Ava’s face changed instantly.
Tiny reaction.
Enough.
“There are people trying to stop him,” she said carefully.
“Off-book?” Wolf asked.
She nodded once.
No federal task force.
No official operation.
This was deeper than that.
Corruption high enough nobody trusted the systemanymore.
Jesus Christ.
Flick’s voice came quietly beside me.
“My father figured it out.”
Everyone looked at her.
Tears shimmered in her eyes again, but her voice stayed steady now.
“He realized people inside the system were watching me.”
Ava’s expression softened instantly.
“Yes.”
The single word hit hard.
Too hard.
Flick swallowed painfully.
“That’s why he panicked before he died.”
Nobody corrected her.
Because deep down?
We all believed it now.
Then Ava looked toward the empty space inside the box.
And the fear returned to her face immediately.
“What exactly was missing from here?”
Wolf crossed his arms.
“We were hoping you’d tell us.”
