Chapter 44

Mona'a POV

I was curled up on the couch, sinking into the cushions with the TV show playing quietly in the background. The soft hum of the screen filled the room, the characters bantering in their usual sarcastic way. My mind had wandered as I absentmindedly clicked through scenes. I was trying to lose myself in their world, one where problems didn’t exist, where the world didn’t intrude with its demands.

But then it came. A knock.

A sound so sudden, so sharp, it felt like a jolt straight through my chest. My eyes flicked towards the door. I scowled, irritation bubbling up before I could even stop it. I tried to ignore it, sinking deeper into the couch, clutching the remote in my hand like it could shield me from whatever was coming.

Then—again. The knock, louder this time. It echoed through the quiet room, a heavy thud that made the walls seem to tremble. I didn’t move. I just stared at the door, my brows furrowed, trying to stay calm. Who the hell was this?

“Ian, I hate noise,” I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes and sitting up. “Please. I’m not in the mood for silly plays. Just come in.” The words were sharp, aimed at no one in particular, but they hung in the air like a challenge, as though I could force the knock to stop by sheer will.

My fingers tightened around the remote control. The incessant banging continued. If Ian didn’t get here soon, I was going to lose it. But instead of heading toward the door, I let my gaze flicker back to the screen, hoping the characters would distract me enough to forget the sound.

Another knock. This time, it felt like it came from the pit of the earth, shaking the floor beneath my feet.

"Okay, that's it," I muttered, pushing myself off the couch. My feet hit the floor with an almost violent force as I stormed to the door, my patience completely spent.

I yanked the door open without a second thought, ready to let loose on whoever was standing there. But as soon as my eyes locked on the figure in front of me, my breath hitched.

A police officer.

I blinked, my mind stalling, processing the unexpected scene before me. The man’s dark uniform and stiff posture screamed authority. The badge on his chest gleamed under the hallway light. His expression was unreadable, his face serious and a little too impassive for my liking.

I must have looked like an idiot standing there, staring at him with my mouth half open. He didn't say anything immediately, just regarded me with a measured calm.

“Are you… are you looking for Ian?” I asked, my voice faltering slightly, despite my best efforts to keep it steady. A chill danced down my spine, my mind racing to put pieces together. Why was a police officer here?

The man nodded, the faintest crease appearing on his forehead. “Yes,” he said, his voice deep and authoritative. “I’m Inspector Ken. I need to speak with him.”

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, their meaning unclear but heavy. I blinked again, trying to process. What the hell was going on? I hadn't even heard Ian mention anything that might involve the police.

“Um,” I said, trying to gather myself, “he’s not here right now.” I took a step back, trying to shake off the unease that settled into my stomach. “Would you like to come in and wait for him?”

Inspector Ken’s eyes flickered to the space behind me, taking in the dimly lit interior of the apartment, before shaking his head. “No, thank you. I’d prefer to wait outside.” His voice was polite but firm, like he was accustomed to people wanting to offer him comfort, but he didn’t seem to care much for it.

I nodded, still standing there, wondering why he was here. There was something about him that made the air feel heavier, as though the weight of his presence demanded an answer to an unasked question.

I couldn’t take it anymore. My throat tightened as I spoke again. “Is everything alright? I mean, is there a problem? Why are you looking for Ian?”

At that, the inspector cracked the faintest smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. His lips quivered just slightly, as if amused by my concern, but there was no warmth in the gesture.

"That’s a question I can’t answer right now,” he said, his voice low, almost like a whisper. “I’m just following up on a matter. I’ll need to speak with him when he returns.”

A shiver ran down my spine. What the hell kind of “matter” required the police?

I opened my mouth to ask more, but before I could speak, he raised a hand, cutting me off. “Please,” he said, the tone now more serious. “I don’t want to cause any alarm. I’ll be in touch with him soon. But until then, you need not worry.”

His words did little to reassure me. The look in his eyes—calm but distant—spoke volumes. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it, deep in my gut.

Without thinking, I stepped back into the apartment, half-turned, and called over my shoulder, “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll call him.”

I didn’t wait for a response, my feet moving quickly as I turned to head for the phone. My fingers trembled as I punched in Ian’s number, my mind racing as I stared at the screen.

Why didn’t he mention anything about the police?

I waited, staring at the phone as it rang. The seconds stretched, each one feeling like a lifetime. The inspector remained standing there, his presence an uncomfortable weight in the doorway. I glanced over my shoulder, finding him standing tall and unmoving, like a sentinel guarding something unknown. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t just waiting for Ian—he was waiting for something else, something that had yet to unfold.

“Come on, Ian,” I muttered under my breath. “Pick up.”

Finally, the call clicked over, and Ian’s groggy voice echoed through the line. “Hello?”

“Where the hell are you?” I demanded, trying to keep the panic from my voice.

“I’m out with some friends. What’s up?” he asked casually, oblivious to the storm brewing at the door.

“A police officer is here looking for you,” I blurted, the words coming out too fast. “He says his name is Inspector Ken. Do you know what this is about?”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. The silence felt like an eternity, and I could almost hear Ian’s brain working through whatever mess he had gotten himself into. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, distant.

“I’ll be home soon. Don’t talk to him too much. Just… just let me handle it.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “Ian, what the hell is going on? Why are the police involved?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said quickly, the urgency in his tone impossible to ignore. “I’ll explain everything when I get there. Just stay calm.”

The line went dead before I could respond. I stared at the phone, feeling the weight of the conversation press down on me.