Chapter 25 - Richard Comes Home
Richard entered Victoria's house at 2:17 a.m.
No alarm.
No broken window.
He had a key.
We were still awake.
He walked into the living room wearing a charcoal suit.
As though he had come for dinner.
Victoria stood.
“Richard.”
“Hello, little sister.”
Frank reached for his weapon.
Richard smiled.
“I wouldn't.”
Two red laser dots appeared through the windows.
One landed on Frank's chest.
The other on mine.
Victoria went pale.
“Call them off.”
“Give me the drive.”
“You killed Dad.”
Richard sighed.
“So dramatic.”
“Did you?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
Victoria flinched as if struck.
Richard didn't.
“He became sentimental.”
“He was your father.”
“He was becoming a liability.”
I stared at this man.
Margaret had frightened me.
Richard didn't.
That was worse.
There was nothing emotional in his cruelty.
It was administrative.
“Claire survived you,” I said.
Richard turned.
“And you must be Emily.”
“Disappointed?”
“Curious.”
He looked at my leg.
“You caused an extraordinary amount of trouble for one injured woman.”
“Margaret thought so too.”
He smiled.
“I can see why she hated you.”
Victoria stepped between us.
“The drive isn't here.”
Richard's smile vanished.
“Where is it?”
“With federal investigators.”
That was a lie.
A good one.
Richard studied her.
Then his phone vibrated.
He checked it.
His face changed.
Frank saw it.
“What happened?”
Richard backed toward the door.
“You've made a mistake.”
“No,” Victoria said.
“You did.”
Sirens erupted outside.
The laser dots vanished.
Richard ran.
Frank followed.
I reached the porch in time to see Richard jump into a black SUV.
It accelerated.
Police vehicles followed.
Then the SUV disappeared into the Chicago night.
For three days, nobody found him.
On the fourth morning, I arrived at Marigold Foundation and discovered my office door open.
On my desk was a yellow marigold.
Beside it:
May you like
YOU TOOK MY FAMILY.
NOW I TAKE YOURS.
