Something shifted in his expression, his shoulders relaxed. “Oh god, that’s right. You’re the guy with the missing wife. This Xmas Day Butcher is freaking insane, man. I can’t believe someone like that is out there. I hope you find your wife, and I hope Joseph is found…alive. Be safe, man. It’s getting crazy out there.”
I nodded, appreciating the sympathy. “Thanks. You too.”
He gave me a quick once-over. “Alright, just be quick, and don’t get caught, his office is open because I’m cleaning. I don’t like that guy anyway, to be honest. He’s shady.” He leaned in. “I never saw you. That goes for both times.”
Both times? Was I here before? Why don’t I remember?
I nodded and slipped past him, heart still racing, and moved toward the mayor’s office. I reached the heavy wooden door and pressed down on the metallic handle; it clicked open as I pushed myself inside.
The rich smell of leather from his chair and the faint residue of cigar smoke hung in the air. His desk was cluttered—papers scattered, a half-empty coffee cup, pens sprawled toward the edge of the table, but my eyes locked onto a small safe inserted into the wall, behind his desk.
I went over quickly, and inserted the key I had been sent. I turned it and it clicked open. There were many folders and files stuffed inside, but one folded print-out caught my eye.
I pulled it out. It had a sticky note on it that said: “Adark secret that’s yet to be found…”
I hesitated for just a moment, then carefully unfolded it.
It was a series of text messages betweenHENRYandCLARA.
HENRY: What are you even talking about?
CLARA: Your dad tried to force himself on me!! He's a creep!!!
HENRY: No way…he wouldn't do that.
CLARA: He did do it!! I need to tell someone about this!! He's the mayor!! It's NOT okay!! I would never lie to you.
HENRY: He's the mayor…and my dad…who's going to believe you?
Thisnever made it on the news—it looked like a cover-up.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I searched the safe again and found photographs—I flipped through them. Pictures of Mayor Hamonte and Clara together at the Christmas party last year, Hamonte looked intoxicated—Clara seemed uncomfortable.
I could hardly breathe. This meant that Hamonte must’ve had something to do with Clara’s disappearance…and her death.
A soft creak behind me made my heart leap.
Mayor Hamonte stood in the doorway, casually leaning against the frame, phone in hand, texting like he’d just come back to get something he’d forgotten. “I forgot my wallet,” he said without looking up. “I wanted to order a Christmas ham dinner.”
His eyes found mine, calm but sharp. “Hello there, Lenny. What are you doing in my office? You weren’t invited.”
I remained calm, remembering my task and what I had to do. “I know what you did.” I waved the print-out and the photos in the air. “You’re the one who killed Clara last Christmas.”
He scoffed at me, like I’d said the most unbelievable thing ever. “You think I had something to do with Clara’s death? Are you on something? I understand your panicked state of mind, with the anguish of your wife still missing and all, but this is absurd.” His voice was even, almost bored. “You’re obviously wrong. It was George. George snapped—he’s the one who did it. He confessed to it—caseclosed.”
I swallowed hard, the weight of everything settling in my chest. Mayor Hamonte had killed Clara and had covered it up; it had to be the truth. George St. Nicklaus killed Henry, but not his daughter.
What else was Mayor Hamonte hiding? I already knew he had a disturbing connection with Doctor Tuttle and the Gibraltar Institute.
“The evidence is here! Clara told your son via text message that you forced yourself on her! It’s all here! The photos…everything!”
He clucked his tongue and scoffed. “So, you’re the one who stole the key to my safe, huh? Someone broke into my car recently and now it seems—I know the culprit. I shouldn’t be surprised.”
I shook my head. “No. It wasn’t me. I didn’t break into your car. I had no reason to.”
He glared at me with cold, hard eyes. “Then who did?”
It had been the Xmas Day Butcher, he broke into his car—stole the key to his safe and planted the evidence in the safe.
