Poisoned Fortune

Conspiracy Theory

Eric Casper hadn't returned home that night for fear that his assailant would track him down. If someone was out to spill his gut on the streets, then it was likely they knew a lot about him including his residence.

He checked into a small motel and kept a low profile. He notified the 17th precinct of the attempt. The police had already gotten a notification because of the wild shots but having a clue as to who the prime target was seemed beneficial.

After getting treated for the bullet scratch, Eric locked the door to his room and sat in bed, thinking. Had he not slipped by a stroke of luck, he’d be a dead man by now. It was all too surreal; the same way his father’s death had been.

One moment, he was on a plane coming back from a business trip and the next, he was dead and only fragments of his corpse had been retrieved.

“I don’t think I’ll be safe,” he muttered as he grabbed his phone. “I should leave New York and lie low for a while.”

But that raised another question. Where would he go? Who knew about his assassins and their intentions? They could have eyes and ears out for him too. with a grunt, he dialled his assistant and friend, Danny Winston.

“Hey, what’s up, Eric?” Danny bubbled over the phone.

Eric heaved a deep breath. “Danny, can you pick up my car at BearWalk Supermarket?”

“Okay…what happened? You forgot it?”

Danny was making a joke. He always did that. “No, I abandoned it there. I was attacked and would’ve had my head cracked open by a sniper.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you all about it but pick up my car first.”

Danny hesitated, his ragged breathing could be heard over the phone. “Okay, man. Is that all? Did you tell the police?”

“I did. Oh, Danny?” he said.

“Yeah?”

“There’s another car I want picked. It’s by a coffee shop so I’ll send an address. Help me get it fixed.”

“Okay, boss.”

Eric hung up and exhaled. Glancing at his bandaged arm made him think of the wild lady who’d saved his life. Diane Briggs. She seemed perfectly fine but still appeared like someone who had a screw lose. But, her reckless driving had saved his life and he was thankful.

….

The next morning, the police were waiting for Eric at his place. They’d called to inform him that they’d go over there and Eric had requested that they do a perimeter check for him to make sure no one was snooping around.

Eric’s cab pulled into the driveway and he got out. The first officer to shake his hand introduced himself. “Mr Casper, I’m Henry Ford and this is my partner, Tricia Thorn.”

After shaking them in turn, Eric gestured at the house. “Did you find anything unusual? Anyone suspicious stalking around the neighbourhood?”

Henry rubbed his neck and grinned. “We did glimpse a man in a black hoodie. He was watching your house from behind a tree. He bolted before we could get him—”

“What!” Eric grunted.

Tricia stepped in. “Don’t mind detective Ford, Eric. There was no one. He’s trying to mess with you.”

Eric narrowed his eyes. “Is that part of your job, to scare me?”

Henry raised a hand apologetically. “I’m sorry about that. Can we talk inside?”

“Sure.” Eric led the way in. he made sure to check everything to make sure that no one was watching him.

….

No matter how careful the police were in their perimeter check, they couldn’t have spotted the man a few yards across the street, leaning against a slightly opened window. His eye was pressed into the scope of a sniper rifle and the earpiece in his ear buzzed.

“I’m in position, boss. I have eyes on Eric Casper. I should take the shot?”

There was a moment of silence before the line crackled and the boss replied. “No. just observe for now.”

“Copy that.”

….

When Eric thought everything was settled, they sat down and Henry began. “We dug out a bullet from the wall of the supermarket. It was a .308 Winchester—a high-calibre ammunition. Whoever shot at you meant business.”

Eric shuddered. “Can you trace the bullet?”

Tricia shrugged. “Forensics are running some tests to see what we can find but the Winchester is a common ammunition so it won’t give a narrowed list.”

“In the meantime,” Henry said and leaned forward, “can you tell us what happened? Have you had a fight anyone who would want to kill you recently? Any…business deals gone wrong?”

“None that I’d know of,” Eric said. His mind was traveling a hundred miles an hour as he tried to figure out anyone who’d want him dead. Aside from connection to his father’s death, there was nothing that came to mind. “I don’t have much enemies. I run a small consultant firm.”

“Small…” Henry mused. Of course, Eric Casper was a millionaire in his right. Even without his father’s fortune, he had grown his business without much help was a name that very few was unfamiliar with.

“You do underground boxing, correct?”

“Yes?”

“Was there someone you fought that felt you cheated or wanted to take vengeance?” Henry followed up.

Again, Eric thought and then said, “not really. I lose most of the time but I don’t know.”

Henry sighed. “I think for now you’ll have to stay off those extreme sports till we figure this out.”

“No, no, Officer,” Eric said. “I know what this is all about. My father, Ernest Casper, is murdered two months ago and now an attempt was made on me. this is coming just a few days after Grey, my half-brother, was almost killed too. this is definitely connected. Someone is targeting us.”

Henry sat still for a moment and then nodded. “Let’s assume you’re right. Why would someone be after your family?”

“The will!”

“The will?” Henry said. “Are you saying someone in the family is staging this and might have murdered your father?”

Eric’s throat went dry. If it was true, then he couldn’t trust anyone. Not a soul. he grunted and glanced away. “I’m not sure but that’s something you should definitely look into.”

“Who would benefit most from your death…in terms of the will?”

Eric shrugged. “No one in particular but everyone would stand to gain. There’d be one person less. Or it could be a business associate or something. none of this makes sense.”

Tricia exhaled. “It’s okay, Mr Casper. We’ll do what we can.”

Before the police left, they promised to send two officers to stay at the house upon Eric’s request. He didn’t feel safe and it was more so when he was alone. It felt like someone was watching him. he had that gut feeling and it made him restless.

….

That evening, Eric went out to grab dinner. He kept glancing over his shoulders every few minutes. The sound of the gunshot that had barely missed his head kept resounding in his mind, making him cringe.

Manhattan now felt very unsafe for him. that was all the more reason he wanted to go someplace else.

After a light meal of meatballs and bacon, he trudged back home. On his way, he got a call. Frowning, he answered. “Hey…Chris?”

Chris was his eldest half-brother. Before dying, their father had left all of them a big surprise. None of them had known that they had three brothers from different mothers. When the revelation was made, it had caused a huge fight especially with the surprise twist in the will.

“We have a meeting tomorrow,” Chris said. His cut-throat and straight to the point way of speaking always made him appear dangerous. “It’s for the family only.”

Eric sighed. “What is this about?”

“It’s an important discussion and you’ll know tomorrow by 9. It’s at the mansion.”

“Can I join via Zoom?” Eric asked. Going to the mansion didn’t seem like a great idea especially because someone was on to him.

“Zoom?” Chris asked, then chuckled. “You’ll be busy tomorrow, Eric?”

“Somewhat…”

“No, we need everyone present. Two months after dad’s passing, we still haven’t been able to iron things out. I need everyone here. It won’t take long.”

Eric paused for a while. He was walking on the sidewalk and someone hurriedly brushed past him. she looked back and muttered an apology before rushing forward. Eric felt his heart skip. That was close.

He quickly agreed to Chris. “I’ll be there. I have something to handle now.”

“Okay.”

He hung up and hurried to the house, got in and locked the doors. Standing in his room, Eric couldn’t believe that someone who was brave enough to fight in underground boxing rings and race sports bikes would be so terrified of stepping outside.

The gunshot was still resounding in his mind. It was etched there as if in metal. Tomorrow, he wasn’t going to the mansion alone. He’d take the police along.