Chapter 4: The Truth Behind The Crash
I drove back to Whitmore Industries immediately.
My mind was a storm of unanswered questions.
Richard took the photo?
Then why accuse me?
Why involve Daniel?
Why pretend to be my enemy?
When I entered the private conference room, Richard was waiting.
No security.
No board members.
Just him.
And me.
“You lied to me,” I said.
Richard didn’t deny it.
“I had to.””
“You accused me of attempted murder.””
“I accused you because someone needed to believe I suspected you.””
“That makes no sense.””
Richard looked tired.
For the first time since he returned, he looked less like a powerful chairman and more like an old man who had carried a burden for too long.
“Henry, six years ago, your brother discovered something.””
My jaw tightened.
“About what?””
“The company.””
He opened a folder.
Inside were financial records.
Secret transfers.
Hidden accounts.
“Someone has been stealing from Whitmore Industries.””
I stared at the numbers.
Millions.
Over several years.
“Daniel found this?””
“Yes.””
“And you?””
“I found out too late.””
I looked up.
“Then why did Daniel leave?””
Richard looked away.
“Because he thought you were involved.””
I laughed.
“Involved?””
“He found documents with your signature.””
My heart sank.
“I never signed anything.””
“I know.””
Richard slid another document toward me.
The signature was mine.
But something was wrong.
The handwriting was almost identical.
Almost.
“Forgery,” I whispered.
Richard nodded.
“Someone has been setting you up for years.””
I thought about Daniel.
The photograph.
The email.
The accusation.
“Who?””
Richard didn’t answer.
Instead, he said:
“The night of the accident, I was meeting someone who claimed they had proof.””
“Who?””
“Daniel.””
I stared at him.
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Richard looked down.
“He arrived before me. He told me the person behind the fraud was inside the company.””
“Who?””
Richard’s expression darkened.
“He never got the chance to tell me.””
“Why?””
“Because my car crashed before he could.””
The room felt colder.
“So Daniel was there.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he disappear?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because someone wanted him blamed.””
Everything suddenly connected.
Daniel was not the attacker.
He was a witness.
Someone had turned him into a ghost.
Someone had used my brother to destroy me.
“Who knows all of this?””
Richard’s eyes moved toward the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
“Only three people.””
“Who?””
Before Richard could answer, the lights went out.
The room went completely dark.
Then came the sound of footsteps.
Someone entered.
Richard grabbed my arm.
“Don’t move.””
A voice came from the darkness.
“Still playing detective, Richard?””
The emergency lights turned on.
And standing at the doorway was Martin Hayes.
But he wasn’t holding documents.
He was holding a gun.
“I was hoping you two would find the truth,” Martin said.
“Because it makes this so much easier.””
Richard stared at him.
“Martin.””
The CFO smiled.
“I’m sorry, old friend.””
Then he looked at me.
“Especially you, Henry.””
I stepped back.
“Why?””
Martin tilted his head.
“Because you were always the easiest person to blame.””
He raised the weapon slightly.
“And now everyone will believe the final chapter.””
My phone suddenly vibrated.
A message appeared.
From an unknown number.
*Henry, don’t trust Richard. He’s lying about the accident.*
Below the message was a photo.
A photo of Richard meeting someone the night before the crash.
May you like
And the person standing beside him was Daniel.
Alive.