With a razor in hand, carefully shaving his beard, Timothy nearly cut himself when the bathroom door flew open and an enraged John stormed in.

"He's lost it," John muttered angrily. "We need to do something about him before he becomes impossible to deal with."

Timothy ignored him and continued shaving.

When John received no response, he pressed on.

"Are you even listening to me?" he snapped. "That guy called a meeting with all the workers and started exercising authority like he owns the mines."

Timothy remained quiet.

John threw his hands in frustration.

"He threatened me, Timothy."

That finally got Timothy's attention.

He lowered the razor slowly and looked at John through the mirror.

"He threatened you?" Timothy repeated.

"Yes!" John said. "Can you believe that?"

"I thought we had the same goal."

A bitter laugh escaped Timothy.

Timothy turned off the tap and rinsed the shaving foam from his face.

"The same goal?" he repeated.

He turned to face John fully.

"Need I remind you that the only person who truly shares Kelvin's goal is me."

He pointed at John.

"You're only part of this plan because you know too much and because Kelvin has enough dirt on you to keep you useful."

John frowned but stayed quiet.

News of Kelvin's speech at the mining site had already spread across the estate.

Even the walls seemed to be talking about it.

Timothy dried his face slowly before continuing.

"We both know you stole from the mines."

His voice remained calm.

"We both know Kelvin wasn't lying."

A pause.

"And we both know that if given another opportunity..."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"...you would probably do it again."

John looked away.

"You're not very good at resisting temptation, John."

Timothy tossed the towel aside.

"Both Kelvin and I know you are the weakest link in this plan."

He stepped closer.

"So if he threatened you, maybe he was simply reminding you where you stand."

John scoffed.

"So that's it?"

His expression hardened.

"You two are best friends now?"

That made Timothy laugh.

A real laugh this time.

"Friends?"

He shook his head.

"No."

His smile faded.

"We are only using each other."

A pause.

"Each of us is a pawn in one another's revenge."

He smirked faintly.

"I know it."

"Kelvin knows it."

His gaze settled on John.

"The only one struggling to understand that reality is you."

John's jaw tightened.

Timothy walked past him toward the bedroom.

"So instead of barging in here throwing tantrums..."

He stopped at the doorway.

"...learn your place in this plan."

A pause.

"And don't do anything stupid."

John frowned.

"Why?"

Timothy looked back at him.

"Because if this falls apart..."

His expression darkened.

"...the three of us die together."

***

Saidu knocked once before entering Mr. Andrew's cottage.

Then immediately wished he had waited.

Mr. Andrew sat comfortably in his armchair near the fireplace, looking completely unbothered by the maid kneeling between his knees and his flap open.

The young woman quickly stood when she noticed Saidu. Wiping her lips.

"My apologies, sir," Saidu said immediately, turning his face away.

Mr. Andrew merely waved a dismissive hand.

"You've interrupted nothing important."

The maid avoided Saidu's eyes as she straightened her clothes.

Mr. Andrew picked up his glass of brandy from the side table.

"You may leave," he told her.

She nodded quickly and disappeared through the back door of the cottage.

Silence settled briefly.

Saidu knew Mr. Andrew had never married or had children of his own, but this side of him felt strange to witness. Men like Mr. Andrew were supposed to be above distractions like this. But then again, he is a man with needs.

Then Andrew looked toward Saidu.

"Well?"

Saidu remained standing.

"It's Kelvin."

Andrew's expression changed immediately.

"What about him?"

Saidu moved closer.

"He called a meeting at the mines."

Andrew leaned back slowly.

"A meeting?"

"Yes."

"He gathered all the workers together."

Saidu hesitated.

"And?"

"He addressed the resentment."

Andrew frowned.

"That doesn't sound like a problem."

Saidu swallowed.

"He's also going through the financial records."

The room grew quiet.

Very quiet.

Andrew slowly placed his drink down.

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"He asked for every ledger."

Every report.

Every expense sheet.

Everything."

Andrew's jaw tightened.

"That boy moves fast."

Saidu nodded.

"He is already asking questions."

"About equipment."

"Food shortages."

"Missing funds."

A pause.

"And who controls the money."

Andrew's eyes darkened.

"What answer did he get?"

"That the allocations come from you."

Silence.

Heavy.

Andrew stood and walked toward the window overlooking the dark estate.

"This is becoming inconvenient."

Saidu stepped closer.

"If he keeps digging, he will notice inconsistencies."

Andrew turned slowly.

"Inconsistencies?"

Saidu lowered his voice.

"The numbers."

"The missing maintenance funds."

"The supply purchases."

"The money that never reached the workers."

Andrew stared at him.

Then quietly:

"And where exactly would those inconsistencies lead?"

Saidu hesitated.

"To us."

Andrew's expression hardened instantly.

"That cannot happen."

Saidu nodded.

"If Kelvin shows Julius the books, it creates questions."

"A lot of questions."

Andrew picked up his glass again.

"No."

He took a slow sip.

"It creates distrust."

A pause.

"And distrust between Julius and me benefits nobody."

Saidu studied him.

"What do we do?"

Andrew walked back toward his chair.

Calm again.

Controlled again.

"Simple."

He sat down.

"We make sure the records tell a different story."

Saidu frowned.

"And Kelvin?"

Andrew's gaze sharpened.

"We watch him."

A pause.

"If he is smart enough to find problems this quickly..."

His eyes narrowed.

"...then perhaps he is far more dangerous than we thought."