Warmth still saturates the early autumn air.
Being back here – back with my family, it’s hard to escape the consequences of meeting Lewis. Even if we catch him and he spends the rest of his life in prison for killing Daddy, will my family forgive me?
Much like at the farm, there’s police tape strung up around the orangery when I arrive. I circle the building, taking in the stone pillars and glass. It’s always been such a pretty building on the property. Like everything at Tallington, there’s a grandeur and elegance to it, but I'm not able to see that anymore.
I push open the door that I escaped through chasing after Lewis last time I was here. The voices, the shouts and heated words of that day flood back as I step inside:
“This has gone on for too long, Neve. And you. You won’t see a penny of my money.” Father seethes, his face turning red as he yells.
“Daddy, you need to listen to him. I don’t know what else to do.” I grab at his arm, desperate to find a solution to this mess.
Lewis has his back to us like he’s on a visit and admiring the orangery.
“I admit, you are a stubborn old fool. It seems your money is worth more to you than your children. Even Neve here tried to pay me off.”
“You gave him money?” Daddy shouts at me as if I did something wrong.
“It’s my money. I wanted to protect us and thought I could.”
“You should have taken the money, Davis. Because you’ll never see any now. You can threaten us all you want. Brodericks won’t be dictated to by some low life—”
“Low life?” Lewis spins around to look at both of us. “You think a low life can do everything I have and just walk away? No. It’s too late for that. You’ve pushed me too far.” He bites the words out with venom. “I will pull you to pieces. I will destroy your precious world if that’s what it takes. And you’ll have to live knowing you could have stopped it.”
Daddy’s spine stiffens.
Lewis’ eyes flash between the both of us.
“If we’re done here, Davis.” Daddy takes my arm and goes to turn.
“I don’t think so.” Lewis pulls a gun from his jacket and points it at us.
My hand flies to my mouth to stop myself from screaming, but Daddy doesn’t move. He just looks at Lewis as if he just handed him a letter rather than levelled a gun at him.
“I got it right.” He nods the gun in my direction. “You were the weak link, Neve. Nothing like the tyrant of the family here. But you’re too weak.” He keeps the gun on me and looks at Daddy. “You have everything. You have more than you can want, and I deserve my share. It should have been ME!” Lewis’ temper climbs, and there’s a shake in his hand.
“Davis, you’re not stupid enough to kill me. I’ve not, and will never, change my will. But if you kill me, there’s nothing for you. Only prison.” Daddy’s words just seem to rile him further.
“Daddy, please. Just give him what he wants. He can have my inheritance, whatever it is, I don’t need it, just, please. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
“Neve, I will not be bullied into anything.”
“You’re a fucking stupid old man. A bitter, vengeful man who deserves everything that’s coming to you.”
“Daddy, please!” I plead.
“If you won’t change your mind now, you never will.”
Lewis looks at me and then moves the gun in front of Daddy.
And pulls the trigger.
The fragrance of the flowers claws at my nose and throat as I breathe in the humid air, and there’s a dark, muddy stain still visible on the ground where he fell.
Where he died.
I grip the mug of tea tighter as the memories take over, flicking through my mind.
“Hello, Neve.” Lewis’ voice messes with the visions in my mind, and the mug slips from my grip as I startle.
