“Did you hear? Patricia’s mansion burned down–nothing left but ashes.”
“I heard the fire trucks showed up, but they never even went inside.”
“They say Patricia’s nanny is swearing up and down that someone from the Newton family set the
fire.”
“The police are already investigating.”
“Murdering your own daughter–inw, though?”
“Some people are saying Patricia was the one who had Theo stripped naked and dumped in front of Newton Enterprises the other day.”
The restaurant was buzzing, everyone jumping in with their own take, gossip practically humming through the air.
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“Ruby’s in the hospital with two broken legs, Theo got tossed naked onto Main Street, and <b>Nina’s </b>getting torn apart online. Seriously, just look at the past two weeks–anyone even remotely connected to Theo has paid for it. Newton family’s stock keeps tanking. If they don’t do something soon, Newton Enterprises is as good as gone.”
“Stuff like this–getting rid of your enemies in one move–it’s what the upper crust does best. Who’s to say the Newtons aren’t behind Patricia’s death, too?”
“If Patricia did all this, honestly, I’d respect her.”
Marian and Jackson were sure it was the Newtons. As soon as the police got involved, the investigation started rolling. Only Howard and Theo, both in the hospital, had rock–solid alibis.
Grandma and Kelly? Their stories didn’t hold up nearly as well.
Jackson got thewyers on the line and started the legal fight.
The whole mess blew up in the press.
When Howard was cornered by reporters, he t–out denied everything but promised he’d cooperate with the police. <fnd676> Chapters first released on find?novel</fnd676>
11:30 p.m.
Patricia slipped into the airport, her face hidden beneath a cap and mask, only to spot Oliver waiting for her–Atticus had sent him as her contact.
The moment she <b>saw </b>him, she stopped short.
Oliver stood beneath the warm glow of the streetlights outside the VIP terminal, tall in a crisp khaki trench coat, a cigarette bnced between his fingers. Every now and then, he’d take a slow drag, the ember briefly lighting up his sharp features.
The light softened his usual distance, making him seem almost… human.
<b>13:32 </b>
Atticus had known about her n from the start.
tol
He’d even gone out of his way to help her pull it off.
But standing in front of Oliver now, Patricia felt like she’d hit rock bottom, exposed <b>in </b><b>a </b>way that made her want to disappear.
She got out of the car. Oliver caught her eye, nodded, and stubbed out his cigarette without a word. He turned and walked toward the terminal.
She tugged her mask a little tighter and followed.
He didn’t need to say anything–just being <b>near </b>him was enough to make her tense.
They got straight into the waiting car and headed for the private jet, not lingering at the airport.
Patricia was about to take the left seat when Oliver finally spoke, his voice low and direct. “Sit on the right.”
It was his ne–she didn’t argue. She switched seats.
As the jet lifted off, Patricia pushed up the window shade, gazing at the city lights of Riverdale fading below. In the distance, a thick column of smoke curled into the night sky.
She realized, right then, why Oliver wanted her on this side.
He wanted her to see the aftermath with her own eyes.
That smoke was proof of everything she’d done.
Patricia nced at Oliver.
He noticed, and patted the seat next to him, a silent invitation.
She hesitated.
No way.
But she knew Oliver wasn’t the type to make small talk or waste time.
After a pause, she slid over to his side.
“Ruby’s legs are both broken,” he said quietly. “The Padi family’swyers have already made contact. They’ll keep the Newtons tangled up inwsuits for a while. Ms. Martin, Is there anything else you’d like me to handle?”
Patricia swallowed, caughtpletely off guard.