Chapter 2 The Evidence (and the glitch)

Ava's office had this mix of lemon polish smell and a vibe of going places. She was there super early, like 7:30 AM, messing with the case files for the third time. Her heels made this click-clack sound as she walked back and forth. Chill, she told herself. He's just another person who needs help.

Then, knock-knock.

Come on in, she said, maybe a bit too fast.

Kane was standing right there. He had a paper cup of coffee in one hand and a USB thingy in the other. He had on a black turtleneck, sleeves pulled up – looked easygoing, but you could tell he put some thought into it. His hair looked like he just got out of the shower, still a bit wet.

You're early, she said, trying not to let on that her heart was doing a drum solo.

He walked in, closing the door. You said 9. It's 8:59. He held up the coffee. Black, two sugars. Thought you might need it.

Ava raised her eyebrows, like, Whoa. How did you know how I like my coffee?

He smirked a little. I'm good at reading people. It's part of what I do. He put the coffee on her desk, next to a photo of her and her grandma – the only thing in the place that felt like her. You seem like someone who doesn't mess around. But you like sweet stuff. Kinda weird, but interesting.

Ava wasn't even thinking about the coffee. Let's see what you've got. The real stuff. Not the junk Julian's people threw at the news.

Kane got a laptop out of his bag and put it on the desk. First off, I didn't steal anything. The code everyone's talking about? It's mine. I wrote it. For this thing called Pulse – it uses AI to figure out where people are about to lose their homes. Helps shelters get resources where they're needed.

Ava got closer, checking out the screen. Lots of code, dates and times, notes. This is pretty detailed. But Julian's lawyers are saying you got into their servers and copied their thing.

Kane's face got tight. Their 'thing' is a copy of mine. Check this out. He scrolled down. This part right here? I wrote it two years ago. Julian's team 'came up with it' last month. Think that's just luck? Nope. They got into my lab.

Ava frowned. Got in? That's a big deal. Got any proof?

He showed her a security thing. Two weeks ago, someone got into my server at 2:14 AM. The IP address? It goes back to Hart Media's building.

Ava felt her stomach sink. Julian's office was in Hart Media Tower. So, you're saying Julian set you up? Why?

Kane looked right at her. Because Pulse could make his 'helping people' look like nothing. He's all about showing off – parties, photos, 'giving' money to shelters. But my AI? It really gets stuff done. It could end homelessness in this city. And that? That makes him look bad.

Ava leaned back, thinking. If that's how it is, why not tell everyone? Show them the security stuff. Let them know what he did.

Kane laughed, but it wasn't happy. Because no one would believe me. The 'bad guy' tech dude versus the 'good guy' helping people? The news would destroy me. Again. He stopped, his voice softer. And... I didn't want to get her involved.

Her?

Kane looked away. My sister. She's in charge of a shelter on the East End. Julian's 'giving' is the only thing keeping it going. If I hurt him, he'll stop giving to her. She'd lose everything.

Ava felt for him. He's not just worried about himself. Okay, so what's the plan? We can't just ignore the proof. We need to fight back.

Kane leaned in, close enough that she could smell his cologne – like sandalwood. We need to prove the code is mine. I have old copies, emails, people who can say it's mine. But we need to do it quietly. So Julian doesn't go after my sister.

Ava nodded, flipping through the files. We'll start with the dates and times. Show the code came before Julian's 'discovery.' Then, we'll look at those IP logs – show the got in came from Hart Media. But... we need something to make Julian think twice about hitting back.

Kane's eyes lit up. I have that, too. A video. From the night someone got in. My lab's security cam. He brought it up. It was a bit fuzzy: someone in a dark hoodie, typing away. The time: 2:14 AM.

Ava got closer, trying to see better. The person turned, and-

Wait. That's... Julian?

Kane froze. The video wasn't great, but the side of his face? The pointy nose, the way he held his head? It was Julian.

Julian got into your lab? Ava said quietly.

Kane nodded. He figured I was out of town. Which I was. But the cameras... I just put in new ones last month. They turn on when they sense movement. He didn't know.

Ava's mind was racing. Julian, the 'perfect' helping-people guy, getting into someone else's lab? This was big. But... If we use this, your sister's shelter loses money. He'll know it was you.

Kane's face got tight. I know. So we need to be smart about this. Something that hurts him without pointing back to me. Or her.

Ava stood up, walking back and forth. What if we don't go after the code? What if we go after him? His reputation. The 'helping people' thing is all he has. If we let out... I don't know, proof he's been taking money from the donations? Or treating his workers like dirt? Something that makes people doubt him, not the case.

Kane looked at her. You'd do that? Mess with your family's relationship with the Harts?

Ava looked right back at him. I don't care about the Harts. I care about what's right. And... about making sure your sister's shelter stays open.

Kane's face softened. For a second, she thought he might say something – something real. But then his phone buzzed. He looked at it, and his face went serious again.

Julian's calling a news thing. Today. He's going to say he's suing. Make it a big deal.

Ava grabbed her jacket. Then we need to get moving. I'll call my friend at the Tribune. See if they'll wait on the story. You get me everything you have on the shelter – proof of what he's given, any agreements. We need to tell a different story. Now.

Kane stood, grabbing his stuff. You're... not what I expected. Most lawyers would've told me to settle. To not make trouble.

Ava stopped, her hand on the doorknob. I'm not most lawyers.

He smiled – just a little, but it was real. I'm starting to see that.