Page 49 of The Midnight Club

Ori knew Maceo was aware of the small crush Alex obviously had on Ori, but still trusted his friend to take care of her. Ori too knew she could rely on the big man, and that he would not take advantage of the situation.

How can you be so sure?A small voice inside her piped up, but she batted the thought away and tried to get some sleep.

Benoit Vaux woketo the news of Maceo’s arrest and immediately made plans to fly to New York. He called Seth, who told him about Alex taking care of Ori. “Maceo could really do with the rest of us being there for him,” Seth said in his soft Canadian accent, and Benoit agreed.

But no sooner than he had ended the call, then Alex himself called him. “Benoit … I hate to do this, but have you been seeing someone? A blonde woman called Shiloh Holt?”

Benoit’s heart began to pound. “We saw each other for a while, but she’s in Africa now. Why?”

Alex hesitated. “I just rechecked the website—the one with photos of Viola and Ori. There’s a new photograph, Benoit …”

Benoit looked up the address Alex gave him, and his heart froze. It was a photograph of Shiloh, her blonde hair flowing down her back, walking through the arrivals area of a foreign airport. Underneath, the caption read Nightfall.'

“Jesus,” Benoit hissed, his emotions swirling. There was something else about the image he couldn’t quite get a handle on, but he listened as Alex calmed him down.

“Look, man, unlike the photos of Viola and Ori, she’s not injured in any way, but I thought you should know. She’s on this crazy’s radar now.”

Benoit was silent for a long time. “Who the fuck is doing this? And why not come after the four of us, not the women we love?”

“I’m trying to rack my brains to find out who would do this, who we might have pissed off.”

“I think this goes beyond just pissed off, Alex.”

“Yeah.”

Benoit sighed. “Look, I was going to fly to New York, but now I think I had better go to Africa and make sure Shiloh is safe.”

After he had hung up, he studied the photograph of Shiloh closely. There was something about her demeanor and the way she carried herself.

When it came to him, he pushed back his chair and strode to his office door. “Genevieve, book me a flight to Nairobi—as soon as you can.”

Kate Garcia glanced over at her client as they sat in his bail hearing. The DA on the other side smirked at her; Kate knew him well. She had been at law school with his younger brother. Smug bastards both of them, from a rich family.

“All rise for Judge P. Richards, presiding.”

The judge made his way in and sat down. “I understand the prosecution has something to say at this time?”

Kate glanced over at the DA quickly.She didn’t know what they were playing at. Maceo looked at her, but she shrugged.Your guess is as good as mine.

“Your Honor, we would like to ask the court for a postponement of this bail hearing in light of the new evidence we are just receiving.”

Kate was up. “Objection, Your Honor. What new evidence?”

“That’s for me to ask, Ms. Garcia,” said the judge mildly, then looked back at the DA. “Let’s have it.”

The DA glanced at Maceo quickly. “We feel certain Mr. Bartoli is a flight risk and today we have come into some information that he had already been planning to return to Italy once his bail was set.”

Maceo looked confused and shook his head at Kate. She stood. “Your Honor, my client knows nothing about these plans.”

“So this itinerary and flight plan are nothing?” The DA held up a sheaf of papers, then presented them to the clerk of the court.

Maceo bent his head towards Kate. “I made no such plans. Someone’s framing me.”

“So it would seem,” Kate murmured. “And that gives me pause. I don’t think it would be a bad thing to postpone bail. Something about this is hinky, and I don’t want you vulnerable.”

Maceo nodded. “Understood.”

Kate stood.