Chapter 11 - The Last Drive
Ethan looked like someone had struck him.
“Where did he die?”
Margaret’s eyes filled, but Emily didn’t trust the tears.
“In his car.”
“Where?”
“Off County Road Nine.”
“That’s twenty miles from the house.”
“I know.”
“You told me you found him in his study.”
“I panicked.”
Grant interrupted. “This has nothing to do with tonight.”
Emily turned on him. “You want us to believe that very badly.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Grant moved toward the back hall.
Ethan blocked him.
“Sit down.”
Grant shoved him.
Ethan shoved back.
A lamp crashed. Margaret screamed.
Grant grabbed a fireplace poker.
Emily stepped backward, one hand on her belly.
“Grant.” Margaret’s voice cracked. “Put it down.”
He looked at her with pure contempt. “You started this mess because you couldn’t control your son.”
Margaret’s face collapsed.
Ethan heard it too.
“So she did fake the paternity test.”
Grant laughed bitterly. “Of course she did. She wanted Emily gone before the child triggered the trust.”
Margaret shouted, “Shut up!”
“But then your wife kept digging.” Grant looked at Emily. “And now we’re talking about Richard.”
Police lights flashed through the windows.
Grant dropped the poker and raised his hands.
Before officers reached the door, he leaned toward Ethan.
“Ask your mother who moved your father’s body.”
The detectives entered.
Everything became noise.
Commands. Handcuffs. Questions.
Grant was detained over the assault at Nora’s apartment and the corporate vehicle connection, though he denied ordering the attack.
Margaret was separated from them.
Ethan stood outside near the lake, staring into darkness.
Emily joined him.
“I don’t know who my mother is,” he said.
Emily leaned against him. “Maybe you’re finally seeing who she has always been.”
A detective approached.
“We checked the location Mrs. Cole gave us for your father’s death. There was a single-car crash reported there that night.”
Ethan looked up. “My father wasn’t listed.”
“No. The report says the vehicle was abandoned.”
The detective held out a sealed evidence bag.
“We also found an old traffic-camera archive from a gas station nearby.”
Inside the bag was a printed still image.
Richard Cole’s car was visible at 11:07 p.m.
Grant was driving.
May you like
Margaret sat in the passenger seat.
And Richard was alive in the back.
