Chapter 14 - THE ORIGINAL RECORDS
The old Cole estate had been empty for years.
At least Ethan thought it had.
William reached the pier first.
By the time Ethan and Claire climbed the stairs from the water, lights were on inside.
Police were ten minutes behind.
They entered through the kitchen.
Claire whispered, “Where would he hide records?”
Ethan looked toward the library.
“My mother’s room.”
His mother had died when he was fourteen.
William never let anyone move her things.
The bedroom door was open.
William stood beside the fireplace.
A steel box sat on the bed.
Paper burned in the grate.
“Stop.”
Ethan looked at the box.
“What is it?”
“The first ledger.”
“Before Graham?”
“Before you.”
“How long?”
“Thirty-two years.”
“I built things nobody else had the stomach to build.”
“You stole.”
“I bought cooperation.”
“You killed people.”
“I removed threats.”
“You destroyed your family.”
“Family survives through strength.”
Sophie’s terrified face flashed in Ethan’s mind.
“No.”
“Family survives because people protect each other.”
“You still think like a child.”
Sirens sounded far away.
William glanced toward the window.
He pointed the gun at her.
“Shoot me.”
“What?”
“You want the records gone? You want control? Shoot me.”
“Ethan.”
“Do it.”
“So that’s the line,” Ethan whispered.
William’s eyes hardened.
“You used Sophie as a shield.”
“She wasn’t in danger.”
“She was terrified.”
“I would never hurt her.”
“You already did.”
The gun lowered one inch.
She kicked the steel box off the bed.
A bullet tore into the ceiling.
William was old, but panic made him strong.
He struck Ethan with the gun.
Then Claire grabbed the fireplace poker.
“Drop it!”
Police flooded the hallway.
“GUN DOWN!”
For one second, William looked at the burning fireplace.
At the scattered records.
And threw himself toward the open window.
William hung over the edge.
Thirty feet below, stone.
“Let me go,” William whispered.
“No.”
“You hate me.”
“Yes.”
“Then let go.”
Ethan looked into his father’s eyes.
“No.”
Police pulled William back inside.
Handcuffs closed around his wrists.
Claire sank onto the floor.
Ethan picked up one scorched ledger page.
“This isn’t over.”
Ethan stared at the list.
May you like
“No.”
“But he is.”
