Chapter 16 - Lauren’s ChoiceLauren stood in the doorway.
Rainwater dripped from her hair.
Her hands were steady.
The gun pointed directly at me.
Emma stepped behind Marcus.
Rebecca moved toward the wall.
Nathan raised his weapon.
Lauren shook her head.
“Don't.”
Nathan lowered his gun.
“You don't have to do this.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard has my sister.”
Rebecca stared at her.
“He's lying to you.”
Lauren laughed.
“You don't know what he's capable of.”
“I know.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“I'm proof.”
Lauren's eyes filled with tears.
“I spent ten years looking for you.”
“And then Richard found you first.”
“I didn't know.”
“I know.”
Lauren's grip tightened.
“Give me the ledger.”
“No.”
I stepped forward.
“Lauren.”
Her eyes met mine.
“You want to blame me?”
“Yes.”
“I deserve it.”
“You locked me out.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to my son.”
“Yes.”
“You helped them target my house.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you here?”
She whispered:
“Because I changed my mind.”
The gun lowered slightly.
“Richard killed the last person who tried to help me.”
She looked at the ledger.
“He'll kill me too.”
Nathan said:
“Then put the gun down.”
Lauren looked at him.
“You think he'll spare you?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because there is no way out alone.”
A long silence.
Lauren slowly put the gun on the workbench.
I stepped toward her.
“Where is Richard?”
“He's coming.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Why?”
“He knows the ledger is here.”
Emma looked at the clock.
“How long?”
Lauren answered:
“Twenty minutes.”
Nathan swore.
“We can't leave through the main entrance.”
Lauren smiled sadly.
“There is no main entrance anymore.”
“What?”
She pointed upward.
“They sealed the house.”
I looked at the workshop walls.
We were trapped.
Then Marcus noticed something.
A small red light on the ceiling.
“Camera.”
We all looked.
Someone was watching us.
Lauren whispered:
“Richard.”
The camera speaker crackled.
His voice filled the room.
“Hello, family.”
I stepped back.
Richard continued.
“Patricia, I assume you've finally opened Harold's little museum.”
I looked at the camera.
“You wanted the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“You can come get it.”
He laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
“The ledger isn't evidence anymore.”
Silence.
“It's bait.”
My stomach dropped.
“Bait for what?”
“Everyone who betrayed me.”
He paused.
“And that includes one person in your room.”
Everyone looked around.
Richard continued:
“Patricia, ask Marcus who told me where the workshop was.”
Marcus stared at Lauren.
Lauren stared at Marcus.
Then Emma whispered:
“Marcus?”
My son stepped backward.
“No.”
Nathan grabbed him.
Richard laughed.
“Ask him.”
I looked at my son.
“Marcus.”
He shook his head.
“Mom, I swear…”
Then Lauren spoke.
“He told Richard.”
Marcus froze.
I stared at him.
“Is that true?”
Marcus said nothing.
Richard's voice came again.
“Twenty seconds.”
May you like
Then every door in the workshop locked.
And the lights turned red.
