Chapter 5 - DEREK’S CONFESSIONThe satchel contained an encrypted drive.
Audit papers.
Bank records.
Payment lists.
Derek started crying before I even asked.
“Clara found it.”
“How?”
“She was helping you with tax paperwork.”
True.
Clara had organized everything because I hated spreadsheets.
“She noticed fuel purchases that didn't match your routes.”
“So she investigated?”
“Yes.”
“She found hidden manifests.”
“And you told Vance.”
Derek broke.
“I owed money.”
“To him?”
“Company loans.”
“How much?”
“Eighty thousand.”
I stared.
“You sold Clara for eighty thousand dollars?”
“No!”
He dropped to his knees.
“He said nobody would hurt her.”
“He said they would take the files.”
“Scare her.”
“Make her sign something.”
The same coward’s story.
I didn't know.
I didn't mean.
I thought.
Then Derek looked toward Dad.
“Mom knew.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Beatrice too.”
My stomach turned.
“They helped stage the funeral.”
Derek nodded.
“Vance had the coroner sign heart failure.”
“Clara fell.”
My throat closed.
“What?”
“She fought.”
“Vance’s man grabbed her.”
“She broke free.”
“She went down the stairs.”
Derek started sobbing.
“I tried to catch her.”
The bruise.
Clara had fought him.
Then engines roared.
Vance.
His men.
Derek stood.
“He followed me.”
Gunfire erupted.
Vance fired once.
Derek dropped.
My brother hit the gravel.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Run!” Miller shouted.
I grabbed the satchel.
Lily.
Dad.
And ran toward the creek.
Behind me, my brother was dying.
I wanted to stop.
I didn't.
May you like
Because Clara had already died once for that evidence.
I would not let everyone die for it again.
Related Stories
