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Chapter 13: Don’t Look Me in the Eye

The sky outside was gray.

Inside HQ, the lights felt too bright.

Oren sat at his desk, eyes drifting over the field reports — but he wasn’t reading them.

He was watching Rook.

She was at the whiteboard, scribbling out paths from the suspect’s network. Her posture tight. Her jaw locked.

And most of all—

She never looked up.

---

> “Hey,” he said casually.

She paused.

> “Yeah?”

> “You never look at me when you talk.”

She didn’t respond.

Oren stood, leaned against the side table.

> “You always speak while staring at the floor. Or the wall. Or a file.

Even with suspects. Even with Vera. Even with Cain.”

Rook's fingers slowed, but she didn’t turn.

> “Eyes reveal too much,” she said flatly.

“And people use them to hurt you.”

Oren frowned.

> “You think I’d hurt you?”

> “Not with your hands.”

That shut him up.

---

Briefing Room – An Hour Later

The team gathered around the table again.

This time, the mood was different.

The suspect who called her Elishka had been transferred.

But the damage was done.

Grayson entered, no coat this time. Just a low, cold tone in his voice.

> “This is escalating. Fast.”

He scanned the three of them — Rook, Oren, and Cain.

> “Oren’s uncovered ties between the stolen tech and one of the private defense labs from the North District. Rook linked the lab’s internal logs to two dead children’s IDs.”

Everyone went silent.

> “Finish the investigation. Quietly. No headlines. No noise.

We can’t risk exposure — and we can’t afford another name being leaked.”

He turned to Cain.

> “You’re joining them.”

Cain blinked.

> “Me?”

> “Rook needs someone who can keep pace with her thinking… and her silence.

I trust you.”

Rook didn’t react.

But her hand tightened slightly on the pen.

---

Later – Rooftop Walk

Cain walked beside Rook, the city stretching far below them.

> “You okay?” he asked gently.

> “I’m breathing.”

> “That’s not what I asked.”

Rook glanced at him — almost.

Then looked away.

> “It doesn’t matter.

Grayson wants the case done. That’s what I’ll do.”

Cain slowed.

> “If it’s too close to you, you don’t have to keep going.”

> “I do.”

> “Why?”

She finally looked toward him — not in the eyes, but at his shoulder.

> “Because the girl they called Elishka was a ghost.

And ghosts don’t get to stop haunting until the truth is known.”

---

Cain didn’t argue.

But in his silence, he promised one thing:

If the ghosts came for her again — he’d stand in the way.

---

End of Chapter 13