Chapter 9 - THE MAN BEHIND THE GRAVE
Sophia found Richard in the library.
“We need to talk.”
He looked up.
“What happened?”
She placed the letter on the desk.
Richard read it.
His face changed.
“No.”
“You know something.”
Richard stood.
“Victor is dead.”
“That isn't what the letter says.”
“He died fourteen years ago.”
“Then someone forged his death.”
Richard stared at the page.
Sophia whispered:
“Why?”
Richard didn't answer.
Ethan entered.
“What happened?”
Sophia showed him.
Ethan looked at his father.
“Dad?”
Richard finally spoke.
“Because Victor had a second identity.”
“Who?”
Richard looked terrified.
“Someone inside the federal government.”
Ethan froze.
“And he's still alive?”
Richard nodded.
“Possibly.”
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
Richard answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“Richard.”
He froze.
Sophia recognized the fear in his face.
“Victor?”
The voice laughed.
“Hello, old friend.”
Richard dropped the phone.
Ethan picked it up.
“Who is this?”
The voice answered:
“You.”
Silence.
Ethan frowned.
“What?”
“You are the final Whitmore.”
The call ended.
Sophia looked confused.
Richard closed his eyes.
“He's coming for the estate.”
Ethan shook his head.
“Let him.”
Richard stared.
“Why?”
“Because we're not hiding anymore.”
Sophia nodded.
“We have evidence.”
“And we have each other,” Ethan said.
Richard smiled.
For the first time in years, the Whitmore family stood together.
Not because they trusted each other completely.
But because they finally understood that trust had to be rebuilt.
Then every light in the mansion turned off.
A car stopped outside.
One door opened.
A man stepped out.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Walking with a cane.
He looked toward the mansion.
Then smiled.
The security camera captured his face.
Sophia gasped.
May you like
It was Victor.
Alive.
