Chapter 27: "Setting the Trap"*

The weight of the plan hung heavily in the air as Marie paced her apartment, her nerves buzzing. She had called the Eds and Officer Green over to lay everything out—the upcoming date with Kevin, the risks, the backup. The stakes were higher than ever, and they couldn't afford any slip-ups.

"Okay, so let's go over this one more time," Marie said, stopping in the middle of the room, arms crossed as she tried to stay focused. "Tomorrow night, I'm going to meet Kevin for dinner. Officer Green will wire me up before I head out, and you guys—" she pointed at the Ed's, "—will be in a surveillance van nearby, monitoring everything. If things go sideways, I need you all ready to move in."

Eddy, perched on the arm of the couch, grinned ear to ear, rubbing his hands together like this was some sort of elaborate heist. "This is genius! We'll catch him red-handed, and we'll be the heroes. Can you imagine the headlines? 'Eddy Saves the Day!' It's got a nice ring to it!"

Ed, sitting beside him, chimed in enthusiastically. "Yeah, Eddy! And we can bring snacks!"

Marie couldn't help but smile at Ed's childlike excitement. But her gaze shifted to Edd, who had been unusually quiet throughout the meeting. He was sitting in the corner of the room, frowning slightly, his hands clasped tightly in his lap.

Edd caught her looking at him and cleared his throat, finally speaking up. "I still think it's risky, Marie. Kevin is dangerous—more dangerous than we might realize. I don't like the idea of you going into this alone, even with us nearby." His voice was laced with concern, the weight of his worry evident.

Marie softened, understanding where he was coming from. "I know it's risky, Double D. But we're running out of options. If I can get him to talk, even a little, we'll have the leverage we need to bring him down. I just… I can't do this without your help."

Edd's frown deepened. He shifted uncomfortably but nodded. "You're right. It's a good plan. I just—" He hesitated, his voice dropping. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

Eddy, oblivious to the tension in the room, hopped up from his spot and clapped his hands together. "Alright! This is gonna be legendary! We'll be there every step of the way. You've got the A-Team on your side!"

Officer Green, who had been standing by the door, glanced at Marie. "I'll get the wire ready tomorrow. We'll meet early before the date to make sure everything's working. Last thing we would need is equipment failure at the finish line."

Marie nodded, feeling the plan solidify. "Got it. We'll be careful."

Satisfied with the setup, Officer Green and Eddy stood to leave. Ed, still excitedly chattering about snacks, followed them out of the apartment, but Edd lingered. He hadn't said much since expressing his concerns, and Marie could feel the weight of the unspoken tension between them.

As the door clicked shut behind the others, an uneasy silence settled in the room. Edd rubbed the back of his neck, clearly wrestling with something. Marie moved closer to him, her heart tugging at the sight of his worried expression.

"Hey," she said softly, touching his arm to get his attention. "You okay?"

Edd let out a slow breath, his eyes meeting hers, full of concern. "I know this is the best plan we've got, but I can't help feeling… uneasy about it. Kevin is unpredictable, and if he realizes what's going on—" He broke off, looking away as if trying to keep his fears in check.

Marie's heart swelled at how deeply he cared. She could feel his anxiety, his protectiveness, and it warmed something inside her. She stepped closer, her hand resting on his chest. "I know you're worried. And I won't lie—this is dangerous. But we've got each other's backs. And if something goes wrong, you'll be there."

Edd's eyes softened, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing as he looked down at her. "You're right," he murmured, covering her hand with his. "We'll be there. I just—" He hesitated, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't want to lose you."

Marie felt her breath catch at the tenderness in his words. She hadn't expected him to be so open, so vulnerable. It made her heart ache in the best way. Without thinking, she leaned up and pressed her lips gently to his, her hands sliding up to cup his face.

Edd froze for a moment, clearly taken by surprise, but then he melted into the kiss, his arms wrapping around her. The kiss was slow, tender, filled with all the unspoken feelings that had been building between them for weeks.

When they finally pulled back, Marie rested her forehead against his, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, her voice steady. "I promise."

Edd's hands tightened around her waist as he kissed her again, savoring the moment. When they broke apart again, he smiled, his eyes finally losing some of their tension. "You better keep that promise," he teased softly, though there was an edge of sincerity beneath his words.

Marie grinned, playfully nudging him. "Guess you'll just have to make sure I do."

They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped up in each other, the weight of the plan momentarily forgotten. But eventually, reality crept back in, and they both knew what the next day would bring.

Marie sighed, leaning back to look at him. "I guess we should get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be… intense."

Edd nodded but didn't let go of her just yet. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his arms still around her. "Just… be careful, okay? I'm serious."

Marie smiled up at him. "I will. I've got the best backup team in the world, remember?"

With one final kiss, they reluctantly parted. Edd gave her a long, lingering look before heading for the door. As he left, Marie's heart was racing, but not from nerves this time. Something deeper was stirring between them, something real. And even with the dangers ahead, that thought gave her a spark of hope.

Tomorrow, she would face Kevin, walk into the lion's den. But tonight, she allowed herself to savor the warmth of Edd's touch, the softness of his kiss, and the quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, she wasn't alone in this fight.