Atlas. He was heading straight for Hector. The crowd impeded his speed, though, and he was a second too late. Hector Olsen’s fist was already raised. Dimple’s blood ran cold. He swung forward, knuckles connecting with Shyla’s face, the resulting crunch loud enough to be heard over the music. Just like that day on set filmingInsomnia,Shyla Patel fell. It had been Chris Porter’s character who’d pushed her off that ledge. And all Dimple could do—both then and now—was watch. Moonlight illuminated the scene in front of her, like a spotlight. Halfway through her descent, Shyla Patel transformed into Irene Singh. The ledge morphed into that same unforgettable staircase.
It wasn’t until the crowd erupted into screams, Shyla disappearing into it, that Dimple snapped back to reality. She could just make out shouted demands to restrain Olsen. Dimple stood frozen, unable to do anything but witness the horror she’d orchestrated. Shyla’s unapologetic laugh flashed through her mind. The two of them poking fun at Chris Porter in Dimple’s trailer between takes. Joint disbelief over the main character’s carelessness. Complaining about the late nights and early mornings. Dimple had nearly forgotten that a man like Olsen, so used to attacking under the influence, would have perfected his aim in those conditions.
“Someone call the police!”
Dimple was out the door before sirens could be heard.
Chapter Twenty-Six
August 8, 2026
Saffi stood outsidethe party, watching as paramedics tended to Shyla Patel’s broken nose. Twin streaks of blood were dried onto her cheeks. On the other side of the grounds, Hector Olsen sat in handcuffs, unfocused as an officer read him his rights. Andino was speaking to another cop some paces to her right. The rest of the partygoers were either on their way home or eagerly watching from the other side of the police tape, trying discreetly to record. Saffi had already confiscated several phones.
“It’s gotta be him, right?” Taylor asked from her left as he studied Hector Olsen. “His predisposed violence toward brown women leaked into his anger at being denied as the director forInsomnia.”
Saffi didn’t reply. Because if what she thought had happened was true, then Dimple Kapoor was a far worse woman than she had thought possible. Considering Dimple’s history with abuse, though, Saffi found it hard to believe. So had she been wrong all along? Was Olsen the true culprit? Or did Saffi just not want to believe that Dimple Kapoor was capable of this level of carnage?
Violence perpetuated violence perpetuated violence.
Saffi’s phone buzzed in her pocket and she accepted the call, lifting it up to her ear. “Where are you?”
“Who’s that?” Taylor asked incredulously.
“Martinez,” Saffi replied. “The intern.”
He frowned. “Why is Mia calling you?”
“She’s on assignment for me.”
“What?” Taylor exclaimed.
Saffi ignored him, walking a few paces out of earshot. Taylor watched with suspicion. “I’m guessing you lost her?”
A missing Dimple could only foretell bad things. Either someone was dead or dying. Or being punched, apparently. One rarely played with fire without getting burned.
“No, actually,” Martinez’s voice was hushed and slightly out of breath, “I followed her.”
Saffi’s stomach dropped. “What? Where are you?”
“Around the time Hector punched Shyla, Dimple left the party. I followed her to this alleyway nearby. I think she’s getting changed. I’m going to see where she goes from here.”
“No—that’s not what I asked you to do,” Saffi said firmly. “Send me your location and go home.”
“But Isawher put something in Hector’s drink,” Martinez insisted. “She was the one who made that woman trip—that’s when she did it. I think she might be…I don’t know. But maybe I can find out.”
Come to think of it, Olsen did seem out of it and not just because he was drunk. But Shyla Patel was a cautionary tale. The last thing Saffi wanted was for another innocent girl to get caught in the crossfire.
“I said no,” Saffi said. “I’ll take it from here.”
There was a beat in which Saffi was sure she would disobey, but then she sighed deep and low. “Okay, you’re the boss.”
Relief crashed into Saffi like a train. “Let me know as soon as you’re home.” And the line went dead.
Great. Saffi hadn’t expected the girl to have such a talent when it came to tailing. She resisted the urge to rub her temples. The last thing she’d wanted was to place this burden on someone else. Especially someone so young.
As she returned to Taylor’s side, Saffi thought back to the crash from earlier, to the waiter who’d helped clean it up. Then to when she had seen Dimple snatch a glass of Scotch from the same waiter andpawn it off on someone else. All strange behavior that she couldn’t characterize until now. It was clear that Dimple Kapoor was capable of far more than what people gave her credit for. Saffi should’ve realized by now that backing Dimple into a corner never worked the way she expected itto.
Then again, the girl hadseenDimple drug Olsen. And she should be sending Saffi her location any minute now. Whatever Dimple was off doing, Saffi would be finding out.
