Page 123 of XO Karma

“Yeah, and this file could do that!”

He sighs. “I promise nothing in there is going to bring you peace.”

“Why won’t you just let me see it?”

“Lily.” His tone is sharp. “There are graphic details of her death. Photos.”

“I’ve seen the photos.”

“No.” He shakes his head, cracking his knuckles. “You’ve only seen the publicly released photos.”

“What?”

“You think those are the only images the Kodak Killer supplies?” he scoffs.

“I don’t understand.”

He releases a heavy breath, grabbing a different folder off his desk and handing it to me. Opening it, I note the name Karolyn Heinzel at the top. My hand covers my mouth at the sight of almost a dozen photos of her deceased body. It shows every wound on her skin. Her vacant stare. Broken bones.

I stumble back, sitting in Jackson’s seat. “I don’t understand.”

“We’ve gotten far more photos for the victims than are ever released to the public, Lily. The Solarium usually picks the least graphic ones.”

“How do you get them?” I ask, curious if Aster’s been telling me the full truth.

“We usually receive an email a day or two after the victim disappears.”

My stomach twists. “Why didn’t you tell me about the extra photos?”

“This is my job,” he says as if I need a reminder. “I don’t tell you about all my cases.”

“But this.” I wave the folder at him. “This you should have told me.”

“What difference would it have made?”

“I’ve been searching for Kodak for months,” I say quietly, tone exasperated. He bites his inner cheek, expression lacking surprise, and my lips part. “That’s why you didn’t tell me?” Anger bubbles within me. “You don’t want me to find him?”

“Of course I want him found.”

“You just can’t accept that it might be me who does it?”

“How many times do I have to beg you to let me keep you safe?” His eyes are glossy and pleading.

“I don’t need you to keep me safe,” I snap, rage erupting as I stand, then rush towards him. “I need you to give me that goddamn file or so help me god, I really will move out. I’m not living under the same roof as someone who’s willingly withholding information that could help me catch Violet’s killer.”

“I could lose my job. Don’t you realize that? I can’t just give you files because you want them.”

“When the hell has that ever stopped you before?” I shriek. “You don’t think you’d lose your job if they found out you knew I was Karma?”

“They won’t.” His tone is firm, and for both our sakes, I hope he’s right.

“Then what’s one more little secret?” I ask, batting my lashes.

“I want him found too,” he repeats, tone softening. “But I’m not willing to add your body to the evidence that gets me there.”

I grit my teeth. “Have you so little faith in me?”

His brows furrow, moisture in his eyes that I ignore before my empathy overtakes my anger. “I just love you.”