Chapter 19 - THE LAST LIE RICHARD TOLD
Heller made it to a private airfield.
He did not make it onto the plane.
Thomas found him first.
That terrified me more than anything.
By the time police arrived, Thomas had Heller against a hangar wall.
His fist was raised.
I screamed.
“Dad!”
Thomas froze.
It was the first time I had called him that.
Everyone heard it.
Including me.
His hand slowly lowered.
Heller laughed.
“Cute reunion.”
Thomas stepped back.
Police arrested Heller.
The evidence box was recovered from his car.
Richard’s trial began four months later.
I testified.
My mother testified.
Thomas testified.
Ethan testified.
Rachel testified under guard.
Peter testified against his own brother.
Richard watched us from the defense table.
He looked smaller than I remembered.
When I finished, his attorney asked:
“Ms. Mitchell, despite everything you claim, Mr. Mitchell raised you from infancy, correct?”
“Yes.”
“He paid for your education?”
“Yes.”
“Protected you?”
I looked at Richard.
“No.”
The attorney frowned.
“No?”
“He protected his ownership of us.”
The courtroom went quiet.
Richard was convicted of conspiracy, fraud, kidnapping-related offenses, witness tampering, and attempted murder tied to Thomas’s case.
Peter received a reduced sentence for cooperation.
Heller went to prison.
Rachel received supervised release after helping locate her mother and dismantle the financial network.
Outside court, reporters shouted questions.
I ignored them.
My mother stood beside Thomas.
Their hands almost touched.
Not quite.
Ethan waited across the street.
He did not approach.
I walked to him.
“You came.”
“You testified.”
“That too.”
He smiled.
I held out the old engagement ring.
His face fell.
“I don’t want it.”
“Okay.”
“I want a different one.”
He stared at me.
“Sarah?”
“If we ever do this again, nothing from the first wedding comes with us.”
Hope appeared carefully.
“Does that mean—”
“It means dinner.”
“Dinner.”
“And therapy.”
“A lot of therapy.”
“And you never secretly investigate my relatives again.”
“That seems manageable.”
May you like
I looked back at my family.
“Actually, maybe keep a small budget for it.”
