Chapter 17 - THE MINE
Police surrounded the abandoned mine before sunrise.
Tom was ordered to remain behind the outer perimeter.
He ignored that order long enough to see Helen.
She stood beside Victor near a black SUV.
For the first time, Tom saw the two together knowing the truth.
The resemblance was impossible to miss.
Same narrow eyes.
Same rigid posture.
Same instinct to look for exits.
Victor was sixty-eight.
Silver-haired.
Elegant.
Calm.
Helen looked exhausted beside him.
The helicopter had not arrived.
Federal agents moved into position.
Pierce gave the command.
“Federal agents.”
“Do not move.”
Victor immediately raised his hands.
Helen did not.
She ran toward the mine entrance.
Tom watched her disappear.
Agents followed.
Victor remained beside the SUV.
He almost smiled.
Pierce approached him.
“Where is she going?”
Victor shrugged.
“She never did listen.”
Tom crossed the boundary before anyone could stop him.
Victor saw him.
“So you’re Tom.”
Tom stared.
“You buried my mother.”
Victor’s smile vanished.
“No.”
“Your daughter did.”
“Our daughter.”
Tom nearly hit him.
Pierce stepped between them.
Victor continued calmly.
“Evelyn made Helen what she is.”
“No.”
Tom pointed toward him.
“You found someone angry and told her greed was justice.”
Victor’s eyes hardened.
“You know nothing about what your mother took from me.”
“She owed you nothing.”
“She built her empire on land we discussed buying together.”
Tom laughed bitterly.
“You mean land you refused to invest in because you thought she would fail.”
Victor said nothing.
That silence answered everything.
Evelyn had succeeded without him.
Victor could never forgive it.
A gunshot echoed from inside the mine.
Everyone turned.
Tom’s heart stopped.
A second shot followed.
Agents rushed inward.
Tom ran behind them.
The mine tunnel was cold and narrow.
Thirty yards inside, Helen stood behind an old support beam.
An agent had fired into the ceiling after Helen pointed a weapon.
She now held the gun against her own chin.
“Stay back.”
Tom froze.
Pierce spoke carefully.
“Helen.”
“Tell them to move.”
“We can talk.”
“I’m done talking.”
Tom stepped forward.
Helen saw him.
“You always win.”
His voice broke.
“This isn’t winning.”
“Mom chose you.”
“She chose the company.”
“She chose Lily.”
“She chose everyone except me.”
Tom shook his head.
“No.”
Helen laughed through tears.
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know Mom kept every school picture you ever took.”
Helen stared.
“I know Dad kept the first tie you bought him even though it was orange and ugly.”
Her mouth trembled.
“I know Lily used to brag that Aunt Helen ran the whole company.”
“Stop.”
“I know you had people who loved you.”
Tom took another step.
“But you wanted ownership instead.”
Helen’s hand shook.
Outside, Victor’s voice suddenly echoed from the tunnel.
“Helen.”
She turned.
Victor had been brought closer in restraints.
He looked at her.
“Put it down.”
Helen stared at him.
“Dad?”
Victor’s expression remained cold.
“Don’t make this worse.”
Helen’s face changed.
“You said we were leaving together.”
Victor said nothing.
“You said the helicopter was for both of us.”
Silence.
Helen looked toward Pierce.
Then toward Tom.
May you like
Finally, she understood.
Victor had planned to leave without her.
