THE TOWERS FAMILY SAGA
        EPISODE 24
The doorbell rang at six
in the morning. It wasn't
the chime of the estate;
it was a sharp buzz that
shook the thin hallway
walls. Robert opened the
door in his robe to find
Dave Martinez standing
there. Dave wasn't wearing
one of his suits. He
looked like a man who
hadn't slept in days.
'You didn't tell them, did
you?' Dave asked, pushing
past Robert. Robert
closed the door slowly,
his heart racing. 'Tell
them what, Dave? That the
foundation was rotted
away?' Dave turned, his
face tight with sudden
panic. 'Not about the
money, Robert. About the
land. The Mogollon Rim
project was a crime, not
just a bad deal.' Bella
hopped off the counter
and sniffed Dave's worn
leather boots. She
sensed the new storm that
had entered. 'I thought I
paid for that silence,'
Robert said, his voice
barely a whisper. 'The
silence was part of the
mansion, Robert,' Dave
said harshly. 'And you
just sold the mansion to
the highest bidder.' 'The
new owners found the
drums. They're calling
the EPA today.' Virginia
walked into the room, her
eyes wide. 'How many
drums, Dave? How many?'
Dave looked at his old
friend. 'Enough to put the
Towers name underground.'
Robert felt the weight of
the past crashing down.
The radical honesty pact
had a new consequence. It
wasn't just about feelings.
It was about the law. 'I
should have told them,'
Robert said, looking at
his shaking hands.
'I should have told
everyone thirty years ago.'
Dave shook his head and
sighed.
'Thirty years ago you
were a god. Today, you're
just a man in a small
condo.' 'And men in small
condos go to jail.' Bella
let out a low growl, her
eyes fixed on the door.
The world was coming for
them, and there were no
walls left to hide behind.

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