Chapter 8 - THE MAN WITH THE RED TIE
“Put the gun down,” Christopher said.
Ross’s hand shook.
“Stay back.”
Emma hid behind Christopher.
Marcus was on the floor near the doorway, blood spreading across his shoulder.
Estelle stared at Ross.
“You idiot.”
Ross snapped toward her.
“Shut up.”
Christopher saw it then.
Ross wasn’t working calmly anymore.
He was terrified.
That made him more dangerous.
“What do you want?” Christopher asked.
“A car.”
“You have one.”
“The gates are locked.”
“Then unlock them.”
Ross laughed bitterly.
“Ask your mother.”
Christopher glanced at Estelle.
She said nothing.
Ross lifted the pistol.
“You think she trusts me? She doesn’t trust anybody.”
“Daniel,” Estelle said, “you’re making this much worse.”
“You told me everything would be controlled.”
“It was controlled until you panicked.”
Christopher looked between them.
“So you were working together.”
Ross’s eyes flicked toward him.
“Don’t pretend you’re innocent.”
“I’m not pointing a gun at a child.”
“You think this family was built by innocent people?”
Estelle’s face tightened.
“Enough.”
Ross gave a wild laugh.
“That’s your favorite word, isn’t it?”
Smoke rolled down the staircase.
The fire was spreading.
Christopher slowly shifted Emma behind a stone column.
Ross noticed.
“Don’t.”
Christopher stopped.
“You shot Marcus. Police will be here.”
“No police are coming.”
“They are.”
“No signal. No landlines. Locked gates.”
Christopher kept him talking.
“You killed Rachel?”
Ross froze.
Estelle looked sharply at him.
That was enough.
Christopher felt something inside him go cold.
“You did.”
Ross swallowed.
“I didn’t kill anyone.”
“Her brakes.”
“I didn’t touch the car.”
“Who did?”
Ross’s breathing became uneven.
“Christopher, stop.”
“Who touched Rachel’s car?”
“Your mother wanted her scared.”
Estelle exploded.
“Daniel!”
Ross turned.
And in that half second, Christopher moved.
He rushed him.
The gun fired.
Glass shattered.
Christopher slammed Ross against the wall.
The pistol skidded across the marble.
Marcus kicked it away with his good arm.
Security guards piled onto Ross.
Emma screamed for Christopher.
“I’m okay!”
His ear rang from the shot.
Ross was dragged to the floor.
Christopher grabbed his collar.
“Who killed Rachel?”
Ross stared up at him.
Then smiled.
“You still don’t get it.”
“What?”
“Rachel didn’t die because of Emma.”
Christopher tightened his grip.
“Then why?”
Ross’s smile disappeared.
“Because she found out what your father did.”
Christopher stopped.
“My father?”
Ross coughed.
“She found the accounts.”
May you like
“What accounts?”
Before Ross could answer, Estelle lunged for the fallen gun.
