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Dan pushed open the glass door to the mayor’s office. Despite the fact that it was well past five, the door was unlocked.
He’d ditched his security team back at the courthouse. Nothing personal, but a big show of force could make what he intended completely impossible.
He stepped inside. He didn’t see anyone. But he could hear the skrtich-skritch of pen on paper in one of the back offices. He followed the sound.
Acting Mayor Alex Denton sat at his desk, apparently hard at work. Was it always this easy for someone to get close to the sitting mayor? He’d seen security in the lobby, but he’d had no trouble getting past them.
He entered the office. Denton looked up.
“Pike? Wow, that was even faster than I expected.”
“You expected me?”
Denton seemed uncannily calm. “I knew it wouldn’t take you long to put two and two together.”
“You were expecting me?”
“Sure.” Denton leaned back in his chair. “I have friends in the courtroom. I knew what happened ten seconds after the verdict was delivered.” He paused. “And I knew that once you’d finished one task, you’d start on the next.”
“Which was?”
“Well, you got your client off the hook. Again. Man, you must have a hell of a batting average.”
“That’s beside the point. What do you imagine is my next step?”
“I didn’t think you’d wait around long.” He reached for his desk drawer.
“Why don’t you just leave that closed.”
Denton brought up his hands quickly. “You’re the boss.”
“Not in this office.”
He grinned. “Anyway, since you got Camila off the hook, she’s free to retake her office. I knew she couldn’t wait to seize control.”
His forehead furrowed. “That’s what you’re talking about?”
“Is Camila with you? It’s ok, I’ve already started packing.”
His brain was firing, synapses exploding faster than he could think. “That’s why you believe I came here? To boot you out of Camila’s office?”
“I’m just finishing up. Enjoying a last drink in the office.” He grinned, then reached across the desk for a flask.
“Don’t drink that!”
Denton looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Dude, it’s just whiskey. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is?”
“I poured it myself.”
“Have you left it alone? For even a minute?”
Denton pondered. “I did visit the little boys’ room a while back.”
He crossed the office, picked up the flask, unscrewed the lid, and sniffed. “Yeah, Denton, this isn’t just whiskey. Don’t drink it. Unless you want to have the best sex of your life.”
“Uh...well...”
“And then die immediately afterward.”
Denton’s expression flattened. “You think...”
“Yeah. I do.”
Behind him, he heard the soft tread of footsteps. “Damn you, Pike. Damn you all the way to hell and back again.”
He pivoted on one foot. “Thought you’d be around here.”
Benji emerged from the shadows. Holding a gun.
“Couldn’t just mind your own business, could you, Pike?”
“Actually, this is very much my business.”
“You got your client off the hook. It’s over.”
“Except it isn’t. She’ll always be under a cloud. Her career will go nowhere. Unless I can prove who really fried those men in the oven.” He took a step closer, trying to keep his voice level, even though his heart was racing. He knew she was unstable, and a gun in the hands of an unstable murderer was not a promising situation. “You killed those men, didn’t you? For your own selfish reasons. And then you framed Camila. Because you’re insanely jealous of her.”
“I am not jealous of her.” Benji’s face hardened. “I hate her.”
“Same thing. Different word. You killed those men and now you’re planning to take out Denton. Which you couldn’t do while Camila was under house arrest and wearing an electronic ankle bracelet. You had to wait until she was free, so she could be the prime suspect.”
“You don’t know anything. You have no idea what happened.”
“It’s been staring me in the face all along, but your do-or-die devoted servant bit was so convincing it fooled me. For a while. People kept saying it was such a coincidence that Camila knew three of those men. But it wasn’t a coincidence at all. The common denominator was you. You brought those losers into her life. You’ve been in relationships with all of those men. I’m not even sure who the fourth one is, but I’d be willing to bet you were in a relationship with him. That went badly. Did all four men jilt you?”
Her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. “They all used me. Every one of them. Then cast me aside, once they got what they wanted.”
“People told me repeatedly that Nick Mansfield came to Camila on the rebound. I assumed that was a reference to his fling with Gloria Culpepper. But the timelines don’t match up. She dated him more than six months before the murders. And during that time, he took up with you, right?”
Her lower lip trembled. “He said he loved me. He said we’d be together forever. Liar. All he wanted was money.”
“Culpepper said he had debts. She called him a gigolo.”
“He’d borrowed money from the mob. They were threatening to kill him.”
“And you paid his debts.”
“I sold my house for him! I sold my whole damn house! That’s why I’m living in that disgusting apartment.” Tears sprung from her eyes. “I loved my house. But I sold it. He took the money, but the second I introduced him to Camila, he dumped me. He had a new target in his sights.”
“I’m sorry,” he said genuinely. Denton didn’t move. He seemed spellbound by the drama unfolding around him. “I’m sorry some men are complete losers. But that’s no excuse for what you did.”
“You’d feel differently if it happened to you.” He wondered how her eyes could seem so cold and so wild at the same time.
“You dated Callahan too. That’s why you recommended him when Camila needed a plumber.”
“And how did he thank me? Threw a tantrum in the office. Turns out to be a racist pig who probably took the job just so he could give her a piece of his mind. Belongs to some militia group. Probably a hero to his racist friends now. And once he had what he wanted, he dumped me.”
“You admitted you were in a relationship with Primo. That’s how he got access to Camila’s financial records.”
“And as soon as he had them, he dropped me, just like the others. Selfish scumbag. I gave him my body. My greatest gift. And he treated me like trash.”
“Why did you have those financial records?”
The corner of her lips curled. “So you don’t know everything. You haven’t figured out who the fourth man in the oven was.”
“Why don’t you enlighten me?”
She tilted her head to one side. “Why the hell not? You’re not going to tell anyone.”
Keep her talking, he told himself. She’s probably wanted an audience to brag to for a long time. “Something to do with financial records?” He thought another moment, letting the connections form in his brain. Then he snapped his fingers. “Esposito’s partner. The one who disappeared. Hendrick.”
“You win the Daily Double. Nice job, Brainiac.” Her eyes withdrew, as if she were looking inward. “Hendrick tricked me, used my connections to pull off this big land-fraud deal. Esposito’s idea, but Hendrick oversaw the execution. I was willing to forgive him. I was willing to do anything.” She pressed her free hand against her eyes. “Laughed at me when I said I loved him, told me he was only using me.” Her throat rasped. “So I killed him like the other scumbags who treated me like garbage.”
“Hell hath no fury indeed.”
“I think Esposito figured it out. But he hasn’t said anything, because his partner’s disappearance gave him the opportunity to keep all the cash from the deal rather than splitting it. In fact, I think Esposito went to considerable lengths to make sure the police didn’t identify that body.”
Is that why Esposito changed his testimony so drastically? Did someone buy him off? Offer a cover-up in exchange for perjury? Who would have that kind of power?
Only one name came to mind.
“How did you finally figure it out?” Benji asked.
“The ‘C’ scrawled in blood was the best clue—and also the biggest piece of inadvertent misdirection. Everyone assumed that was a ‘C’ for Camila. Seemed the obvious conclusion. Except Nick Mansfield didn’t know Camila owned that bakery. The key, I finally realized, was that Mansfield was a former banker. Unemployed, sure, but he had worked in that world for many years. He was a numbers person, a math major. He talked the talk. People told me he talked about making 100K per ‘annie.’ Needing to scrape together some ‘Georgies.’ To Mansfield ‘C’ was a Roman numeral. For one hundred. As in C-note. A hundred-dollar bill. A Benjamin. Or as he’d say—a Benji.”
He took a step closer to her. “That ‘C’ really was a dying clue, best he could manage with the time he had, his rapidly weakening body, addled brain, and the limited amount of time and blood. But as best he was able, he was telling us you were the murderer.”
Benji’s gun pressed closer. “Aren’t you the little smarty pants.”
“Not nearly smart enough.” He completed the narrative. “One by one, you lured the four men to the bakery. How’d you get Nick back there after he’d dumped you? Sex? Drugs? Money?”
“All of the above. I got even. I learned from my mistakes.”
“You learned the wrong lesson. Sure, he was a complete Nickwad. But that didn’t make what you did okay. You had some bad experiences. We all do. You’re supposed to make it a teaching moment. Learn from it. Grow. But instead, you let it stick in your head. Change you in the worst possible way. You went Count of Monte Cristo when you should’ve gone Scarlett O’Hara.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You knew Camila bought the bakery. No doubt liberated the keys from her and copied them. I bet you chose that date because you knew the mayor would be around opening that restaurant. You drugged three of the men before the christening ceremony and Nick after, tied them up, then turned on the oven and baked them to death.”
“Poetic, don’t you think? They burned me. So I burned them.”
He stared at her, trying to understand. “Did you wait outside the oven and watch them die? Did that give you pleasure?”
“It did. And will again.” She eyed Denton. “You’re next.”
Denton looked baffled. “Why me? We only dated twice. I liked you.”
“You fired me. You replaced me with a man. Maybe afterward I’ll come back for you, Pike.”
“That’s not the main reason you want to kill Denton. If Denton dies now, right after Camila is acquitted, everyone will assume she killed him. Vengeance against this threat to her power. Or maybe you’ll spread fake news saying they were sleeping together. People will assume Camila committed all the murders, even if she was acquitted.” He took a cautious step forward. “You are completely insane, aren’t you?”
“Who’s to say? Are you completely sane? Not from where I’m standing. You work for a guy you’ve never met, you live on a boat though you could afford a mansion, and you regularly engage in sports that could kill you. Sounds insane to me.”
“Hardly the same thing.”
Her eyes darkened. “None of us knows what we’re capable of doing if pushed hard enough. Not until the time comes.” She didn’t lower the gun. “I never thought of myself as a killer. I never thought I'd hurt a fly. But how long can a woman go on being screwed by men who lie and cheat and say they love her? How long?” Her voice choked. “We say this is the era of women. Equal rights. Shattered glass ceilings. But what’s changed? Even after all the MeToo and Time’s Up, men still run this world, treat women like crap, and as long as they don’t rape anybody, they get away with it.”
“You’re...exaggerating.”
“Am I? Even that pissant Mansfield got away with robbing me blind.”
“Because you let him.”
She gritted her teeth and thrust the gun forward. “I did not let him!”
Denton raised his arms. “Pike, maybe we should not anger the lady with the gun...?”
But he continued. “You’re a smart woman, Benji. You must’ve seen the signs. But you ignored them.”
“Because I don’t want to be alone my entire life. Because I want someone greeting me at the end of the day other than my cats. Because I want to be loved. Is that such a crime?”
“We all want that,” he replied. “And that’s usually when we make our stupidest mistakes.” He needed to keep her talking. “But why frame Camila? She’s not a man. She didn’t hurt you. She made you her Chief of Staff.”
“Which means I’m basically her glorified appointments secretary. I never had any real power or influence. She never listened to anything I said. Whenever she had an important decision to make, she’d turn to Esposito or Denton or Luis González. Some man.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.”
“And she screwed Nick Mansfield. She took him from me.”
“She didn’t even know you’d dated him.”
“Doesn’t matter. All men want is sex.”
“That’s a cliché, and wrong.”
She charged forward, gun still poised between them. “What about you, hotshot? I’ve seen the way you look at me, sizing me up. Want a moment of perfect pleasure?”
“It...would never work between us.”
She moved uncomfortably close. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Because I’m a dog person...and you’re a lunatic.”
She brought the gun around and whipped him on the side of the head. He winced but remained standing. “She stole my man!” Her eyes were wide and wild.
He felt blood trickling down the side of his head. “That loser stole from you. You were better off without him.”
“He was all I had!” She began to break down, tears streaming from her eyes. “All I had in the world...”
He hesitated, not sure what to do. “You know this is over, right? You’re going to be convicted. Probably placed in a mental institution.”
“You can’t prove anything.”
“I think I can. You’ve left a lot of footprints, once you know where to look. Like on your Fitbit.”
“What?”
“We’ve had hackers working for us for some time now. We think Sweeney introduced malware that invaded all the computers in this office, and my office, including staff laptops. Which is how Garrett got into your computer while I drove over here. He accessed your online Fitbit records.”
“You—what?”
“At the time of the murder, you were not, as you claimed, at home in bed. Your heart was racing, according to Fitbit. I assume that’s because of the sex you had in the bakery lobby on the table with Mansfield. But you know when your heart raced even more? When you killed four men.” He shook his head. “You’ve got a serious problem, Benji. You need help.”
“You need to die.” She stretched out her arm and aimed at his face.
“You can’t get away with this, Benji.”
No one had to look to identify that voice. Camila Pérez emerged from the hallway. “I heard every word, Benji. Your crime spree is over.”
Benji laughed. “As if anyone would believe you. Or your sleazy lawyer. Who cares what the jury says—everyone thinks you’re guilty. The internet thinks you’re a lying whore.”
“I believe her. I won’t be the only one.” Maria stepped beside Camila. “And I also heard every word you said.”
Benji laughed even louder—and less convincingly. “Another lawyer. Who no one will believe. You can’t prove anything.”
“I can.”
This time, Benji had to turn—to find Jazlyn Prentice, the third woman standing outside the office. “I’ve had misgivings about this case for some time. And now I know why. It didn’t make sense. Camila would never do this. But a mentally unbalanced woman who has been mistreated by men one time too many—now it makes sense. I’ll be happy to prosecute the case against you.”
“You have no case!”
“Are you kidding?” Jazlyn held up her cell phone. “I recorded every word you’ve said.”
“You see what you’re up against, Benji?” he asked. “Three strong women, working together, standing shoulder to shoulder. That’s how the world changes for women. Not because of people like you. Because of people like them.”
Benji darted toward the door, but Camila sidestepped, blocking her path.
Benji raised the gun. “I will kill you. Gladly.”
“Are you going to kill all five of us?”
“Maybe,” she said, snarling. “Starting with you, Pike.”
He leapt forward and tackled her from the side. She fell forward but managed to twist around and grab his hair as she fell, pulling hard. He broke her grip, but she came back, pounding the side of his face with the gun. He shielded his face, but his sore leg buckled and they both tumbled backward.
He grabbed her arm and pounded it against the carpet. She did not drop the gun. He pounded harder, but she managed to hold on. She was trying to curl her wrist, to point the gun at him.
She fired. The report of the gun was shattering. He winced.
He looked around fast. The bullet went into the wall. No one was hurt.
He tightened his muscles and pounded again, as hard as he could.
Maria stepped forward and kicked the gun out of Benji’s hand.
He exhaled heavily. “Thanks, partner.”
Benji sat up suddenly, arms extended, shrieking. She scratched her nails down the side of Dan’s face.
“That—hurt!” He pushed her hard against the wall. “Give it up, Benji. It’s over.”
She rocketed back with astounding speed, pushing him away, pushing free. He blocked her way to the door. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a pen, holding it like a dagger aimed at his face. “I’ll poke your eyes out. Both of them!”
He clenched his teeth. “Crazier than anyone imagined.”
She lunged, but he checked the assault. Behind her, Maria wrenched Benji’s arm back. The pen dropped to the floor.
And still she struggled. Maria and Camila both wrapped their arms around her, then Jazlyn joined in, adding more strength. Benji screamed like a banshee, struggling to get free. With another cry, she lurched forward, breaking through the women’s arms and launching herself again at the man blocking her path. “It’s always some damn man, isn’t it?” she cried. She leapt at him, trying to knock him over.
He caught her in midair and shoved her back. Her head slammed against the wall with a thud. “My mother told me to never hit a woman. But you’ve been wanting equal opportunities...”
“Allow me,” Camila said, fist raised.
Her right hook was impressive. Benji fell to the carpet, dazed.
“I’ll tie this bitch up,” Maria said. “Someone call the cops.”
“Already on it.” Jazlyn had her phone pressed to her ear.
He touched the side of his face. She’d given him a good mauling. Denton crawled out from behind the desk, still looking shaky.
“Face hurt much, Dan?” Maria asked.
“I’ll live. Thank goodness you were all here.”
“We’re only here because you figured it out.” She removed the scarf from her blouse and used it to tie Benji’s hands behind her back. “I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this lately, Dan, but I am seriously glad you’re on my side.”
“And I’m seriously glad I have friends. Like you three women.”
Camila beamed. “Who are more than just pretty faces?”
He nodded. “Much more.”