Chapter 5 - THE WAREHOUSE
The warehouse was on the edge of the city.
Abandoned.
Dark.
Silent.
I entered through the main door.
"Elena!"
Nothing.
Then a light turned on.
My mother stood in the center of the room.
Lucas beside her.
Lawrence behind them.
And Elena sat in a chair.
Her wrists were tied.
My mother looked at me.
"You always were stubborn."
I stared at her.
"Let her go."
"You have the USB?"
I didn't answer.
Lucas stepped forward.
"Give it to us."
"Where's the money?"
His smile disappeared.
"What money?"
"The $684,000."
My mother laughed.
"That's what you think this is about?"
"No."
I stepped forward.
"I think it's about my father."
Silence.
My mother looked away.
That was enough.
I knew.
"What happened that night?"
Lucas shouted:
"Stop!"
My mother raised her hand.
Lucas went silent.
She looked at me.
"Your father discovered the defense contract."
"I know."
"He threatened to expose everyone."
"Everyone?"
She swallowed.
"Lawrence."
I looked at him.
"He was stealing."
"Yes."
"And Lucas helped."
My brother looked down.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I was drowning."
I laughed bitterly.
"You were drowning in money?"
Lucas's eyes filled with tears.
"You always had Dad's approval."
There it was.
The truth beneath everything.
Jealousy.
Resentment.
My brother had spent his entire life believing I had taken something from him.
My mother had protected him.
Even when he became a criminal.
Even when he helped destroy the family.
But I wasn't finished.
"Did Dad die naturally?"
My mother closed her eyes.
"No."
The room became silent.
"He confronted Lawrence."
She looked at me.
"They argued."
"And?"
"He fell."
I stared.
"You pushed him?"
"No."
Lawrence spoke.
"I did."
My mother's head snapped toward him.
"Lawrence!"
He smiled.
"Enough lies."
He looked at me.
"Your father was going to destroy me."
"So you killed him."
"Accidentally."
I stepped closer.
"Then why did my mother cover it up?"
Lawrence laughed.
"Because I told her Lucas would be arrested too."
My mother started crying.
"I was protecting my children."
"No."
I looked at her.
"You were protecting your favorite child."
She flinched.
Lucas lowered his head.
Then Elena suddenly shouted:
"Michael!"
Lawrence raised his gun.
But before he could fire—
The warehouse doors exploded open.
Federal agents stormed inside.
Daniel walked behind them.
"Everyone down!"
Lawrence froze.
My mother stared at me.
"You recorded us."
I nodded.
"Everything."
Lucas dropped to his knees.
Lawrence raised his weapon.
An agent shouted.
"Drop it!"
Lawrence hesitated.
Then threw the gun aside.
It was over.
Or so I thought.
As agents arrested everyone, my mother looked at me.
"Michael."
I stopped.
She whispered:
"There's one thing you don't know."
"What?"
She looked terrified.
May you like
"Your father didn't have one secret."
"He had two."
