Chapter 14 - THE LAST FIRE
Claire reached Bennett Tower before the police.
That was a mistake.
Maya told her so repeatedly.
Claire went anyway.
The forty-second floor was dark except for emergency lights.
Smoke hit her as soon as the elevator opened.
“Julian!”
A fire alarm began screaming.
Claire ran toward the executive conference room.
The door was open.
Inside, papers burned in a metal trash bin.
Julian stood beside the safe.
He looked exhausted.
Tie gone.
Shirt stained.
Blood dried near one temple.
Claire stopped.
“You’re burning evidence.”
He laughed.
“Still narrating everything like a board meeting.”
“Police are coming.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
Julian looked at the burning papers.
“You destroyed me in twenty-four hours.”
Claire stared at him.
“No.”
“What?”
“You spent sixteen years doing that yourself.”
His face twisted.
“I gave you everything.”
“You slept with my sister.”
“I made one mistake.”
“For twelve years?”
“I loved both of you!”
Claire actually laughed.
“That is the most Julian Mercer answer imaginable.”
He kicked the trash bin.
Flames spilled onto the carpet.
Claire backed away.
“Julian.”
“You think Brooke loves you now?”
“This isn’t about Brooke.”
“She helped me.”
“I know.”
“Your mother helped me.”
“I know.”
“Your father created this entire thing.”
“I know.”
Julian stepped closer.
“And you’re still standing there acting like I’m the monster.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“No.”
“You all are.”
That stopped him.
Claire continued.
“The difference is you’re the only one still trying to burn the evidence.”
Sirens sounded below.
Julian looked toward the windows.
Then toward the safe.
Claire realized what he was holding.
The original trust amendment.
“Give it to me.”
He smiled.
“No amendment, no seventy-four percent.”
“It’s already scanned.”
His expression changed.
Claire smiled.
“Grandma wasn’t stupid.”
He looked toward the flames.
Then threw the original into them.
Claire lunged.
Julian grabbed her wrist.
She struck his arm away.
He grabbed her again.
This time Brooke’s voice came from the doorway.
“Let her go.”
Julian turned.
Brooke stood there holding her phone up.
Recording.
His face changed completely.
“You.”
Brooke looked terrified but didn’t move.
“You promised me twelve years.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“And you believed me.”
Claire looked at her sister.
The cruelty of that sentence landed on both of them.
Brooke’s hand shook.
“You used Ethan.”
“I provided for Ethan.”
“You hid him.”
“For his protection.”
Brooke stepped inside.
“No. For yours.”
Julian moved toward her.
Claire grabbed a fire extinguisher from the wall.
“Take another step.”
Julian looked at her.
Claire pulled the pin.
For one absurd second, nobody moved.
Then Julian laughed.
“You won’t use that.”
Claire squeezed the handle.
A blast of white suppressant hit him directly in the chest and face.
Julian staggered backward, coughing.
Brooke screamed.
Claire kicked the burning trash bin away from the carpet.
Sprinklers suddenly exploded overhead.
Water poured across the room.
Police rushed from the elevators.
Julian tried to run.
He slipped on the wet floor.
Two officers tackled him.
As they handcuffed him, Julian looked at Claire.
“You’ll regret this.”
Claire stood soaked beneath the sprinklers.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I regret the fourteen years before it.”
Police dragged him away.
Maya appeared in the doorway, breathing hard.
“I told you not to come alone.”
“You came.”
“Obviously.”
Brooke leaned against the wall, crying.
Claire looked at the burned amendment.
Most of it was destroyed.
Maya crouched beside the safe.
Then she noticed something.
A small envelope had fallen behind it.
Yellowed.
Old.
Claire picked it up.
Her name was written on the front in Margaret Bennett’s handwriting.
CLAIRE – THIS IS THE PART ROBERT MUST NEVER SEE.
Claire stared at it.
May you like
Even after everything, there was still one secret left.
And this one had nothing to do with Julian.
