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“He took me into intensive care with some private doctors, and as soon as I was better, he threw me into a house in the middle of nowhere. Threatened me that he was using me as leverage. And I was unable to call the police, and unable to escape the house.

“I didn't have an Internet connection, or anything. The windows were made of unbreakable glass. They could only be smashed with bullets. And I didn't have a gun.”

Alfonze let out a heavy sigh. For the rest of the drive, there was an eery silence in the car, as we allowed Alfonze to have some breathing space, to speak about his situation at his own pace without any pressure.

It wasn’t long before we arrived at his sister Felicia's house.

We made our way in to her apartment block, and then to her apartment.

“Felicia, are you in there?” Donte called out, outside her door.

“Coming!” came Felicia’s voice, as she recognized it was Donte.

She opened the door, and me and Donte made our way inside the apartment. Felicia furrowed her eyebrows, her face falling as she saw me. She hadn’t seen me since the day I’d came by here to interrogate her about Alfonze. She was bound to be confused.

“Is there a reason you're here?” she mumbled uneasily. “Is there an update in my brother's investigation?”

“Yes, there is,” I smiled at her.

“We have a surprise for you, Felicia,” Donte grinned.

Felicia rubbed her chin in thought, furrowing her eyebrows, not knowing what we could possibly be talking about. And then her hands leapt to her face in shock, as she saw her brother Alfonze Michael walk into the apartment.

“Hey sis,” Alfonze smiled.

Felicia broke into sobs, unable to believe her eyes. She rocked herself backwards and forwards as she wept, because this for sure was fucking surreal. This was the last thing that she was probably expecting us to come with, and it was so emotional.

“Oh my God,” Felicia sobbed. “I thought you were dead…”

Alfonze let out a deep breath, before taking his sister into his arms, hugging her close.

“It's okay, sis…” he breathed. “I'm here now.”

“I don't understand…” Felicia cried. “How are you alive?!”

“I'll tell you everything later…” Alfonze mumbled. “But for now… We've got Donte and Maya to thank.”

Both of them turned to face us, their faces filled with kindness and gratitude. It melted my heart. I was happy that me and Donte were finally able to do some good, after spending so much time in misery. The look on Alfonze and Felicia’s faces were priceless… The price of reuniting family with one another.

“I don't know how to thank you,” Felicia murmured. “I'm eternally in your debt.”

“As am I,” Alfonze heaved. “Thank you so much for saving me… If it hadn't been for you both, I wouldn't be here right now. I hope we can catch up soon, Donte.” He trailed off his sentence, folding his arms. “If there's anything else I can do…”

“I don't mean to be pushy,” I interjected quickly, “but you didn't tell us the name or description of the hitman behind the murders in the car.”

I folded my arms uneasily. I felt a little insensitive for bringing it up again so fast, but I still had a murder to solve, and shit to take care of. I took deep breaths in and out, preparing myself for what Alfonze was about to tell me.

“Of course,” Alfonze breathed. “I'm so sorry.”

He let out an exhalation of oxygen.

“The man behind the murders was a blonde man. His name was Brett. He was a friend of Philip's.”

I felt my heart leap to my throat in shock.

Feeling completely at loss for words.

Rendered speechless.

Empty.

Numb.

A void.

I couldn’t believe my ears.

I couldn’t believe my fucking ears…

“Are you absolutely sure?!” Donte denied, the colour draining out of his face in terror.

“Yes,” Alfonze confirmed.

BRETT?!

No…

No, no, NO!

55

maya

“Are you alright, Sapphire?” Donte breathed, as he continued to drive down the Highway. “You've been so fucking quiet.” He let out a sigh, shaking his head. “I know you must be in shock. Knowing your ex-boyfriend wasn't the man he claimed he was.” He balled his hands into fists, seething. “But I promise you, we're gonna burn that motherfucker down to the ground. He's gonna deserve everything that's about to come to him.”