Chapter 12 - The Night Dale Lost EverythingThe buyer finally becomes the enemyDale walked toward us slowly.
His suit was gone.
He wore a dark jacket.
His expression had changed.
He no longer looked like the polished executive from the Fourth of July party.
He looked like a man who knew his life was collapsing.
“Where is the ledger?” he asked.
I held it tighter.
“You're too late.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
He raised the gun.
Wade moved in front of me.
Dale laughed.
“You think I'm here to kill you?”
“Are you?”
“No.”
He lowered the gun slightly.
“I don't need to.”
He pointed toward the wall.
“Do you know what happens when those files become public?”
“People go to prison.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you worried?”
“Because your father built a system that will collapse half a dozen companies.”
I stared.
“Good.”
Dale shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“Explain.”
“My father started it.”
“Your father is dead.”
“And yours is too.”
His expression twisted.
“Dead men leave consequences.”
He took a breath.
“Lois owes us.”
“Suzanne owes you.”
“Everyone owes someone.”
I stepped closer.
“You murdered my father.”
“No.”
“You paid the nurse.”
“Yes.”
“That is murder.”
Dale's eyes went cold.
“Your father was going to destroy your mother.”
“He was going to expose the truth.”
“He was going to destroy Suzanne.”
“She chose this.”
“Children make mistakes.”
“She was forty.”
Dale smiled.
“You sound like him.”
The gun lowered.
“I admired Henry.”
I almost laughed.
“You killed him.”
“I saved myself.”
There was a silence.
Then footsteps echoed from the far side of the warehouse.
Daniel entered.
Dale's face changed.
“You.”
Daniel kept walking.
“You won't touch her.”
Dale raised the gun.
Daniel didn't stop.
“Put it down.”
“You've always been a disappointment.”
Daniel smiled.
“And you've always been a coward.”
Dale's hand shook.
Then police sirens sounded outside.
Dale turned.
“How?”
Sheriff Parker entered.
But behind him were state investigators.
Federal agents.
And a prosecutor.
I looked at Parker.
He gave a small nod.
“We found Martin's old complaint.”
Dale backed away.
“No.”
One agent stepped forward.
“Daniel Carter, is the ledger in your possession?”
Daniel looked at me.
I handed it over.
The agent opened it.
His face changed.
“Sir…”
He whispered something to the prosecutor.
The prosecutor looked at Dale.
Then at me.
“We have enough.”
Dale's gun dropped.
“Wait.”
He turned toward me.
“Evelyn.”
I said nothing.
He stepped closer.
“Your mother is not who you think she is.”
“I know.”
“She betrayed your father.”
“I know.”
“She caused his death.”
I froze.
Dale saw it.
Then he smiled.
“Now you understand.”
The prosecutor ordered him to the ground.
Dale complied.
As they cuffed him, he looked at me.
“Ask Lois who made the final decision.”
I couldn't move.
Dale was dragged away.
Daniel came beside me.
“He's lying.”
“Maybe.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Because I was there.”
My stomach dropped.
“When?”
“The night Dad died.”
I stared at my brother.
“You were there?”
May you like
He nodded.
“And I know who killed him.”
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