Chapter 25
With all the disturbing revelations that have come her way these past few days, Kara isn’t even certain she has the strength to answer when her PI calls. Deep down, she suspects something is off with the Paxton Brooker case. She knows something is off, but she’s already in a dark place emotionally.
She’s not sure how much more she can take. It’s been days since her blowout with Nick and she doesn’t feel well .
None of what happened to him excuses what he did to her…but the idea of it making him into what he is makes her heart ache. He was once an innocent boy who did not deserve what those he trusted did to him. And now, he’s a monster who gets off on women saying no. A man who is so twisted he has troubles getting off any other way.
What a pair they make. The damaged man. The burning woman, full of old rage and scars.
The phone continues to ring, an omen of more dark news. “You have something for me?” Kara asks, sighing. Please, no more horror.
The PI makes a scoffing noise around the gum in his mouth. There’s always something in his mouth, be it a cigarette, TicTacs, candy, or gum. Oral fixation. “I called in some favors, made some deals. You owe me. You owe me big , Kara. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find out the identity of a hidden witness?”
Fucking hard and likely illegally gained.
“Alright, I get it. I’ll throw you something extra.” Dieter certainly pays her well enough. She’s almost finished off a large sum of law school loans. Lounging on her lazy boy chair, Kara asks, “What did you find out?”
“I won’t tell you his name, but I was able to do some sleuthing, tricking, and scheming to find out the identity of the witness. With that information, I looked into his banking and his background, creeped around his house. He was not paid any unusual sums of money while working at the Dark Mirage . He may have an NDA to not talk about the on-goings of the club, but there is no hush money. Which tells me they were never trying to keep this man quiet.”
Not exactly the information Kara was hoping for. “So…how does this help me?”
“It doesn’t. But this will help someone. The new witness did receive a large sum of money that came through a cryptocurrency transaction. About two months before he came forward with his story.”
Excitement builds. “Who sent the money?”
“You think it’s that easy?” A bitter laugh. “No idea at this point, that requires a techie beyond my pay grade. The cryptocurrency exchange that was used is untraceable . This is dark web money, girl. Whoever paid this person to speak up does not intend to be found.”
The new witness, who worked as a domineering sadist with a true taste for blood, wasn’t paid anything unusual during his time at the Dark Mirage like some of the other folk who got hush money after leaving the club…but was recently paid in an odd transaction, completely different from the former. The rabbit hole goes deeper.
“…and what does that mean, in your opinion?”
Her PI doesn’t hesitate to respond. There’s a loud smacking sound of his gum bouncing around in his mouth. “To me, that states that the person who paid the new witness is clearly not Paxton Brooker. The witness was not paid because of hush hush money. This particular person was paid to commit to this story and drive the nail in Paxton Brooker’s coffin.”
Well, shit. That’s the general sense that Kara has been getting too.
They wrap up the phone call with her PI emailing her screenshots of the crypto transaction, along with some other images and proof that could be shared with the cops. “Ray is going to be so pissed at me for snooping into this,” Kara mutters to herself, feeling alight with energy. This information means something.
It likely means the cops are looking at the wrong villain.
As she moves about her apartment, printing off the images, getting some documents ready to head over and see Ray at the station, she struggles with the idea that she should make a final call to Nick himself. It seems only right that he should know.
Remember what he did a few days ago?
Of course. How could I forget?
You said you wouldn’t see him again.
It is over. She’s certain of that now, even though her heart aches at the thought. He won’t change his mind on setting aside his sham of an engagement. If he can’t even consider doing something against his evil witch of a mother, how can Kara even have a chance?
He deserves to know that his client is being set up at the very least. This is her last favor to him.
Her heart stutters sickly as she hears him pick up. “Don’t hang up.”
Nick makes a noise of distaste. He’s clearly not over their dark heart-to-heart, nor is he happy about how it ended. “I thought you wanted me out of your life?”
“I do, but that’s not the point. I just spoke with my old PI from Benson’s firm. He was able to get some serious information on the new witness that came forward. It looks like a complete setup now, no doubt about it.”
“ What is it with you ?” Nick says with exasperation. “Digging in my life, digging into a case that has nearly nothing to do with you…does airing dirty laundry get you off, Kara?”
“Nick. Listen to me, for once , you fucking knob. Someone is trying to put the lid on the torture warehouse case. They want it to be closed up quickly and forgotten. I’m certain Paxton is a scapegoat. The new witness was paid from untraceable crypto sources just before he came forward. He’s been paid to pin it on Paxton.”
“The new witness was paid in cryptocurrency? Recently?” He mutters under his breath. “That doesn’t line up with evidence that was brought forth in the Debra Mills case.”
Oh, the Debra Mills case, always a thorn in Kara’s side.
“Exactly, that’s my point.” Kara paces the room, talking with animation as she explains to Nick why this is all insanity. “All of those previous people who had any sort of deviation from the Dark Mirage gained some money in their account from the Dark Mirage account. This witness? Was never paid by that account. They were paid in an untraceable crypto transaction. Recently. Just before they came forward.”
Nick curses under his breath, so unlike him.
“I’m heading over to the station now if you want to meet me there,” Kara tells Nick, stuffing her shoes on, exiting her apartment. Running down the stairs. “I have the proof from my PI. This could probably help you clear up Paxton’s name, because someone is truly trying to frame him for this. The question becomes why .”
“What if we don’t like the answer?” Nick replies, sounding somewhat defeated for reasons unknown.
“Justice doesn’t care if we like the answer or not; the truth is what matters,” Kara tells him. “I’ll see you soon?”
Something like worry enters his tone, but she’s too excited to pay attention to it. “Kara, wait, don’t go, you don’t know wh-”
She steps out onto the street, dusk falling over the neighborhood as she hangs up to call a quick cab. Nick will meet her there, no doubt. This is information that will get his client off. There’s nothing to wait on.
As she steps onto the sidewalk, taking a turn around the corner, Kara doesn’t notice the large van pull away from a distant curb, heading slowly after her, trailing behind just far enough.
Lost in her new, unusual discoveries, she doesn’t sense the danger until it’s too late.