Page 113 of Three for a Girl

“You crashed into him?”

“When I was searching for you, and I saw the building in the trees. I wasn’t looking where I was going and swerved at the last second. He had that look in his eyes again, but I was so ashamed I could’ve killed him.” Chad touched his nose. “I remember the smell of strong antiseptic and smoke. He told me it was cigarette smoke, and I didn’t question him any further.”

“You think he was getting rid of evidence that night?”

Chad nodded. “I think he scrubbed that building clean and burned whatever evidence he could before stuffing the rest in his car.”

“So the organs sent to the hospital?”

“Were meant for him, as a warning. Andrew was reported driving around the hospital. He parked in a layby, on a stretch of road that he knew Carter would drive along to get home, except we intervened, and Carter was called into theatre at the end of his shift.”

“Carter the hero.” Romeo snorted. “And I thought my masks were effective, but the good doctor is another level … but who’s in those woods?”

“Missing people linked to Ellen and Kerion. They were taken, the DI thinks they might have been sold into trafficking, but Andrew was adamant Zara was dead. They showed her no care, compassion or dignity, that’s what he told me.”

“But why … what were they doing in that building? Why take those girls?”

“Carter specializes in organ transplants. You should see his office, all the thank you cards for him. For a job well done. What a hero. Ellen and Kerion were both paid a lot of money when one of their victims vanished.”

“You think what? Carter was selling organs on the side?”

Chad nodded. “I think he paid Ellen and Kerion to help him, and they delivered his victims right to his door. He took what he needed before dumping them in the woods, and they all hid behind these perfect masks. Six years they’ve been doing this, but not anymore.”

“Andrew took care of Ellen and Kerion.”

“Which leaves us with Carter.”

“Clever magpie.”

“I don’t feel very clever. I feel stupid. I fell for his caring, passionate façade.”

“It sounds like he tricked everyone—”

“But I of all people should’ve realized he was the killer at the start. I had suspicions, prickles, but I kept dismissing it. He couldn’t possibly have anything to do with it, he was a doctor, a good guy who saved people.”

“He saves people in the spotlight and kills others in the shadows. He’s your perfect dark meets light. The man in the grey.”

“He’s Mr. Fucking Grey.”

Carter beamed a smile down at him from his position high on the wall. His blond hair and blues eyes were angelic. The lighting behind him basked him in a godly glow, but Chad could see the devil now.

Chad’s fingers found his throat. He pushed against the purple flesh, prodding the soreness like Carter had. “I let him check me over. Let him touch me. I couldn’t stand his hands on me, but he told me to trust him and I did.”

Chad didn’t turn to Romeo, but knew he was closing in. He hooked Chad’s chin with his forefinger, and when Chad faced him, he brushed his fingers underneath, moving Chad’s hand aside and gripping onto his throat. The heat of his palm soaked into Chad’s skin, and he relaxed into Romeo’s firm clutch.

“What do you want to do?”

Chad swallowed, his Adams apple sliding against Romeo’s palm.

“I want to bring him here.”

Romeo found Chad’s lips with his thumb, and rubbed against them, so slight a touch it tickled.

“What else?”

“I want to be sure. I want to hear him confess.”

Romeo licked his lips. “And if he confesses, then what?”

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