Chapter 10: The Brother Who Ordered the Accident
"Daniel did.""
Lauren's words seemed to drain every bit of warmth from the night.
I stared at her.
"You're telling me my brother ordered the accident that nearly killed my daughter?""
Lauren nodded weakly.
"That's what the original evidence showed.""
Victoria covered her mouth.
"No. Daniel loved Emily. He held her in the hospital. He cried when the doctors told us about her leg.""
Lauren looked at her.
"People can cry after doing terrible things.""
I grabbed Lauren's shoulders, careful not to hurt her.
"Tell me exactly what happened.""
She looked toward the damaged security vehicle.
"Not here. They're watching this property.""
I turned toward Marcus.
"Get everyone inside. Lock down the estate. Nobody enters without authorization.""
Marcus nodded.
"Already arranging it, sir.""
An ambulance arrived twelve minutes later. The paramedics examined Lauren's injuries while another team checked Sophie.
Fortunately, neither had suffered serious physical injuries.
Once Lauren was cleared, we moved everyone into the secure conference room.
Sophie sat beside Victoria, holding a stuffed rabbit from Emily's bedroom.
Emily was still asleep upstairs.
I wanted to wake her and tell her that everything would be okay.
But I couldn't promise that anymore.
Lauren placed a small memory card on the table.
"This contains the original traffic camera footage.""
I stared at it.
"Where did you get it?""
"From the municipal traffic archive. I worked with a detective who helped me retrieve the original copy before the investigation was altered.""
"Why didn't you release it?""
"Because the detective disappeared.""
She looked at Victoria.
"And because Daniel found out I had it.""
Victoria shook her head.
"Why would he hurt Emily?""
Lauren opened her laptop.
"Let me show you.""
The video began.
The date was two years earlier.
The camera showed Victoria's SUV approaching an intersection.
A delivery truck entered from the right.
Then a black vehicle appeared behind Victoria.
It accelerated.
The footage was grainy, but the movement was unmistakable.
The black vehicle struck the rear of Victoria's SUV.
Her vehicle spun into the intersection.
The delivery truck slammed into the passenger side.
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Stop.""
Lauren paused the footage.
"Look at the license plate.""
She enlarged the image.
The plate was partially visible.
I recognized the registration.
It belonged to a vehicle leased by Northstar Student Services.
My breathing became shallow.
"Who was driving?""
Lauren opened another file.
A photograph appeared.
A man stood beside the vehicle.
It was Grant Mercer.
The same man who had been photographing Emily.
I looked at Lauren.
"How does Daniel fit into this?""
She opened an audio file.
"This is a recorded phone conversation between Daniel and Grant, made two days before the accident.""
She pressed play.
Daniel's voice filled the room.
"Make sure Victoria understands that this is the last warning.""
Grant responded.
"What about the child?""
"Nobody is supposed to touch her. We just need Victoria to stop.""
"Understood.""
Then Daniel said something that made my stomach turn.
"And if Alexander starts asking questions, we'll have another problem.""
The recording ended.
Victoria began sobbing.
I sat completely still.
My younger brother had authorized the operation that destroyed our daughter's life.
I looked at Lauren.
"Why?""
She hesitated.
"Your father discovered that Daniel had been transferring money from the foundation. Richard was helping him conceal the transactions.""
I shook my head.
"That still doesn't explain the accident.""
"Victoria had found the original financial records. She intended to give them to your father.""
Lauren pointed at the screen.
"Daniel believed the collision would destroy those records and frighten Victoria into silence.""
I stared at the paused image.
"Did he know Emily was in the car?""
Lauren lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
Victoria made a terrible sound.
I felt my hands trembling.
"Are you certain?""
Lauren opened another document.
It was a message sent from Daniel's account to Grant.
Victoria will be traveling with the child. Make sure the warning is understood. No unnecessary contact with the passenger.
I couldn't read another word.
Marcus stepped closer.
"Sir, the authorities are here.""
I nodded.
"Secure the evidence. Make three copies. One for the police, one for our attorneys, and one for the independent investigators.""
Lauren looked at me.
"There's something else.""
I turned.
"Of course there is.""
She opened a final folder.
It contained a list of payments made by Northstar.
One entry was dated three weeks ago.
The recipient was Grant Mercer.
The payment description read:
*WESTBRIDGE PLACEMENT — PHASE TWO.*
I stared at the screen.
"What is Phase Two?""
Lauren swallowed.
"Daniel wanted Emily placed in Tyler Whitmore's classroom because Richard had promised to help him pressure you into signing over your voting rights.""
I remembered the handwritten instruction.
Make sure Alexander understands what happens when he refuses to cooperate.
"Why use Tyler?""
"Because Richard controlled the school. Tyler had already bullied several scholarship students. Daniel knew the environment was dangerous.""
My voice dropped.
"He knew my daughter was being targeted.""
Lauren nodded.
"He believed the threats would frighten you. He didn't expect Tyler to actually strike her.""
I stood.
"That doesn't make it better.""
"No," Lauren whispered.
"It doesn't.""
Marcus approached with his phone.
"Sir, we've located Daniel.""
"Where?""
"At the Cross Education Foundation headquarters.""
I looked at the clock.
It was 1:18 a.m.
"He's still there?""
"Yes, sir. His access card was used twelve minutes ago.""
I picked up my jacket.
Victoria caught my arm.
"Alexander, don't go alone.""
I looked at her.
"I'm not going to hurt him.""
"Then what are you going to do?""
I looked at the photograph of my daughter.
"I'm going to ask my brother why he thought our little girl was an acceptable price for his freedom.""
As I reached the door, Lauren spoke again.
"Alexander?""
I turned.
"Be careful. Daniel isn't the only person involved.""
"Who else?""
She pointed at the final page of the payment records.
The last authorization was signed by Richard Whitmore.
But the person who had approved the transfer was neither Daniel nor Richard.
It was someone from my father's original board.
Someone who had attended my father's funeral.
Someone who still had access to our foundation.
May you like
Lauren whispered:
"Your father's closest friend.""
