Chapter 10: The Man Who Witnessed My Father's Death
Thomas Reed agreed to meet us at a small private security office outside the city.
He refused to give us an address until Rebecca confirmed that nobody from Carter Global would accompany us except her and me.
That alone told me how frightened he was.
At 8:15 that evening, we arrived at a building with no company sign, no reception desk, and a single security camera above the entrance.
A gray-haired man opened the door.
He looked older than I remembered.
But I recognized him immediately.
Thomas Reed had worked for my father for almost twenty years. He had accompanied him on business trips, protected him during difficult negotiations, and once driven six hours through a snowstorm because my father had forgotten an important medical appointment.
I had always considered him family.
“Evelyn,” he whispered.
I stepped forward.
“Thomas.””
He looked at Rebecca.
“Is she your attorney?””
“Yes.””
“Good. Come inside.””
The office contained two desks, a filing cabinet, and an old television displaying four security camera feeds.
Thomas locked the door behind us.
Then he pulled the blinds.
“Before we start, I need you to understand something,” he said.
I placed my handbag on the desk.
“I'm listening.””
“Your father knew somebody was watching him during the final months of his life.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
“Men connected to Victor Sloane.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Thomas looked down.
“Your father asked me not to.””
I shook my head.
“He was my father.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
Thomas removed a small photograph from his jacket.
It showed my father standing beside a black sedan outside the old Carter Global headquarters.
A man was visible in the driver's seat.
I recognized him.
Peter Lawson.
Thomas placed another photograph beside it.
This one showed Martin entering the same building late at night.
“Your father believed the Nightfall project had been infiltrated,” Thomas explained.
“He suspected Martin was working with Victor to gain control of the original aviation assets.””
“Was he right?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Did you witness any illegal activity?””
Thomas nodded.
“Several meetings. Unauthorized document transfers. Payments to shell companies. But the worst happened on October 14.””
I felt my heartbeat accelerate.
“The night in the recording.””
“Yes.””
Thomas walked toward the filing cabinet.
He opened the bottom drawer and removed a brown envelope.
“Your father called me at 10:40 that evening. He told me to come to his office immediately.””
“What happened when you arrived?””
“He was alone.””
Thomas paused.
“He was angry. Not frightened. Angry.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me Martin had betrayed him. He said Victor was attempting to take control of the trust and that Peter had created false ownership documents.””
Rebecca began writing.
Thomas continued.
“Your father wanted to transfer the original Nightfall files into a secure archive. He believed they contained evidence of financial misconduct involving several international companies.””
“Did he mention me?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Yes.””
My throat tightened.
“He said you were never supposed to be involved. He wanted to protect you.””
I looked away.
For eight years, I had wondered whether my father had regretted giving me responsibility for the company.
Now I was discovering that he had been trying to keep me away from something dangerous.
“What happened next?”” I asked.
Thomas took a slow breath.
“Martin arrived shortly after midnight.””
“Alone?””
“No. Peter was with him.””
“And Victor?””
“He came later.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you stop them?””
Thomas's expression crumpled.
“Because your father told me to stay outside.””
“What?””
“He said if anything happened, I was to protect you. He made me promise.””
Rebecca looked up.
“Did you see an altercation?””
Thomas nodded.
“I heard shouting. Then something crashed.””
He closed his eyes.
“When I entered the office, your father was on the floor.””
I felt the room tilt.
“Was he alive?””
“For a few moments.””
I covered my mouth.
Thomas's voice broke.
“He looked at me and said, 'The original is still safe.'' Then he told me to find you if the agreement ever resurfaced.””
I couldn't speak.
“Who was there?”” Rebecca asked.
“Martin. Peter. Victor had already left.””
“Did you see anyone touch your father?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“Peter Lawson.””
I stared at him.
“What did he do?””
“He removed a small metal case from your father's desk. Martin told him to leave everything else.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Did you call emergency services?””
“I did. But by the time they arrived, Martin had already contacted the company's legal department. He told them your father had suffered a cardiac event.””
“Did the police investigate?””
“They accepted the medical report.””
“Was there an autopsy?””
Thomas nodded.
“But I never saw the full report.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She immediately understood.
“We need that report.””
Thomas pushed the brown envelope toward me.
Inside were copies of security logs, photographs, and a handwritten statement.
The final photograph showed a man entering my father's office at 11:57 p.m.
The face was partially visible.
I leaned closer.
Then I recognized him.
It wasn't Martin.
It wasn't Peter.
It was Richard.
The same Richard who had blocked my entrance to the aircraft that morning.
I looked up.
“Richard was there?””
Thomas nodded.
“He was working with Victor's aviation division at the time. He handled the aircraft documentation.””
Rebecca examined the photograph.
“Why would he be involved in your father's death?””
Thomas shook his head.
“I don't know. But I know he left carrying the metal case.””
I sat down.
The entire situation was becoming clearer.
Richard had known about the original project.
Martin had arranged the financial scheme.
Peter had controlled the trust.
Victor wanted the aircraft.
But the metal case?
That was the missing piece.
I looked at Thomas.
“Where is the original archive?””
He hesitated.
“Hangar 17.””
I placed the silver key on the desk.
Thomas stared at it.
Then he nodded.
“Your father gave you the right key.””
I stood.
“Then we're going there.””
Thomas caught my wrist.
“Evelyn, wait.””
I turned.
“There is something else.””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“Your father didn't die immediately.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What do you mean?””
“He survived long enough to speak to the paramedics.””
“What did he tell them?””
Thomas swallowed.
“He asked them to call you.””
I closed my eyes.
Thomas continued.
“But someone intercepted the call.””
The room went silent.
“Who?””
Thomas looked at the photograph of Richard.
“I don't know.””
Then he opened the envelope again and removed a final sheet.
It was an old emergency dispatch record.
At the bottom was a handwritten notation.
*Family notification canceled — instruction received from company executive office.*
May you like
And beside it was a name.
*Martin Hale.*
