Chapter 18 - The Sister Richard Remembered
Richard did not go alone.
He went visibly alone.
Alvarez’s team entered the woods around the cabin from three directions.
Anna remained at command with Leo, watching the operation through a body-camera feed.
The cabin looked almost peaceful.
Vanessa sat on the front porch holding the black ledger in her lap.
No weapon was visible.
Richard stopped at the bottom step.
“You pushed my son.”
Vanessa looked tired now. No makeup. Wet hair. A cut across one cheek.
“I didn’t mean for him to fall that far.”
Anna’s fingernails dug into her palms.
Richard’s voice stayed flat. “How far did you mean for a two-year-old to fall?”
Vanessa looked away.
“I needed Anna scared. I needed you angry at her.”
“So you put your hand on his back.”
“She grabbed the trust. She was going to ruin everything.”
“No. You were stealing from the company.”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed. “Mother said it was ours.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Our father built it for us.”
“He built it for a family. Not for you to loot.”
Vanessa stood.
“You think Anna loves you? She loves what you can give Leo.”
Richard almost smiled.
“That lie might have worked a year ago.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
“She made you weak.”
“No. She made me stop calling cruelty strength.”
The words hit Vanessa harder than a shout.
For the first time, she looked like the sister Richard remembered from childhood—the girl who always had to win, because losing meant Catherine’s disappointment.
Vanessa’s shoulders dropped.
Then she whispered, “You were always her favorite.”
Richard’s expression softened by a fraction.
“This was never a competition.”
“For you.”
Vanessa suddenly pulled a handgun from beneath the ledger.
Anna gasped at the monitor.
Alvarez raised her hand, holding officers back.
Richard did not move.
Vanessa pointed the gun at him.
“You took everything.”
“No,” he said. “You destroyed everything trying to keep it.”
Her hand trembled.
Sirens sounded faintly beyond the trees.
Vanessa glanced toward the noise.
Richard moved one step closer.
“Give me the gun.”
She began to cry.
“I can’t go to prison.”
“You should have thought of that before you touched my son.”
Vanessa’s face twisted.
May you like
The gun swung away from Richard.
Toward her own chest.
