Chapter 9
Clara stared at Richard.
Clara: You're lying.
Richard: Am I?
Elena lifted her head.
Elena: Don't listen to him.
Richard: Arthur and Jonathan had a beautiful relationship, didn't they?
Clara: Shut up.
Richard: Screaming. Threats. Arthur telling his own son he was finished with him.
Clara's jaw tightened.
Richard: Arthur told Victoria that Jonathan was destroying the family.
Clara: That doesn't mean he wanted him dead.
Richard: No.
Richard smiled.
Richard: But Victoria thought removing Jonathan would save everything.
Outside, Arthur heard every word through the receiver.
He looked at Victoria, who had been brought under police guard because investigators believed she could help negotiate.
Arthur: Is that true?
Victoria looked away.
Arthur: Did I make you think I wanted Jonathan gone?
Victoria: You were angry.
Arthur: Answer me.
Victoria: You said, “Sometimes I wish Jonathan would disappear and let me have peace.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
It was possible.
He had said cruel things that night.
He remembered whiskey.
Rage.
Jonathan slamming the study door.
Arthur shouting after him.
Arthur: I didn't mean—
Victoria: I know.
Arthur: Did you tell Richard?
Victoria nodded.
Arthur stepped backward.
Victoria: I was angry too.
Arthur: You told a criminal I wanted my son to disappear.
Victoria: I didn't know Richard would kill him.
Arthur: But afterward you protected him.
Victoria cried.
Arthur: You protected yourself.
Inside the mill, Clara kept her eyes on Richard.
Clara: If Victoria gave you Jonathan's route, why did you need to follow him?
Richard: Because he had the ledger.
Clara: You didn't find it.
Richard: No.
Clara: Twenty-four years of murder, theft, blackmail, and you still lost.
Richard's expression darkened.
Clara saw Daniel watching her.
His eyes shifted toward the floor.
A piece of broken metal lay near his right foot.
He was slowly dragging it closer.
Clara continued.
Clara: You know what your mistake was?
Richard: Enlighten me.
Clara: You thought everyone was as afraid of losing money as you are.
Richard raised the gun.
Clara: Jonathan wasn't.
Richard: Jonathan was stupid.
Clara: My mother wasn't.
Richard: Your mother ran.
Clara: To protect me.
Richard: Victoria stayed.
Clara: Because she was a coward.
Richard's face tightened.
Clara: And Arthur built another empire because he couldn't face his grief.
Richard: Careful.
Clara: Daniel stole because he was terrified of disappointing his father.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Clara: Everybody in this family kept choosing fear.
Richard: And you?
Clara looked straight at him.
Clara: I'm tired of it.
She lunged.
Richard fired.
Elena screamed.
The bullet struck a metal beam.
Daniel kicked Richard's knee.
Richard stumbled.
Clara grabbed his gun arm.
Daniel fell sideways with the chair.
Richard threw Clara against a table.
Outside, the detective shouted.
Detective: MOVE!
Tactical officers rushed the building.
Richard heard them.
Richard: You brought police!
He struck Clara across the face.
Elena screamed.
Richard dragged Clara upright and pressed the gun beneath her chin.
Police entered the far end.
Detective: DROP THE WEAPON!
Richard pulled Clara backward.
Richard: Stay back!
Arthur ignored officers and ran inside behind them.
Detective: Mr. Vance!
Richard saw Arthur.
His face twisted into a smile.
Richard: Perfect.
Clara: Arthur, get out!
Arthur stopped twenty feet away.
Arthur: Let her go.
Richard: You finally care about Jonathan's daughter?
Arthur: More than you understand.
Richard: Twenty-three years late.
Arthur absorbed the blow.
Arthur: Yes.
Clara looked at him.
Arthur: Twenty-three years late.
Richard tightened his arm around Clara.
Arthur: That's my failure.
Richard: One of many.
Arthur: You want someone to blame? Blame me.
Richard laughed.
Arthur: Let Clara go. Take me.
Clara: No!
Richard: Why would I want an old man?
Arthur: Because without me, you have no leverage over Vance Holdings.
Richard: I already lost Vance Holdings.
Arthur: Not necessarily.
Everyone stared.
Arthur: I can transfer assets.
Detective: Arthur—
Arthur: Be quiet.
Richard watched him.
Arthur: Offshore holdings. Private reserves. Things not listed in the public filings.
Richard's greed appeared instantly.
Clara saw it.
Arthur did too.
Arthur: Hundreds of millions.
Richard: You're bluffing.
Arthur: Am I?
Richard's gun lowered slightly.
Arthur: You worked around my company for decades. You know there are assets Victoria never had access to.
Victoria shouted from behind police.
Victoria: He's telling the truth.
Richard looked toward her.
Victoria: Arthur kept several family trusts private.
Richard: How much?
Arthur: Let Clara and Elena walk out.
Richard: Daniel too?
Arthur: All three.
Richard laughed.
Arthur: Then I'll take you to the accounts.
Richard studied him.
Clara realized Arthur was buying time.
Daniel had managed to cut one hand free.
Richard didn't notice.
Arthur stepped closer.
Detective: Stop.
Arthur ignored him.
Arthur: You killed one son.
Richard's face hardened.
Arthur: You're not taking another member of my family.
Clara felt the words.
Member of my family.
Richard: She wasn't your family yesterday.
Arthur: She was.
Arthur's voice cracked.
Arthur: I was just too blind to know it.
Clara's eyes filled.
Daniel suddenly sprang from the chair.
He slammed into Richard.
The gun fired.
Arthur fell.
Clara screamed.
Richard hit the ground.
Police rushed forward.
Richard tried to raise the gun again.
An officer kicked it away.
Three officers pinned him.
Clara crawled toward Arthur.
Clara: Arthur!
Blood spread across his shirt.
Emily screamed from the doorway.
Dr. Harris, who had insisted on staying near the police staging area, rushed inside.
Clara pressed both hands against Arthur's wound.
Clara: Stay with me.
Arthur's face was pale.
Arthur: Is Elena safe?
Clara looked toward her mother.
Police were freeing her.
Clara: Yes.
Arthur: Daniel?
Daniel knelt nearby.
Daniel: I'm here, Dad.
Arthur nodded weakly.
Arthur: Good.
Clara: Stop talking.
Arthur almost smiled.
Arthur: You like giving orders.
Clara: Be quiet.
Arthur: Jonathan did too.
Clara began crying.
Arthur lifted one trembling hand.
He touched her cheek.
Arthur: I should've known you.
Clara: You'll have time.
Arthur: Clara—
Clara: You will have time.
Arthur's eyes began closing.
Clara slapped his cheek gently.
Clara: NO.
Dr. Harris: Keep pressure here.
Paramedics rushed inside.
Arthur was lifted onto a stretcher.
As they carried him away, he reached toward Clara.
She grabbed his hand.
Arthur: Don't leave.
Clara: I'm coming.
Arthur: Promise.
Clara: I promise.
Behind them, Richard was dragged to his feet.
He laughed.
Clara stopped.
Richard had blood on his face.
Richard: You think it's over?
Detective shoved him forward.
Richard: Ask Victoria about the original will!
Arthur heard him.
So did Clara.
Richard shouted again.
Richard: ASK HER WHO JONATHAN'S MOTHER REALLY WAS!
Arthur's eyes opened.
Clara stared.
Victoria went completely white.
Arthur: What?
Richard laughed as police dragged him away.
Arthur looked toward Victoria.
Arthur: What is he talking about?
Victoria said nothing.
Arthur: Victoria!
Dr. Harris: We need to move!
Arthur was rushed outside.
Clara followed.
But as she passed Victoria, Victoria grabbed her wrist.
Clara: Let go.
Victoria's voice trembled.
Victoria: Richard is trying to hurt Arthur.
Clara: Then tell me he's lying.
Victoria couldn't.
Clara's heart pounded.
Clara: Who was Jonathan's mother?
Victoria looked toward the ambulance carrying Arthur.
Then back at Clara.
May you like
Victoria whispered.
Victoria: Not the woman Arthur buried.
