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CHAPTER 122: Outside Maya’s Building
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2026-06-21 01:33:18POV: Selene Castellano
As soon as Selene had finished reading the second text, Avalon was already on the phone calling Maya.
"Don't even think about stepping out," he warned as soon as she answered. "Just stay right where you are and make sure the door is locked, okay?"
“Avalon, what—”
“Is Kofi with you,” he said.
"What's going on, you're really scaring me, he's right here with me."
Avalon's voice was firm and urgent. "We're on our way to you, so just hang in there for five more minutes," he said. "Make sure you stay inside and keep away from any windows, got it?"
He hung up and looked at Selene.
“Drive,” he said.
She drove faster than she should have, weaving through the late night streets while Avalon called Agent Nunez.
"Nunez's voice was firm, with a sense of urgency, as she said, 'Reeves is in custody, but that's just the beginning.' She paused, collecting her thoughts, 'The real concern is who else might be involved, people he's worked with in the past, associates who could still be out there.' Her words hung in the air, a reminder that the situation was far from resolved, and that there were likely more pieces to the puzzle that needed to be uncovered."
"Avalon's voice was firm as she gave the order, 'Send someone to my sister-in-law's building, and do it now.'"
“Address,” Nunez said immediately.
Selene spoke quickly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, not even glancing away for a second.
"Units are on their way," Nunez said, "we've got about three minutes to go."
They arrived first.
Selene was out of the car before it fully stopped, Avalon right behind her, both of them moving toward the building’s entrance where a dark sedan sat at the curb, engine running, exhaust rising faintly into the cold night air.
Avalon caught her by the arm, holding her back just as she was about to move in closer.
"Wait," he said, his voice low and cautious. "We have no idea who's inside."
The sedan’s door opened.
Selene’s whole body went rigid.
This guy walked out, probably in his mid-thirties, with a face that was totally ordinary - the type you wouldn't remember five minutes later.
He looked at them.
He spun around and quickly walked away, disappearing from sight as he turned the corner, leaving them both standing there unable to react in time.
"Selene's eyes locked onto someone, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, "That's him, the one who's been watching us."
Avalon sprinted towards the corner, but when he got there, the street was deserted. The man had vanished into the labyrinth of side streets and alleys that crisscrossed this neighborhood.
He walked back, out of breath, at the exact moment two plain federal cars arrived.
"Avalon turned to Nunez as she stepped out, her voice low and urgent. "Is he gone?" she asked, her eyes scanning the horizon. "He was headed east on foot, but then he just vanished.” Avalon replied.
"Nunez nodded, pointing to the sedan that was still running by the curb, 'We'll get the license plate number of that car, it's a start.'"
Selene was already inside, racing up the stairs two at a time, with Avalon hot on her heels.
As Maya swung the door open, she caught herself before she could even knock, and there behind her stood Kofi, their faces reflecting a mix of shock and relief, yet thankfully, they both seemed to be in one piece.
“What is happening,” Maya said. “ You’re scaring me, Lena, really scaring me.”
Selene pulled her into a hug, holding on longer than necessary.
"A woman spoke up, her voice calm and reassuring. 'There was a man,' she began, 'who was watching your building. But don't worry, he's gone now.' She paused for a moment, then added, 'The FBI has arrived, so you're safe.'"
“FBI,” Kofi said slowly. “ Why is the FBI involved in my fiancée’s apartment building at midnight.”
Avalon gave a quick rundown of the key points. He mentioned Reeves, and the corkboard where they had pinned up photos of the suspects. There had been an arrest just an hour ago, but they still weren't sure if there were other people involved who might be on the loose.
Maya sat down heavily on her couch, processing.
"She mentioned that he had a corkboard," the woman said, "and on it, there were pictures of your faces."
“Yes,” Avalon said.
“Was I on it,” Maya said quietly.
Avalon hesitated.
"He spoke the truth, saying, 'I'm not sure, we didn't get to see all the pictures.'"
Maya looked at Kofi, then back at Selene.
"I've got my wedding coming up in just six weeks," she said, her voice all tense. "The last thing I want is to be stressed out about someone possibly spying on me the whole time."
Nunez stood in the doorway, she had just come upstairs after making sure everything was okay downstairs.
"We've got a lead on the plate," she said. "It's linked to a fake company, same kind of setup Reeves used before. We're checking it out now."
"So, what are the actual implications of this," Kofi asked, wanting to know how it would affect them in real life, at this very moment.
"I want to keep a close eye on this place for a little while," Nunez said. "At least until we figure out who all was involved with Reeves."
Maya looked at Selene.
"It all started with the foundation," she explained. "Nene's question was the trigger, and everything else just fell into place."
"Maybe," Selene admitted. "It could be because of our connection to Avalon, or maybe it's just who we are - I'm not really sure yet, to be honest."
Maya was quiet for a moment.
“I didn’t sign up for this part,” she said. “ The cancer, surviving that, that was mine to carry. But this—being on some dead senator’s associate’s corkboard because my sister married into this family—”
“I know,” Selene said quietly. “ I’m sorry.”
"Look, don't worry about saying sorry," Maya said, her voice a little gentler. "Just focus on finding anyone else who might be out there, and do it quickly."
It was nearly three in the morning by the time they left, federal agents stationed discreetly outside Maya’s building, Kofi insisting he wasn’t leaving her side regardless of what anyone said.
Selene just sat there in the car, not saying a word for what felt like a really long time.
“This isn’t over,” she said finally. “ Reeves being arrested doesn’t mean it’s over.”
“No,” Avalon agreed. “ It doesn’t.”
His phone buzzed.
As he gazed at it, Selene couldn't help but notice the shift in his expression.
“What,” she said.
He turned the screen toward her.
An email from Margaret, sent four minutes ago.
Subject line: The recording. We found it.
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