The Ugly Reveal
710 Words
"My son, James, was Richard's business partner thirty years ago. They worked together in real estate." Katherine's voice broke.
"When James found out what Richard was doing to your grandmother, poisoning her, trying to steal her land, he said he would go to the police. He was a good man, my James. He couldn't let an innocent woman die."
"What happened to him?"
Katherine's tears fell freely now. "Two weeks later, James died in a car crash. I don't believe it was an accident. I think Richard killed him too and made it look like an accident to cover his tracks."
I felt sick. Two murders? Richard Songs had killed two people to get this piece of land.
"John doesn't know all of this," Katherine continued. "I told him to buy and protect the restaurant, but I didn't tell him why. I was scared. If Richard knew someone was investigating, he would destroy all the evidence."
"But John is a billionaire," I said. "He could—"
"Being rich doesn't make you safe from men like Richard Songs." Katherine grabbed my hands, her grip surprisingly strong. "I should have told you everything two years ago. I should have warned you about Peter, but I was trying to gather proof first. I thought I had time."
I pulled away, her mind reeling. "Peter. Does he know? About what his father did?"
Katherine's face went hard. "I believe he knows everything. I believe Peter came after you on purpose. His father probably promised him something, money, power, if he could get you to sell the restaurant."
The engagement. The five years of manipulation. Peter making me feel small, making me give up my dreams, telling me to sell the restaurant over and over.
It was all a plan. All a trap.
"Why?" my voice cracked. "Why would they do all this for a restaurant?"
"Because it's not just a restaurant." Katherine stood and walked to the far wall. "Come here."
I followed on shaking legs.
Katherine pointed to a section of brick that looked slightly different from the rest. "Your grandmother hid something here. I helped her do it, fifty years ago. Richard knows it exists. That's why he wants this building so badly."
"What is it?"
"Proof." Katherine's eyes glittered. "Documents. Recordings. Evidence of every crime Richard Songs has committed for the past thirty years. Fraud, bribery and two murders; your grandmother and my son."
My heart stopped.
"Your grandmother was gathering evidence against Richard for decades," Katherine explained. "She knew he was dangerous, she knew what he was capable of. She hid everything here, in the one place he couldn't touch without her permission."
"But she's gone now," I said. "Why hasn't Richard torn the building down?"
"Because you inherited it, and because John bought the building rights." Katherine smiled, sad and proud. "I may be old, child, but I'm not stupid. I've been protecting this place for two years, waiting for the right moment."
"The right moment for what?"
"To take Richard Songs down." Katherine gripped my shoulders. "And you, July Wilson, are the key. You own this building, you can access the evidence and with John's resources, we can finally prove what Richard did."
My head was spinning. Murder, conspiracy, hidden evidence. It was too much.
"I can't," I whispered. "I can't do this. I'm just... I'm nobody. I'm a woman who let a man control me for five years. I'm not brave or strong or—"
"You drove eight hours in the middle of the night to save your grandmother's dream," Katherine interrupted firmly. "You have been sleeping on the floor and working until your hands bleed to rebuild this place. You are exactly like your grandmother, July. Strong and stubborn and full of fire."
My tears fell. "I don't feel strong."
"Strength isn't about feeling." Katherine pulled me into a hug. "Strength is about standing up, even when you are terrified. Your grandmother knew that and so do you."
We held each other for a long moment, then Katherine pulled back, her eyes sharp again. "Now, are you ready to hear the rest?"
"There's more?"
Katherine nodded grimly. "George recorded something yesterday. Something you need to hear."
She pulled out her phone and pressed play.
- Writer
