On the seventh day after his recovery, Richard went to Lester’s warehouse.
Lester was monitoring the traffic cameras of Los Santos on three screens simultaneously.
When he saw Richard walk in, he didn’t even look up.
“Is your shoulder better?”
“Just about.”
“Then what are you here for?
To pay me back?”
“I’m here to ask about someone.” Richard sat in the chair next to Lester.
“Trevor Philips.
You know him, right?”
Lester’s fingers paused on the keyboard, then continued typing.
“I’ve heard of him.
A lunatic in the Desert.
What about him?”
“What has he been up to lately?”
Lester was silent for a few seconds, then pulled up a window.
“You came at the right time.
I intercepted an encrypted call last night about The Lost MC clubhouse in Blaine County being wiped out.
The leader, Johnny, was beheaded, and the O’Neil brothers were shot.
According to witnesses, the killer was a middle-aged man in a leather jacket driving a beat-up truck.”
A chill ran down Richard’s back.
“Trevor.”
“You know him?”
“No…
but I know he’s coming to Los Santos.” Richard stood up and paced back and forth in the warehouse.
“Lester, do you know the relationship between Michael and Trevor?”
Lester pushed up his glasses.
“I’ve guessed it.
Michael Townley, Trevor Philips, and someone named Brad pulled off a big job in North Yankton nine years ago.
Brad died, Michael went missing, and Trevor thought Michael was dead too.
Now Michael is alive in Los Santos, and Trevor has found out—is this what you meant by ‘he knows’?”
“Yes.”
“So what are you planning to do?
Tell Michael?”
Richard stopped.
He had been thinking about this question for seven whole days.
If he told Michael, Michael might run, hide, or send his family away.
If he didn’t tell Michael, Trevor would appear suddenly, and the situation would be even more out of control.
In the game, the plot where Trevor discovers Michael involves him showing up directly and nearly killing Michael.
But the plot had changed now—Richard’s existence might serve as a buffer.
“I’m going to tell Michael first,” Richard said.
“But not by just saying ‘Trevor is coming for you.’ I want him to decide how to face it himself.”
“Are you crazy?
Michael will kick you out.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Maybe, but I owe him this.” Richard touched the scar on his left shoulder.
“He gave me a safehouse and helped me.
I can’t watch him get cornered at his own front door by Trevor without any preparation.”
Lester looked at Richard for a long time, then took a key out of a drawer.
“This is the key to the back door of the warehouse.
If you need a place to hide, or need to…
dispose of a body, come find me.”
“Thanks.
Though I hope I won’t need it.”
Richard left the warehouse and went straight to Michael’s house.
Michael was watching TV in the living room.
Amanda De Santa was not there, and neither were Jimmy or Tracey.
The whole house was as quiet as a tomb.
He saw Richard come in and turned off the TV.
“You look better,” Michael said.
“Just about.
Michael, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Richard sat down and looked into Michael’s eyes.
There was a lot in those eyes—exhaustion, vigilance, and occasional flashes of vulnerability.
“Trevor is still alive,” Richard said.
All color drained from Michael’s face instantly.
He opened his mouth but made no sound, then slowly stood up, walked to the liquor cabinet, poured a glass of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp.
“How do you know?”
“Lester found out.” Richard didn’t mention his own transmigration.
“He saw the witness protection program files when he hacked the FBI database.
Trevor saw it too—or rather, someone told him.”
Michael’s hand holding the glass was shaking.
“He…
he knows?”
“He knows.
And he’s already on his way.” Richard paused.
“Johnny from The Lost MC and the O’Neil brothers were all killed by him.
His next target is you.”
Michael smashed the glass against the wall, sending shards flying.
His breathing became rapid, and his chest heaved violently.
“Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!!!” Michael paced back and forth, anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
“Michael, what are you planning to do?”
“How the fuck should I know?!” Michael roared, his voice echoing in the empty living room.
“I spent nine years building this home—even if it’s a piece of shit—at least I have a place to live!
I have a wife and kids!
I have a pool! Find the original chapter at g.com.
If Trevor comes, all of this is over!”
“Aren’t you going to try talking to him?”
“Talk?” Michael sneered.
“You think Trevor is the kind of person you can ‘talk’ to?
He’s a lunatic!
He’ll kill me, then kill Amanda De Santa, kill Jimmy, kill Tracey, and then drag their bodies behind his truck and drive around the Desert three times!”
Richard waited for Michael to calm down a bit before saying, “Maybe…
you could contact him first.
Instead of waiting for him to find you, you go find him.
Tell him the truth—why you faked your death and why you had to leave him.”
Michael sat on the sofa, covering his face with his hands.
“The truth?
The truth is that I’m selfish.
I chose a comfortable life instead of a lunatic friend.
Do you think he’ll accept that truth!”
“No.
But at least you can control the location and time of the meeting.”
Michael was silent for a long time, then finally looked up at Richard.
“Why are you helping me?
You could have completely ignored this, let Trevor come find me, and watched the show.”
“Because when I was shot, you didn’t leave me behind,” Richard said.
“You said you would, but you didn’t.”
Michael’s eyes turned red.
He turned his face away, blinked hard a few times, then stood up and walked to the window.
“Let me think,” he said.
Richard stood up and walked toward the door.
When he reached the door, he turned back and said, “Michael, no matter what decision you make, I will help you.
So will Franklin and Lamar.”
“They don’t know about this yet.”
“They don’t need to know.
This is a secret between you and me.”
Michael didn’t answer.
Richard closed the door and walked into the night.
His phone vibrated:
Hidden quest triggered: [Lies and the Lunatic]
Help Michael deal with Trevor’s revenge.
Objective: Prevent the death of Michael or Trevor.
Reward: Unknown.
Failure penalty: Permanently lose favor with Michael or Trevor.
Richard looked at this quest and gave a wry smile.
“Prevent death?
Easier said than done.”