Crime, Thrillers & Mystery / Heir to the Grave

I am stuck in traffic as usual during rush hour on a weekday but my frustration is diverted elsewhere. Stressful thoughts are running through my head, I am worried. I just got a phone call about my father in hospital, Oliver; he's ill and hasn’t got long to live. But I’m not worrying just about the loss of a loved one; the consequences of his death will be great. Someone will have to take over Peterson Insurance, his business empire which he nurtured from scratch many years ago. It will be passed on to new leadership and I'm a candidate. This might sound like good news but as I creep along the packed city streets under the usual dull overcast morning sky I am filled with anxiety over my future.

Will he pick me? No, he'll choose Tim, I know he will. I can't stand being second best, especially to my closest rival. Tim is my younger brother and my dad’s favourite son. He was always the good one, the best at school, the best at sport, he never got in trouble. I imagine his face; he got the good looks too, blonde hair, blue eyes and tanned skin. Together we've climbed the ranks of our fathers business but only one of us will be his chosen successor. I must be the one, I couldn’t cope otherwise.

Finally, I walk into the familiar surroundings of Peterson Insurance headquarters, grateful to be out of the traffic. I stroll upon the marble floor towards the elevator on the other side of the foyer, past potted plants, regal columns and various employees rushing to their destinations. The elevator is cramped as usual and I stare upwards, avoiding eye contact with the other people inside. With a drone and a sudden jolt the elevator stops and a disgruntled murmuring interrupts the silence. I sigh heavily and wait for assistance.

At last I arrive at my office; the day feels like it has been going on forever. I remove my jacket and collapse into my plush office chair. I exhale deeply as I spin around, taking in my surroundings. My office is modern; the wall behind my desk is a massive window looking out onto the city. The walls are a stark white, the carpet a dull grey. I stare out the window in a trance, still thinking of my father and brother.

I get to work but my efforts are in vain, I just can’t concentrate. Giving up, I recline and let my mind wander. I ponder my situation, running through the possibilities. A solution arises and I cringe at the thought of it. The greed, hate and jealousy I feel deep inside however compel me to dwell on it. It is evil, but can it be justified?

He means no harm; Tim isn’t successful just to annoy me. He has always considered me, given me help when I needed it. Sure, he has a beautiful wife and a happy family. Something I haven’t been able to attain because of the heavy focus on my work. But the fast cars and fancy houses he has, I also have too.

Then again, the spoils of being the head of the company would be enormous, twice of what I earn in my already high position. I could get anything I want, I would be rich. I could retire early and enjoy my life; I would have time for the other things in life. The power I would have from being the head of such a large company would also be great. I would control all that happened in the building and my influence would extend elsewhere as well. I would be better than Tim; I’d finally get one up on him. My life would be complete.

The enormity of the dilemma I face dawns upon me. I can almost touch that wonderful dream. The evil thoughts return to my mind, dangling the solution and I finally give an answer to their daring taunts.

I’m going to do it.

Almost as responding to the confirmation, evil new details are illuminated in my mind. A plan starts to craft itself; the deed seems more real and possible with every passing minute. Nervous tension overtakes me as I begin to anticipate that moment, running it through my head. A bead of sweat runs down my forehead. I wipe it off with the back of my trembling hand and I run my hands through my brown hair.

I try to stop thinking about it and slump back into my chair. I glance at my expensive watch, it reads 11:34. Only about an hour and a half I tell myself before going back to the monotonous work in front of me. The time seems to glide by as I busily complete the day’s assignments. A few phone calls, some applications and few e-mails later my watch signals that lunch-time is near. I feel weak and anxious as I contemplate what I now must do. I rise sharply as if trying to shake off my fear and reach around for my jacket. Putting it on I take a look out the window at the multitude of skyscrapers towering over the confined city streets and take a large breath.

I stand in wait outside the bay of elevators on my office’s floor, trying to look normal. I fidget as streams of doubts and fears run through my head. Every time a person rounds the corner my heart jumps in expectation. But time and again I am disappointed. I have been waiting five minutes but it feels like an eternity. A mix of relief and tension overtake me as he finally paces around the corner. “Hey Tim,” I say as I greet him, trying to sound cheerful.

“Good afternoon, Craig,” he replies in his usual gracious manner. An elevator opens and we enter. I press the button for the top floor and step back.

“What are you going up there for?” my brother inquires.

“Just need some fresh air.” I answer. For once the elevator isn’t crowded, and it comes to a stop on the 85th floor.

“I’ll see you later then.” I say.

“Ok, bye,” Tim replies with a yawn.

As soon as the elevator doors close shut I begin to run up the stairs leading to the rooftop. A strong gust of wind hits me as I step onto the roof. In the centre of the roof is a large square room. Its walls are concrete like the ground and it has no openings except for a door. I rush towards it, adrenaline pumping through my veins. The door is marked ‘Authorised Persons Only’ and I frantically search through my keys. With a quick turn of one of them I burst into the room.

I squint as my eyes adjust to the darkness while I search for the light switch. The air is stagnant and I smell the mechanical odour of the elevators I hear droning up and down their shafts. The lights flicker before turning on and lighting the space. My eyes dart around and I take fast shallow breaths, I am nervous and I feel weak at the knees. I turn around and frenetically browse the switch board embedded in the wall. I flick the switch labelled emergency stop and the room falls silent.

Inside the room a small ledge with metal railing skirts the edge of the long rectangular channel containing all ten of the elevator shafts in the building in two rows. I stand at the edge with an axe taken from the fire emergency box and look down into the channel. I slowly walk around to a position above one of the elevators and with a large swing I severe the cable holding it in the air. I watch as it falls into the darkness and I brace myself for the deafening crash that follows.

Goodbye, Tim.

I stroll down the corridor, now downstairs, my face emotionless, my brown eyes glazed over and my appearance wild, past the chaos taking place throughout the building. I enter my office and fall into my chair, numb and exhausted I hear the sound of an ambulance in the distance. My evil plan is complete and I relax knowing I can’t be caught. Peterson Insurance will take the blame, the elevators were well past their due maintenance and breakdowns had been happening frequently. My feelings of guilt are outweighed by the thought of the power and riches I will soon receive.

A foreign piece of paper on my cluttered wooden desk catches my eye, it’s a letter dated yesterday, from my father. My eyes widen and I become completely overwhelmed by what I read next:

Dear Craig,

I am happy to let you know that I have chosen you, my eldest son, to take over my position as CEO of Peterson Insurance…

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