"Don't play games with me, Kate." Harriet took a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper.
"Rachael doesn't throw accusations around lightly. What did she see?"
Kate's fingers twitched. "I need to check on the twins."
Harriet grabbed her wrist before she could turn away. "You're lying."
Kate yanked her arm free, her face tightening.
"You should worry about yourself, Harriet. If anyone here has secrets, it's you."
"How dare you." Harriet's expression darkened. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
Kate let out a short, humorless laugh. "Don't I?"
Before Harriet could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs. Both women turned as Rachael reappeared, her expression unreadable. She didn't spare them a glance as she walked toward the front door.
"Rachael, where are you going?" Harriet called after her.
"To get some peace and quiet"
She stormed out before anyone could say anything.
David parked his car outside his apartment, gripping the steering wheel as he replayed the events of the evening in his mind. The image of Kate, disguised and in secret conversation with Andrew, refused to leave him.
He turned to Rachael, who sat beside him, staring out of the window, lost in thought.
"You're quiet," he said softly.
She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "Because I don't know what to think."
David hesitated before speaking. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She turned to him, her expression raw.
"What is Kate doing with Andrew? That guy betrayed Richard",
"Why was she hanging out with him? And why with him? He has no reason to be anywhere near her."
David frowned. "Unless he does."
"Just like we found out about the affair between Uncle Adam and Martha, I must know what is between those two"
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
"Stay here tonight," he said suddenly. "You need space from all of this."
Rachael hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
They stepped out, fingers entwined, and walked silently into the apartment.
Once inside, Rachael slumped on the couch.
"Kate said she'd take me to the clubs she and Richard used to go to. Now she's meeting up with Andrew in secret. David, how do I not see that as betrayal?"
He approached her, wrapping his arms around her.
"Rachael, Andrew didn't kill Richard. Your father did. I know it hurts, but that's the truth."
"You don't have to say it," Rachael mumbled.
"But Andrew took Richard's money. That's betrayal. And Kate just wants to pretend it doesn't matter? No. I won't forgive that."
David held her tighter. "Calm down. Just rest a bit."
Back at Georges' house, Kate paced restlessly in her room, phone in hand. She had tried calling Rachael multiple times. Each call was declined. Her messages sat unread.
"What is wrong with you?" Adam's voice cut through the silence. He stood at the doorway, watching her.
"I've been observing you for a while now". "Are the babies alright?"
Kate sighed. "They're fine. It's Rachael. She's upset with me. I've never seen her this way before. I'm so unsettled."
Adam shrugged, stepping into the room.
"So Rachael's opinion matters that much to you? That girl pokes into things that don't concern her. And now she's poking into yours too."
Kate's gaze turned icy, her voice low and even. "What exactly are you insinuating, Adam?"
He smirked. "Never mind. But losing sleep over Rachael isn't worth it. Get some rest."
Kate turned away from him and quickly dialed David's number. He picked it up immediately.
Rachael snatched the phone. "Why are you calling David? I thought we were friends. Sisters, even."
"Rachael, listen, Andrew just got out of jail. He called me to hand over the rest of Richard's money. I didn't want to be seen with him, which is why I disguised myself."
Rachael froze. "What?"
"I wish you had listened to me. It's not what you think. He said he'd bring the rest of Richard's belongings. That's why I met him."
There was a long pause.
"Kate… I'm sorry," Rachael finally said.
"I jumped to conclusions. I thought you were hiding something. I shouldn't have assumed."
"It's okay," Kate replied gently. "I understand." But don't worry, I'll handle this."
David leaned into the call. "Are you sure you don't need help?"
"No, I've got it. I'll be fine."
Rachael took a breath. "Thank you, Kate. And I'm sorry. Truly. I misjudged everything."
The next morning, the fog still hung heavy over the Silent River as Kate stood anxiously by the water's edge. The silence of the early hours was broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. Then, from the shadows, Andrew emerged, wearing a cap low over his face and a worn hoodie.
"You came," Kate said, wrapping her arms around herself.
Andrew gave her a grim nod and pulled out a small black duffel bag.
"I didn't want to hold onto this any longer. It's everything that was left. Richard's last stash. Some documents, a flash drive… and seventy-five grand. From his final deals."
Kate's eyes widened, her breath catching. "Seventy-five? Jesus, Andrew. You never mentioned the amount."
"I didn't want to, not until it felt right. And now… it's yours".
Kate's fingers trembled as she reached for the bag, her mind reeling with the implications of what she was holding. The weight of the duffel felt substantial in her hands, like a tangible connection to the secrets and lies that had haunted the Georges' family for so long.
Without another word, Kate turned and strode to her car. She slid into the driver's seat of her car, her heart racing with anticipation. The drive to David's apartment was a blur, her mind consumed by the possibilities that lay ahead.
As she burst through the door, Rachael and David looked up from the kitchen table, startled by her sudden arrival. Kate's eyes sparkled with excitement, the duffel bag held triumphantly in her arms.
"You guys won't believe what just happened," she announced, her voice barely containing her enthusiasm.
Rachael's eyebrows shot up, her expression curious.
"What is it?" she asked, pushing her chair back from the table.
David's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to the duffel bag. "What's going on, Kate?"
Kate's smile grew wider, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Andrew just gave me Richard's stash." "There's seventy-five grand here."
The room fell silent, Rachael's mouth dropping open in shock. David's eyes widened, his face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
Kate nodded. "Andrew just gave it to me".
Rachael sat back, digesting the information. Then she said slowly,
"We can't use this money carelessly. It's dirty, traced back to whatever shady deal Richard was tangled in. But... it could still serve well."
"What do you mean?" Kate asked.
"We deposit it under my business. Clean it. Make it legitimate. I'll set up a savings account for the twins and transfer your share discreetly. That way, it's protected, and no one comes knocking."
David nodded in agreement. "Smart."
Kate smiled in relief. "Thank you. Really. I didn't know what to do."
Later that evening, the trio decided to take a break from all the tension. An outdoor cinema was playing an old favorite. They parked beneath fairy lights, surrounded by people lounging on picnic blankets and in bean bags.
THE CRIMSON VEIL
The warm night was filled with laughter and the scent of popcorn. But Rachael seemed distracted. Halfway through the film, she leaned toward David.
"I need to use the restroom. I will be right back."
She walked toward the toilet area but hesitated. The restrooms were grimy and smelled foul. Wrinkling her nose, she decided to walk behind the facility, hoping to find a more secluded spot. As she turned the corner, voices made her freeze.
She ducked behind the wall just as two figures came into view, one of them, unmistakably, her mother, Harriet.
Harriet was speaking in hushed tones to a tall man in a dark trench coat. Her hands clutched a heavy-looking leather bag. Money. Rachael's heart raced.
The man turned slightly.
Rachael's breath caught in her throat. It was Oscar, the one who shot at them in the woods.
Harriet discreetly handed him the bag, her fingers brushing against his as he took it. He slipped his hand inside, his eyes scanning the contents before he gave a brief, curt nod. Without a word, they both turned and melted into the shadows, the darkness swallowing them whole. Harriet glanced over her shoulder, her gaze darting back to ensure they remained unobserved, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of caution and anxiety.
Rachael stood frozen, hidden, every nerve in her body screaming.
Rachael's feet raced across the pavement as she hurried to meet David and Kate. Her heart raced with every step. Her friends' faces lit up with their usual warm smiles, but Rachael's expression was taut with worry. David and Kate thought it was just another one of Rachael's dramatic entrances, but as they caught sight of her eyes, they knew something was wrong.
"Rachael, what's wrong?" David stammered, his voice laced with concern.
Rachael's words tumbled out in a rush, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I just saw my mom... at the back of the bathroom with a dude. I don't know what she's up to, but I want us to follow her."
Kate's eyes widened in alarm, her brow furrowed in concern.
"What? No way, Rachael.
David's expression twisted in disbelief. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Rachael snapped, then paused, her voice breaking into a whisper. "And the man… it was Oscar."
David's heart dropped. "Oscar? The guy who chased us in the woods?"
Kate's face drained of color. "Oh my God…"
"I know my mother isn't a saint," Rachael continued, her voice low and shaking, "but we can't just sit here."
"She could be in danger or worse pulling some shady deal. I saw her follow him into the alley behind the building. We have to do something."