Chapter 10 - Robert's Sin
Daniel almost threw the phone.
"You just said Dad was protecting Mom."
"He was. Later."
"Later?"
Thomas sounded exhausted.
Before Catherine discovered the theft, Robert had known William was licensing patents through shell companies.
He told himself it was aggressive tax planning.
Then he learned some designs were being sold without board approval.
William offered him a share of the money to stay quiet.
Robert accepted one payment.
Eight hundred thousand dollars.
"He took it?"
"Yes."
"Then Catherine found out," Thomas continued. "She told Robert to report everything. He promised he would."
"Did he?"
"No."
Because Catherine died the next night.
Robert panicked.
He believed William had caused the crash, but he had no proof. He also knew reporting the scheme would expose his own payment.
So he waited.
That delay gave William time to move records, redirect blame, and frame Martin Keene as the primary thief.
When federal prosecutors arrived, Robert lied.
The lies destroyed him.
"Why tell me now?"
"Because somebody is trying to finish what William started."
"William is dead."
"His system isn't."
Thomas said the stolen patents had produced royalties for decades through a network of holding companies.
Someone still collected the money.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Where are you?"
Thomas whispered an address.
A storage facility outside Murfreesboro.
"Come alone."
Evan shook his head before Daniel even hung up.
"No."
"He's my uncle."
"He's also connected to an arson scene and an eighteen-year cover-up."
Vanessa stepped between them.
"Daniel isn't going alone."
He looked at her.
"You aren't coming either."
"You still think I'm the biggest liar in this room?"
"I don't know what I think."
"Then don't decide tonight. Just stay alive long enough to decide later."
Daniel went with Evan and two agents.
The storage unit was open when they arrived.
Thomas was not there.
In the center of the unit sat one wooden crate.
Inside were dozens of old files.
On top was a recent photograph of Lily leaving preschool.
May you like
Written across it in red ink:
STOP DIGGING OR SHE PAYS FOR YOUR FATHER'S DEBT.
