Chapter 14 - EMILY'S FATHER
Victor's threat was not empty.
The portable drive recovered from the server room held two decades of scanned files. Alan Reed's name appeared on dozens of them.
At the police station that night, Emily sat across from her father under fluorescent lights while Daniel and Mara waited nearby.
"Tell me everything," Emily said.
"After I realized Victor had turned the temporary custody order into something permanent, I went to Leonard. I threatened to report the firm."
"And?"
"He showed me documents with my signature. Some were real. Some weren't. He said if I spoke, he'd say I helped build the case. I had just passed the bar. Your mother was pregnant with you. I was a coward."
Emily's eyes filled. "So you stayed quiet for twenty-two years?"
"I left the firm. I saved copies. I kept telling myself one day I'd fix it."
Daniel's voice was flat. "Did you know Mara was alive?"
"Yes."
Alan swallowed. "I also knew where Daniel was."
"You watched me marry him knowing this?"
"I didn't know Mara would appear. I thought Victor's version had become legally untouchable."
"Truth doesn't become untouchable because you're scared of it."
"This is why Victor mentioned me."
Inside was the original mechanic's report from the 2004 crash.
Brake line severed by hand tool. Damage inconsistent with road debris.
Authorized by Calder Risk Services.
The third contained a handwritten note from Alan to Hale.
THIS MAY BE ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE. CONTACT POLICE.
"Why didn't you take this to the police?"
"I did."
"A detective took it. Two days later he returned it and said the case had been closed."
Mara whispered, "Who was the detective?"
Retired Detective Frank Calder.
Nate Calder's father.
"Mr. Voss, your father is gone."
"Gone where?"
May you like
"He wasn't on the roof when officers arrived. There's an old utility tunnel under that building."
"That tunnel comes out behind St. Catherine's Hospital."
