’t want it to be a mistake."*

Marley nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

On the subway home, her phone buzzed.

*Captain: Status report. Now.*

Marley stared at the message. Then she turned her phone off.

Because for the first time since this case started, she didn’t know what the right report would say.

*End of Scene*

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