Chapter 11 - Lucy's BetrayalLucy was on the security screen.
She stood beside Mom.
My mother held a gun.
Lucy looked at the floor.
I couldn't believe it.
“Lucy?”
She looked directly into the camera.
“I never wanted this.”
“Then leave.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
She began crying.
“Because I owe them.”
“What do you owe them?”
“My children.”
I went still.
Mom stepped into view.
“Your sister has made mistakes.”
“Mom, you kidnapped me.”
“I was protecting the family.”
“You stole from me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You framed me.”
“You don't understand what happens when Northbridge collapses.”
I laughed.
“People go to prison?”
“People die.”
The room fell silent.
Mom's face changed.
“The company isn't just money. It controls people.”
Harold muttered, “She's right.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
He nodded.
“Your father built an organization bigger than you know.”
Mom continued.
“There are people in government who owe Northbridge everything. Banks. Judges. Police.”
“So you planned to take everything from me.”
“I planned to keep you alive.”
Lucy finally looked at me.
“I tried to stop them.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Then why did you move into my house?”
“Because they forced me.”
I stared at her.
“Who?”
She looked at Mom.
“Mom threatened my kids.”
My anger broke for the first time.
Not disappeared.
Broke.
“You could have told me.”
“I was scared.”
“You watched them move into my house.”
“I thought I could control what happened next.”
“Could you?”
“No.”
Mom interrupted.
“We don't have time.”
She turned to Lucy.
“Give me the drive.”
Lucy froze.
“No.”
Mom's expression darkened.
“Lucy.”
“No.”
I stared at my sister.
She reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a second USB drive.
“I took this from Steve.”
My heart raced.
“What is it?”
“The proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Lucy looked at me.
“Who killed Dad.”
Everyone went silent.
Then she threw the drive toward the camera.
It landed at Harold's feet.
“Open it.”
Harold plugged it in.
The screen filled with an old security recording.
Hospital corridor.
Nine years earlier.
A nurse entered my father's room.
Then another person followed.
The person wore a hood.
But when the hood came off…
I stopped breathing.
It was Steve.
I turned toward the screen.
“No.”
Lucy whispered:
“He was there the night Dad died.”
Mom closed her eyes.
And Steve's voice came from behind us.
“Now you know.”
We turned.
May you like
He stood in the doorway.
Holding a gun.
