— he asked. — Who told you that?
— Arthur Sterling. — Drew wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
He told him everything: how they’d gotten involved with the mob, how Arthur was betrayed. Mike was silent. Then he laughed, a bitter, tired sound.
— God! Again! — he muttered, shaking his head. — Son, what a load of crap he fed you. Listen to me. Carefully.
Mike leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.
— Arthur Sterling has been my partner for twenty years, — he began quietly. — He was my best friend. We built that company together. Me, him, and Dan Miller. The three of us. From nothing.
Drew listened, holding his breath.
— Five years ago, Arthur started changing. — Mike opened his eyes. — At first, we thought it was stress, burnout. We were working hard. But no. He started gambling. Casinos, online poker, high-stakes games. He was losing massive amounts of money.
— That can’t be true, — Drew whispered.
— We tried to help, — Mike continued. — We offered rehab, therapy. He promised to quit. He swore he would. He didn’t. Then he started lying. Constantly. About everything. Where he was, what he was doing, where the money went. Lie after lie.
Drew clenched his fists on his knees.
— A year ago, we found out he took out a loan in the company’s name. Two million dollars. — Mike rubbed his temples. — He lost it all. Every cent. We spent six months covering those debts. Then more loans, more debt. He was sick. It was a full-blown addiction.
— But he said… — Drew started.
— Three months ago, Arthur said he wanted out, — Mike interrupted. — Wanted his buyout. We said fine. Let’s do the valuation, the split, keep it fair. But a week later, we found out he’d sold the equipment. Half the machinery from our plant—they just hadn’t moved it yet. The new owner came to me, and I’m stalling for time. Arthur forged the documents, my signature, Dan’s signature. He sold it to liquidators for pennies on the dollar.
Drew covered his face with his hands.
— He got the cash. A million and a half. — Mike spoke steadily, like a judge. — He disappeared for a week, lost it all, and came back. We were in shock. Hundreds of people work at that plant. Without that equipment, production stops. People lose their paychecks.
— No… — Drew exhaled.
— I told him: “Arthur, give the money back. We’ll buy the equipment back.” He refused. — Mike clenched his fists. — Said it was his share, his right. What share? He stole it. He forged documents. It’s a crime.
— And his leg? — Drew looked up. — He was wounded.
— When we were driving him out to talk sense into him, he tried to jump out of the car. — Mike nodded. — He fell and caught himself on a branch. He hurt himself. We even tried to patch him up—he wouldn’t let us. He was screaming, fighting.
— It can’t be… He said… — Drew shook his head.
— He always says. — Mike put a hand on his shoulder. — He’s a master of the lie. Look, Arthur is sick. He’s a pathological liar and a gambler. He uses people. He always has.
— He promised… — Tears ran down Drew’s cheeks. — To help my family. To pay for school.
— How many times has he promised… — Mike sighed. — Son, I’m sorry. You got caught in his web. Just like everyone else.
Drew told him everything. How he found Arthur in the woods, how they took him in, how he lived with them for three weeks. How he promised to help, how he became like family. About the safe and the code 8374. Mike listened, shaking his head.
— Son, — he said quietly. — You saved him. And he used you. Like he always does.
— I thought… — Drew wiped his nose with his sleeve. — He was a good man. Like a father.
— I know. — Mike nodded. — He knows how to be good. When he needs something. Where do you live?
Drew gave him the address.
— I’ll take you home, — Mike opened the door. — And thank you. For the code. We’ll get the money back and save the equipment. The plant will keep running. Your mother… her name is Elena, right? She won’t lose her job.
— You know my mother? — Drew looked up.
— I know my employees. — Mike smiled sadly. — She’s a good worker. Hard shift. We’ll see what we can do to help.
The drive back was long. Drew stared out the window, crying silently. His thoughts were a tangled mess. How could I be so stupid? To believe him so easily. He lied. The whole time. And I believed him. For three weeks. Arthur was like a father. No, he wasn’t. He used us. Me. Mom. Cassie.
Mike stopped the car in front of the house.
— Son, it’s not your fault, — he said, looking Drew in the eye. — Arthur is a pro. He’s fooled people a lot smarter than you. You just wanted to help. That’s a good thing. Don’t lose that.
Drew got out without looking back. The car drove away. He stood at the gate, looking at the house. The light was on in the window; his mom and Cassie were inside. Waiting. Happy that Arthur was gone and that help was coming. How could he tell them? How could he explain that it was all a lie? He couldn’t. They were so happy. So hopeful. It would break their hearts. Drew wiped his tears and squared his shoulders. He went inside.
The door creaked, a normal, everyday sound, as if nothing had changed. Drew stepped over the threshold, shaking the snow off his boots. Elena and Cassie were at the table, eating dinner. Ham and potatoes, bread, tea.
— Drew, where have you been? — Elena jumped up and hugged him. — I was worried sick.
— Just out, — Drew pulled away, taking off his jacket. — Thinking.
— Did Arthur get off okay?
Comments are closed.