Chapter 56: A real friend.
Lee didn't have many options, in fact, he only had one. He had to return to Freeda's place and recuperate. But first he had to leave the capital.
He slowly walked towards one of the service entrances of the Orpen estate when someone grabbed him by the shoulder, and asked, "What did you do?"
"Cough ... what?" Lee was confused.
While the hand that stopped him didn't cause any harm, the sudden stop caused Lee to cough up blood again.
The person ignored his pains, though, and repeated, "What did you do to the horses?"
Lee stared at the guy until his sight adjusted, and gave a shallow laugh the moment he recognized his stepfather. It was painful, but funny.
"Ah, Alan. How are you?" He said with a smirk, but then turned serious, "Are you afraid I fed the mixture of purple mandrake root and the ironcave moss? Don't worry, I don't like hurting horses."
Alan was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered and pressed on, "Then what did you do?"
"Why would you think I did something?" Lee grinned back, and looking at his bloodied teeth Alan had the same premonition he had when he recognized Lee on the racetrack.
"Don't play dumb with me." Alan said, "I know it was you who set up Powel, and I know you killed one of Newman's sons and set up the other. What are you up to now? Did Freeda set you up to something?"
"You know, for a smart man sometimes you are so stupid." Lee said, "Why would anyone need to set me up to anything? People who killed my parents will have to pay. Easy as that."