How was I supposed to tell her that Brok did not want the money? He did not care about monthly payments or trying to make things easier. He wanted Eleanor. That was the whole point. Two million dollars was impossible for them to pay, and he knew it. That bastard had his eyes on one person the whole time.

Eleanor.

"Where are you going?" she asked as she stepped out of the elevator. "Wait, don’t tell me you started working at the company again."

"Not really." I forced a smile. "I just have some business to take care of."

If I told her I was going to check on Dakota, she would panic and immediately try to stop me from going after Brok and his people. I already knew that. But I was not backing off. Not because of the main quest, and not just because of the reward. I actually cared about Eleanor. I felt bad for her. She had enough problems already.

"Oh," she said with a nod. "So, no breakfast."

"Sorry about that." I shrugged. "But how are you doing? You seem alright."

"Yesterday was brutal," she said, exhaling slowly. "I slept as soon as I got home. With New Year’s Eve coming up, the city is packed with people everywhere."

"Yeah, I can imagine," I said. "I worked at a gas station not too long ago. Around that time of year, you just want to jump out of a window."

She let out a quiet groan. "And the drunken bastards everywhere too."

"Exactly."

She looked at me for a second, then gave a softer smile.

"Anyway, thanks for asking, Evan. I appreciate it. It’s kind of weird that some stranger cares more about me than my own brother does. I don’t really know what to make of that."

I smiled and gave her shoulder a gentle punch. "Always. Just do me a favor and stay out of trouble, alright?"

"But then how am I supposed to talk to you?"

I stared at her for a second, then shook my head. "Wow. Just wow."

She smiled wider at that.

"Anyway, don’t let me hold you," she said. "I’ll take the stairs. Bye, Evan."

I stepped out of her way and nodded. "Bye, Eleanor. Take care."

She gave me one last smile before heading off, and I watched her go for a moment before turning toward the elevator again and heading down, my mind already back on Dakota and whatever the hell he was hiding.

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I eased the car to the side of the road and stepped out. Cora was sitting on a bench just across the street from the pawnshop, looking down at her phone. The moment she saw me coming, her face lit up and she stood up quickly.

I looked back at the shop. Just like she said, the sign in the window showed that the pawnshop was closed, and I couldn’t see anyone inside from the street. That left only one obvious possibility. They were in the office room, probably around that safe I had noticed before.

"Cora," I said as I stepped onto the curb. "I got here as fast as I could. What’s the situation?"

"They’ve been inside for about ten minutes," she replied. "I still have no idea what they’re doing."

"Any back door?"

She shook her head. "None that I could find."

So that meant our only option was getting in through the front. That was not easy. Even if I used Time Stop, I still had no way to unlock a door I couldn’t pick, and breaking a window would just leave obvious evidence behind once time resumed. That would not work unless I wanted to make everything worse.

"So we wait?" I asked.

Cora nodded and sat back down on the bench. I sat beside her a second later.

"Yes," she said. "Dakota didn’t look happy to see those guys, though."

"How many were there?"

"Four at first," she answered. "Then a fifth one came later. I took photos of all of them. Oh, and a woman."

She turned her phone toward me and showed me the pictures she’d taken. Most of the men were unfamiliar, but the last one immediately stood out to me. It was the same guy who had gone into that back room at the gay bar with Melvin and me. The one who had sold Dakota the cocaine, or whatever the hell it was.

So this was definitely a drug deal.

The question was what exactly they were doing inside. Getting high, talking business, or both. Either way, I needed proof. If I could get evidence of Dakota doing drugs behind Brok’s back, I might finally have something useful to work with.

"Can you unlock the front door?" I asked.

"I can," she said, then hesitated. "But are you sure? It’s still morning. Someone could see us."

She was right. That would draw unnecessary attention. I needed a better way to get inside without making it obvious.

I rubbed my jaw and looked back at the shop.

"Okay," I muttered. "I have a plan. It’s not a very clever one, but it’s still a plan."

"What is it?" Cora asked.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I crossed the street and walked up to the glass door of the pawnshop. I leaned forward and peered inside. Nothing moved at first, so I knocked on the glass once. No answer. I knocked again, louder this time. Then I clenched my fist and banged on the door a third time.

That did it.

Inside, shadows started moving near the office area, and a second later, a man stepped into view. It was Dakota. He looked out through the glass and met my eyes.

I gave him a stupid little wave with a smile that was just believable enough to look annoying.

Cora had walked up beside me by then, staring at me like I had lost my mind. I ignored her and kept pounding on the door.

"Hey," I shouted. "Open the door. I bought a laptop cooler a few days ago and it’s broken."

"We’re closed!" Dakota barked back, gesturing with an irritated hand. "Get the fuck out of here."

"I won’t," I replied. "Open it."

"Go away."

"No." I knocked again. "Open it or I’ll break it down."

"You motherf—"

He stormed toward the entrance and unlocked the door with the key. The second the door opened, I activated Time Stop.

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Evan Marlowe [Level 22]

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EXP: 2000/ 41895

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Current Credits: 32500c

Current SC: 312

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Everything froze around me.