One of Six (Den Hollows #1)

41. Beatrice

41

BEATRICE

Essex drops me off at the entrance to the development and I walk the rest of the way. It’s unnerving to know there are a lot of eyes on me. As I walk up the deserted driveway, I suddenly wonder about Judge. My grandfather will be inside with Richard. I'm angry at myself for not even thinking about him before.

The old coot will be expecting me to tremble in my shoes. Well, he'll be disappointed because I won't show fear. I'm sure Richard won't hurt me. I mean, he raised me, so there must be some feelings there.

As I approach the front door, I don't see any movement. Even the light above the entrance doesn't come on. I pull Joseph Wilders' jacket around me, proud to wear it, and enter the house I once called home.

A man sits at the bottom of the stairs. Another at the top. Both look casual as they watch me.

Two more men hover in the shadows as I hesitate. A light goes on in Richard's office, and then the door opens... And there he is. His eyes make a quick assessment of me.

As I stand in front of him, I notice that his mouth twitches, perhaps in frustration. He looks at me and his lips curl into a thin line when he notices the jacket I wear.

I glare at the man. "I thought you would have left the country by now."

"A few things to take care of first." He leads me all the way into the office and my eyes land on Ridge.

I run to him and wrap my arms around his neck. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Ridge replies.

I look at the man I have always thought of as my father. "Ridge is leaving now and I'll give you the phone when he's with his brothers."

"I'm not leaving without you, Bea." Ridge grabs my hips.

I turn in his arms. "I need you safe." He starts to argue, but I don't give him a chance. "I promised Violet, I'd get you back to her." To Richard. "He goes to where his brothers are waiting. When I know he's safe, I'll get you the phone," I repeat.

"I could just take it from you." He chuckles. "Or should I get David to do it?"

Until that moment, I had no idea that David was there. He's in the far corner to my right with Judge. Another man appears on the far left.

"Why do you need all these men and guns for little old me?"

"Where's the phone, Beatrice?" Judge snarls.

I refrain from mentioning that I'm a witness to what happened to Mom, whether they get the phone with the video evidence or not, because Mom had the whole thing on video. It only stopped when the phone died.

I face the asshole. "You'll still have me. Let Ridge go. I won't budge."

"Let him go," Richard snaps.

I give Ridge a shove. "Go before he changes his mind."

"I fucking hate this." He kisses my forehead.

"Go," I whisper, "there's a plan."

He swallows and I watch him walk away. My eyes flicker to David, who is now standing beside Richard, with Judge on the other side of him. David doesn't meet my gaze, and I can't read him.

No one speaks as I take a chair in front of the large desk.

Minutes pass when the phone rings. I take it out of my pocket and answer it.

"He's safe," Ed says.

"Okay." I set the phone on my lap and face the man.

"I want to know why Joshua Redd died. I know it wasn't an accident."

Richard sits in his chair, looking like a man in charge. "I had nothing to do with it."

"Tell me. What did he see that he wasn't supposed to?" I pause. "Did he see you push Deedee Boyle down the stairs? Your pregnant mistress!" I hiss. "What did he see that got him killed?" I shout.

Richard laughs. "You think you have it all figured out, don't you?"

"What about Steven Gibbs, Robert Tate, George Wilcox, Roscoe Dale, Peter Frederick, Vince Foyle, Deedee Boyle and Joshua Redd? How many other people have died because of you?" Richard turns pale as I rattle off the names. I've shocked him. It was about time. "What happened to them? Their families need answers, and I know you have them."

"You know nothing!" The color returns to Richard's face. I feel David's eyes on me, but I keep my focus on Richard as he says, "Redd came upon Judge burying her body.”

"Enough!" Judge snaps. "Are you stupid, boy?"

"No, Dad." Richard says in a tense voice. His arm snaps out and he fires the gun in Judge's face. I freeze in horror. My eyes fly to David, who looks panicked.

"I'm not a stupid boy, Dad. Good riddance." Richard sneers, and now I'm afraid. Not just for me, but for David.

I swallow hard.

"That old bastard got what he deserved."

"Why did you kill Deedee? She was pregnant with your baby!"

"Was she?" He laughs.

My eyebrows knit together. "Judge?—"

"He got her pregnant. She came to me crying, rape. I shoved her." He shrugs. "Not my fault she was at the top of the stairs and gravity took care of everything else."

"You make me sick."

"Redd caught Judge and someone else burying her. He came to me. I couldn't let him go, so I had my men throw him off the roof. Made it look like an accident." He laughs. "I own this town."

"Not anymore," I cry. "You're a murdering bastard, and I hope they give you the death penalty for what you've done."

"Give me the phone, Beatrice. I'm done talking." He grins. "Or maybe I should shoot your daddy next."

"What?"

Richard is highly amused. "My brother spent years trying to protect you, even when he thought you were his niece. He loved you because of Elisabeth."

"I'm sure Ed has contacts he can use to spread rumors about you. Make sure you get a welcome from all the inmates looking for new meat,” I hiss.

"You think you have the upper hand, but you don't." His voice is deadly calm. "Phone!"

I push the phone over to him. "I know what's on it. So do the feds."

"It won't matter." Richard gets up and quickly looks through the phone and he grows angrier. He walks to the office door, turns, points the gun, and fires.