By morning, the news had spread like wildfire.
The headline screamed from every newspaper stand, the words printed in bold, damning letters. The entire town buzzed with shock and disbelief.
"ANTHONY GEORGE EXPOSED: DRUG LORD AND KILLER OF HIS OWN SON"
Anthony George wasn't just a businessman. He wasn't just a father. He was a master manipulator who uses his charm, wealth, and power to get what he wants. A very ruthless and cunning businessman who will stop at nothing to protect his Image.
The mastermind behind the heroin that had plagued the streets. His wine business had been nothing more than a forefront for his true empire. For years, he had used his trucks to ship heroin disguised as wine bottles, reaching every corner of the city.And when Richard discovered the truth,he had paid for it with his life.
The morning after Anthony's death, Racheal, David, and Spencer arrived at the police station, their hearts heavy with questions. Andrew had confessed to killing Richard, but after watching the video, it was clear he had lied. Now, they needed answers.
Inside the station, Inspector Jones met them at the entrance, his face weary but focused.
"You're here for Andrew?"
"Yes, we are." Racheal said firmly.
Jones exhaled sharply. "Follow me."
He led them down a dimly lit corridor. The scent of stale coffee and old files clung to the air as they reached a steel door. Through the small barred window, Andrew sat motionless, his hands cuffed to the table.
The officer on duty unlocked the door. "You have ten minutes."
Inside, Andrew barely lifted his head as they entered.
David didn't waste time. "Why did you lie, Mr Andrew?"
Andrew let out a bitter chuckle. "Lie about what exactly?"
Racheal's fists clenched. "You confessed to killing Richard! You let me believe that all this time it was you but it was my father who did it!"
Andrew's smirk wavered. "I killed Richard. That's the truth."
Spencer scoffed, his patience wearing thin. "Enough with the games." He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, and turned it towards him. A video began to play, revealing the scene where Richard was shot by Anthony.
Andrew's eyes widened. "Hey, where did you get that?"
"You don't need to know." Spencer's tone was sharp. "Now you tell us the whole truth."
Andrew exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping. He turned to Racheal. "I never wanted to hurt you," he murmured. "I did it to protect my mom."
Spencer frowned. "Your mum!, what has she got to do with this?"
Andrew hesitated. His fingers twitched against the table.
"She was sick, she had cancer, stage four. The treatment was expensive, and we didn't have the money and your father… he offered to pay for everything. On one condition."
David's jaw tightened. "That you take the fall."
Andrew gave a small, defeated nod. "He told me if I confessed to Richard's murder, he'd make sure my mother got the best care. That she wouldn't have to suffer." He swallowed hard. "I thought I could live with it."
Racheal's eyes burned with unshed tears. "Where is she now, Andrew?"
His gaze dropped. "She died the moment she heard I was arrested."
The room went silent.
Guilt crashed over Racheal like a wave. All this time, she had suspected Andrew. She had blamed him. But he had been another one of Anthony's victims.
Spencer's voice cut through the silence. "Why didn't you tell the truth after she passed?"
Andrew exhaled shakily. "I was in too deep. Your father warned me… he said even if I tried to back out, he'd make sure my life was ruined. He had connections everywhere, I thought I was safer in prison."
David shook his head. "You could've told someone. We could've helped."
Andrew let out a humorless laugh. "Who would believe me over Anthony George?."
"But not anymore," Racheal whispered. "He's gone."
Andrew's head snapped up. "What?"
He was found dead last night. Suicide."
Andrew stared at them, processing the information. Then, he let out a hollow chuckle. "Guess the devil couldn't face his own sins."
Racheal sighed, rubbing her face. "Listen… days before Richard told me about the boat ride, I overheard him on the phone, he said someone had cheated him, do you know who that is?"
He swallowed hard. "It was me."
David's eyes widened in surprise. "It was you?"
Andrew exhaled heavily. "Richard had asked me to arrange a getaway car. I charged him 20 grand, but he found out it only cost 10. He was furious."
He paused, a hint of shame in his voice. "I lied because... I knew he had money. We did business together in Festac, and he was raking it in, making more than anyone else."
Racheal's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what? You guys made that kind of money?"
Andrew nodded, a wistful smile on his face. "Richard made even more than that. He was a lucky guy."
David looked at her sharply. "Racheal, all those times Richard was sneaking out,what if he was meeting your father?"
Andrew nodded grimly. "That's exactly what happened. When he found out Daddy George was the owner of the business, he wanted to pull out. But Anthony had other plans. Richard was too valuable. So your father started threatening him, calling him at night, forcing him to meet at Silent River."
Racheal's throat tightened. "And what about the money Richard owed? The debt you mentioned at the Wine House?"
Andrew's expression turned somber. "When Richard finalized his escape plan, he started keeping the money he was supposed to remit."
"Why did you tell the boss that Richard was skimming money? I thought he was your friend! You stole from him and then betrayed him,why?" Spencer spun around to face Andrew, his eyes burning with accusation.
Andrew shook his head quickly. "I didn't, Oscar did. He works for Racheal's dad, one of our colleagues. He was the one who told the boss. I would never snitch on Richard."
A realization struck Racheal like lightning. "That day… we saw my dad at the Greendale hospital." She turned to David. "He must have been following us."
David's face darkened. "That makes sense now. But he was so reckless to use his own car."
"My Dad must have thought Kate knew about his business. That's why he's been following her."
David exhaled sharply. "And that means… your father sent the bloodstained box too, to scare you so you stay away from the finding out the truth"
"What about the man who shot at us in the woods?" Racheal's voice rose as the pieces started falling into place.
"I don't know about that, but it must have been Oscar. Those are the kinds of jobs he does for the Man in Black," Andrew said flatly.
Racheal let out a choked sob, and Spencer placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "It's over now, Racheal."
Andrew sat back, staring at the ceiling, his expression unreadable.
"One last thing, Andrew." David's tone was tentative as he asked.
Andrew met his gaze.
"How did Richard's clothes end up at the old Wine House, we saw it when we saw the getaway car?"
Andrew let out a slow breath.
"I overheard Oscar on the phone with someone, maybe your dad, Racheal, I'm not sure. They were talking about setting the car on fire to erase any evidence. I acted like I didn't hear anything and drove straight to Fox Forest, where I had parked the getaway car. I moved everything to the Wine House, thinking I had covered my tracks. But just as I was about to leave, the police showed up. I tried to run, but they caught me.
"Your dad came to the station and warned me to turn myself in. I had no choice."
His eyes flickered with pain as he blinked rapidly. His voice was raw. "Richard was my friend. I wouldn't have killed him." His voice cracked. "I swear I wouldn't have."
Tears welled in his eyes, and for the first time, Racheal believed him.
Then, Spencer asked the final question. "Who recorded the video?"
Andrew's lips parted, but before he could answer,
The interrogation room door burst open.
Inspector Jones stepped inside, his expression unreadable. "Miss George, you might want to hear this."
He placed his phone on speaker. A frantic voice filled the room,it was Kate. She was screaming, her words barely audible.
Something had happened to her mother.
Racheal's heart thudded. Without a second thought, she turned and rushed out, leaving David and Spencer behind at the station.