Chapter 10 - THE FACTORY
Arthur threw the drive across the floor.
“You idiot!”
Richard stepped toward Sophie.
“Let her go.”
Arthur struck him across the face.
Richard barely moved.
“You think destroying me makes you a hero?” Arthur shouted. “Everything you own exists because of me.”
“Then I’ll rebuild.”
“You’ll lose billions.”
Richard looked at Sophie.
“I don’t care.”
That was when Caroline moved.
She grabbed Sophie and dropped behind a steel worktable.
One of Arthur’s men reached for them.
Richard tackled him.
The factory erupted.
Shouting.
Footsteps.
Glass breaking.
Outside, Brooks gave the order.
Police flooded the building.
Arthur ran.
Richard chased him up an iron staircase.
“Dad!”
Arthur reached the catwalk.
Richard followed.
“You could have had everything,” Arthur shouted.
“I already did.”
“What?”
Richard looked down at Sophie.
“My daughter.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“You sound exactly like Caroline.”
“Good.”
Sirens surrounded them.
Arthur backed toward a service ladder.
Richard saw the exit.
“He’s going to the roof!”
Brooks’s officers raced around the building.
Arthur climbed.
Richard followed.
Rain had started.
On the roof, Arthur moved toward a waiting helicopter.
Richard stopped.
“You planned all of this.”
Arthur turned.
“Of course.”
The helicopter blades began spinning.
Arthur climbed inside.
Then another figure appeared from behind the pilot.
Vanessa.
Arthur froze.
Vanessa was holding the helicopter’s ignition key.
“Looking for this?”
Arthur’s face went white.
“My daughter.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“Don’t call me that.”
Police burst onto the roof.
Arthur raised his hands.
Then suddenly he reached inside his coat.
Brooks shouted.
“Don’t!”
A shot cracked.
May you like
Arthur fell.
And Sophie screamed from somewhere below.
