We also learned someone else must have also had a copy of that video where Tyler was threatened to continue distributing drugs. And that video was shared with Benson Hyde, the man who threatened him.
How do we know this? Thanks to Harding, who has contacts in the FBI.
There is an FBI agent deep undercover in Zavier Carte’s organization. The very man Tyler named as Hyde’s boss. The agent was in the room when Hyde played the video for Carte.
And the agent was also in the room when Carte ordered Hyde to take out Tyler. He was able to reach his contact at the FBI before it went down, but they couldn’t prevent it in time. Which was probably best for the agent; otherwise, his cover would havebeen blown. I should be thinking something along the lines of they should have prevented a murder. But this was Tyler. He was an unredeemable asshole, as far as I’m concerned, and it solved a problem for us.
Who leaked the video to Hyde is a question the police are investigating. And the FBI as part of their undercover operation. Harding will update us once she finds out more.
We decided Willow and Samantha are safe to return to their apartment in Queens. Although Axel insists I stay with them until I’m certain no one is coming after me any longer. And no, I’m not certain about that right now.
When we step into their apartment, we take in the mess. Tyler really did a number. Axel and I help clean up.
Once the apartment is reasonably put back together, Willow and I retreat to her room to give Axel and Samantha privacy. He’s heading out on an assignment tonight and won’t be staying here. And honestly, I’m not sure what’s going on with them. They spent most of the last two days in bed.
“Oh, right. You can come out now,” Samantha says.
We exit the bedroom, and I sit on the couch.
“So, are you going to see him again?” Willow asks.
Samantha shrugs. “Probably not. We agreed it was just a short-term sex thing.”
“Oh,” Willow sounds disappointed. “I thought maybe we could double date sometime.”
Samantha stares at the door. “Honestly, I needed a rebound relationship, so it’s all good.”
Rebound? I’ll have to ask a Willow about that. Because despite what she says, I get the distinct feeling Samantha may have wanted more. I’ve known Axel for many years. And in all that time, he’s only had one serious relationship. It ended badly when he found out she was cheating on him while he wasoverseas. Since then, he hasn’t dated much; instead, he picks up women at the bar from time to time.
“We need to talk about that video you have of Tyler,” I say.
“Which one?” Samantha asks.
“The non sex one. You need to destroy it.”
She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out for a few seconds. “You’re right. We don’t need it anymore. We don’t need any of those files anymore.” She walks to her room and comes back with the USB stick. “How should we do it?”
I grab it and toss it onto the floor to smash it into bits with my boot.
“Okay, I guess that works,” she says as she goes to the kitchen and grabs a small broom and dustpan. She returns and hands them to me. “You made the mess.”
“No problem.” I bend down and clean it up. I’m just happy those files are gone, and now there should be no more reminders of Tyler in Willow’s life.
Samantha claps her hands together. “I have good news! While we were cleaning up this place, I got a voicemail from the HR department. They want me to report back to work next week.”
Willow gives Samantha a hug. “That’s good news. But what about the asshole?”
Samantha grins. “Two other women came forward with similar stories. So, they fired him.”
From conversations I overheard between Willow and Samantha over the past few days, I knew something was going on with Samantha’s job, but it sounds like a bad situation.
She grabs her purse. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to go shopping and treat myself to a new return-to-the-office outfit.”
“Be safe,” Willow says.
“I will.”
Samantha leaves, and all I can think about is that we have an entire afternoon here alone. What I want to do involves never leaving Willow’s bedroom.
