Chapter 9 - Everett had lost his daughter once.He wasn't going to lose her twice.
He turned toward Victor.
“Where is Richard?”
Victor smiled.
“Doesn't matter.”
Everett grabbed him by the throat.
“Where?”
Victor coughed.
“You're too late.”
Everett tightened his grip.
“Where?”
Victor laughed.
“You don't understand Richard.”
“He isn't running this.”
Everett froze.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“I am.”
He reached into his coat.
Everett stepped back.
Victor pulled out a phone.
“Richard is old.”
He showed the screen.
A live location.
Then Victor whispered:
“I'm the one who took your granddaughter.”
Everett's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Victor looked at Lily.
“Because she knows where the money is.”
Lily shook her head.
“You don't even know what you're looking for.”
“I know there's thirty million hidden somewhere.”
Everett frowned.
“What thirty million?”
Lily looked at her father.
Then spoke.
“The money wasn't stolen.”
Victor's smile faded.
“It was recovered.”
Lily nodded.
“Six years ago, I discovered that Richard was laundering money through legitimate companies.”
Everett stared.
“The Knox family company.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you would have gone after him.”
“I should have.”
Lily shook her head.
“Dad, Richard had police protection.”
She looked toward Victor.
“And he had you watching me.”
Everett's eyes turned cold.
“You used to work for Richard.”
Victor nodded.
“I did.”
“What happened?”
Victor's expression changed.
“Lily happened.”
Silence.
“I was supposed to kill her.”
Lily looked at him.
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Victor stared at her.
“Because she looked exactly like my sister.”
Lily's face softened.
Victor continued.
“My sister was one of the girls Richard trafficked.”
Everett stared.
“This wasn't about money.”
Victor shook his head.
“It never was.”
He turned toward the exit.
“Richard is holding Junie at the Knox estate.”
Everett moved.
Victor raised his gun.
“You can't stop him.”
Everett looked at him.
“Watch me.”
They drove through the night.
At the estate, every light was off.
Too quiet.
Everett entered through the service entrance.
Lily followed.
Claire stayed behind with Price.
They found the first room.
Empty.
Second.
Empty.
Then Lily heard something.
A child's voice.
“Mister Bear?”
Everett ran toward it.
A small room.
Empty.
Only Junie's purple unicorn shirt lay on the floor.
Lily fell to her knees.
“No…”
Everett picked up the shirt.
Something was sewn inside the collar.
A note.
He opened it.
YOU KEEP LOOKING FOR THE GIRL.
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE MOTHER.
Lily stared at the words.
Everett looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
Lily's expression changed.
She whispered:
“Richard isn't holding Junie.”
Everett frowned.
“Then who is?”
Lily looked toward the staircase.
“Someone we trusted.”
A woman stepped out of the darkness.
Claire.
She was holding a gun.
Everett froze.
Claire pointed it at Lily.
Lily's eyes filled with betrayal.
“Claire…”
Claire's hand trembled.
“I'm sorry.”
Everett stepped in front of Lily.
“Put the gun down.”
Claire shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“Because they have my son.”
Everett stared.
“Your son?”
“He was taken three years ago.”
Claire broke down.
“They promised they'd give him back.”
Lily whispered:
“They never intended to.”
Claire looked at her.
“No.”
May you like
She raised the gun.
“I brought you back to them.”
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