C435 The Unexpected Consequences

As planned, we drove the boat toward another coastline far away from the scene of the shooting. Once we were certain that nobody had followed us, we abandoned the boat and removed everything that might connect us to the operation. We then swam toward the shore. When we reached the coast, Bighead was already waiting for us. We climbed into the vehicle and drove away as if nothing had happened. But deep down, none of us could pretend that everything was normal. We had killed men who had already surrendered. For a few minutes, nobody spoke. Cipher looked up toward the sky and whispered: “Mom... Aunt... I have finally avenged your deaths. I hope you can continue resting in peace.” We all heard her. The vehicle became silent. Nobody knew what to say. We understood why she had done it, but that did not make what had happened any easier to accept.

Eventually, Bighead broke the silence. “So, what do we do now? Do we return to our families?” Survivor immediately looked around. “Before that, tell us who killed whom. Why weren't we given time to kill at least one of them?” Kiddo answered calmly. “Cipher killed their boss. Chipmunk and Pixel took out the other two.” Bighead looked at Chipmunk in surprise. “Wife, you didn't freeze this time?” Chipmunk smiled but said nothing. Cipher looked at all of us. “We will return to our families and find out whether the police discovered anything. But first, inform your parents to issue statements saying that you were released after a ransom was paid.” She paused. “That way, our old lives can finally return.” Survivor remembered something. “My father-in-law asked yesterday whether they should start using our code names or continue calling us by our real names.”

Cipher smiled. “Our code names will only be used privately, when we are together or when we are doing something that other people must not know about.” She looked toward Bighead and Chipmunk. “The fact your family now know who Bighead and Chipmunk are is already dangerous. Tell your families to forget those names. From now on, we are returning to who we were before all of this.” Everyone nodded. When we returned to the Mooney residence, everyone was gathered in the living room, watching television. The breaking news immediately caught our attention. “Willy Harris, the leader of the Harris Cartel, has been shot and killed during a police invasion at his estate. However, authorities have confirmed that the fatal shots were not fired by police officers. Investigators are now searching for the person or people responsible.”

Alicia and I entered the room. Peter immediately turned toward her. “My granddaughter... was it you?” Before Alicia could answer, her new phone began ringing. She looked at the screen. “Victor.” She answered. “Grandpa?” Victor's laughter came through the phone. “My grandchild, you are impossible. Was it you?” Alicia laughed softly. “How did you know?” Victor laughed again, followed by a cough. “It seems I already have my answer.” He became quiet for a moment before adding: “Come and visit your grandpa someday.” Alicia smiled. “I will, Grandpa.” She ended the call and placed the phone down. Peter looked at her. “You killed him?” Alicia slowly sat down. “Grandpa, I avenged my mother and my aunt.” Peter stared at her. “You really did it?” Alicia nodded. “Yes. They killed my mother and my aunt. So I returned the favour.” Georgia shook her head. “But my child, what will happen if the police find out?”

Alicia smiled faintly. “We were far away. The police only saw the boat.” Peter looked upward, his expression filled with emotion. “Malice, my child... your niece has finally avenged you. I hope you and Gabrielle are happy now.” Before anyone could respond, the front door slammed open. “Alicia!” Mark's voice echoed through the house. “Alicia, where are you?” He stormed into the living room, visibly furious. Alicia immediately stood up. “Dad...” “Don't call me that!” Mark interrupted her. “You have some nerve calling me Dad after disobeying my order!” Alicia froze. Mark continued, his anger growing with every word. “Do you have any idea what you have done? Are you trying to get me fired?” Alicia opened her mouth, but no words came out. Mark pointed toward her. “Tell me why. Why did you kill them?” I stepped forward. “Father, we...” “Mike, don't speak for her!” Mark turned toward me. “She thinks she is old enough to make every decision herself, right? Then she can answer me.”

Alicia lowered her head. For a moment, she remained silent. Then she finally spoke. “Father, I grew up without a mother.” Her voice trembled. “While other children were celebrating their mothers' love, what did I have? I didn't even know why she had died. I grew up wondering what I had done wrong.” Mark's expression softened slightly, but he remained silent. Alicia continued. “This was always going to happen. Willy killed my mother. He killed your wife. And you think putting him in prison would have eased the pain?” She shook her head. “How? Prisons are almost like homes for people with money and connections. Willy had power. He had people everywhere. Do you honestly believe prison would have been enough for someone like him?” Mark shook his head several times. “So you think what you did was right?” Alicia looked at him. “I think I did what I believed had to be done.” Mark's voice became quieter, but the anger remained. “Then what about my job?”

Alicia froze. Mark continued. “The boat the police saw was hired by me. Do you understand that? It is only a matter of time before they find it. And when they do, the company will tell them who hired it.” He stepped closer. “They will trace it back to me, Alicia.” The room fell silent. Mark's face showed something that Alicia had never expected to see. Fear. Fear of losing everything he had spent his life building. “Alicia,” he said quietly. “Why are you so foolish?” Alicia's expression changed. She looked genuinely afraid. “Dad...” Mark stared at her. "Tell me you burned it. You burnt that Boat right?" Alicia and I exchanged Glances. The answer was simple but none of us wanted to say it.