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Both Karl and Nyla flinched at Hollis’ words. “What are you saying?” It was Karl who asked.

“I’m saying Katherine Farrell was the leader of an organized crime ring, and Barcos was working for her and has been doing so for close to twelve years. She’s been the financier for his entire organization.”

Seeing Nyla’s shocked expression, Hollis then said, “I will start from the beginning with the baby.”

“Baby? What baby?” Nyla asked.

“Your aunt got pregnant at sixteen, and your father forced her to give her baby up for adoption. For years she searched for her son and only found him a couple of years ago. She never interfered in his life, and they have never met. She just wanted to make sure he was okay.”

Nyla nodded. “Go on.”

Hollis then told Nyla how her aunt blamed her brother for forcing her to put her baby up for adoption. She never recovered from that and chose a life of crime and spent years evading both Federal and local law enforcement.

“Tell me how she framed Karl,” Nyla said.

As gently as she could, she told Nyla and Karl everything. How the fake FBI agents were part of the plan to lure Karl to the warehouse. At the same time, she was playing Barcos, too, because he honestly thought Karl wanted to join the organization.

She figured Karl, not Barcos, would die at the warehouse. Plans were already in place to arrange Nyla’s fake suicide. Hollis told Nyla and Karl it was her aunt, not her parents, who exposed where she was hiding out and ordered those men to bring the entire house down, believing both she and Karl were inside.

Hollis paused in the telling of the story when Nyla began openly crying, and Karl had to comfort her. She could imagine how torturous it was for Nyla to discover what a wicked human being her aunt was. An aunt she loved and had believed had loved her in return. Only to find out how much her aunt had hated her.

“Maybe we’ve told you two enough for now,” Locke said, seeing the hurt in Karl’s features as well as the pain in Nyla’s.

“No, please continue,” Nyla said, wiping her eyes. “I need to hear it, and Karl needs to hear it, too. He and I share everything. Even the disappointments and pain. Then we heal together.”

Hollis nodded. She then told them that Nyla’s aunt was responsible for those explosives attached to the cars that were meant to kill Prosecutor Irvin, Locke, and herself. She also told her about the police officers who were on her aunt’s payroll. Namely the same two who had responded to the burglary call at her condo ten years ago.

She further explained how those same two officers switched places the night of the warehouse shooting to make sure no one had a reason to suspect either of them of anything. Lastly, she told how detectives had questioned her parents and aunt, and that’s when her aunt confessed to what she had done before shooting her mother, who had intentionally taken the bullet meant for her father.

Nyla drew in a deep breath. “At least I know how my stolen gun resurfaced. The only good thing out of this is that the charges against Karl were dropped.” She switched her gaze from Hollis to Locke. “Thank you for all you did.”

Locke smiled, glanced at Hollis, returned his gaze to Nyla, and said, “I had a great investigator.”

Nyla nodded. “Thank you, Hollis.”

“I’m glad it’s over. Karl is free, and so are you,” Hollis told her.

Nyla nodded and turned to Karl. “I want to go see Mom. I understand if you prefer not to go with me.”

“No, baby, we’re in this together. Always remember that,” he said, leaning in and brushing a kiss across her lips.

“Wow! Striker warned me about how mushy the two of you can get.”

***

Everyone turned toward the kitchen doorway. Leaning in the arch was a tall, muscular man. “Stonewall, you aren’t due to replace Quasar for a few days. Why did you come early?” Locke asked, standing.

“After that attempted bombing incident, I think Shep got a little rattled. He knew Quasar had Karl’s protection under control, but I could tell he was concerned about yours,” he said, coming into the room and extending his hand to Hollis. “You must be Hollis.”

“I am,” she said, smiling and shaking his hand. “Striker told me all about you, Stonewall Courson.”

“And what did he tell you?”

“That you tried to kill him a few times when the two of you were in jail together.”

“I heard that story as well,” Nyla said, extending her hand to him. “I’m Nyla.”

“Nice to meet you, Nyla.” Stonewall then gave Karl a bear hug. “You okay, man?”