Chapter 7 - RICHARD
I didn't go alone.
I went with Lily.
We followed the instructions to an abandoned warehouse outside the city.
Rain hammered the windshield.
The building looked deserted.
But the door was open.
Inside, one light hung from the ceiling.
Richard stood beneath it.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakably alive.
Lily grabbed my arm.
“That's him.”
Richard looked at her.
“I'm sorry.”
She stepped back.
“You watched them.”
“I did.”
“You knew.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Richard looked at me.
“Because I was afraid.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You're my uncle.”
“I know.”
“You helped them steal from me.”
“I did.”
“You helped them destroy Lily.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I never wanted that.”
“Then why?”
He sat down.
“Because your mother had something on me.”
“What?”
“My business.”
He explained.
Years earlier, Elaine had discovered that Richard had secretly moved money through several companies.
She threatened to expose him.
So he joined her.
Then the scheme grew.
My money became the solution to every problem.
My mother took the first transfer.
Marcus took the second.
Then they realized something.
I had become valuable.
Not as a son.
As an asset.
My settlement made me worth millions.
My insurance made me worth five million more.
And our house was worth nearly two million.
Richard looked at me.
“They didn't want you home.”
“Obviously.”
“They wanted you dead.”
Lily covered her mouth.
“When?”
“After the settlement.”
“Who planned it?”
Richard hesitated.
Then he said:
“Elaine.”
I felt no surprise.
“What was the plan?”
“A car accident.”
My stomach tightened.
“When?”
“Three days from now.”
Silence.
Richard continued.
“They already arranged the vehicle.”
“Where?”
“Your mother's garage.”
I pulled out my phone.
“Proof?”
Richard handed me a flash drive.
“Everything.”
I took it.
Then headlights appeared outside.
Richard looked toward the door.
“They found us.”
Marcus's voice echoed through the warehouse.
“Uncle Richard!”
Lily grabbed my arm.
Richard whispered:
“Run.”
We moved toward the back exit.
A gunshot cracked through the building.
Lily screamed.
I pushed her behind a concrete wall.
Another shot.
Then another.
Richard fell.
I ran toward him.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Richard!”
He grabbed my wrist.
“Don't trust…”
His voice faded.
“Don't trust who?”
He tried to speak.
Then he whispered one final word.
“Lily.”
I froze.
Lily stared at me from across the room.
“No.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Lily began crying.
“Daniel, I swear…”
I didn't answer.
Because the flash drive was still in my hand.
And suddenly—
I noticed something.
May you like
The label on it.
PROJECT LILY.
