Page 76 of Fatal Attraction

Thirty Two

Spike

Ipulled up at the sanctum, cursing low under my breath when I found it empty before I looped around and parked directly in front of the building. Sighing and banging the back of my skull against the headrest, I left the engine running and then whipped out my phone. I’d called Felix at least a hundred times on the way and each time, it forwarded directly to his voicemail. I bared my teeth behind my lips when I tried again just for the hell of it and found there was no change.

Fuck!

Although I knew it was pointless, I got out the car and approached the building, wanting to eliminate all of the possibilities before I left for the cemetery. My brows furrowed in outstanding surprise at the sign taped against the inside of the door. Apparently, the sanctum had been permanently shut down per the owners’ request.

What the hell?

Since fucking when?

There was no way in hell I read that correctly, so I eyed over each printed word carefully to ensure I wasn’t hallucinating.

I blinked, fucking flabbergasted. This couldn’t have been right. This place was Felix’s life, and any time Phoenix and I ever needed to talk to him, if he wouldn’t answer the phone, Felix was always here. He wouldn’t just up and randomly decide to shut the place down, would he?

No, of course, he fucking wouldn’t. Not without at least giving Phoenix and I a heads up.

Then again,my inner voicereminded me.He did take shit hard that night when he screwed up the investigation. After everything that’s happened with Delilah Fields, Amber and Daniel Strickland, him fucking up our investigation, and then Charlotte…

Yeah, I guess I could say it was possible.

But why didn’t he warn us?

I’d almost walked away and got back in my car, but first, as a safety precaution, I wanted to double check that the front and back door was locked. I may not particularly care for the prick, but again, I knew how much the sanctum meant to Felix. He’d be devastated if anything happened to it. Making sure the building was fully secure was the least I could do after everything that’s happened.

I rounded the building and started with the back door first. There wasn’t a doorknob, but there was a little black box with a white button in the middle. Albeit I knew it was pointless, I pressed the button, hearing a faint buzzer resonating from the inside. After about thirty seconds of waiting and with no response, I made way for the front door.

My eyes rounded, lips parting when it opened with ease.

If the club was truly shut down, then why was the door unlocked?

Phoenix had phoned me not even ten minutes ago and had told me everyone was at Felix’s apartment, gathering what evidence they could. I had to be smart about this, so before walking in, I dialed Captain Burgess. Thankfully, he answered after the third ring.

“Did you find him?” was his stressful greeting.

“Not yet,” I answered. “I’m at the club now, but there’s a sign taped to the door from Felix saying the place has been shut down. Something feels off to me, Cap. I tested the front door and it’s unlocked. If Felix closed the place down, then why would the door be unlocked?”

“That’s a good question,” he muttered.

“Permission toinvestigate?”

“Granted,” he said firmly. “Chief is on the way here, but I’ll call him back and have him meet you at the sanctum just in case you need backup. And Spike…

“Yes, Cap?”

“Remember your training and most importantly, please be careful.”

“I’ll be careful, Cap. I’m going in now.”

I hung up and then walked in, finding the place clean, but as I stalked through the door leading to the bar and lounge, I froze, cocking my head.

Was that…banging?

“Felix?” I called out, being extra quiet so I could listen. “Are you here?”

I could’ve sworn I heard it again but as I stepped through the lounge, it was deathly quiet. I waited around for a moment and as I turned to leave, the muffled sounds came again.

---