Chapter 17 - The Name on the Message
Eric's lawyer delivered a set of records to the prosecutor. Among them was an email from the week before Laura's accident. The message asked a company assistant to cancel the second brake inspection and route the invoice through a supplier account. The sender's account was linked to Eric, but investigators still had to authenticate the records and establish who had actually used it.
Eric agreed to an interview. He admitted that he had handled the invoice and that he had taken money from the company through false consulting charges. He denied touching Laura's car. He said the repair request had been canceled because he was trying to cover an unrelated mistake in the supplier books.
Eric looked down. “She said Daniel was going to sign documents that would give her control of the company if he became unable to work. I knew she wanted the vote delayed. I didn't know what she planned to put in his drink.”
The statement was important, but not conclusive. Investigators compared it with the messages, bank records, and security footage. The prosecutor warned that Eric could face charges for fraud regardless of whether he cooperated.
Daniel listened to the summary in the detective's office. He felt no relief, only the slow, painful recognition that his home and his business had been vulnerable in ways he had refused to see.
“Did he say anything about Laura's death?” Daniel asked.
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“He said he never intended for anyone to be hurt,” Grant replied. “But he knew the inspection was canceled. We are still investigating whether that decision contributed to the crash and whether anyone else was involved.”
Inside, Daniel's phone lit up with a message from the prosecutor: Vanessa had agreed to a plea discussion, but only if Daniel withdrew the civil claim against her brother.
