Chapter 8 - THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Mark Sullivan disappeared before security reached his office.
That alone told me everything.
An innocent person does not run.
A frightened person does.
But a guilty person?
They prepare an exit.
---
The police searched his office.
They found nothing.
Too clean.
Too perfect.
That was what bothered me.
Mark had spent six years inside my company.
He knew every system.
Every weakness.
Every secret.
He knew exactly how to disappear.
"He planned this."
I looked at Daniel.
"Yes."
"With Richard?"
Daniel hesitated.
"I don't think Richard was the smartest person involved."
That sentence bothered me.
"What does that mean?"
"It means someone may have been using Richard."
I looked at him.
"Richard tried to kill me."
"I know."
"But?"
"But someone helped him believe he could get away with it."
---
That night, Richard sent me a message.
I almost deleted it.
Almost.
But curiosity won.
The message contained one sentence.
"Meet me alone if you want the truth about your father."
I showed Evelyn.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it is a trap."
"Maybe."
She looked at me.
"You are thinking about going."
I did not answer.
Because I was.
---
The meeting place was an old restaurant near the coast.
Richard arrived alone.
At least it looked that way.
"You came."
I sat across from him.
"Talk."
He looked exhausted.
"I never wanted you dead."
I stared.
"That is the biggest lie you have told."
"No."
His voice cracked.
"I wanted control."
He looked away.
"I thought I could scare you."
"Scare me?"
"I thought you would sign everything over."
I felt disgusted.
"So when that failed?"
He closed his eyes.
"I panicked."
I leaned forward.
"You pushed me."
He whispered:
"Yes."
For the first time, Richard admitted it.
No excuses.
No acting.
Just the truth.
---
"Why?"
He looked at me.
"Because Mark told me there was no other way."
My heart stopped.
"Mark?"
"He said your father created a protection system."
"What system?"
Richard looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
"Your company has hidden assets."
I frowned.
"That is impossible."
"Your father created something before he died."
"What?"
Richard swallowed.
"A system that transfers control only to someone he personally trusted."
I stared.
"Who?"
Richard looked at me.
"You."
I laughed bitterly.
"That makes no sense."
"It does if someone is trying to remove you."
---
Before I could ask more…
The lights went out.
The restaurant became dark.
Then I heard footsteps.
Richard stood quickly.
"Get down!"
A loud crash exploded behind us.
Glass shattered.
People screamed.
Someone grabbed my arm.
I fought back.
Then I heard Richard shout:
"Run!"
I froze.
Because for the first time in months…
Richard was trying to protect me.
But I did not know if I could trust him.
---
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CHAPTER 8 END
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