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I step out of the room as he holds the door open and try to compose myself. I wipe away the remnants of my tears and take a breath. The hallway is empty. I turn back to him as he closes the door. “What am I looking at?”
He stays silent and walks in front of me. He doesn’t stop until we reach the door that I know can’t hold anything good. Pushing it open, I’m met with more memories. The smell of dampness and blood hits me in the face as I stare at the concrete floor, then move my eyes up. Carl and Sloan are perched on either side of the metal table while Cameron occupies the only chair.
His hands are bound together behind his back, and his ankles are tied to the corresponding leg of the chair. When his eyes catch mine, his body starts thrashing, and muffled screams come from around the gag in his mouth.
Sloan stands first and walks toward me. Stopping in front of me, he brushes my hair behind my ear and kisses my forehead. “I’m looking the other way, Charlie. Do what needs to be done.” He starts down the hallway without looking at me again or saying anything more.
In a way, it hurts. I know he doesn’t agree with doing bad things, but my dad was his best friend. He wanted his killer brought to justice just as much as me. Knowing I have his blessing to end this brings me peace. I just wish he could look me in my eyes, tell me it’s okay to do things my way. But I know it can’t be easy for him. I was never okay with murder, not until Teddy anyway. I always thought things could be handled differently, but the world just doesn’t allow it. Bad people slip through the cracks and wreak havoc. I can’t let that happen anymore.
“Untie him,” I say into the room.
Carl’s eyes catch mine. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Charlie. He’s already put up a good fight.”
I look to Cameron again and see the blood running down his chin. It originates from his head and mouth, but I don’t feel bad. I don’t feel a need to fix him. “I said untie him.”
Carl looks past me, and I’m sure it’s to ask for Lucas’s permission with his eyes. I turn in the same direction and wait for Lucas to object, but he doesn’t. He pulls the same brass knuckles from the counter out of his pocket and slips them on. “Do it.”
Carl gives him a stiff nod, then moves to Cameron. “Listen, boy. There are three of us and only one of you. Be smart with your decisions.”
Cameron’s body halts its movements as Carl reaches down and unties one leg. As soon as it’s free, he kicks it out, trying to hit Carl, but Carl catches it. But before he can say anything, I step forward and grip Cameron by his hair, then jerk his head back. “Do you really want to do that?”
His eyes find mine, and I swear a smile forms around the gag. I yank it down, and his laugh erupts into the room. “We could have had better, Charlotte,” he snorts. “But instead you want these fucking criminals!”
I glance to Lucas and see his fist tighten around the brass knuckles, but I hold up my hand that isn’t gripping Cameron’s hair. I lean into his side, letting my lips rest right by his ear. “The god complex you have is pathetic. You’re no better than them, hell, you’re probably worse. You took two men I loved from me, and now it’s your time to hurt.”
He laughs again. “What are you going to do, Charlie?”
“You’ll see.” I turn back to Lucas. “Get him in the car.”
Cameron’s smile falls as Lucas steps forward and unties his other leg. “Let’s go for a ride, piggy.”
“No. No! It needs to happen here!” he demands. “They need to find me here!”
When he starts spitting his blood all over the room, it clicks what he’s trying to do. “Carl, stay here and clean this up. He’s trying to set us up. Make sure every piece of him is gone.”
Lucas chuckles as he hauls Cameron up from the chair and out the room. “Who do you think would work with you? You got one ATF agent locked up already and a fucking chief killed. You’re the short straw here, Cammy boy.”
“Sloan! Sloan will help me! He won’t stand by and watch this happen.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Did you miss him walking away, literally leaving you, or are you blind? Sloan isn’t helping you.”
As we make it to the front door, he screams louder. Before I open the door, I shove the gag back in his mouth. When we step outside, Sloan is waiting by his patrol car in the driveway. Our eyes meet, and he gives me a nod. I turn to Lucas as we make it to the end of the steps. “Put him in my car.”
He nods and walks toward it as I go to Sloan. When I stop in front of him, I look down. “I’m finishing this tonight. I know you may not agree, but it needs to happen. But I need something from you.”
I move my eyes up and look at him as he pushes off his car. “Anything.”
“I need to make sure Cameron isn’t in touch with anyone else. He swore you’d help him, but I know that’s not true. I just want to make sure there isn’t anyone else involved. I don’t want to deal with this shit anymore.”
He nods and juts his chin toward Lucas stuffing Cameron in my trunk. “I’ll figure it out. Where are you taking him?”
I debate on telling him because the less he knows the better, but what’s the point. He’s already so involved. “Malloy Bridge.”
He nods again. “Okay. Be smart.”
“I will.” I give him one last glance before walking to my car.
As I slide into the driver’s seat, bangs ring out from the trunk. I take a second and grip the steering wheel. I’ve waited for this moment for so long, and now that it’s here, I’m almost nervous.
