Detective Morgan’s presence at Ethan and Ryan’s apartment cast an immediate shadow over the room. She stood with the confidence of someone who had seen and dealt with far worse than what lay ahead, yet her demeanor was tinged with urgency.

“Detective Morgan,” Ethan acknowledged, his tone straining to maintain calm. “What’s happened?”

“I’m here because the situation surrounding you has escalated, Ethan,” she began, stepping inside when Ryan gestured an invitation. “Can we sit somewhere private?”

They led her to the living room, where Ethan and Ryan sat side by side, hands intertwined under the table.

Morgan glanced briefly at their linked hands, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. She opened a slim file, pulling out several documents and photographs, laying them flat on the coffee table.

“We’ve received some alarming evidence,” she said, tapping a particularly damning document. “These financial records suggest you’ve been involved in activities that could destroy your career and potentially lead to criminal charges.”

Ethan’s eyes widened in shock. “I’ve never seen these documents before. What activities are you talking about?”

“Loansharking and illegal gambling,” Morgan replied bluntly. “There’s also a paper trail that suggests embezzlement from your team’s funds.”

Ryan felt Ethan’s grip tighten on her hand, his knuckles whitening. “This is outrageous. Someone’s framing me.”

“I’m inclined to believe you, which is why I’m here,” Morgan continued, her tone softening slightly. “But we need to act fast before this reaches the media and blows up beyond control.”

“Why are you helping us?” Ryan asked, her voice tinged with both gratitude and suspicion.

“Let’s just say I have reasons to believe you’re both on the right side of this,” Morgan replied cryptically. “And I want to see justice served.”

Ryan leaned forward, her determination matching Morgan’s. “So, what do we do?”

“We need to trace the origins of these documents and uncover the real culprit,” Morgan advised, then paused, considering her next words carefully. “And I have reason to believe someone from within your own circle may be orchestrating this.”

Ethan shook his head, incredulous. “You mean one of my teammates?”

“It’s a possibility we can’t ignore,” Morgan said. “We need to be watchful, gather solid evidence, and stay one step ahead.”

A heavy silence settled among them, the gravity of the situation becoming increasingly palpable.

“I’ll leave the documents with you,” Morgan said, standing up. “But remember, discretion is critical. Anyone could be listening.”

As she moved to depart, Ryan felt a surge of desperation. “Detective, thank you.”

Morgan turned, offering a tight-lipped smile. “Stay strong. Both of you.”

---

After Morgan left, the apartment felt even more suffocating. Ethan stood by the window, staring out at the city lights, his reflection on the glass a distorted echo of his inner turmoil. Ryan joined him, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back.

“We’ll get through this,” she whispered, trying to infuse her words with the assurance she herself needed so desperately.

Ethan turned in her arms, cupping her face, his eyes searching hers. “I don’t want you getting involved more than you already are. It’s dangerous.”

“Too late for that,” Ryan replied, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “We’re in this together, remember?”

His expression softened, and he leaned down to kiss her, the touch gentle yet filled with a rare, raw urgency. The kiss deepened, their need for each other eclipsing the storm swirling around them. Ryan found herself pressed against the wall, Ethan’s body pressing firmly into hers, a comforting and thrilling weight.

“Ethan,” she murmured between kisses, her hands slipping under his shirt, tracing the hard lines of his muscles. His breath hitched, and he lifted her, carrying her to the bedroom.

They shed their clothes slowly, savoring each moment, every touch more meaningful under the shadow of their shared struggle. The intimacy they found in each other was a sanctuary, a fleeting escape from the chaos threatening to engulf them.

Later, as they lay entwined, basking in the afterglow, Ryan traced lazy circles on Ethan’s chest. “We need a plan,” she said softly, unwilling to let the reality of their situation fade.

Ethan nodded, pressing a kiss to her hair. “We start by digging into these documents. If someone from the team is setting me up, it won’t be easy to find them.”

Ryan sat up, reaching for the file Morgan had left behind. “Then we have to be smarter. We’ll need help.”

“And I know just who to call,” Ethan said, a glint of determination returning to his eyes.

---

The next day, Ryan and Ethan met up with Ethan’s old friend, Caleb, a tech-savvy genius who had previously helped him with minor scrapes. Caleb lived in a disheveled apartment several blocks from the main campus, filled with overflowing ashtrays and tangled wires.

“Caleb, we need your help,” Ethan began, folding his arms nervously.

Caleb, a scruffy guy in his late twenties, looked up from his computer, the screen filled with lines of code. “Hey man, what’s up? Looks serious.”

“It is.” Ethan quickly explained the situation, showing him the documents. Caleb’s lazy demeanor vanished, replaced by a sharp, analytical focus.

“Looks like someone’s definitely trying to frame you,” Caleb said, scanning the documents with practiced eyes. “But these are high-level forgeries. We’ll need to trace the IPs, analyze the metadata, all that fun stuff.”

Ryan looked worriedly at Ethan as Caleb began typing furiously. “How long will it take?”

Caleb shrugged, not taking his eyes off the screen. “Depends. Maybe a few hours, maybe a few days. But if there’s a digital trail, I’ll find it.”

They watched in silence as Caleb worked, the minutes stretching into an uneasy waiting game. Ethan wrapped an arm around Ryan’s shoulders, drawing her close, finding solace in her presence.

Suddenly, Caleb’s face broke into a triumphant grin. “Got something. The documents were fabricated from a local server—close by, but scrambled through multiple proxies. Tricky, but doable.”

Ethan felt a surge of hope. “What does that mean?”

“It means we can trace it back, but it’ll take time and precision,” Caleb explained, his fingers dancing over the keyboard. “But here’s the kicker—it seems like the signal was boosted by university infrastructure. Someone with access.”

Ryan’s mind raced back to Morgan’s warning. “Someone close.”

“Exactly,” Caleb said, glancing up at them. “And I might need a skeleton key to get access to certain layers. Know anyone with administrative privileges?”

Ryan and Ethan exchanged a knowing glance. “I think we might.”

“Great, then let’s get cracking,” Caleb replied, his eyes returning to the swirling lines of code. “The sooner we find this rat, the better.”

---

Later that evening, Ryan found herself alone in the apartment, her thoughts a whirlwind. She pulled out her phone and dialed Derek’s number.

“Ryan?” Derek’s voice was surprised but warm.

“We need to talk,” she said urgently. “We have a potential lead, but we need help.”

“Name the place and time,” Derek replied instantly, his tone serious.

Ryan arranged for them to meet at a quiet café on the outskirts of the campus. She hung up, feeling a sliver of hope. As much as she distrusted Derek, they needed all the help they could get.

---

Ethan returned home just as Ryan was preparing to leave. “Where are you going?”

“I’ve arranged a meeting with Derek,” she explained, slipping on her jacket. “He might be able to help us get the administrative access Caleb needs.”

“I don’t like involving him more than necessary,” Ethan said, concern etched on his face.

“I know,” Ryan said, cupping his cheek. “But we have to be pragmatic. We need allies.”

Ethan pulled her close, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Be careful, okay?”

Ryan nodded, her resolve strengthening. “Always.”

---

The café was dimly lit, a hush enveloping the patrons in an intimate cocoon. Derek was already seated at a corner table, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. He stood as Ryan approached, his blue eyes reflecting surprise and curiosity.

“Ryan, what’s this about?” he asked, sitting back down as she joined him.

She took a seat, leaning forward, her voice low but filled with determination. “We may have found a way to trace the origins of the forged documents. But we need someone with university administrative access.”

Derek’s eyebrows shot up in interest. “And you think I can help?”

“I’m hoping you can,” Ryan replied, her gaze steady. “This is bigger than just us. If there’s a saboteur within the university, they need to be found before more damage is done.”

Derek considered her words, then nodded slowly. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do. Give me until tomorrow.”

Relief flooded through Ryan. “Thank you.”

As they left the café, the weight of their mission hung heavy, but with it came a flicker of hope. They were aligning their resources, and the next move would be pivotal.