Page 71 of Fatal Attraction

“I’m sorry,” he whispered to me. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s fine, Spike. I’m not mad. Just let it go and let’s get this shit done.”

“What the fuck is he doing here?”

I sighed, turning to find Peter’s head sticking out through the threshold, his eyes dark and wild. Captain Burgess was on his feet, his pupils blown incredulously wide.

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked as Peter reluctantly moved aside and let us in, his death glare padlocked on Karl. “You’re supposed to be in WITSEC!”

“Sir,” Karl spoke as Spike opened his mouth. “I know I’m suspended but—”

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Captain Burgess was enraged. “Are youtryingto get yourself killed?!”

“Those agents are unreliable,” Karl said calmly. “Nobody, and I meannobodyhas bothered to check in on me in days. No updates, reassurances, nada. I got tired of sitting around doing nothing and so, I made a choice. I know the risks, but I want to help, Cap.”

“Absolutely-fucking-not. You’re going back to WITSEC and that’s the last—"

“Captain,” I said softly. “We have a lead on Charlotte.”

He sharply cut his eyes at me, as did Peter.

“Our perp was wearing a deer mask smothered in gold. Felix was seen on the tapes speaking with him.”

Cap blinked at the information, but it was Peter who’d widened his eyes in absolute horror, his lips parted.

“Do you know who it is?” Peter asked.

“Not yet,” Spike answered. “That’s why we’re here. We gave the info to Kendall and now all we’re waiting on is his address.”

“He’s not home,” Peter said quickly. “That’s actually why I’m here.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, and as I looked at him—really looked at him, there were dark rings wrapped around his eyes, and I was just now noticing that he wasn’t wearing a suit. He had on a wrinkled T-shirt, sweatpants, and a pair of black sneakers. His black hair was disheveled like he hadn’t brushed it in days, and his cheeks were awfully sunk in. It was obvious he hadn’t been eating or sleeping.

“Felix and I are friends. Damn good friends,” he started. “His twin, Fiona, died exactly a year ago today from a drug overdose. We made plans to get flowers and go out to her grave, but Felix’s phone has been off since early this morning. I went by his house, and he wasn’t there. I know he owns that sex club in town, so I tried there next, and he wasn’t there either. Felix took Fiona’s death extremely hard and I…” He paused, his voice cracking.

“You think he’s trying to commit suicide,” Karl concluded.

Peter nodded. “I’ve had to talk him out of it several times since Fiona died, but yes, that is my fear.”

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!

“Give us his address. We’ll go check it out just in case he comes back. We’ll check the club too.”

“Is there anywhere, anywhere at all you can think of where Felix may have gone?” Spike asked.

Peter shook his head. “Aside from Fiona’s grave, I honestly don’t know. That’s why I came here. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Go check it out,” Cap ordered. “Peter can give you the address and as far asyouare concerned,” he said, cocking his head at Karl. “You’re going back in WITSEC.”

“Captain,” Spike interrupted. “As much as I hate saying this, I think we should let him help.”

“Excuse me?”

“I let Karl look at the file.” He untucked it from his arm and handed it over. “He found something everyone, even us, overlooked.”

“Oh yeah?” Cap questioned, cocking a brow. “And what might that be?”

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