Page 45 of The Midnight Club

Chapter 3

NIGHTFALL

Lisander Duarte did not speakto anyone the entire flight from Buenos Aires to New York City. The flight attendants fussed over him, bringing him champagne, but Lisander barely registered their presence.

Maceo. Arrested for murder. Jesus.What was shocking Lisander more than anything was that somehow this had been inevitable—Maceo had always been the one to get into trouble—but at the same time, out of all of The Midnight Club, Maceo was the one Lisander would have sworn blind would never, ever be violent.Leave that to Alex or me, he thought now, shaking his head. But maybe Maceo’s love had been in serious danger … Alex had called Lisander and filled him in, and Lisander had taken a look at the website. Seeing Viola’s dead body like that …god. Lisander had swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. Alex had also told him about Maceo’s alleged victim.

“Janek was a rapist and a pedophile,” Alex spat out, “and he was going to murder Ori. Maceo swears he didn’t kill him, but would any of us blame him if he did?”

No way.He and Alex had always been the most similar of their group; no nonsense straight shooters who would do what it took to protect the people they loved. Had they underestimated Maceo’s capacity for violence?

Alex had arrangedfor a car to pick Lisander up at the airport. At Alex’s hotel, he greeted his friend with a hug. “Where is Maceo now?”

“Holding cell. He’s got a lawyer, but bail’s not been set yet.”

“How’s he doing?”

Alex half-smiled. “He’s Maceo. A little shocked to be banged up, but he’s pretty confident this will be sorted out.”

“What about Ori?”

Alex sighed, his expression softening. “A mess. She got hysterical when they arrested Maceo, so the doctors have kept her in the hospital, sedated. They think whoever killed Janek … well, they saved her life. Cops believe that Janek stabbed her and was stopped from going all the way. There were signs of a struggle in the room.”

Lisander ran a hand through his pale brown curls. “Jesus, what a mess. Do we think Janek was behind that website?”

Alex shook his head. “No. Ori is the only connection between the two cases.”

Lisander studied his friend. Alex looked older and grayer, the grief of Viola’s murder etched on his handsome features. “And how about you, my friend?”

Alex tried to smile. “The main thing is to get Maceo freed and to make sure Ori is safe. Seth thinks the best way is for me to take her out of state while Maceo is locked up, but she’s chafing against leaving him.”

“What does Maceo say?”

“Keep her safe. At whatever cost.”

“Who’s his lawyer?”

“Kathryn Garcia. She’s a junior at Fielding, Lawn, and Greg’s.”

“Wait … junior?”

“It was short notice, Sander. Maceo is happy with her.”

Lisander’s face tightened. “Look, I want to see Maceo and talk to this lawyer.”

Alex shrugged. “No problem. Look, I can drop you at the prison if you’d like. I’m going to see Ori to try and talk some sense into her.”

Kate Garcia tried not to grimace as she was being patted down for the third time that day. “How would I have smuggled something in when I haven’t been outside since the last time you did that?”

The guard gave her a withering look and Kate grinned. “No sense of humor.”

The guard buzzed her through the gate, and she walked quickly down to the interview rooms. Maceo was already waiting for her, his eyes tired and stressed, but he still had a warm smile for her. His green eyes crinkled at the edges.

It would be quite easy to get a crush on you,Kate thought, but quickly pushed the thought away. Firstly, she was a professional. Secondly, Maceo Bartoli was crazy-nuts for his lover—the deceased’s stepdaughter. Kate had seen the press conference where Ori had outed Janek for his abuse of not only her but his biological son. Kate had cheered on the brave young woman and had been amazed when, not twenty-four hours later, she had been called to represent this man, Ori’s love, for the murder of Janek.

“Did you sleep?” She studied Maceo’s handsome, scruffy face. He shook his head.

“Not much. How is Ori? Have you seen her?”