Page 35 of The Rookie's Second Chance

She pulled back, looking up at me, her blue eyes searching mine. There was an intensity there, a longing. I recognized it because I had seen it before. In Kayla. In others who had looked at me that way. Mandy was seeing me as more than a friend.

And, against my better judgment, I let her. I didn't dissuade her or pull away. Because, in that moment, she needed me. Not as a friend or an investigator, but as a protector. And so, I stayed.

The morning progressed with an unspoken understanding. Mandy continued making breakfast, and I helped where I could. We didn't talk about the break-in or the investigation or the looming threats. Instead, we talked about her trip, her work, and mundane topics that brought a semblance of normalcy.

Yet, throughout our conversation, there was an undercurrent of something more—a deepening connection that neither of us acknowledged. I could feel it, but I pushed it aside. Mandy was just visiting. She'd be gone soon, once this ordeal with Lexi’s stalker was over, and everything would go back to normal.

The setting sun outside the station window cast long shadows across the room as Kayla and I sat huddled over my laptop, our fingers rapidly typing and scrolling through various websites.

"Here," she pointed at the screen, her voice dripping with excitement. "Ethan's posts."

I pulled up a forum that seemed to be dedicated to college reunions and stories, but a few posts stood out. These weren't just tales of drunken nights or study sessions. They hinted at something darker, more covert.

"Listen to this," I began, reading aloud, "'Remember the gatherings at The Vault? Those were the days. Not everyone got in. Only those truly worthy. Some secrets remain buried.' What the hell is The Vault?"

Kayla leaned back, rubbing her temples. "Sounds like some secret society bullshit. Exclusive parties, secret handshakes, and God knows what else."

Scouring the thread, I found multiple mentions of The Vault by different users, but Ethan's comments stood out. He seemed not just a participant but a key player. There were implications of silent deals, covert meetings, and cryptic messages that seemed to be shared only among select members.

"Damn," I muttered. "If Lexi was a part of this, she never breathed a word of it. Not a single hint."

Kayla exhaled deeply, her brows furrowed in thought. "It's not entirely surprising. Maybe she wanted to keep her past buried. God, Jake, if she was involved with this crowd, who knows what they did."

I scrolled further, discovering more posts by Ethan, which hinted at his involvement and possibly even a leadership role within this society. "This one's from a couple of months ago," I noted, reading out, "'The Vault lives on. Our influence extends beyond college. For those who know, you understand. Loyalty above all else.'"

Kayla chewed on her lip, concern evident in her eyes. "This is bigger than we thought, Jake. This isn't just some college fling gone wrong. This is... this is some next-level organized shit."

I leaned back, rubbing my neck. "We need to tread carefully. If Lexi was deeply involved, there's no telling who else from this town might be tied to it."

"And if they know we're onto them?" Kayla's voice trembled slightly, a rare hint of fear.

I took a deep breath, locking eyes with her. "Then we're in deeper shit than we ever imagined. But we've got to protect Lexi. And get to the bottom of this."

Kayla nodded, determination steeling her features. "Let's find out more about The Vault. There has to be someone, some trace, that can lead us to what they're about."

We dug deeper, uncovering fragments of information that painted a shadowy picture of The Vault's activities—exclusive parties where only the elite were invited, whispers of backdoor deals, and ominous dealings that were kept strictly hushed.

Our discovery pressed on my mind, but as the hours ticked by, another issue gnawed at me: returning home. Now that I realized the nature of her feelings, the idea of being alone with Mandy tied a knot in my stomach. I didn’t want to lead her on, and I didn’t want to be cruel, but I also didn’t want to be alone with her. God, what a mess.

“Let’s order some takeout,” I said. “We can have dinner here and investigate this Vault some more.”

Kayla smiled. “That sounds great!”

Chapter Sixteen

JAKE

The crunch of gravel under my boots sounded like an alarm as I walked up to my front door. It was late; I had hoped Mandy would be asleep. The flicker of light through the window and the silhouette of her sitting at the kitchen table punched a quiet sigh out of me. I had not planned for this, for the quiet one-on-one that seemed laden with things unsaid.

Pushing the door open, I found her there, staring at two plates of spaghetti that had long gone cold. A glass of water sat by my plate, beads of condensation racing down its side, mirroring my own desire to escape.

"Hey," I greeted, my voice sounding worn.

She looked up. Her smile was hopeful but tinged with something else, something like loneliness. "Hey! You're home. Are you hungry?"

I ran a hand through my hair, the other finding its way to my back pocket. "No, not really. I grabbed a bite with Kayla. Work stuff, you know?"

Her smile flickered, but she recovered quickly. "That's okay. Sit with me for a bit?"

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