Chapter 5 - THE SHOOTER DID NOT MISS
The masked shooter was arrested forty-eight hours after the driveway attack.
His name was Lucas Reed.
Thirty-two.
Former private-security contractor.
Two prior assault arrests.
No connection to Evelyn.
Direct connection to Tyler.
One burner phone contained messages between Tyler and someone saved as L.R.
Tyler:
Tomorrow morning. Driveway.
L.R.:
You sure she’ll be there?
Tyler:
She always sees me off when Dad leaves early.
L.R.:
Target?
Tyler:
Scare her. Make it look like someone wants me.
That changed the theory.
Tyler claimed the messages were fake.
Digital forensics disagreed.
Then Lucas talked.
His version was ugly but unexpected.
Tyler hired him to stage an attack.
The shooter was supposed to fire wide.
No one was supposed to be hit.
Lucas said:
“I aimed past him.”
Mara asked:
“Then why did Evelyn get shot?”
Lucas looked down.
“She moved.”
The bullet that struck Evelyn had been intended to pass beside Tyler.
A theatrical near miss.
A fake assassination attempt.
Why?
Tyler wanted to claim he was under threat from whoever was “stealing his inheritance.”
He planned to blame Evelyn’s financial investigation.
If he could make Charles believe Evelyn’s actions had endangered Tyler, Charles might remove her as successor trustee.
Then Tyler could push for the old succession structure.
Mara asked:
“Who was supposed to be blamed for hiring you?”
Lucas shrugged.
“Some fake creditor guy.”
A manufactured enemy.
A manufactured attack.
A real bullet.
May you like
Then Evelyn moved.
The lie became blood.
