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I hear footsteps in the hallway, and I suddenly wish that Sebastian could be here with me. He fought me on this so many times, but I was firm. The whole plan hinges on Richard incriminating himself, but there no way he’ll do that if Sebastian is in the room.
So, it’s all down to me.
The steps get louder, and I strengthen my resolve to do this. It’s time to finally put an end to this.
The office door closes with a click. I turn around and meet Richard’s calculating stare.
“Avery Carmichael…” he smirks. “Look who’s risen from the dead.”
22
AVERY
I watchas Richard closes the door behind us, and steps closer into the room.
“Surprise,” I quip dryly. “Turns out, I wasn’t quite ready to leave this mortal coil just yet. Despite your best efforts,” I add. “Tell me, did you plant that bomb on the plane yourself, or hire some lackey to do it for you?”
Richard chuckles. “I don’t know what you mean,” he replies smugly. “I’m delighted to see you again. We all thought you’d perished in the crash.”
“So you figured you’d celebrate with a twenty-piece band,” I remark, gesturing to the party still raging below. “Real respectful.”
“Haven’t you heard? It’s a celebration of life.” Richard stalks closer. “So, I have to assume, if you’re still alive, then my nephew was also lucky enough to cheat death?”
I smile. “Let me guess, you’d be delighted to see him too?”
“And concerned, of course, that he faces justice for his crimes.”
“And which crimes are those?” I decide we’ve danced around the truth long enough. “Cutting the brakes on your brother’s car to try and kill him? No, wait, that was you.”
Annoyance flashes on Richard’s face. “So, you did talk to Kendall,” he muses, almost to himself. “I did wonder how much he told you.”
“Everything,” I vow. “All about you covering up the forensics and paying him off to change his report and destroy the car.”
“Then it’s a pity he’s no longer with us to back up your outlandish claims.” Richard is still smug, thinking there’s no evidence against him.
It’s time to shake that belief.
“I don’t need his testimony,” I say calmly, bluffing just as hard as I did downstairs. “He gave me a copy of his original report.”
Richard pauses. “You’re lying. He burned it, the only one.”
I inhale in a rush. Already, he’s just incriminated himself without realizing. I need to push him further. Over the edge.
“That’s just what he told you,” I insist, “He kept a copy, as insurance. Protection, in case you came after him. He hated what he’d done. He wanted me to expose you.”
“No.” Richard shakes his head, but I see a vein bulging in his forehead.
“Yes. You know, a cold-blooded crime like that takes planning,” I continue, “You didn’t kill your brother in a rage, or the spur-of-the-moment. You plotted, waiting for your chance. You must have really hated him, huh?”
Richard doesn’t reply.
“But of course you did. After all, he was everything you would never be,” I continue. “Handsome, beloved, wealthy beyond your wildest dreams. That must have burned you up inside, huh? Watching his life soar, while you were stuck loitering in his shadows, a pale imitation of Patrick’s success. Tell me, what was it like for you, seeing your little brother surpass all your wildest dreams?”
“Shut up,” he snaps, and I know I’m getting under his skin.
“You must have just beensickwith jealousy. After all, he had everything and what did that leave you with? Nothing at all. No respect. No fame. No love.”
My voice is taunting, and I can see his anger rising, but it’s not enough. Not yet.
