Mia raised an eyebrow when she noticed her front door slightly ajar. Did I forget to lock it? she wondered, tilting her head. Unease prickled at her as she pushed the door open.

The sharp growl and barking of her chihuahua, Ginger, echoed through the hallway.

"Ginger?" she called out, stepping cautiously inside. Her heart thudded as she walked toward the living room, freezing in place when her eyes landed on a man seated casually on her couch.

"W-who are you?" she stammered, taking a step back as the man stood and approached her.

"Ginger, come here!" she called, her voice trembling. The dog growled fiercely, barking at the intruder. The man sneered, raising his foot to kick the small dog.

"Ginger! What the hell?!" Mia cried as her beloved pet yelped and limped away. Rage and fear bubbled inside her. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded again, her voice shaky.

"Goddamn it," Mia muttered under her breath, panic creeping into her voice. "The housekeepers are on leave, and the guard's out sick."

The man chuckled, his gaze traveling over her with unsettling intent. "Man, you're a catch," he said, licking his lips as he took another step closer.

Mia called for Ginger again, reaching for the dog, but the man grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her backward.

"Oops, no running, sweetie," he sneered. "You think you can get away? That's not gonna work—I don't get paid unless I deliver." He laughed coldly.

Mia winced, clutching at his hand. "Stop this!" she shouted, struggling to break free.

The man tightened his grip and shoved her roughly against the wall. Pain shot through her skull as her head collided with the surface.

"Ugh, damn it!" Mia muttered, rubbing her forehead as her eyes darted to the nearby table. Her fingers wrapped around a heavy vase, and with all her strength, she swung it into the man's head.

He groaned in pain, staggering back. Wasting no time, Mia scooped up Ginger and bolted toward the door.

"Get back here!" the man roared, his voice sending a chill down her spine.

Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the gate lock. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him chasing after her. She swung the gate open and darted into the street, her breath coming in frantic gasps.

"Stay in here for now, Ginger," she whispered, carefully slipping the dog into her sling bag and zipping it partially shut. She winced at the faint whimper inside but focused on running.

"What the hell is even happening?!" she hissed to herself, panic gripping her chest. Her legs burned, but she kept glancing over her shoulder, the man still in pursuit.

"Shit!" she cursed as her foot caught on a rock. She fell hard, clutching her bag to protect Ginger. Pain flared in her knee, and she grimaced, noticing blood soaking through her jeans. "Oh, come on! Not now!" she muttered, scrambling to her feet.

The man was gaining on her.

A pair of headlights illuminated the road ahead, and Mia's heart raced. She bit her lip, her eyes darting between the approaching car and the man behind her.

"I'd rather die than let you catch me," she muttered under her breath. "Fuck it!"

With a deep breath, she dashed into the middle of the road, waving her arms wildly to stop the vehicle.



Ashley sighed heavily, sliding on her phone screen as she answered the call from the inspector. A chuckle escaped her lips as she pushed the pedal a bit harder, increasing her speed.

"Yes, inspector?" she greeted, her eyes flicking between the road and the phone. "Yeah, I'll get it done—holy shi—!" she slammed her foot on the brake, barely avoiding slamming her face against the steering wheel. "What the fuck!" she hissed, ending the call abruptly as she got out of the car.

"What's this woman—hey!" Ashley yelled, seeing someone block her path. "Mia?!"

Mia jogged toward her, her breath coming in quick, panicked gasps. "Ashley!" she panted, "C-can you help me?" Her eyes darted nervously over her shoulder. "The man... he's following me."

Ashley blinked, confused. "What?"

"The man... he-he's chasing me." Mia's voice was shaky as she glanced back again.

Ashley looked behind her, spotting the man still in pursuit. Without hesitation, she said, "Get inside, stay right there," ushering Mia into the car. She slammed the door shut before striding toward the man.

"Hey," the man said, a smug grin spreading across his face. "You have someone I'm looking for, huh?"

Ashley cocked an eyebrow, her gaze hardening. "Why are you following her?" she asked, crossing her arms.

The man just laughed, shaking his head. "None of your business, little missy," he sneered, pulling out a knife.

Ashley groaned. "Pulling a knife in front of the authority? Really?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What?" The man scowled in confusion.

In a flash, Ashley drew her gun, pointing it directly at him. "Freeze!" she barked. "Get on the ground!" she commanded.

The man froze, eyes wide in surprise, then quickly dropped the knife, raising both hands in surrender. "Jeez, how unlucky," he muttered under his breath, a bitter chuckle escaping him.

"Oh, yeah, you're real unlucky," Ashley said, stepping forward and keeping the gun trained on him. "On the ground. Now!" she demanded, her voice firm.

The man knelt, still with his hands raised in surrender. Ashley clicked her tongue in amusement. "You really thought you could get away with this?" she said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. She holstered her gun, cuffing the man swiftly.

"What do you want from her?" she asked, her grip tight on his arm as she dragged him toward the car.

The man smirked, his eyes full of defiance. "Why would I tell you? I have the right to remain silent," he said, his tone laced with arrogance.

"Fine," Ashley said, her voice cool and unphased. "We'll see if you still want to stay quiet once you're behind bars." She gave him a little shove, dragging him back to the driver's side of the car. She knocked on the window, and Mia peeked out, still visibly shaken.

"Can you give me my phone?" Ashley asked, pointing to the phone in the holder. Mia nodded quickly, passing it to her. Ashley dialed the authorities as she kept a close eye on the man. "Keep your mouth shut until the authorities get here," she warned, her tone sharp. "Stay down!"

It wasn't long before a patrol car arrived. Ashley handed the man over to the authorities with a sigh of relief. She was talking with the officers when a familiar voice caught her attention.

"Detective Amosa?"

Ashley turned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she recognized the woman standing before her. "Well, well, if it isn't the lab queen," Ashley said, her lips curling into a playful grin. "What a small world, Gabriela Vaega," she added, raising an eyebrow.

Gabriela chuckled, rolling her eyes. "It's really you, huh?" she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. "And don't you dare use my full name," she warned.

Ashley laughed. "Yeah, whatever you say. So, what's the forensic investigator doing here with the patrol?"

Gabriela's laugh was light. "Just hitching a free ride back to the station," she said casually. "You heading home?"

"Yeah," Ashley nodded, stepping toward her car. She opened the door and leaned in, noticing Mia in the passenger seat, looking utterly exhausted. Ashley couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. She grabbed her coat and tossed it gently to Mia. "Cover yourself," she said with a soft smile.

Gabriela raised an eyebrow, eyeing the situation. "Are you with someone?" she asked, leaning in as if curious.

Ashley slid into the car before Gabriela could get a better look. "I am, but no, you can't see her," she said with a grin, starting the engine. "See you around, Gabi the lab queen!" she added, honking the horn in a playful farewell as she closed the door and drove off.