Note: There are things in this one that aren't perfect. Wordings, emotion switches, numbers. If you notice one, for pity's sake report it.

Ava tried to forget what she'd seen. She went to a bar. It was nearly empty, and that suited her purposes fine. It had been a bad night. She enjoyed the anonymity that her long absence from the city had afforded her. As she sat drowning her problems, she thought she heard something. It woke her up a little bit. Whistling? Innocuous enough, but that song... she'd always heard it whistled by...
"George," she breathed, eyes wide and back tense.
"Hello, Ava," came a voice behind her.
With a curse she flung herself forward, sending the chair flying and making a mad dash for the door. She got about four feet before rough hands seized her arms and dragged her back. She gave off struggling as she looked into a face she'd hoped to have seen the last of.
"My dear, sweet Ava," said George, reaching toward her. "It feels like ages... since you double-crossed me!" His hand closed about her throat.
"You had it coming!" she spat.
The hand tightened slightly. "After all I did for you?" he asked, his voice even lower than usual.
She was drunk. She shouldn't have pushed him. But she did. "You ruined my life-!"
He slapped her face smartly."I made you what you are!"
Her cheek stinging, she looked up incredulously. "Do you expect me to be grateful for that?"
He turned away from her and leaned against the bar. "You should be." He spoke in a deep, soft rumble that she'd found comforting, years ago. He went on in a reminiscing tone. "The moment we met I saw the spark in you. But those people would have snuffed it out!" He whirled and leveled a finger at her. "I saved you from mediocrity!"
Still she met his gaze. "Saved me? Is that what you tell yourself? I could have been happy! Do you realize how many young men were interested in me?"
George chuckled. "Them? They were interested in your father's money and your pretty young ... face. In that order." He touched her cheek. "I was the only one who looked past that, who even cared to."
There was a silence between them. If the two gorillas had loosed her arms, Ava would have stayed anyway. She was remembering. She couldn't help it.
"I never made you come with me," George pointed out quietly.
Ava's anger returned. "I was a child, George! I didn't know what I was doing."
His face fell before twisting into a sneer. "Not such a child. You certainly knew what you were doing when you pulled that little stunt of yours."
"What do you want, George?" she said coldly.
A wicked grin came to his lips. "Payback." He grasped the hair at her neck with one hand and pulled her arm behind her back with the other. Involuntarily she cried out. Unheeding, he held on and herded her outside. "Come along, Ava. There's a girl," he said mockingly.
He had a car waiting. Of course. One of the gorillas opened the rear door and Ava was thrown inside. She made a grab for the other door, though she knew it would be in vain. George slid in next to her. He was too close, and wearing too much aftershave. He saw her wrinkle her nose.
"I know. I got carried away. But when I heard you were in town, I wanted to look my best. Got cleaned up, new suit... I got my hair cut, Ava."
She was getting lost. Was he out for revenge or trying to win her back? Perhaps he himself didn't know yet. Maybe that was her way out of this mess. A glance out the window told her very little. The car drove on, taking more turns than necessary. Ava felt sleepy, and wished she hadn't been drinking when this started. Her head nodded and jerked up again painfully. She was in no state to fight, nor to bluff convincingly. She looked at George. He was not much changed since last she'd seen him. Still the smooth, almost boyish features. Still he wore his dark hair just long enough to keep it neat. He'd put on a little weight, though he still cut an impressive figure. He was a little over six foot, and well built. Anyone else mightn't have noticed that he'd let himself go. He felt her gaze and looked over, questioningly.
"What on earth were you getting drunk over? You hardly ever drank."
"Things change."
"Yes, he mused. "You're an alcoholic, and I'm fat."
"I'm... not as think as you drunk I am," she joked. "And you're not fat. It's what, eight pounds?"
"Nine. See, it shows." He paused. "Trying to make me feel better? You ARE drunk."
She laughed, too loudly, proving his point.
"Why did you do it, Ava? Why betray me? I cared for you, I gave you anything you wanted... I would have-"
"Stop it," she snapped."Don't pretend I meant something to you. I was just another girl. I was just like all the others to you. Yes, I know about them."
He didn't seem all that surprised. "No point in lying to you. I admit it. I'm only a man, Ava." He sighed. "Was that the reason?"
"It gave me the guts to go through with it," she replied simply. She leaned over, wearily, her hair falling about her face. She felt it pushed back behind her ear, and promptly shook it out again. What right did he have to touch her now?
"If you're tired, sleep," he said curtly.
Ava hesitated. Then, deciding there was no harm in it, she tucked up her legs and nestled against the car door. The sounds of the tires and the engine were lulling. Before drifting off, she wondered vaguely how much further their destination was.

End First Installment.

Dante looked at his watch, eyes barely focusing. He wondered why she hadn't gotten back yet. Not that she was ever the most punctual partner a guy ever had, but he couldn't help worrying. They'd been working together for almost five years now. What a strange road had led them here. He'd heard about her before they met, of course. Ava Jane, daughter of the famous Dr. Jane. Young, beautiful, and surprisingly sweet and innocent for a budding socialite. She would have been an easy target for wolves and the like if she hadn't had someone to look out for her. If only she'd stayed that innocent. If only she'd never met... what was his name again? Whitney. George Whitney. She would have been better off without knowing that crook. True, Dante wouldn't have had her for a partner. But then, he also wouldn't be sitting here worrying about her. His eyes drifted to his right. Jimmy had fallen asleep. He'd told the kid to go home, but Jimmy had insisted he'd stay up until she returned. Jimmy had a crush on Ava, that was blatantly obvious. She treated him like a kid brother. 'And what am I to her?' Dante thought. It didn't matter. Where was that girl?