Chapter Text
The bullet flys just left of Ava’s head narrowly missing her, but smashing the window.
The loud noise of the bullet ringing, mixed with the glass shattering, breaks Ava out of her frozen state.
The yells of Camila and Duretti now becoming unmuffled as they beg her to drive.
Ava reaches to her gearstick before driving as quickly as she can.
The taller woman still on their tale.
A few bullets hit the back end of the car, Ava slams on her breaks.
“Ava?” Camila shrieks. “What the fuck are you doing”
“Are you insane” Duretti’s accent becoming stronger with fear.
Ava looks through her center mirror catching a glimpse of the assassin walking over. “I’m gonna talk to her” Ava says calmly.
”What! she has been trying to kill me” Duretti trembles.
”Shes waiting for something” Ava sees the assassin come to a holt a few feet from their car.
Camila honest to god rolls her eyes “dios mío, Ava please don’t say-
Ava cuts her off “She’s waiting for me”
“Uh is your brain working! Wake up! she’s an actual assassin. She’s here to kill him!”
Ava stays silent looking at the woman through her mirror. It’s as if she’s hypnotised by her.
”AVA!”
”Im thinking!” Ava replies sharply.
Ava takes a deep breath, closing her eyes.
”Ava we will catch her again. And then you can do whatever it is you want to do with her, but right now. Stop being a dick, Ava” Camila says hurriedly. “I’ll punch you if i have to”
”Yes!” Duretti begs. “Snap her out if it”
Ava ignores them. She unbuckles her seat belt and opens her car door. When she steps out and sees the woman, only a couple of feet away from her, Ava’s breath falters. But not from fear.
Ava holds up her hands to indicate she’s not going to shoot. She makes her way towards the woman. Their eyes never leaving one another.
When she gets to being only around 15 feet away, The assassin seems to snap out of it, and holds her gun up. aiming for her.
Ava keeps her hands up, the woman continues to stare deeply at her.
When the woman slowly lowers her gun, Ava sighs in relief. But that relief was quickly turned into panic when she sees the woman hold the gun to her own chin.
”No!” Ava yells.
The assassin chuckles, and brings the gun up to her lips to kiss it.
The woman then aims her gun back to Ava and shoots. The bullets hits the floor right next to Ava’s feet.
Ava flinches back nearly falling to the floor. When she steadies herself, she looks to where the assassin was.
But she had disappeared.
After narrowly escaping the woman, Ava had stopped at a cafe along a motorway.
Camila and Duretti were talking quietly amongst themselves, but Ava seemed distant she was lost in thought.
“your food” A waitress placed down three big breakfasts for them.
after they all had thanked the waitress and started eating Ava finally spoke.
“Who was the woman” she questioned him.
”i don’t know. we didn’t exactly have much time to talk” Duretti replied sarcastically. shoving beans into his mouth.
”So there were three of them chasing you, and they didn’t speak to each over?” Ava scoffed “Come on Francesco. Stop bullshitting”
”Is there anymore salt?” Duretti ignored her.
Camila snapped “Where are your kids?”
”With my mother-in-law”
”Text her and tell her you need them to stay for a few nights” Ava responds
Duretti goes to pull out his phone before Ava stops him. “No use mine” she hands him hers.
”They’ll be tracking yours” Camila says obviously.
Duretti typed out her number and starts texting “you know i did this for the right reasons” he begins. Ava cuts him off
“I don’t want to hear what your version of the right reason is.”
“Could you just not give me a hard time? Just for a minute please? I almost died.” He raises his voice slightly.
”And who’s fault is that” Camila mutters.
Duretti sighs “Am i please allowed to get more salt?”
Ava motions a yes with hand, as he walks away camila speaks up again.
”Who would spend that much money on that man” She watches him return with his salt shaker. she scoffs “God look how excited he is about his salt. Makes me sick”
Duretti takes a seat again. “Rebecca” He says suddenly.
Ava’s eyes snap up to meet his “what?”
”One of the girls was called Rebecca” He adds while putting a mountain of salt into his food.
Standing in the car park of the cafe Ava dials yasmine.
”Hey yas, i have little time to talk but i need you to type a name into the system for me” her breath rapid.
”Sure what is it?”
”Rebecca”
Ava heard yasmine clacking away on the keyboard.
”Rebecca?” Yasmine asks.
”Yes. Just search every prison record with that name. If there is a Rebecca who has so much as stolen a bar of soap, I want to know about her okay?”
“Mhm on it.” Yasmine nods although she can’t be seen “Are you guys okay though?”
Ava sighs “yeah, We’re fine. Could you also send me the safe house address. Is there anything else we should know?”
”Oh, The suitcase test came back.”
”Great. Did you find Anything?”
Yas hums. “Her DNA is all over it. It’s a clear match with sample from the other kills. its- it’s just” Her voice trembles.
”What?” Ava concernedly asks.
”She must know she’s traceable.”
Ava huffs “Either she’s deeply arrogant or she knows she’s protected.”
”Or possibly both?”
“Oh god, yes, or both. Okay call me if you find any Rebecca’s. Okay?”
”Sure, Be safe Aves”
“Ill try” She chuckles humourlessly. “Bye yas”
Later that day, Ava just pulled up in front of the safe house. It was a normal looking one story house.
Other than the windows being bullet proof, the 6 different locks on the door and the security guards who would also be staying with Duretti.
After ‘Paul’ the security guard had shown Duretti around the house, They all regrouped in the living room.
Which now suzanne stood in. “Hello duretti” she calmly says.
If Duretti could get any paler than he already was he just did. Ava and Camila had to fight of there laughter, from the look of fear displayed in his face.
“Suzanne” His voice trembled “look, what i’ve done is nowhere near as bad as what a lot people have done, to save their families okay.”
“We chased the money, we know you’re on their payroll. So you better start talking” Ava butts in.
”What do they want?” Suzanne’s voice is stern.
He stutters “I.. I think i’m… i think i’m…” He clears his throat. Camila rolls her eyes at his way of trying to get out of the conversation “I think i’m having an anxiety attack. My arms are- They feel numb. Can you get a doctor please”
Suzanne huffs heavily “Just breathe slowly. Don’t hyperventilate”
“Can i just please go and have a bath or change my clothes? I will tell you everything.” He pleads.
”You have five minutes to change. And you’ll be escorted”
Paul stands up and leads Duretti to his new room.
Ava shakes her head in annoyance. After the day she’s had, all she can think about is going home and messaging mary to tell her about this whole situation, so they can laugh about Duretti.
Shortly after Camila comes back into the living room with cups of tea for Suzanne and Ava. “Thank you” they both reply.
”Okay, looks like you guys have got this. So, with all due respect, i’m gonna head back to east London grab three bottles of wine, and pine over Lilith until the memory of this traumatic day evaporates.” Cam smiles sweetly.
Suzanne nods approvingly “I understand”
Ava just laughs under her breath. Watching camila leave. Paul comes back, but without duretti in tow.
“Duretti says he’s feeling too weak to talk. Do you want me to drag him in by his armpits?”
“No. I know exactly what he needs.” Suzanne replies “I’m so sorry you have to see this” She hands her cup over to Ava.
Suzanne walks to the back of the house, finding the bedroom Duretti is containing himself in. She sits down on the edge of the bed next to him.
”It’s okay, Francesco” She starts. placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’s all going to be okay. Just tell me who these people are.”
Ava furrows her eyebrows and watches in awe. She sees Duretti’s shoulders deflate, as he leans his head into Suzanne’s shoulder.
”They call themselves, The twelve. And they know everything about me.” He replies in the most calm tone he’s been able to muster up all day.
Ava starts secretly voice recording on her phone, Before also taking a seat onto the bed. She uses the duvet to cover her phone. “Did they blackmail you?” She hesitantly asks.
”No. No worse.” He shakes his head and sits up properly. “They offered to pay for my wife’s medical treatment. They knew everything about her condition. They knew the NHS wouldn’t offer certain treatments for cancer without private patient funding these days. I had no other option.”
”Uh.. you can’t blame the NHS for this.” Ava adds.
No. Of course not. I blame the government” Duretti responds harshly.
”And what about the school fees?” Ava bites back.
”I just wanted my family to be happy.”
“What information did they want from you?” Suzanne’s demeanour had changed from cold to almost motherly.
Duretti sighs deeply before responding “They just wanted to know what conversations are being had. They’re interested in the big picture”
”Specifically, Information about russia?” She questions.
”No. Although the agent was originally from russia, Before he moved to spain, and we drank a lot. so i just assumed… i thought the were SVR. Standard russian government agents who wanted a little inside gossip, people’s whereabouts. I don’t know. They just wanted to know anything and everything. I just wanted my family to be okay.”
Ava scoffs angrily “I think we all wanted the same for Mary. But instead, No thanks to you she was stabbed. She could’ve fucking died.”
”I didn’t know they were going to go after Mary. I think the assassin took your department rather personally.” He looked down.
”And how do they know about the department?”
“I told them..” He muttered quietly “I told them i thought you were still investigating, after you interrogated me—
Ava cut him off “Oh i did not interrogate you.” Duretti nodded “You interrogated me—“
Suzanne’s voice was sharp cutting them both off from bickering. “For someone who says they know hardly anything, you seem to know rather a lot.” She glares at him. “Why didn’t you come to us?”
”Because i didn’t want to get caught here.” His voice raised “I thought they would help.”
”And the girl who works for them?” Ava asks
”Yes, well, they’re very proud of her. They’re using her to…” he stops himself.
”What? What are they using her for?” Ava desperately questions.
Duretti looks down before making eye contact with her. “There is a sequence. A pattern to these kills. They’re destabilising from the ground up.”
“To what end?”
“Chaos.”
Ava’s now sat at a bus stop. Before leaving Duretti in the security of Paul, Ava had called Yasmine to update her.
When Ava brought up the fact Duretti had called the organisation ‘The twelve’ Yasmine seemed to think it has something to do with the number twelve being powerful.
Twelve disciples, Twelve days of christmas, Twelve months of the year.
Before leaving the Safe house, Suzanne had mentioned the clean up crew going to where Duretti was found. The search team only found one body. The body of man.
Now sat at the bus stop, The stress and exhaustion from the day had finally caught up to her. She pulls the ponytail out of her hair, and runs her hands through it.
She sighs deeply and looks towards the a chipped piece of the glass window. She runs her finger over the rough edges of the crack. Her finger presses harder into it, and eventually smashes the whole glass.
Ava jumps back from the shock, Like being awakened from her trance. Looking down at the glass she momentarily panics, Until her phone starts ringing.
”Hi, Hello jace.” she answers with laboured breath. “I’m sorry i’m not home, i have to go back into the office.” her voice is still filled with panicked.
”Are you alright Aves?” he questions.
”No, no, i’m fine. I just- just ran for a bus. Uh.. Are you annoyed?”
“No it’s okay, I’ll see you later okay love?”
”Yes. I’ll see you then. Bye Jace”
When the phone ends, Ava lets out a sigh of relief.
Ava switches the office lights on, and straight away she notices her suitcase on top of one of the desks.
She walks closer, looking at the map hung on the wall, with red dots to show where all the victims have been popping up.
The sound of the door opening startles her. She looks over her shoulder only to see Yasmine walking in. Her shoulders relax.
”Sorry to scare you” Yasmine smiles sheepishly.
”No, it’s okay” Ava brushes her off. “Do we have any updates?”
Yasmine nods “I found some prison records of various ‘Rebecca’s’ around Russia and Spain. There’s one i really want to show you.”
“That’s great!” Ava’s smile reaches her eyes this time.
Yasmine starts tapping away on the computer, And then a prison mugshot loads on the screen.
“Oh shit” Ava whispers.
”Yes that’s the one. ‘Rebecca young’.”
It’s a younger version of the Assassin Ava has seen, She has a couple of cuts on her face. And her hair is darker.
“It fits the profile perfectly. Except…” Yasmine hesitates.
”What?”
“Well, she died in prison.”
Ava looks back at Yasmine. “When?”
”Four years ago.”
Ava returns her gaze to the screen. To the face that’s kept her awake at night. To the person who stabbed her best friend.
“Why was she there? In prison.” Ava asks.
“She um.. Killed a guy. And did some pretty weird things to him.” Yasmine trails off.
“Like what?”
“She, Um…” Yasmine bites her lip.
”How would Camila say it” Ava curiosity was killing her at this point.
”She chopped his Nob off.” Yasmine practically forces herself to spit out.
When Ava gets home, It feels like she can finally, Properly breathe.
Jc had messaged her to say he was going out with one of his friends ‘Randal’. Ava had been kind of relieved.
Ava had also been able to bring back her suitcase. She walks up the stairs and plops it onto her bed, Before going downstairs and poring herself a glass of wine.
When she returns to her bedroom, She stares at her suitcase for a minute, she decides she needs to rip the band aid off.
She takes a big gulp of her wine, putting the rest of the glass on the bed side table and opens her suitcase.
She goes through the clothing once again. but this time she really looks at these clothes. They’re nice. Nothing she could afford normally.
She pulls out a gorgeous black and white dress, with a v line cut that would make her boobs look great if she would say so herself.
The dress catches her attention immediately. Would you blame her for wanting to wear it?
She sets it aside for now. Wanting to get something out of the suitcase she’s been thinking about since she found it.
She pulls the box of perfume out, opening it to reveal the beautifully shaped bottle with the bee atop.
Ava slowly takes the cap off, hesitantly she inhales it. The scent is strong but not unwelcoming.
She sprays some onto her wrists, Rubbing them together before smelling it again. The notes of cedar wood and amber hitting her.
The smell was almost intoxicating. She rubs her wrists onto the pulse of her neck engraving the smell onto herself.
Opening the other side of the case, Ava finds a pair of black heels, that would go perfectly with the dress that stuck out to her.
‘fuck it’ Ava thinks before taking off her clothes and getting into the dress and heels.
Turning around to look at herself in the mirror, Ava’s impressed. The dress does make her boobs look great. And she feels great wearing it.
The dress shows off all her curves in the right places. It fits her perfectly.
She grabs the rest of her wine and gulps it in one. She flicks off her heels and then walks down the stairs.
When she gets into her kitchen, She picks up the files she brought home with her from the office. Rebecca’s files. Beatrice’s files? She doesn’t know.
While reading through it she notices a page titled ‘crimes’ The list follows:
Attacked and wounded a school friend with a pen, Aged 8
Grievous bodily harm
Arson
Murder of an adult man
Manslaughter of a minor
“Jesus” Ava mutters to herself. Shaking her head in mild disbelief.
Her eyes trail to the conviction’s part of the page.
‘Placed in a juvenile delinquents centre 2001-2006’
’Arrested as adult, 2011-2014’
Ava was going to read more until the sound of the door opening makes her turn her head.
“Jace?” Ava calls out. Walking closer to the front door. “Are you back?”
When she reaches the door and sees no sign of anyone she momentarily panics.
She checks the door and the lock is still intact, Which it is.
She sighs. Turning back around to head into the kitchen.
But when she turns she freezes in her spot.
Standing on the other side of her hallway is none other than The one woman Ava wishes so desperately to leave her head.
Beatrice.