Page 1 of No Mercy

CHAPTER 1

EVA

Glancing at my watch,I sigh heavily and pick up my tiny voice recorder, pressing the button with more force than necessary.

“Time is currently 2:38 p.m., Wednesday, November 8, 2024. Target has now been in the gym for…” I lean forward to check the arrival time I scribbled in my notepad. “…five hours. Seriously. Five hours.”

Four days. That’s how long I’ve been stuck on this mind numbing job. Four long, agonising days of nothing but sitting in my car, staring at the same set of gym doors. I used to think boredom couldn’t kill you. Turns out, I was wrong, because I am living proof of that.

When Mandy first sold me on the idea of being a private investigator, she made it sound like a dream job.

“It’ll be the best thing you ever did, Eva!”Strike one.

“Your life will never be the same!”Strike two.

One more strike, and she’s dyeing her hair green again. That reaction was worth it last time.

When I was younger, my mother used to beobsessedwith PI movies, so yes… I thought I’d be tailing shady business executives or going undercover as some sexy female in hiddenclubs. Maybe busting a cheating fiancé mid getaway in Mexico. But no, I’ve not yet earned a free holiday. So here I am, watching a gym like a creep while slowly losing my mind.

I scan the car for something to pass the time. My book? Gone. Snacks? Finished those two hours ago. The iced coffee is still here, though, so there’s that. Hitting play on the stereo, I let Sleep Token’s‘Take Me Back to Eden’pour into the silence. It’s the only thing keeping me sane. I tap the steering wheel to the beat, stealing another glance at the gym doors. Nothing.

“I don’t want his workout schedule Eva”I mutter. Repeating Rob's words from yesterday, I need something new otherwise he’s going to rip me a new one. My eyes land on the yellow job folder sitting in the passenger seat. The picture of the target has been taunting me all day as it sits clipped to the front.

“Fine, you convinced me,” I groan, reaching for it. But as soon as I pick it up, the photograph slips out, sliding into the footwell. “Great. Just fucking peachy.” Ignoring the photo for now, I flip through the folder, hoping for new information. But to my surprise nothing new appears.

Carter Ashford

Age: 28 (b. January 12, 1994)

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 190 lbs.

Favourite food: Pepperoni pizza

Occupation: Gym co-owner (Ashford Gyms)