Chapter 8: The Missing Piece Of My Father's Legacy
The search warrant felt heavier than any piece of paper had the right to feel.
I held it in my hand while the police lights flashed across the road.
Red.
Blue.
Red.
Blue.
The same colors reflected off the Challenger's black paint, making it look almost alive.
Like the car itself was watching everything unfold.
Someone wanted it taken.
Someone wanted my father's final creation erased.
And the worst part?
They were getting closer.
The officer standing in front of me looked uncomfortable.
He wasn't the enemy.
He was just a person holding a document he didn't understand.
“I'm sorry,” he said quietly.
“But we have to follow procedure.””
I looked at him.
“Procedure based on a lie.””
He didn't argue.
Maybe because he knew.
Maybe because everyone there knew something was wrong.
Richard King stepped forward.
“This claim is false.””
The officer looked at him.
“Then you need to file a statement.””
Richard stared at the warrant.
For the first time, the powerful businessman who controlled half of Detroit looked powerless.
Because someone had used his own name against him.
Tyler walked over.
“Dad.””
Richard didn't look at him.
“Go home.””
Tyler frowned.
“What?””
“Go home.””
There was something in Richard's voice that made Tyler stop.
Fear.
Not anger.
Fear.
Tyler looked at me.
Then at his father.
“What are you hiding?””
Richard finally looked at him.
And for the first time, I saw something between them that wasn't power.
It was disappointment.
“More than you need to know.””
Tyler laughed bitterly.
“That's always your answer.””
He stepped back.
“You spent my entire life telling me the King name meant everything.””
His eyes moved toward the crowd.
“Now everyone is looking at us like we're criminals.””
Richard said nothing.
Because maybe, deep down, he knew his son was finally seeing the truth.
The officer motioned toward the Challenger.
“We need to inspect the vehicle.””
“No.””
The word came from my mouth before I could think.
Everyone looked at me.
I stepped closer to the car.
“You're not touching it.””
The officer sighed.
“I understand why you feel that way.””
“No.””
I looked at the Challenger.
“You don't.””
I placed my hand on the hood.
“My father built this.””
The officer lowered his voice.
“Miss Carter—”
“He died protecting the truth about this car.””
The crowd became quiet.
I didn't care who was listening anymore.
“I spent a year believing he was gone because of an accident.””
My voice cracked.
“Then I found out everyone lied.””
I looked at Richard.
“At least let me find out why.””
The officer studied me.
Then he looked at the crowd.
At the cameras.
At the hundreds of people watching.
Finally, he nodded.
“You have until morning.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“I'm delaying the seizure until I can verify some details.””
He stepped back.
“But don't leave town.””
I almost smiled.
“I wasn't planning to.””
The police slowly left.
The crowd followed.
Within minutes, River Road became quiet again.
The race was forgotten.
The winner was forgotten.
Only the secrets remained.
Richard stood near the Challenger.
Tyler had already left.
The mysterious man was gone.
Only us.
Me.
Richard.
And the car.
“You need to listen to me.””
I turned.
“Why?””
“Because you don't know who you're dealing with.””
I laughed.
“That line is getting old.””
Richard ignored it.
“The person who sent that warrant is not trying to take the car.””
“Then what?””
“They're trying to force you to reveal what's inside.””
I froze.
The message.
*Your father left you the car. He left someone else the proof.*
I looked at the Challenger.
“What proof?””
Richard hesitated.
And that hesitation told me everything.
“You know.””
He looked away.
“I know there was something.””
“Something?””
“Your father found information that could destroy powerful people.””
I stepped closer.
“Like you?””
Richard accepted the accusation.
“Yes.””
That surprised me.
“You admit it?””
“I made mistakes.””
He looked at the road.
“But I didn't kill your father.””
I studied him.
For years, I imagined the person responsible.
I imagined someone evil.
Someone who felt nothing.
But Richard didn't look like that.
He looked like someone who had spent years trying to survive something.
“What happened that night?””
Richard was quiet.
Then he said:
“Your father discovered the races were being manipulated.””
I listened.
“Cars were being sabotaged. Drivers were being paid to lose. Accidents were being arranged.””
My stomach tightened.
“And you?””
Richard looked at me.
“I was part of it.””
The honesty surprised me.
“You were?””
“Yes.””
The word was barely audible.
“I helped create the system.””
I stared at him.
“But why?””
His eyes moved toward the Challenger.
“Because I wanted to win.””
There was no excuse.
No defense.
Just the truth.
“I thought if I controlled the races, I could control my future.””
“And my father found out.””
“Yes.””
“What did you do?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“I tried to stop him.””
My anger rose.
“You threatened him?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“I begged him.””
That wasn't the answer I expected.
Richard continued.
“I told him he didn't understand how deep it went.””
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
Again.
The silence.
The same silence everyone had given me.
I stepped closer.
“Who was above you?””
Richard looked at me.
And before he could speak, the garage door behind us suddenly opened.
I spun around.
Nobody was there.
But something had been left on the floor.
A small box.
My heart raced.
Richard immediately moved.
“Don't touch that.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because whoever left it wants you to open it.””
“And?””
“And they know you will.””
I stared at the box.
That was exactly what scared me.
Because they were right.
I picked it up carefully.
Inside was a key.
An old brass key.
And a note.
My father's handwriting.
My hands started shaking.
Richard saw it.
“What does it say?””
I didn't answer.
I unfolded the paper.
Three words.
*Under the track.*
I looked at Richard.
“What does that mean?””
His face changed.
He knew.
“What?””
He walked toward me slowly.
“Your father had a workshop under River Road.””
I stared.
“What?””
“He built prototypes there.””
“Why didn't anyone know?””
“Because it wasn't supposed to exist.””
My heart pounded.
A hidden workshop.
A secret location.
A place my father created and never told me about.
“Where is it?””
Richard looked toward the road.
“Near the old bridge.””
The same bridge.
The place where my father crashed.
The place where the race ended.
The place where the truth had been buried.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time, from Frank.
*I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner. They're coming for the workshop.*
I showed Richard.
His face went pale.
“How did Frank know?””
I looked at him.
“What?””
Richard stared at the message.
Then whispered:
“Because only three people knew that workshop existed.””
My heartbeat slowed.
“Who?””
Richard looked at me.
“Your father.””
A pause.
“Me.””
Another pause.
“And the person who killed him.””
The garage went silent.
I looked at the Challenger.
At the key in my hand.
At my father's hidden message.
The truth was no longer buried.
It was waiting.
And someone was racing to get there before me.
Richard grabbed his jacket.
“Get in the car.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because if we don't reach that workshop first…”
May you like
He looked toward the darkness outside.
“…we'll never know what your father died trying to protect.””
