Chapter 8 - THE FAMILY THAT OWNED THE TOWN
The next morning, the Harrington family made their move.
They didn’t come to my house.
They didn’t threaten me.
They did something much smarter.
They attacked my reputation.
By noon, the entire town was talking.
The story spread everywhere.
“Lily Walker is unstable.”
“She has emotional problems.”
“She attacked her husband.”
They were building the story before anyone could hear the truth.
Exactly like Richard promised.
Everyone will believe us.
I stood in my kitchen watching the news report.
A local reporter smiled at the camera.
“The Harrington family released a statement saying they are deeply concerned about Mrs. Lily Harrington’s mental state.”
I turned off the television.
Lily was sitting at the table.
Her hands were shaking.
“They’re making me look crazy.”
I sat across from her.
“They want you to believe that.”
“But what if people believe them?”
I looked at my daughter.
“Then we show them the truth.”
She looked exhausted.
“How?”
I placed the phone recording on the table.
“Your phone.”
Her eyes widened.
“You found it?”
“Yes.”
“Did you listen?”
“Not yet.”
She looked nervous.
“Why?”
“Because I want you to hear it when you’re ready.”
She stared at the phone.
A small device.
A small recording.
Something Richard forgot.
And sometimes…
One mistake is enough to destroy everything.
Suddenly, there was a knock.
Three sharp knocks.
I stood.
Lily looked afraid.
I walked to the door.
A man was standing outside.
Early sixties.
Gray hair.
Calm eyes.
“Who are you?”
He looked at me.
“My name is Thomas Reed.”
I didn’t recognize him.
Then he said:
“I knew your father.”
I froze.
“My father?”
He nodded.
“He told me if anything happened to Lily, I should find you.”
My heart stopped.
“My father died twenty years ago.”
Thomas looked at me.
“I know.”
Then he handed me an envelope.
“This was meant for you.”
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My father’s handwriting.
Impossible.
My hands started shaking.
The letter contained only one sentence.
Protect her when they come back.
I looked at Thomas.
“Who?”
His expression became serious.
“The people your father spent his entire life fighting.”
Before I could ask another question…
A car crashed into the street outside.
Black SUV.
Same type that followed Sarah.
Thomas looked through the window.
“They found me.”
I moved Lily behind me.
“Who are they?”
Thomas looked at me.
“The Harringtons aren’t the top.”
A chill ran through me.
“They work for someone else.”
The SUV doors opened.
Three men stepped out.
Thomas whispered:
“You need to know something.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
He stared at me.
“Richard Harrington is not the enemy.”
A pause.
May you like
“He’s just the son of one.”
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