Page 42 of Shattered

“You, too, huh?” He lifted his chin in Kalkin’s direction.

“Yeah, seems like there’s been a development,” his brother answered. “Caught me right in the middle of—”

“We don’t need to hear about it,” Mackenzie muttered.

“Do any of you know what the development is?” Hayden stepped forward.

They all shook their heads.

“Well, whatever it is, we should get inside. Don’t need to make ourselves any more of a spectacle out here.” Kalkin ushered them forward toward the door.

“How are things going with Jefferson and Jochi?” Hayden asked as they entered the courthouse.

Charisma’s father had ulterior motives for showing up when he did. If the fuzzy photograph in the digital newspaper was anything to go by, it’d been wise to come to Window Rock in many ways. One, Keeley could track the source. Two, if anyone ever wanted to play dirty when it came to family, well, Kalkin enjoyed the mud.

“The investigation is going smoothly. I have to hand it to both of them,” Kalkin said. “They’re tenacious when they want to be. They have enough evidence to take down the whole of congress if they ever chose to use it.”

Mackenzie pushed the button on the elevator then held the door open for everyone as they stepped onto the car. He pushed the third floor button then folded his hands behind his back. Since Halloween, everything felt like it was on an accelerated schedule. The days sometimes bled into each other, and it was made worse by his losing of time. When the elevator dinged, they stepped out into the narrow hallway and followed it back to the District Attorney’s office.

The door was open, and DA Franks sat behind his desk. He glanced up when Kalkin knocked on the doorframe, announcing their arrival. “You called.”

Charles stood and motioned for them to enter. On his desk sat a few picture frames. They were all of his mate and their two young children. “I’m glad you could make it on such short notice. I promise I won’t keep you long.”

“What’s this all about?” Mackenzie grumbled.

“There is a small break in the case,” Franks said after closing the door behind them. “I think this has more to do with Nico and Hayden than the rest of you, but I suspect you should all be made aware.”

“Us?” Nico quirked a brow. “Why us?”

“Do you remember a woman named Justine? Blonde, svelt, you met at a bar?” Charles passed a photo to Nico.

Nico growled. “Yeah, what about her?”

“She came forward and had a pretty interesting story to tell me.”

“Come again?” Hayden snarled.

“It’s to help Nico,” Charles said in a soothing tone. “She had regrets and guilt. She’s a new mate and had to get everything off of her chest.”

“Sure,” Hayden snarked. “A new mate.”

The DA grabbed a folder off of his desk then opened it up. He sat there for a moment reading over everything contained within it. “This is my Sworn Testimony, that I, Justine Gabbles, am over 18 and of sound mind.” Charles glanced up at them. “On or about May 15, 2026, or thereabout, I entered into an agreement with Mrs. Holly Raferty, better known to me at the time as Holly Geithner.”

“What the fuck?” Nico yelled, jumping to his feet.

Kalkin placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Let him finish.”

Mackenzie agreed.

Charles cleared his throat. “Here is the meat of it: “On or about the 17thof June, I met Mr. Lopez at the Horseshoe Bar. I had my instructions. I was to drug Mr. Lopez, bring him home, and sleep with him. For services rendered, Miss Geithner promised to help fund my mother’s chemotherapy. I fulfilled my end of the bargain, except for the fact I never had sex with him. Although the remaining part of the plan was to have Hayden walk in on us while engaged in a sexual act, Mr. Lopez was too incapacitated due to the drug. However, Miss Raferty did appear at the door as scheduled, and it allowed me to modify the instructions given to me. Now, seven years later, I can admit how wrong I’d been to participate in such a despicable act. I would like to formally apologize to Mr. Lopez and Mrs. Raferty-Lopez for any and all damage I may have caused them.”She then goes on to end her statement with a promise to cooperate fully with this trial and testify against Holly.”

Mackenzie had to sit down hard. “Are you friggin’ serious?”

“All this time,” Hayden whispered. “All this time I...” She choked back a sob and shook her head. “I am so sorry, Nico.”

Nico shook his head. “She drugged me? I can’t-I can’t wrap my head around this.”

“Son of a bitch,” Kalkin whispered. “Statute of limitations have run out, or else I’d nail both of their asses to the wall.”

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