5. Five

five

Charlotte

"Ihad no idea they were still together," Kristen told me first thing when I guided her away from the detectives and toward the street. "He told me he left her about a month before we got together. I swear I didn't know she'd been harmed or that she was even there last night. She's not even old enough to get in."

"It's okay, Kristen." I instructed her to breathe in and out and did the motions with her, trying to calm her.

God, this woman really seemed to be shaken up by this whole thing.

"I believe you. I don't think you had anything to do with what happened. However, you were there last night. Are you sure you didn't see Delilah?"

Kristen immediately shook her head. "I swear on my life I didn't know she was there. The truth is, I've never actually met Delilah, so even if I had seen her last night, I honestly wouldn't have recognized her. You see, the club is very strict on anonymity. All members are required to wear a mask."

"What time did you arrive at the club last night?"

"Uh…" Kristen paused for a long moment, worrying her bottom lip. "Sometime after 11pm, maybe? I got off work at 10. I left, came home, showered, got ready, and then I texted Justin telling him I was on the way. I'm not exactly sure what time it was, but it couldn't have been no later than 11:30."

I fetched my pad and pen out of my pocket and wrote down the notes. "And what time did Justin arrive?"

"About five, maybe ten minutes after I got there. It wasn't long at all."

"And you don't remember seeing anything out of the ordinary? Anyone that may have looked suspicious or like they didn't belong?"

Kristen slightly lifted her shoulders and frowned. "No. Nothing. Everyone had masks on. The only thing I can think of that could help is to maybe have the detectives check out the sign-in sheet at the club. All members are required to sign themselves in and show their membership cards to the guy at the door upon arrival."

I cracked a smile at her. I had to give it to the girl—Kristen was smart. She practically read my mind.

"Felix McMann," she rushed in before I could speak. "He's the one you should talk to. He's the owner."

"Thank you for your time, Kristen." I reached inside the chest pocket of my shirt and handed her my card. "If you remember anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to call me."

Detectives Rhodes and Hutch were still interviewing Justin, so instead of interfering, I just stayed put while Kristen reentered her home and pulled out my phone, checking my call logs.

"Damnit," I whispered, sighing with regret.It was 11:15 when I'd called Peter and cried to him about my run-in with Karl last night. Assuming Kristen's timeline was correct, then Delilah was assaulted after I'd left the club. There was nothing I could've done to help her or prevent it from happening.

Putting my phone away, I glared across the lawn at Justin Wheatley, whose face was flushed, with a river of bullshit tears pouring down his face. He wasn't ugly. I'd give the little shit that much. He had a nice body and honestly looked like he could pull off a career being a male underwear model. His pain seemed real and even from my standpoint, it appeared genuine, but it was beyond my control—I couldn't help but fucking judge him even though he wasn't Delilah's rapist.

He was an asshole.

Delilah deserved so much better and so did Kristen.

The detectives shook Justin's hand, and from across the lawn I could hear Justin telling them he'd be at the precinct soon. I remained in my spot until both detectives were standing in front of me with annoyed sighs slipping past their lips.

"Justin is coming to the precinct to submit a DNA sample," Detective Hutch spoke first. "He admitted he's been cheating and lying to both Delilah and Kristen."

"However," Rhodes pitched in, "he claims Delilah never knew about Kristen or about The Flirty Sanctum. According to Justin, Delilah was never supposed to be there."

My brows lifted in frank surprise.

Huh… That's interesting.

"Do you believe him?"

"Unfortunately, we do," Rhodes nodded. "We don't think Justin's our guy, but we can't fully rule him out until we get the DNA results."

"Kristen told me there's a sign-in sheet and that all members are supposed to show their membership cards at the door upon entry."

Both Rhodes and Hutch nodded. "Justin told us the same thing," said Detective Hutch. "Apparently, the owner is known to be quite the asshole. I have a gut feeling he won't let us anywhere near that list or the security footage without a warrant."

I raised my brows then. "If that's what it takes, then so be it. I can have one ready and signed by a judge within an hour."

"Let's just wait and see what happens first. If we need the warrant, we'll call, so keep your phone close."

I suppose that was Hutch's way of telling me he didn't want me hovering around them more than I had to.

That was perfectly fine with me because thanks to my overbearingly impatient lawyer going behind my back and reporting Karl to the chief, I had other matters to tend to, and fast.

My intuition must have been spot-on because my phone started ringing. I sighed as my boss demanded me to get back to the office as soon as fucking possible. She did not sound happy.

"Go handle business." Detective Rhodes offered me a weak, sympathetic smile. "We'll update you once we know more."

I nodded and turned away, my heart sinking as I ambled toward my car.

Jesus fucking Christ, Peter. What the hell have you done?