Chapter 15 - THE UNEXPECTED ENEMY
I stared at her, stunned. “You’re out on bail.”
“I’m out on bail,” Sarah agreed, walking slowly toward us. “And I’ve been very busy. You see, Vane made one fatal mistake. He trusted me. He told me everything. And once I understood the full scope of his operation… I realized I could take it all.”
“You betrayed everyone,” Julian said, his voice tight. “Vane. Evelyn. Us.”
“I served them faithfully for years,” Sarah said. “And for what? A salary? A pat on the head? No. I decided to take what I was owed. Margaret here agreed to help me. In exchange for immunity and a comfortable life abroad. Isn’t that right, Margaret?”
Margaret looked away, ashamed.
“And what about us?” Lena asked. “What do you intend to do with us?”
Sarah smiled—a cold, terrifying expression. “Sign the transfer documents. Hand over the passwords to the accounts. And then… you will both have a terrible accident. Just like your father.”
Julian shifted slightly, positioning himself between us and the armed men. “You’ll never get away with it.”
“I already have,” Sarah said. “Vane is taking the fall for everything. Evelyn too. All the evidence points to them. Any new deaths will be blamed on lingering associates. And I… I will step forward as the heroic attorney who saved the family from ruin. The public will love me.”
“You’re insane,” I said.
“I’m ambitious,” Sarah corrected. “There’s a difference. Now—sign. Or watch Julian die first.”
One of the men raised his weapon. Margaret flinched but said nothing.
I looked at Julian. He gave me the faintest, almost imperceptible nod.
“Fine,” I said. “We’ll sign.”
Sarah gestured to the documents the man held. “Here. And here. And here.”
I picked up the pen. Lena stood beside me. Julian stood close by, watching every movement.
I signed. Lena signed.
Sarah examined the signatures with a satisfied smile. “Perfect. Now—hand over the passwords.”
“Before we do,” I said, “tell me something. Did you help plan our father’s death?”
Sarah paused. Then she smiled. “I didn’t just help plan it. I wrote the orders. Vane signed them. Margaret delivered them. And Evelyn… she made sure the job was done.”
Margaret made a sound of pain. “I didn’t know what they said. I thought it was just business instructions.”
“Spare us,” Sarah said dismissively. “Hand over the passwords, Ava.”
I leaned forward. “The password is simple. It’s justice.”
Sarah frowned. “That doesn’t work.”
“I didn’t think it would,” I said.
At that moment, sirens wailed in the distance. Bright blue lights swept across the stone walls of the observatory. Sarah’s face went pale.
“You called them?”
“Julian did,” Lena said. “Before we even entered the building. He told them to wait until we were inside and the truth was being spoken. Every word you just said… has been recorded. And broadcast live to the police station.”
Sarah spun toward Margaret. “You said no one would follow them!”
“I didn’t tell anyone!” Margaret protested.
“Julian didn’t need anyone to tell him,” I said. “He knew you would come for us the moment you were released on bail. He knew you couldn’t resist making one final move.”
The police burst through the doors. The armed men made no move to resist. They dropped their weapons and surrendered instantly. Sarah stood frozen, her world collapsing around her.
Margaret stepped forward, her head held low. “I came because I hoped to protect them. I didn’t know Sarah intended to hurt them. I tried to tell her—”
“Save it,” Sarah said coldly. “You’re just as guilty as the rest of us.”
The officers moved in. They seized Sarah first. Then Margaret. As she was led past me, Margaret stopped.
“I truly did love you,” she said quietly. “Both of you. Even when I couldn’t show it.”
“Then prove it,” Lena said. “Tell the truth. All of it. And help us make sure no one else ever suffers the way we did.”
Margaret nodded slowly. “I will.”
May you like
They were led away. The observatory fell quiet once more. Julian stood beside me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. Lena stood on my other side.
“It’s over,” Julian said softly. “Truly over.”
