Page 20 of Fatal Attraction

“You said you needed proof of Karl’s innocence,” Phoenix said to Harley when I’d closed the door behind me. “Isn’t this proof enough?”

Sadly, Harley shook her head. “It’s not. His hair was found on Amber, and the masks we found in his apartment have his and Delilah’s DNA allover them. Plus, there’s the GPS records from his cruiser that puts him near the sanctum on the night Delilah was attacked.”

“Karl didn’t rape Delilah,” I hotly reminded her. “DNA proves it. There’s also the data on his ankle monitor which proves he was at home the night Amber Strickland was attacked. His phone records prove it too. Plus, we have the security footage from the club. Assuming you’ve watched it, then you shouldknowKarl isn’t our guy.”

“Then why was Karl camping out near the sanctum the night Delilah was attacked?” she asked.

“You already know the answer to that question,” said Phoenix.

Harley sighed deeply through her nose. “Charlotte,” she muttered.

“Yes,” I’d all but growled at her. “We tried telling you before, but you didn’t want to hear it, remember?”

“Let’s say I believe you.” Her eyes lifted and volleyed between us; her jaw irately set. “Why go through all this trouble framing Karl?”

“It’s because of Charlotte.”

Phoenix began spilling the beans about Karl and the death threats, and impulsively my hand launched across Harley and slapped him upside his head, my eyes lethally tightening as I glared him down.

“Blaire’sdead, Spike. She’s fucking dead. We have to tell her.”

He was lucky I didn’t deck him across his thick ass fucking jaw. Charlotte had asked us, fucking begged us to keep this a secret until she could figure out the truth for herself.

“When did he tell her this?” asked Harley, who honestly appeared shocked at the news.

“A few days ago,” I answered before Phoenix could dare open his fucking mouth again. “When Charlotte went to visit Karl.”

“Any proof to validate his claims?” she asked again.

I shook my head. “No. Not yet at least. We were going to look into it, but then Blaire’s murder happened. We’re behind. Severely behind.”

Harley ran a flustered hand down her face and gushed out a hardy breath, her lips pursed. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I did you boys a favor and kept my mouth shut over Charlotte’s connection to the sanctum. But now,everythinghas to come out in the open, and I meaneverything.I’ll vouch for you to the chief and captain so that you aren’t taken off the cases. You’re the only ones outside of Charlotte who seem to know what’s really going on here, and we need you. We’ll figure out who tackles what when we get back in there and fill everyone in.”

She paused, then turned to me, straightening her spine and meeting me eye-to-eye.

“I understand this…relationship you have with Charlotte isn’t any of my business, but you have to understand it wasn’t my intention to anger you, Detective Hutch. I was just trying to help you. Charlotte, too. At the moment, Chief and Captain Burgess know nothing about your relationship with her. If you’d have questioned her—”

“You don’t have to say anything else, Harley. I get it. I do. And as for my temper… Well…”

“Spike,” Phoenix growled.

“I’m sorry I was an asshole.”

Harley smiled, and then reached out to shake my hand, pleased with my apology. “You’re forgiven.”

Eleven

Charlotte

Ikept my hands pressed tightly against my ears as Carter fired shot after shot, hitting each and every soda can he’d set up on some old water buckets I found out back in my shed. Since Phoenix and Spike were at work and I knew it’d be hours before I’d hear from them again, I’d broken down after Blaire’s funeral and filled Carter in oneverythingwhen we were on our way back to my place.As expected, Carter was furious, barely able to hold it together the further I’d explained how Blaire’s murder was possibly connected to Delilah Fields and Amber Strickland, and for a moment there I was terrified he’d blame me for Blaire’s death or worse, attack me. By the grace of a miracle, he didn’t. Carter was very understanding and had even volunteered to help us in whichever way he could, so, I asked him to teach me how to shoot.

I knew Phoenix—Spike, especially, would be gravely pissed once they find out. I honestly couldn’t help it though. My best friend was just murdered, and I had this horrible feeling in my gut that her death was only the beginning. I couldn’t put off learning how to do this any longer. And despite Carter’s issues with PTSD, with his experience in combat, I knew he’d be a great teacher.

“You’re really good,” I kind of shouted, my ears still ringing as Carter popped out the clip and began refilling it with fresh bullets. He was still in the clothes he’d worn at the funeral—a dark blue-button down, black slacks, and matching shoes. The matching jacket was in my house, draped over one of the chairs at the kitchen table.

“I have the Army to thank for that. I never shot a gun until I joined. I became good rather fast.”He finished loading the clip and slipped it in, cocking the weapon. Nerves sloshed through my stomach in unmerciful waves when he approached me and pressed the gun against my palm.“Just do me a favor and don’t start shooting until all the cans are replaced and I’m beside you. I’ll tell you when to start.”

It took him a moment to prop the cans back up on the buckets. When he was done, Carter eagerly raced back to my side and then helped adjust my arms when I raised the gun, my hands shaking.

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