THE MAN BEHIND EVERYTHING
The rain poured over the lake.
No one moved.
William Henderson stood calmly at the water's edge, surrounded by armed men.
He looked nothing like the frail old businessman the world remembered.
His posture was straight.
His eyes were sharp.
For the first time, Julianne understood why people had feared him.
"Hello, Richard," William said with a faint smile.
"I must admit... I'm impressed."
"You survived longer than I expected."
Richard stepped in front of Julianne.
"You destroyed my family."
William shook his head.
"No."
"I protected mine."
Julianne's voice cut through the silence.
"You murdered innocent people."
William looked at her.
"Did I?"
"Everything I built was to ensure the Henderson name survived."
"The weak call it evil."
"The powerful call it legacy."
Richard clenched his fists.
"You've been lying to everyone for decades."
William sighed.
"And yet..."
"...everyone believed me."
He raised one hand.
Two armed men dragged a heavy steel case toward the lake.
William smiled.
"I know what's inside your vault."
"The evidence."
"The files."
"The names."
"But tonight..."
"...they all disappear."
He pressed a button.
The surface of the lake suddenly rippled.
Then, with a deep mechanical roar, a massive circular platform slowly rose from beneath the water.
Julianne stared in disbelief.
Hidden below the lake...
was a reinforced underground bunker.
Richard whispered,
"He found it..."
At that exact moment, engines echoed across the valley.
Several black helicopters appeared overhead.
Marcus looked through the helicopter window beside Eleanor.
"We're too late..."
Eleanor shook her head.
"No."
"We're right on time."
The helicopters descended toward the lake.
Marcus jumped out before they had fully landed.
"Julianne!"
She turned.
Their eyes met for the first time since the divorce.
Neither of them spoke.
There was no time.
William laughed.
"How touching."
"The broken family is together again."
He snapped his fingers.
Dozens of soldiers surrounded Marcus and Eleanor.
Then William slowly pulled a small remote control from his pocket.
"If I press this button..."
"...the vault explodes."
"And with it..."
"...every secret dies forever."
Marcus took one careful step forward.
"William..."
"You've already lost."
William smiled.
"Have I?"
He held up the remote.
Then...
he pressed the button.
TO BE CONTINUED...
