Page 35 of Fitch

I took out my phone and called the one person who I knew could help.

“Hello?”

His voice was soft and sleepy, and I wondered if I’d woken him. But god, just hearing him speak made me feel better.

“Fitch, I need you to come to Nolan’s place. Now.”

There was a pause, then the sound of movement as if he was getting out of bed. “Why? What happened?”

“I’ll tell you when you get here.”

“You’re there? I thought you were going to work?”

“I did. Look, I know who Benji is, and I can only assume you do too. He needs his friend. How soon can you be here?”

It sounded as if he was putting on shoes? “I’m on my way.”

“Hail a cab. I’ll pay.”

Fitch arrived with Ky,and they collected Benji in a hug. Nolan’s eyes met mine, his appreciation clear.

“We need to talk,” I said to him.

He nodded, and the boys left us to speak in privacy. I knew he’d do the right thing—Nolan was a good man—but personal reasons aside, I needed him to see reason.

And we needed a plan.

The truth was, a sound plan was ultimately for Benji’s safety. That wasn’t a ploy to get Nolan on my side, and he knew that. Once I’d explained that Benji’s safety, his life, was the priority in seeing the case through, Nolan understood.

We’d need to notify the police. We’d need to tell our bosses. We’d need to come clean about the whole thing. Not just him, but me too. It wouldn’t be easy, but if he wanted to keep Benji safe, the best and only way to do that was to ensure that Bruno Barbieri never saw a minute out of prison again.

He knew I was right.

“It’s up to Benji,” Nolan said. “I can explain the legalities, but at the end of the day, it’s up to him. I won’t force him. I can’t. I won’t.”

I met his eyes and conceded a nod. “I get it, Nolan.”

Maybe more than he realised.

But in the end, he didn’t have to convince Benji to do anything. Benji offered. He wanted to see this through.

And he had evidence.

It changed everything. New information would change the entire case.

Benji was pale and clinging to Nolan, and even though he knew it wouldn’t be easy, I needed to make it clear. “Benji,” Isaid, “before I make some calls, I need to know if you’re one hundred percent certain you want to do this.”

Benji looked at me, teary and scared. “I’m scared shitless right now,” he said, looking up at Nolan. Nolan nodded and it seemed to bolster something in Benji. “But yes. I need this to end. And it will never end unless I do this.”

Yes, yes, yes.

Thank fuck.

I stood up. “Good boy.”

Fitch gasped. “Hey. None of that from you to him, mister. That’s for me only.”

The little punk.

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