Ava sat in her car outside the dimly lit government building, the cold leather of the steering wheel pressing into her palms as she wrestled with her thoughts. The confrontation with Eric had left her raw, her trust in him shattered like fragile glass. Every piece of her wanted to believe he had acted with her best interests at heart, but the weight of his secrets was unbearable.

She glanced at the file in the passenger seat. David Ali. The name haunted her now, raising more questions than answers. How deep did his influence go? And why was Marcus so entangled with him?

Taking a deep breath, Ava stepped out of the car. She knew she couldn't solve this alone. Whatever David Ali was planning, it was bigger than she could fathom, and it was time to confront the shadows head-on.

The metallic click of her heels echoed in the hallway as she approached the interrogation room. Inside, the air was tense, thick with unspoken truths.

Eric stood near the far wall, his arms crossed and his jaw set. He turned as she entered, his expression a mixture of relief and apprehension.

"You came," he said simply.

"Don't mistake this for forgiveness," Ava replied, her voice cold. "I need answers, Eric. And I need them now."

Before he could respond, the door opened again, and a tall, sharp-featured woman stepped in. Her tailored suit and piercing gaze radiated authority.

"Agent Walker," the woman said, addressing Eric. "And you must be Ava Sinclair."

Ava's eyes narrowed. "And you are?"

"Director Naomi Carter," the woman replied. "I oversee operations related to David Ali and his network. Eric briefed me on your... involvement."

Ava shot Eric a glare. "You mean my unwilling entanglement in your lies?"

Carter didn't flinch. "This isn't about personal grievances, Ms. Sinclair. It's about stopping a man who's responsible for some of the most dangerous operations in recent history. David Ali isn't just a name—he's a code. A signal for chaos."

"Spare me the melodrama," Ava snapped. "I want facts. Why was Marcus connected to him? And why did Eric hide this from me?"

Eric stepped forward, his voice measured. "Because Marcus wasn't just connected to Ali—he was working for him. Or at least, that's what the evidence suggests."

Ava froze, her heart sinking. "That's impossible. Marcus wouldn't—"

"He would," Carter interrupted. "And he did. Ali's network thrives on manipulation. He finds vulnerable people, uses their weaknesses against them. Marcus was a pawn, Ava. Just like you almost were."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She wanted to deny it, to fight against the notion that Marcus had been anything less than the man she'd known. But the cracks in her memory whispered otherwise.

"I need to see the evidence," she said finally, her voice trembling.

Carter nodded, gesturing to Eric. He opened a laptop on the table, pulling up a series of files. Photos, documents, recordings—all pointing to Marcus's clandestine involvement with Ali's operations.

Ava stared at the screen, her hands clenched into fists. The images of Marcus meeting with shadowy figures, the financial transfers linked to shell companies, the coded messages—all of it painted a picture she didn't want to believe.

"He said he was trying to protect me," Ava murmured, her voice barely audible.

Eric sighed. "Maybe he was. Or maybe he was protecting himself. We may never know his full intentions."

Ava turned to face him, her eyes blazing. "You knew this, and you let me defend him. You let me believe in him."

"I didn't know everything," Eric admitted. "And even if I had, I couldn't have stopped you from trying to save him. You cared about him, Ava. That's not something I could take away from you."

Carter stepped in, her tone brisk. "This isn't just about Marcus. Ali's network is still active, and he's moving faster than we anticipated. We need your help, Ms. Sinclair."

Ava laughed bitterly. "My help? After everything, you think I'd trust you?"

Carter's expression didn't waver. "Trust isn't a requirement. But your insight into Marcus—and Ali's tactics—could be invaluable."

Ava stared at the files again, the weight of the truth settling over her. Marcus was gone, but his shadow remained, tied to a man who seemed to thrive on destruction.

"I'll help," she said finally, her voice steady. "But not because I trust you. I'm doing this for Marcus. To find out the truth about him."

Carter nodded, a flicker of approval in her eyes. "Good. Because if we don't act fast, Ali will destroy everything Marcus died trying to protect."

The words lingered in the air as Ava turned to leave. She didn't trust Carter, and she certainly didn't trust Eric. But she couldn't walk away, not now.

As she stepped into the night, a new resolve burned in her chest. She would uncover the truth about Marcus, about Ali, and about the web of lies that had ensnared them all.

And when the time came, she would make them pay.