7:12 PM Investigation Division, Classified Facility
Kayla leaned forward, her eyes locked on the evidence board.
"Alright, let's summarize what we have so far. We know the suspect has ties to several high-profile individuals, and we suspect they're using these connections to further their agenda."
The team nodded, taking notes as Kayla continued.
"We need to dig deeper into their financial records and see if we can find any patterns."
Just as she was about to elaborate, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and picked up.
"Tonight?" she said, her tone laced with a mix of surprise and annoyance.
There was a pause as she listened to the other end of the line.
"Okay, but why there?"
Another pause, followed by a hint of frustration in her voice.
"Can't we meet somewhere else? Tomorrow, maybe?"
The line went dead, and Kayla's expression turned neutral. A faint eye roll escaped her notice.
"Looks like I have some work to attend to," Kayla said, gathering her things.
"We'll catch up tomorrow."
The team nodded, barely looking up from their notes. Kayla's driver was waiting outside, and she slipped into the car without a word.
The drive was uneventful, the city lights blurring together as Kayla stared out the window. The car eventually stopped in front of a house. Kayla got out, and the driver nodded before driving off.
---
8:53 PM — Riverside Suburb, East District
As she approached the house, the door opened, revealing a woman in her fifties with a warm smile.
"You're here," Julian said, her voice soft.
Kayla didn't respond, instead asking,
"Where's he?"
The woman gestured inside.
"He's on a call."
Kayla walked in, her eyes adjusting to the dimmer lighting. She spotted Kyle sitting on the couch, his eyes fixed on his phone.
"Okay, fine. Yeah, sure. I'll take care of it," he said before hanging up.
As Kayla approached, Kyle looked up from his phone.
"Long time no see," he said, his tone neutral.
---
An hour later...
The two siblings exchanged a brief greeting before Kyle spoke up.
"That meeting with the investors was intense. I'm surprised they agreed to the terms."
Kayla nodded, her expression thoughtful.
"Yeah, it was a close call. That's gonna be a good deal for him."
As they continued their conversation, Julian was setting the table for dinner. A bundle of energy darted past her, nearly knocking over a chair.
"Hey, slow down! You're going to hurt yourself," she said, laughing.
"Mom, sorry! I'm just excited for dinner," Noah said, his eyes shining with anticipation.
Julian smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Okay, let's get everything ready. It's almost time to eat."
As they sat down at the table, Kayla stood by the door, reaching for her coat. Julian hurried over, her hands warm and inviting.
"Don't go, I've made dinner. Kyle's also here... let's have dinner together."
Kayla's expression turned cold, and she jerked her hand away.
"Don't you understand? I've told you many times not to do this in front of me. Stay away from me!!"
Kyle's voice rose in protest.
"How many times have I told you not to talk like that to her?"
Kayla's words came out in a flash of anger.
"You've always been the same, always siding with her, always catering to her needs."
Kyle's face darkened, her words cutting deep into his thoughts.
"Nobody understands me, nobody cares," Kayla muttered, while storming out into the rain.
The sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the house.
Julian flopped herself onto a chair at the dining table, holding her head in her hands. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
"I'm such a bad mother," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Kyle went over to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's fine, Mom. She'll understand. She just needs time."
Julian looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed.
"When was the last time she listened to me? When was the last time she even spoke to me without anger?"
Her voice broke, and she began to sob.
"I've lost her already."
Kyle tried to reassure her.
"You know how stubborn she is. She'll come around."
Julian's eyes searched his face, and then she asked,
"Where did she go?"
"I know she'll be safe," Kyle said, trying to sound calm.
Noah, who had been watching the scene unfold, sat silently, his eyes wide with concern. He had been so excited for dinner, but now he just felt lost and scared.
---
Meanwhile, Kayla walked out into the rain-soaked streets, her clothes clinging to her body. Water dripped from her hair and face as she walked towards the main road.
She eventually found herself at a small transit shelter, where she collapsed onto the bench, exhausted. Tears rimmed her eyes as she stared blankly into the darkness. The world around her melted away, and she was lost in her thoughts.
The place was dimly lit, the only sound the distant hum of traffic. Kayla's gaze was fixed on some point beyond the darkness, her mind replaying memories and emotions. The rain continued to fall, but she didn't notice.
She was lost in her own world, a world of pain and regret. Her thoughts drifted back to the day that changed everything. The day her father's anger turned to silence, and her world shattered. She remembered the arguments, the frustration, the desperation in her father's eyes. And then, the news that he was gone.
Kayla's mind replayed the emotions that followed—the sadness, the anger, the feeling of abandonment. Her mother's remarriage had been a shock, a betrayal. She couldn't understand why her mother would move on so quickly.
Noah was a constant reminder of her mother's new life, a life that wasn't hers. Years later, when her stepfather left them, Kayla felt a sense of validation, but it didn't change the fact that Noah was still there, a part of her mother's life that she couldn't fully understand.
The memories swirled in her mind, a mix of pain and regret. Kayla's gaze remained fixed on the darkness, her heart heavy with emotions she couldn't shake off.
---
The rain continued to fall.
As Kayla sat in the transit shelter, lost in thought, a figure emerged from the rain-soaked streets. He ran towards the shelter, getting slightly drenched in the process. He stood under the shelter, shaking off the rain and making a call.
"Yeah, I'm here. Just come and pick me up," he said, his voice laced with frustration.
The phone was on speaker, and the other end replied,
"We're on the way, sir. We'll reach you soon."
The guy was taken aback by Kayla's presence, but he was too busy waiting for his ride to pay much attention to the stranger sitting there. He didn't seem to care much about her, too caught up in his own frustration with the rain and the wait.
Suddenly, a sleek car pulled up in front of the shelter. An assistant got out, holding an umbrella and a towel.
"Sorry, sir. We're a bit late. Hope you're doing fine," the assistant said, handing him the towel. The guy wiped his face and hair, saying,
"It's fine."
As he took a step towards the car, he glanced at Kayla again, and this time, something caught his attention.
He removed his coat and gently placed it on Kayla's shoulders. She didn't react, still lost in her thoughts. He got into the car, and as the door closed behind him, Kayla snapped out of her trance. She looked up, seeing the back of the figure in the car.
Through the fogged glass, she caught one last glimpse of the man, head tilted slightly, watching her through the rear window, before the car faded into the misty dark.
Only then did she seem to notice the coat around her shoulders, soft, dry, and faintly scented with something unfamiliar yet strangely comforting.
Her own car pulled up moments later. The driver stepped out, umbrella in hand, his voice gentle.
"Ma'am?"
She rose without a word, the coat still wrapped around her. The driver opened the door. Kayla slid in quietly, her expression unreadable, her gaze distant. As they drove through the wet streets, city lights streaked across the window like ghosts of a world passing her by. She didn't look away from the window. Did he notice me? Or was he just being kind? Her fingers curled slightly over the coat. Maybe it didn't matter.
But for the first time in a long time, something had broken through the fog.
And somewhere, beneath the weight of memory, a question stirred.
One she hadn't dared ask in months…
Could someone still see me… even when I don't speak?
---