Chapter 8 - Uncle RichardThe Man Who Cried at My Brother's Funeral
Richard stepped into the light.
Perfect suit.
Silver hair.
Gentle smile.
The same expression he had worn beside Thomas's grave.
He looked at me.
Then at Mara.
Then at the brass key.
“Well,” he said softly.
“I was hoping you'd find it.”
Vince raised his weapon.
Richard's security team appeared behind him.
Ten men.
Maybe twelve.
We were surrounded.
Richard sighed.
“Vince, please. Don't make this uglier than it has to be.”
“You killed Thomas.”
Richard smiled.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Thomas killed himself.”
My jaw tightened.
“You sabotaged the vehicle.”
“He knew the brakes were failing.”
“You arranged it.”
“Proof?”
I held up the flash drive.
Richard laughed.
“Do you know how many copies of evidence your brother made?”
“Enough.”
“Apparently not.”
He stepped closer.
“Because if you had enough, you would know Thomas wasn't a victim.”
My pulse jumped.
“What are you saying?”
“He betrayed the family.”
Mara whispered, “Liar.”
Richard looked at her.
“Daniel's little student.”
Her face hardened.
“You tortured me.”
“You stole from me.”
“You killed Daniel.”
Richard shrugged.
“Daniel was careless.”
The casualness in his voice made my stomach churn.
I stepped forward.
“What did you put inside me?”
Richard smiled.
“Now we're asking the interesting questions.”
He looked at my trembling hand.
“Do you know why Thomas refused the treatment?”
I said nothing.
“Because he thought you would be damaged permanently.”
Mara's face changed.
Richard continued.
“He was wrong.”
“Treatment?”
Richard nodded.
“Your accident gave us the opportunity.”
Vince looked horrified.
“What opportunity?”
“To protect the company.”
Richard turned to him.
“Thomas wanted to expose the ledger. He wanted to destroy everything our father built.”
“He wanted the truth.”
“He wanted chaos.”
Richard looked at me.
“And you?”
He pointed at my hand.
“You were easier to control.”
My blood ran cold.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing that cannot be reversed.”
Mara stepped forward.
“You're lying.”
Richard smiled.
“Ask her.”
I looked at Mara.
“What does he mean?”
She stared at Richard.
“He means the drug is still in you.”
My heart pounded.
Richard nodded.
“She's very good.”
Mara shook her head.
“It isn't a drug.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Careful.”
She continued.
“It’s a biological inhibitor.”
Vince stared.
“What?”
“Designed to suppress neurological responses and interfere with memory consolidation.”
I looked at Richard.
“Why?”
He smiled.
“Because some memories make men dangerous.”
The lights went out.
Gunfire exploded.
Someone screamed.
Vince tackled me.
Mara disappeared into the darkness.
And when the lights came back, Richard was gone.
So was the brass key.
I looked at my empty hand.
Then I saw Mara standing twenty feet away.
Her face was white.
She held something in her palm.
A small silver vial.
She whispered:
“Richard didn't take the key.”
I stared.
“Then who did?”
She looked behind me.
May you like
At Vince.
“Your security chief.”
Related Stories
