Chapter 12 - THE SECOND FUNERAL
Rachel refused to hide.
“Vivian scheduled you to die tomorrow,” Ruiz warned.
“I’m scared,” Rachel said, looking at Madison asleep beside Thomas. “I’m just done letting scared people make every decision.”
Thomas was stable enough to leave intensive care but nowhere near strong enough to protect anybody. That made him furious.
“I should be there.”
“You were technically dead three days ago,” Rachel said. “You’re sitting this one out.”
He gave her a tired smile.
“Yes, ma’am.”
They leaked a false report that Rachel would attend a private memorial at the family chapel. At 2:17 p.m., she entered wearing a wire while Ruiz and two officers waited out of sight. A single coffin stood at the front.
Rachel stopped.
“That’s not supposed to be here.”
Ruiz’s voice came softly through the earpiece.
“Do not approach it.”
The chapel doors slammed shut. The lights died. Footsteps moved through the dark. Then Vivian spoke.
“Your daughter ruined everything.”
Rachel turned toward the darkness.
“She saved her father.”
“She delayed the inevitable.”
Emergency lights flickered on. Vivian stood ten feet away with a pistol, elegant and almost bored.
“You don’t understand what Thomas found.”
“Money laundering.”
Vivian shook her head.
“Names. Judges. Contractors. Police chiefs. Senators. People who do not forgive exposure.”
“Then you should’ve helped him.”
“I helped this family survive.”
“By killing us?”
Vivian’s expression barely changed.
“I never planned to kill Madison.”
Rachel’s voice went cold.
“How generous.”
Vivian raised the gun.
Then a child’s voice came from behind the altar.
“Aunt Vivian?”
Rachel’s heart stopped.
Madison stepped into view.
May you like
Vivian turned.
And smiled.
