Chapter 9: The Truth Behind The Glass
The prison alarm kept ringing as I ran through the security doors.
Every officer moved quickly.
Every radio carried the same words.
“Security incident in the east wing.””
My heart was pounding.
Not because I thought Emily had done something wrong.
Because I knew Victor.
He didn’t need to hurt someone directly to destroy them.
He only needed to make people believe his version of events.
When I reached the wing, I saw Emily standing outside her cell.
Two officers were nearby.
She looked confused.
Afraid.
“Rachel.””
I rushed toward her.
“What happened?””
Emily looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
She pointed toward the floor.
“I woke up because someone was shouting.””
I looked around.
An envelope was sitting outside her cell door.
No name.
No markings.
Just a white envelope.
An officer carefully picked it up.
“Everyone step back.””
Inside was a single piece of paper.
My stomach tightened when I saw the message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED QUIET.
Victor.
He wasn’t just threatening us anymore.
He was showing us that he could reach Emily whenever he wanted.
I looked at her.
“Did anyone come near your cell?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Then she hesitated.
“There was something else.””
“What?””
Emily looked toward the envelope.
“Before the alarm started, I heard someone say my name.””
My body went still.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
She swallowed.
“But they said something strange.””
“What?””
Emily’s voice became quiet.
“They said, ‘Richard never told you the whole story.’”
The words hit me.
Because Richard had said the same thing.
Not directly.
But enough.
He knew something.
Something he was too afraid to reveal.
I immediately requested a meeting with him.
This time, I wasn’t alone.
My father came with me.
Richard entered the room looking exhausted.
The confident man from three years ago was gone.
He looked like someone who had finally realized the consequences were real.
“You know about Victor,” I said.
Richard didn’t deny it.
“Yes.””
My father leaned forward.
“Then start talking.””
Richard stared at the table.
“I didn’t know how deep it went.””
“You worked for him.””
Richard looked up.
“I was desperate.””
“That’s your excuse?””
“No.””
For the first time, Richard sounded broken.
“It’s the truth.””
Nobody spoke.
Richard continued.
“Before Emily, there were others.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Others who took the blame?””
He nodded.
“But they didn’t survive the pressure.””
The room became silent.
“He needed someone clean,” Richard said.
“Someone nobody would suspect.””
He looked down.
“Emily was perfect.””
My hands tightened.
“You say that like she was an object.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“No. You don’t.””
My voice became sharper.
“You watched her lose nine years.””
A tear appeared in his eyes.
“I know.””
“You walked away.””
“I know.””
“You replaced her.””
He didn’t answer.
Because there was no defense.
After a moment, Richard whispered:
“I was trying to protect myself.””
My father looked at him coldly.
“You sacrificed someone who loved you to save yourself.””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
The honesty was almost worse.
“Why now?”” I asked.
“Why tell us now?””
Richard looked toward the glass wall.
“Because Victor is going to kill me.””
My father watched him.
“Why?””
“Because I kept something.””
“What?””
Richard looked at me.
“The original ledger.””
My heart stopped.
“The financial records?””
He nodded.
“Victor thought they were destroyed.””
“Where are they?””
Richard looked at the camera in the corner.
Then at the officers outside.
“I can’t say here.””
I leaned closer.
“You don’t get to make demands.””
“I know.””
His voice lowered.
“But if Victor finds out I told you, I won’t make it through the week.””
I stared at him.
A part of me wanted to hate him.
Another part understood something important.
Richard was finally afraid of the same person he had spent years helping.
“Where is the ledger?””
He looked at me.
“Under the place where everything started.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Richard took a breath.
“The coffee shop.””
I froze.
The place where Emily and Richard met.
The place where their story began.
The place where he created her trust.
Richard continued:
“Victor used the building before it was sold.””
My father stood.
“We need access.””
Richard nodded.
“But hurry.””
“Why?””
His face changed.
“Because Victor knows you’ll find it.””
I left the room immediately.
The team moved toward the old coffee shop location.
But before we reached the building, another message came in.
A video file.
No sender.
No explanation.
I opened it.
It showed Richard.
Not today.
Three years earlier.
The night before Emily signed her confession.
My blood turned cold.
Because in the video, Richard wasn’t crying.
He wasn’t scared.
May you like
He was smiling.
And sitting across from him was Victor Hale.
