“Thirty years,” I said.
“Thirty years.” He smiled. It was a cold, thin thing. “And it was perfect, wasn’t it? Your mother and her idiot husband took the fall for the fraud. You were overseas playing soldier. Lucas was too young and too scared to see anything. And your father—”
He picked up a framed photo from the desk. Me and my dad at my West Point graduation. He looked at it.
“Your father died thinking his whole family had betrayed him. His wife. Her husband. His company. That was the part I enjoyed the most.”
I didn’t move. I didn’t let my face move.
“How did you do it?”
“Gregory had a weak heart. Everyone knew. He took four pills a day. I simply arranged for one of them to be something else. A little at a time. For five months.” He shrugged. “Doctor Reeves’s prescription pad was very useful. So was his signature.”
“Where is Reeves?”
“Somewhere he’s very afraid of me.”
“And the trust in my mother’s name?”
“Insurance. In case someone like you started asking questions.”
He set the photograph down. Then he reached slowly into the inside pocket of his jacket.
He took out a syringe. The needle caught the green light from the lamp.
“You’re going to kill me too,” I said. “Just like Dad.”
“I’m afraid so. Same medication, actually. Much larger dose. The coroner will call it a heart attack. Congenital. Runs in the family. The grieving daughter, buried right beside her beloved father.”
He took one step toward me.
“It’s almost touching.”
“Except I’m not going to let that happen,” I said.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
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