𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 101 : 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝

𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬°°°

The holding room was grey and quiet. Breanna sat with her hands folded. Back straight. Eyes on the door.

She found it hard to sleep or eat. She had always been the one to lock people here, but now this feeling of being locked was overwhelming. The waiting. The weight.

She thought of who to reach out to, but none. The panel was obviously trying to bury her, so it was pointless.

The door opened, and a guard stepped in. "Ma'am. You have a visitor."

Breanna didn't move. She still wedged her tough personality. "Who?"

The guard didn't answer. He just stepped aside.

And in walked a woman Breanna didn't recognize. Sharp suit. Carrying a leather folder. No smile.

"Detective Stewart," the woman said. "My name is Elena Vargas. I'm here to escort you out."

Breanna's heart stopped. "Is the hearing scheduled today?"

"Your hearing has been adjourned indefinitely. All charges pending review." Elena opened the folder, showed her the stamp. "You're free to go."

Breanna didn't stand. "Who did this?"

Elena closed the folder. Met her eyes. "Antonio Hunt's solicitors dropped their charges."

She turned and walked out.

The guard looked at Breanna. "Ma'am, you coming, or should I leave the keys here?"

Breanna stood. Legs unsteady as she followed the woman out.

---

Meanwhile back at Sophia's apartment, she stood in the kitchen. The kettle hummed. Her eyes stared at the steam without seeing it.

Her hands were steady, but her chest wasn't. Nevena's revelation rattled inside her like stones in a tin can.

"Get over it." She pressed her palms against the counter. Breathed.

Then she made the tea.

---

A few minutes later, she pushed Nevena's door open with her hip. Tea in hand.

Nevena hadn't moved. Still on her back. Staring at the ceiling. Her face was dry now, but her eyes were swollen.

"I brought chamomile," Sophia announced.

A pause. Then Nevena's voice floated—small. "Do you think Mrs. Breanna will be out today?"

"Yes." Sophia considered. She set the cup on the nightstand. Sat on the edge of the bed. "Antonio will make it happen because Junior asked. Not because he's good. But because he's audacious. That six-year-old walked into his hotel like an equal. Antonio won't forget that."

Nevena turned her head and sighed. "I wish I had a pinch of Junior's audacity. I would have confronted so many people upfront."

Sophia looked at her, then picked up the tea. Pressed it into her hands. "Drink."

---

The clock barely struck midday, and Sophia's doorbell rang. Sophia was at the dining corner, her laptop seated perfectly on her lap.

She played ignorant to it and continued with what she was doing. The second ding snapped her out. Narrowing a dangerous gaze toward the door. "Motherfucker!"

Reluctantly she crossed the room and unlocked the door.

"What kept you long?" Breanna's brutal voice hit before she fully opened the door.

"Ma'am." Sophia choked back on her aggression. "You're here?"

Breanna sized her with the same condescending gaze before walking in. "You don't expect me to be gone for long?"

"Not like that." Sophia shut the door and swiftly followed her. "You misinterpreted me—"

"Where's Junior?"

"You're bossy for someone coming from the panel."

"Someone has to be." Breanna didn't look at her. "First thing tomorrow morning, submit case 13047 on my table. Holidays are over."

Sophia's face didn't crumble this time. Everything just went still. Then without a word she walked away, straight to Nevena's room.

Emerging within seconds with Junior sound asleep in her arms, she paused in front of Breanna. "If not for others, at least from now on, shower the boy with love."

Breanna looked at them and blinked, taking the boy into her arms. "I don't need classes on how to love my boy."

Sophia lowered and grabbed the briefcase beside the couch and held it out to Breanna.

"What's that?"

"Your freedom f*e." Sophia's voice cracked. "All of them. My boy gave Antonio all his shells just for his mother's freedom."

Breanna stopped and chose her words. "Office tomorrow. Don't be late."

The door clicked shut, but Sophia didn't move. She stood in the middle of the living room, arms wrapped around herself, staring at the empty space where Breanna had been.

The silence was enormous.

She walked to the window. Pressed her forehead against the cold glass. Watched Breanna's car reverse out of the driveway. Then the car turned the corner and disappeared.

She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Behind her, a soft creak.

Nevena stood in the hallway. Barefoot. "She didn't even say thank you."

"Ma'am doesn't say thank you. She never does." Sophia turned from the window toward her laptop. "It's not in her vocabulary."

---

NIGHT 9:17 – BREANNA'S APARTMENT

Steam curled off the water. Junior sat in the tub, knees up, while Breanna scrubbed his back with a washcloth. Something she had forgotten she owed him.

"So then Buddy said, 'No need for the shells,'" Junior recited, staring at the faucet. "But I told him I'd pay anyway. After graduation."

Breanna's hand paused. "After graduation?"

"I said I'd work for him. After I graduate. To pay back the rest."

She resumed scrubbing. Harder. "You're seven. Such a promise will take a lot of time."

"He said he's patient."

Breanna didn't answer, and Junior continued. "What's facing the panel like? Were you scared or cried?"

"I don't cry."

"But I heard it's draining and every police person fears it."

"Not me."

The doorbell rang. Junior looked up, and Breanna's hand stopped again. "Someone's at the door."

"Stay here. I'll check." Breanna stood, dried her hands on a towel, and left the bathroom.

---

FRONT DOOR

Breanna didn't check the peephole. She opened the door.

Antonio Hunt stood there. Alone. Dark coat. No smile. His arms crossed against the cold. And his Rolls-Royce parked at the curb.

Breanna's face went cold, and she leaned against the frame. "You have balls showing up here."

"Time got nothing on my testicles." Antonio's voice was low. He reached below to undo his zipper. "Should I show you?"

Breanna didn't take it. "Don't you dare play dumb. Asshole."

"Language, Detective. Your son is inside."

"You orchestrated the panel. The internal affairs deep-dive. All of it." Breanna gritted the words out through her teeth.

Antonio's expression didn't flicker. "Whoa! Slowpoke fighter. I orchestrated nothing. People who owe me moved without me asking."

"Bullshit." Breanna stepped onto the porch. Pulled the door half-shut behind her. "You wanted me off my post. You wanted me scared. You wanted me to know you could take everything."

Antonio tilted his head. "And yet here you stand. Free. Because your little one walked into my hotel and reminded me what a spine looks like."

"You're so disgusting. Collecting debts with such an innocent soul."

Antonio stepped closer, but Breanna didn't back up.

"I collected nothing from you," he said. "The charges are dropped. The panel is adjourned. You go back to work tomorrow like nothing happened."

"Nothing happened?" Breanna's voice rose. "I spent the night in a holding room because you wanted to teach me a lesson."

"Oh yes! I lost potential shareholders because you arrested me."

"That was my job."

"And this was mine." Antonio's jaw tightened. "We're even now. So stop whatever you're planning next."

"No." Breanna murmured. "We're not even close to even. Expect my revenge."

"Buddy?"

 Junior. Breanna froze at the spot she didn't know how long he had stood behind her.

"You're cooked. I'd warn you," Antonio murmured as the boy pushed the door fully open.