The Files

Ava's POV

"How may I help you, sir?" I looked at him with a small smile on my face to avoid raising suspicion after overhearing his conversation.

"I have the best job that would suit you. The mayor's dog is getting a statue in the middle of the Central subway. Stupid way to spend the city's money, I know, but he's the mayor. So, you'll go over and get an interview so we can be the first to have it in our paper," he said with a wide smile, nodding at me for a reaction.

All I did was stare blankly at him. Really? This was the big job he had for me? To interview some man and his dog? When people were dying on the street from some crazy stuff?

"Noted, sir," I said without any excitement and walked away. As usual, my colleagues chose that moment to eavesdrop, and they heard about my supposed 'job.'

"Make sure you do a good job, Monroe," one of the many airheaded writers yelled out, and the others laughed like his joke was funny.

I ignored them, head down, walking toward the elevator to leave the building.

—

The interview was just as you’d guess. It was boring as hell, and the old man kept telling me to pet his dog, which slobbered all over me too many times to count.

It was evening by the time I got back to the office to turn in my report. I walked into the office area to find that almost everyone had gone home. I trudged over to Anderson’s office and noticed the door was slightly open.

I pushed it open and stepped in without knocking, walking over to his desk to place the reports when something caught my eye.

I quickly scanned the room for anyone, then ran to lock the door before going back to the table.

The black file that had caught my attention shone under the light, with the name "Moretti" scribbled on top.

I quickly opened it without reviewing its contents and took out the file, switching it with the dog interview I had just done and placing the original in a different folder in my bag.

The door jiggled, and my heart almost leapt out of my throat as I quickly ran to hide behind the huge shelf in the office just as Anderson and another man walked in, holding my breath.

"I've gotten her off your trail. I had her do some stupid interview that should keep her busy for a while, and if it doesn't, there are many ways to keep someone silent. She doesn't seem like someone bribery will work on," Anderson said, ending with loud laughter.

What did he mean by many ways to keep someone silent? Does he plan to kill me?

I gulped, Inaudibly.

The man with him looked around as if noticing something was off, he looked directly at where I stood making me almost squirm in fear but he turned away just as quickly and I couldn't have been more relieved.

"The boss will compensate you greatly for your job well done," the man said in a gruff voice, then walked out.

"So stiff and upright, these Moretti people," Anderson muttered, grabbing the file from his desk before walking out as well.

I waited for a while, then slipped from behind the shelf and walked out of the office, trying not to act suspicious as I exited the building.

My heart raced until I was finally safe at home. I didn't even bother to change out of my clothes when I brought out the file and spread it on my work table.

The documents had some kind of cryptic message on them. All the words weren't connected but written one by one with full stops after each one. It gave me a huge headache, and I had to take a break. I walked over to the kitchen and fixed myself some coffee, watching the news about the "bear attacks" when it finally clicked.

"That's it!" I jumped off the couch and ran back to my work table.

I looked over the files again.

"The bar on Clark Street... There have been many cases of women reported missing. That’s what they meant by writing: Clark. Women. Take. Sip."

They were going to kidnap women from the bar on Clark Street, particularly The Sip, the new bar that had just opened two weeks before all the murders started.

So all I needed to do was be there at the right moment. But the problem was, what day were they planning to do this?

I read through the files over and over, but I still couldn’t find anything about the exact date. I had to go online to piece together the dates from when the women were reported missing, and it all pointed to Fridays at around 10pm. That was it.

Finally, a lead.

The files didn’t offer any other information, but I was satisfied with what I had found. Now I need to return this by tomorrow.

I yawned, staring at the clock. It was well past midnight. I jumped into bed, my eyes drooping when I realized that it was already Friday.

Taking action later, today or never... and I could feel the adrenaline rush through my veins.

—

"What are you doing here?" Anderson asked, looking at me with a frown.

"I’m sorry, I took the wrong files home. The fashion show files Dean was in charge of. So, I came to switch them back," I said with an innocent smile. He watched me in silence before waving me off.

"Don’t enter my office without my permission ever again," he said through gritted teeth, still watching me cautiously. I nodded with a mock salute before turning and walking out.

He could suspect me all he wanted. I had photos of those files just in case I missed something last night.

I couldn’t keep my feet still at work all day. My thoughts kept drifting to what might happen tonight at the bar. Of course, the day decided to move at a snail’s pace.

Finally, it was time to clock out, and I couldn’t have been happier. I walked out of the building and stopped a cab to take me home so I could get ready for the bar tonight.