Chapter 16 - The Father in the Shadows
Victor raised the gun.
Nobody moved.
David looked at him.
“You're finished.”
Victor smiled.
“Are you?”
The investigator stepped from cover.
“Drop the weapon.”
Victor laughed.
“You think I came here without planning an exit?”
His eyes moved toward the upper balcony.
A second man appeared.
Marcus Hale.
David’s old attorney.
The investigator shouted.
“Hands where I can see them!”
Marcus didn't raise his weapon.
Instead, he looked at David.
“It's over.”
David shook his head.
“No.”
“It should have been over years ago.”
Victor glanced at him.
“You betrayed me.”
Marcus answered quietly.
“I realized what you were doing.”
“What I was doing?”
“You weren't protecting the company.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
“You know nothing.”
“I know enough.”
The investigator ordered both men to surrender.
Victor backed toward the side door.
“Ask David about Anna.”
Evan looked at his father.
“What about her?”
David closed his eyes.
Victor smiled.
“Ask him who killed her.”
Evan’s face went white.
“Dad?”
David looked at him.
“I didn't kill your mother.”
“Then who did?”
David looked toward Marcus.
Marcus stepped forward.
“She was killed because she discovered the accounts.”
“Victor?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
Evan stared.
“Who?”
Marcus said one word.
“Richard.”
The chapel went silent.
I felt my stomach drop.
“No.”
David looked at me.
“I was trying to prove it.”
Evan shook his head.
“My uncle?”
Richard wasn't there.
The investigator looked at me.
“Where is Richard?”
I realized he wasn't with us.
He had stayed at the warehouse.
We all understood at the same time.
Victor smiled.
“You see why I needed Samuel hidden?”
David whispered, “Where is my son?”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“Safe.”
“With Elaine?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Elaine was the only person I trusted.”
I stared at him.
“You trusted her?”
Victor looked at me.
“No.”
David answered.
“I did.”
Victor turned toward him.
“You were always too late.”
David stepped closer.
“Tell them the truth.”
Victor shook his head.
“I protected the company.”
“You destroyed families.”
“They were weak.”
Marcus interrupted.
“You killed Anna.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“No.”
“You ordered it.”
“I did not.”
David looked at me.
“He didn't.”
I stared.
“Then who did?”
David’s answer broke me.
“Richard.”
Evan looked like he'd been struck.
“My uncle killed Anna?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Anna discovered that Richard had been stealing company money.”
The pieces began connecting.
Victor had stolen money.
Richard had stolen money.
David had been caught between them.
The trust.
The false documents.
The hidden child.
The secret marriage.
Every mystery had been tied to a financial war that none of us had understood.
But then David said something that changed everything.
“Richard didn't act alone.”
I looked at him.
“Who helped him?”
David looked directly at me.
“Diane.”
Evan recoiled.
“No.”
David nodded.
“She knew.”
Diane.
My chest tightened.
“You’re lying.”
David shook his head.
“She didn't order Anna’s death.”
Evan whispered, “Then what did she do?”
“She helped cover it.”
Nobody spoke.
David continued.
“She believed it would protect you.”
Evan’s eyes filled with tears.
“You both destroyed my family.”
David looked devastated.
“I know.”
“You let me hate you.”
“I needed you to.”
“Why?”
“Because the person hunting Samuel wasn't Victor.”
David looked toward the dark chapel windows.
“It was someone closer.”
A gunshot exploded outside.
Everyone ducked.
The investigator shouted.
“Down!”
A second shot shattered the stained-glass window.
Marcus pulled David behind a pillar.
Victor disappeared through a side door.
The investigator chased him.
Evan grabbed my hand.
“Stay with me.”
We ran toward the rear exit.
Outside, cars were starting.
One of them peeled away.
The investigator shouted, “Get the plate!”
Too late.
I turned back.
David was on the ground.
Blood covered his sleeve.
“Dad!”
Evan dropped beside him.
David looked up.
“Samuel.”
“Where is he?”
David grabbed Evan’s wrist.
“Don't trust the person who brought him.”
Evan stared.
“Elaine?”
David shook his head.
“No.”
His eyes moved toward me.
May you like
“Diane.”
Then he lost consciousness.
