The only possible thing that could stand in his way was whoever was in that old van.
But he wouldn’t worry about it now.
As he washed the soap off his body, he stretched. He felt great.
Being with Nicoletta almost all night had energized him. He couldn’t wait until they could be together forever.
If he was really lucky, this morning’s sex was the last time he’d have to stick it in the old fucker.
By this time tomorrow, he’d be planning a funeral.
Thirty-Nine
Parked back in the homeless camp under the overpass, I put the van’s alarm on and crawled into the back, ready to nap for as long as I could. I felt safer sleeping during the day anyway. Anyone who tried to break into the van would be doing it in front of everyone in the homeless camp. Plus, by the time I’d pulled up, most of the people had already cleared out, going to beg or get food or whatever it was they did during their days.
By the time I woke up, it was late afternoon, and I knew James was freaking the fuck out.
I grabbed a burner phone and dialed.
“It’s me.”
“Where are you?” He sounded pissed.
“I’m safe. I think I know who the killer is.”
“Gia, I’m not fucking around. You need to turn yourself in immediately.”
“I can’t.”
“My entire life, my career, my reputation, my future, is on the fucking line.”
Yeah. He was ticked off.
“You’re going to have to trust me here, James.” Even as I said the words, doubt filled me, and my stomach clenched. If I blew this, not only was my life destroyed, but his would be as well.
“Gia, turn yourself in and we’ll figure the rest out.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that.”
I hung up and felt sick.
I logged onto my laptop and started digging around.
There were a lot of Deepfake videos.
Maybe proving my case wouldn’t be that hard after all.
A notification popped up suddenly. I stared at it.
It was a notification that movement had been detected on an external camera. I looked around the van for a second. Did the van have surveillance cameras I hadn’t known about? That Tony was magical. I clicked on the icon and then sat back in surprise.
It was the nanny cam in Nicoletta’s apartment, and it was filming her fucking Charles.
Holy shit!
I saw her mouth moving, but there was no sound. I fiddled around until I found the volume control.
“Oh, baby. You fuck me so good.”
Boring. Think of something more original, dumbass. But I hit record.
Obviously when this was all over, James would have to learn the truth about his dear, sweet girlfriend.
I opened up a can of beans and ate them with a spoon while I waited for Lover Boy to shoot his load. Finally, he did, thank God. I was sick of watching his skinny ass pump away to the chanteuse’s breathy moans.
He stood up and walked naked across the room, his member still at attention. He poured a drink and then sat in an armchair with his legs spread.
“Cover your junk at least!” I said to the empty van.
“Charlie,” the songbird simpered. “When can we leave? When are we gonna off the old guy?”
He gave a slow smile and crooked his finger. She willingly came over before him.
“Tonight, angel. He’s a dead man before morning.”
“Oh, goodie,” she said and clapped her hands together like a five-year-old.
She made me sick. For so many reasons.
“I’m heading out in a few minutes to make his drink for cocktail hour. I’ll put some sleeping pills in the drink, but it won’t come up during the autopsy. I made a point to tell his doctor last visit that I was worried he drinks and takes sleeping pills at the same time. It’s documented.”
“Oh, you’re so smart honey,” she said.
“The cameras are all set up. Marshall has the whole thing rigged. The time stamp on the cameras in the mansion will show the murder at the exact same time we are at the opera house doing rehearsals.”
“Brilliant!” she said and took his drink from him. She sipped at it and then licked her lips. “Did you already see the video? Did I do good?”
“You deserve an Oscar, baby. All the way.”
“When can we leave town?” she said and pouted. “I hate it here.”
“I’m not sure how long it will take to execute the will, but the second the money clears my account, we’re out of here.”
“I love you so much!” she said, pulling a sweater on over her bare breasts and tugging on some leggings and boots.
“Let’s go,” he said. “You can wait in the car. It shouldn’t take more than a half hour, and then we’ll head straight to rehearsal.”
He quickly dressed and they were out the door.
Fuck.
I stopped the recording.
They were going to go kill Oliver Kingsley Hollingsworth. Tonight.
I had to stop them.
I grabbed another burner phone and dialed James’s cell phone.
It went straight to voice mail. Motherfucker.
I left a message: “I’m going to Oliver Hollingsworth’s house. Charles is headed there to kill him. He’s the murderer. And I’m sorry to tell you this, but Nicoletta is his accomplice. I’ll explain it all soon, but you need to get someone over there to stop the murder.”
I hung up and dialed 911.
“911. What is your emergency?”
“There’s about to be a murder. Someone is going to kill Oliver Kingsley Hollingsworth. Please send squads to his house.”
“What is your name?”
“We don’t have time for this,” I said, jumping into the van’s driver’s seat.
“What is the address?”
“Fuck. I don’t know. Look it up. He’s a rich old dude who basically is the San Francisco Opera.”
“Ma’am, we can’t do anything without an address.”
I hung up and dialed Danny.
He gave me Hollingsworth’s address practically before I finished saying ‘Hollingsworth.’
“I don’t know how to get there,” I moaned.
“Where are you now?”
I told him.
“It’s going to take you at least fifteen minutes,” Danny said. “Turn right on the Embarcadero. Otherwise, you’re going to end up in traffic and
