CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Ava sat at her desk, pouring over the case files of the deadly organization. They had been tracking this group for months, but every lead seemed to end in a dead-end. The organization's MO was to lure vulnerable individuals with promises of easy money, only to traffic them into forced labor or worse.

Determined to crack the case, Ava decided to go undercover. She disguised herself, transforming into a desperate individual in need of financial help. She found a phone number linked to the organization and dialed it, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

As she spoke on the phone, the other detectives in the room watched her with curiosity. They had all been working on this case for months, and Ava's undercover operation was their best lead yet. Ryan, Thompson, and Nicole all leaned in, listening intently to Ava's conversation.

"Hello?" a smooth woman voice answered.

Ava launched into her rehearsed script. "Hi, I saw your ad online. I'm really struggling to make ends meet, and I'm desperate for a job. Can you help me?"

The voice on the other end chuckled. "Of course, sweetheart. We can definitely help you. Can you meet us at the old warehouse on 5th and Main at 5 pm today?"

Ava's colleagues exchanged nervous glances. This was it – the break they had been waiting for. Ava nodded to herself, still speaking on the phone.

"Yes, I'll be there," she replied, trying to sound calm.

As she hung up the phone, Ava's colleagues gathered around her, their faces filled with concern and anticipation.

"You're going in alone?" Ryan asked, his brow furrowed.

Ava nodded. "I have to. We can't risk blowing our cover."

Thompson nodded in agreement. "We'll have your back, Ava. We'll be watching from a distance."

Nicole handed Ava a small earpiece. "Keep this on. We'll be monitoring your situation. If anything goes wrong, we'll be there in an instant."

Ava took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was taking a risk, but she was determined to bring down this organization and save countless lives.

With a resolute nod, Ava stood up, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Ava hailed a taxi and headed to the address given to her by the mysterious voice. The taxi stopped in front of a towering building that looked old,its sleek glass facade glinting in the fading light.

She paid the driver and stepped out onto the sidewalk, her eyes scanning the building's entrance. Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number again.

"Ah, welcome," the voice said. "Please enter the building and take the elevator to the 20th floor. You'll find our office there."

Ava nodded, though the voice couldn't see her. She walked into the building, her footsteps echoing off the marble floor.

As she stepped out of the elevator on the 20th floor, a slender woman with an old face greeted her. But Ava's eyes were drawn to the deep lines etched into the woman's face, betraying her age.

The woman smiled warmly. "Hello, dear. Please come in."

Ava followed her into a plush office, where two men in suits stood watching her. Ava's instincts prickled, but she pushed on.

Unbeknownst to the lady,the police were already surrounding the building, hiding in plain sight. Ryan, Thompson, and Nicole were among them, their eyes fixed on the building's entrance, waiting for Ava's signal.

As Ava sat down in the office, the woman began to speak, her voice low and soothing. "So, dear, tell me about yourself. What makes you think you're qualified for this... opportunity?"

********************

Julian's eyes darted frantically as he sprinted down the alley, the face cap pulled low over his forehead. His usual scamming tactics hadn't been paying off lately, and desperation had driven him to more drastic measures.

He had tried to snatch a wallet from a pedestrian, but the victim had caught on and raised the alarm. Now, Julian was being chased by a group of angry onlookers.

Panting heavily, Julian took a sharp turn into a narrow side street. His pursuers were closing in, their footsteps echoing off the walls.

Just as Julian thought he was going to be caught, he spotted a small dumpster with its lid slightly ajar. Without hesitation, he dove into the dumpster, pulling the lid shut behind him.

Julian lay there, his chest heaving, as the chasing crowd thundered past the dumpster. He let out a sigh of relief, thinking he had escaped.

But, as he caught his breath, Julian realized that his troubles were far from over. The dumpster was filthy, and he was now covered in trash and grime. His face cap had also fallen off in the chaos.

As he peeked out of the dumpster, Julian spotted a police car patrolling the area. His heart sank, knowing that the authorities would be on the lookout for a suspect matching his description.

Julian slumped back into the dumpster, wondering how his life had spiralled so out of control.

***********************

Jerome stepped out of his luxurious mansion and into the bright sunlight, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. His newly opened company, a jewelry business, was thriving,it was all Ava's idea tho, He had invested his ill-gotten gains, amassed from his previous life, into this venture, and it had paid off.

As he walked into the company's sleek, modern building, he was greeted by the friendly faces of his employees. A neatly dressed lady approached him, a smile on her face.

"Good morning, sir. You have a meeting with Mr. Frederick from K Jewelries Limited," she reminded him.

Jerome nodded, making his way to the elevator. As he stepped inside, a lady stopped him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jerome. I wanted to have a word with you," she said, quickly entering the elevator alongside him.

Jerome raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Jerome stormed into his office, the lady who had flirted with him earlier following closely behind. But Jerome was in no mood for games. He turned to her, his expression stern.

"Leave. Now," he commanded, his voice firm but controlled.

The lady's face fell, and she quickly scurried out of the office. Jerome watched her go, his anger still simmering just below the surface.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. But his frustration only grew as he thought about the delays in his jewelry company's new design.

He snatched up the phone and dialed a number. "I need to see you in my office, now," he barked.

The person on the other end agreed, and Jerome slammed down the phone. Moments later, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," Jerome called out.

The person entered, looking nervous. Jerome gestured for them to take a seat.

"So, where is the design for the new necklace?" Jerome demanded, his voice tight with anger.

The person shifted uncomfortably. "I-I'm sorry, sir. We've been having some issues with the design team."

Jerome's expression darkened. "What kind of issues?"

The person hesitated. "Well, sir, we haven't been able to find an artist to draw the design."

Jerome's anger boiled over. "What's taking so long?" he thundered. "You were supposed to have the design ready weeks ago."

The person cringed. "I-I'm sorry, sir."

Jerome's face turned red with rage. "Get out," he growled. "Get out of my office and don't come back until you have something to show me."