I crossed the room. Took the note from his hands.
Ava's handwriting. Careful and precise, even now.
Brian,
I'm sorry. I love you too much to let them hurt you again.
Please don't look for me.
—A
I read it once. The words didn't connect. I read it again, slower, like maybe I'd missed something. A second page. A "just kidding." Anything.
Nine words. She'd ended us in nine words.
I love you too much to let them hurt you again.
She'd run.
To protect me. She'd left to protect me.
"Brian." Shane's hand on my shoulder. Steady. Grounding. "Talk to me."
"She thinks this is her fault." My voice didn't sound like mine. "She thinks if she leaves, the Langs will stop coming after us."
"That's not how this works."
"I know that. You know that." I stared at the note, at those nine words that had gutted me more thoroughly than any fist. "She doesn't."
Shane stayed while I called Detective Diaz.
She answered on the third ring. "Torres. How can I help you?"
"I can't find Ava." The words came out in a rush. "She left the hospital in the middle of the night. I've been trying to reach her for hours and she won't answer."
A pause. "Do you think she's been kidnapped?"
I opened my mouth to say yes—then stopped. Looked around the apartment. At the empty spaces where her things used to be. At the carefully folded dish towel. At the note, written in her own hand.
"No," I said slowly. "Her things are packed. She left a note. She... she went on her own."
Diaz was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was gentler. "I'm sorry, Torres. But if she left voluntarily, there's not much we can do."
"You don't understand. She's not thinking clearly. She's trying to protect us. Me. From the Langs.” I gripped the phone tighter. "They attacked me yesterday. Three guys, professional, sending a message."
"Wait." Diaz's tone sharpened. "You were attacked? When? Where?"
"Yesterday afternoon. Gas station on Northern Boulevard. I reported it to the officers who came to the hospital, but?—"
"This changes things," she said finally. "I'll make sure this gets to the right people. In the meantime, Torres—be careful. If they came after you once, they'll try again."
"What about Ava?"
"If she left voluntarily, my hands are tied. But I'll keep my ears open, see if anything comes across my desk." Her voice softened. "I'm sorry. I know that's not what you wanted to hear."
"Thank you. For everything."
"Stay safe, Torres. We'll do what we can."
