Chapter 5 - FATHER COMES HOME
“Noah!”
Richard’s voice echoed through the mansion.
Lily flinched.
“Don’t answer.”
“He knows we’re here.”
“Not where.”
Noah shoved the ledger beneath his shirt and pocketed the recorder.
They left the library through the service corridor.
As they moved, Richard continued calling.
“Lily!”
His voice sounded worried.
Almost loving.
That made it worse.
“Kids, Vanessa told me what happened.”
Noah stopped behind the wall.
“She’s sick,” Richard called.
“She frightened you.”
Lily looked at Noah.
“He’s blaming her.”
Noah nodded.
Richard continued.
“I should have come home sooner.”
His footsteps moved through the hallway outside.
“I’m sorry.”
Noah’s eyes burned.
Those were the words he had wanted to hear for three years.
Now they meant nothing.
“Please come out.”
Lily whispered, “What if Mom is wrong about him?”
Noah didn’t answer.
Because part of him was asking the same question.
Then Richard said:
“Your mother would want us to stay together.”
Noah almost laughed.
Their mother was chained beneath his house.
He opened the hidden panel.
Richard stood ten feet away.
Their eyes met.
“Noah.”
Richard’s face filled with relief.
He rushed forward.
Noah stepped back.
“Where’s Mom?”
Richard stopped.
Silence.
That silence answered everything.
Lily emerged.
“Daddy?”
Richard’s face collapsed.
He looked genuinely devastated.
“Sweetheart.”
“Mommy’s downstairs.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Vanessa appeared at the end of the hallway.
A red mark covered her cheek.
Mercer stood behind her.
Noah pulled Lily closer.
Richard held up both hands.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because there are things you don’t understand.”
Noah pulled out the recorder.
Richard went pale.
“I understand enough.”
Vanessa whispered, “Richard, get it from him.”
Richard looked at her.
“Shut up.”
“Get the recorder.”
“I said shut up!”
Noah had never heard his father shout like that.
Mercer stepped forward.
“Noah, give me the recorder.”
“Stay away.”
“It contains confidential medical information.”
“It contains my father planning to drug us.”
Mercer’s expression hardened.
“You’re confused.”
Noah laughed.
“Everybody keeps saying that.”
He raised the red ledger.
“What about this?”
Mercer froze.
Vanessa whispered, “Oh, God.”
Richard stared at the book.
“Where did you find that?”
“Mom told me.”
Something changed in Richard.
Not anger.
Fear.
“Noah, listen carefully.”
“Why?”
“Because if you have that ledger, we have a bigger problem than Vanessa.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
Richard ignored her.
He approached slowly.
“That ledger doesn’t belong to me.”
“Your name is in it.”
“Yes.”
“You authorized payments.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to kill Mom.”
Richard’s face twisted.
“No.”
“I heard the recording.”
“You heard part of a recording.”
“Mom heard you outside the fire.”
Richard stopped.
For the first time, he looked broken.
“I locked the archive door.”
Lily whimpered.
Noah stared at him.
Richard continued.
“But I didn’t start the fire.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
That answer surprised Noah.
Richard looked toward Mercer.
“You shouldn’t believe any of us.”
Mercer reached inside his coat.
Richard moved instantly.
“Kids, run!”
Mercer pulled a syringe.
Richard slammed him against the wall.
Vanessa screamed.
Noah grabbed Lily.
They ran.
Behind them came a crash.
Then Richard shouted.
“Find your mother!”
Noah looked back.
Mercer drove the syringe into Richard’s neck.
Richard’s knees buckled.
Vanessa stared in horror.
Mercer lowered Richard to the floor.
Then he looked directly at Noah.
May you like
And smiled.
“Now,” Mercer said, “we can finally stop pretending your father was in charge.”
