Chapter 6: A Dangerous Game
Ethan’s apartment was small but cozy, with warm lighting and a lived-in feel. Daniela sat on the couch, clutching a cup of tea Ethan had made for her. The steam curled up in front of her face, but she barely noticed. Her mind was still racing, replaying the chaos of the last few days.
Ethan sat across from her, his elbows resting on his knees. “We need to figure out our next move,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Whoever broke into your apartment was looking for something. And if they didn’t find it, they’ll come back.”
Daniela nodded, her hands tightening around the cup. “But what could they possibly want from me? I don’t have anything valuable. Unless…” She hesitated, her thoughts drifting to the fire. “Unless it’s connected to the storeroom. To the key.”
Ethan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “That’s what I’m thinking. The key, the glove, the fire—it’s all tied together. We just need to figure out how.”
Daniela set the cup down, her mind racing. “What if the key opens something important? Something someone doesn’t want us to find?”
Ethan nodded slowly. “It’s possible. But we need more information. Do you remember anything else about that day? Anything at all that seemed off?”
Daniela closed her eyes, trying to piece together the memories. The fire had blurred so much, but one detail stood out. “Joyce,” she said suddenly, her eyes snapping open. “She was the one who told me about the wedding gift in the storeroom. She led me there. And then the fire started.”
Ethan’s expression darkened. “You think she set you up?”
Daniela shook her head, unsure. “I don’t know. She’s always been… complicated. But I can’t imagine her doing something like this. Still, it’s too much of a coincidence.”
Ethan stood, pacing the room. “We need to talk to her. But if she’s involved, we have to be careful. We can’t let her know we’re onto her.”
Daniela bit her lip, her stomach churning. The thought of confronting Joyce made her nervous, but she knew Ethan was right. They couldn’t ignore the possibility. “What if she’s not working alone?” she asked quietly. “What if someone else is pulling the strings?”
Ethan stopped pacing, his gaze meeting hers. “Like who?”
Daniela hesitated, the name on the tip of her tongue. “Alexander.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. “Your husband? You think he’s involved?”
Daniela looked away, her heart aching at the thought. “I don’t want to believe it. But he’s been so cold since the fire. And he’s always been close to Joyce. What if… what if they’re working together?”
Ethan sat back down, his expression serious. “If that’s true, then this is bigger than we thought. We’re not just dealing with a random act of sabotage. This is personal.”
Daniela felt a lump form in her throat. The idea that Alexander—the man she had loved and trusted—could be involved in something so sinister was almost too much to bear. But she couldn’t ignore the possibility. Not anymore.
“We need proof,” Ethan said, breaking the silence. “We can’t accuse anyone without evidence. And we need to be smart about how we get it.”
Daniela nodded, her resolve hardening. “What do you suggest?”
Ethan thought for a moment, then leaned in closer. “We start with Joyce. We need to find out what she knows. But we can’t just confront her. We need to catch her off guard.”
Daniela frowned. “How?”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Ethan’s mouth. “We set a trap.”
The next morning, Daniela and Ethan put their plan into motion. They decided to use the key as bait. If Joyce—or whoever was behind this—was desperate enough to break into Daniela’s apartment, they would likely jump at the chance to get their hands on it.
Ethan made a few calls, reaching out to a contact who could help them create a fake safe. They needed something convincing enough to lure their target in. Meanwhile, Daniela reached out to Joyce, sending her a carefully worded text.
“Joyce, I found something in the storeroom. I think it’s important. Can we meet?”
The response came almost immediately. “What did you find? Where are you?”
Daniela’s hands trembled as she typed back. “I’ll explain in person. Meet me at the old warehouse by the docks at 8 tonight. Come alone.”
She showed the text to Ethan, who nodded in approval. “Good. Now we just have to set the stage.”
By evening, everything was in place. The fake safe was set up in the warehouse, the key placed conspicuously inside. Ethan hid nearby, ready to intervene if things went south. Daniela waited near the entrance, her heart pounding in her chest.
At exactly 8 p.m., the door creaked open. Joyce stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. When she saw Daniela, her expression hardened. “What’s this about?” she demanded.
Daniela took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “I found something in the storeroom. A key. I think it’s connected to the fire.”
Joyce’s eyes flickered with something—fear? Guilt?—but she quickly masked it. “So? What does that have to do with me?”
Daniela stepped closer, her voice steady. “You were the one who led me there, Joyce. You knew about the gift. Did you know about the fire, too?”
Joyce’s face twisted in anger. “You think I set the fire? Are you insane?”
Before Daniela could respond, a voice cut through the silence. “She’s not insane. She’s just asking the right questions.”
Ethan stepped out of the shadows, his eyes locked on Joyce. She took a step back, her face pale. “Who are you?” she demanded.
“Someone who knows more than you think,” Ethan replied. “Like the fact that you’ve been working with someone to frame Daniela. And we’re not going to let you get away with it.”
Joyce’s composure cracked. “You don’t understand! I didn’t have a choice!”
Daniela’s heart sank. “Joyce, what are you talking about? Who’s making you do this?”
Before Joyce could answer, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. A figure emerged from the shadows, and Daniela’s blood ran cold.
It was Alexander.
“Enough,” he said, his voice cold and commanding. “This ends now.”