Chapter 15 - cold rain
The heavy front door swung open, allowing the cold, wet night air to sweep into the foyer. The lead gunman stepped inside, holding a silenced pistol low at his side.
"Julian," a familiar voice called out from the doorway behind him.
Uncle Richard stepped into the foyer, shaking the rain from his expensive cashmere coat. He looked around the dimly lit foyer with a calm, predatory smile that made my stomach turn.
"Put the gun away, nephew," Richard said smoothly, taking off his leather gloves. "We are family. There is no need for such dramatic antics."
"You tried to murder my brother, Richard," I said, stepping out from the shadow of the stairs, keeping the iron revolver aimed straight at his chest. "I listened to the tape. I know everything."
Richard sighed, shaking his head with a look of mild disappointment. "Ethan was soft, Julian. He wanted to give half of our international logistics profits to environmental trusts. He was destroying thirty years of family legacy for a moral crusade."
"He is your nephew!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the high plaster ceiling.
May you like
"And you are my nephew too," Richard replied quietly. "Which is why I am giving you a choice tonight. Give me the micro-drive and tell me where Nora and the child are, and you keep your position on the board. Refuse, and the police will find a tragic murder-suicide in this house before sunrise."
Before I could answer, a loud, shattering crash echoed from the rear kitchen conservatory, followed by the deep, frantic bark of a dog and the sound of heavy boots scrambling across broken glass.
