CHAPTER 5 – The Truth Buried With Her Husband
"I ordered his murder."
The words echoed through the apartment like thunder.
Margaret felt her knees weaken.
"No..."
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes.
"You're lying."
Richard Hale sighed as though he had grown tired of pretending.
"I wish I were."
He slowly lowered the gun—not because he had changed his mind, but because he knew neither Margaret nor Ethan had anywhere to run.
"Your husband wasn't just an ordinary accountant," Richard continued. "He worked for me."
Margaret's heart pounded.
"He never worked for you."
"Oh, but he did."
Richard smiled.
"He managed records that no government was ever supposed to see."
Ethan quickly opened the worn leather notebook.
Every page was filled with names, account numbers, dates, and signatures.
Some belonged to famous politicians.
Others belonged to judges, business leaders, and even senior police officers.
Hidden payments.
Illegal transfers.
Bribes worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
"This..." Ethan whispered.
"This could destroy an entire network."
Richard's smile faded.
"Exactly."
Margaret remembered the nights when her husband would come home exhausted, locking himself inside his study for hours.
Whenever she asked what was wrong, he would simply smile and say,
"I'm just protecting our future."
Now she understood.
He hadn't been protecting their future.
He had been protecting the truth.
Richard slowly walked closer.
"Your husband discovered everything."
"He planned to expose you," Ethan said.
Richard nodded without shame.
"So I gave him one final chance."
"He refused."
"And that's why you killed him?"
Richard looked Margaret directly in the eyes.
"I didn't kill him because he knew too much."
"I killed him because he refused to tell me where he hid the evidence."
Margaret's breathing stopped.
"What... evidence?"
Richard pointed toward the old cassette tape.
"That."
Before anyone could react—
BANG!
The apartment door exploded inward.
Armed officers stormed inside.
"Police! Drop your weapons!"
Margaret's heart filled with hope.
They were saved.
Or so she thought.
The officers surrounded Ethan instead.
One detective kicked the notebook across the floor.
Another handcuffed Ethan without asking a single question.
Richard calmly placed his pistol on the ground and raised both hands with a confident smile.
The lead detective walked over...
Ignored Richard completely...
And whispered respectfully,
"Sir, are you alright?"
Margaret stared in disbelief.
The police weren't here to arrest Richard.
May you like
They were here...
To protect him.
