Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I spent the next morning trying to reach Olivia's mother.
Her name was Patricia Parker.
I'd met her several times during my relationship with Olivia, usually during holidays or university celebrations.
She had always been kind to me.
Unlike Olivia, she had never made me feel ashamed of where I came from.
I found her number in an old contact list.
She answered after the third ring.
"Hello?""
"Mrs. Parker, it's Daniel Carter.""
There was a brief silence.
"Daniel? Oh, my goodness. How are you?""
"I'm fine. I hope you are too.""
"Is everything all right? Olivia hasn't mentioned you recently.""
I looked at the photograph on Michael's desk.
"I need to ask you something about your husband.""
Her breathing changed.
"Thomas?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Did he ever work with my father?""
Silence.
Then she asked quietly, "What have you found?""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"An old photograph. Your husband, my father, and Richard Whitmore.""
She exhaled.
"Oh, Daniel.""
"Mrs. Parker, what happened?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I heard a chair moving.
"Can you come to my house?""
"When?""
"Today. And please don't tell Olivia.""
That last sentence told me more than she probably intended.
At two o'clock, Michael and I arrived at her home in a quiet neighborhood outside Boston.
Patricia opened the door.
She looked older than I remembered, with tired eyes and silver hair pulled into a loose bun.
"Come inside.""
We sat in her living room.
A framed photograph of Thomas Parker stood on the fireplace.
He was smiling beside a younger Olivia.
Patricia noticed me looking at it.
"She was eighteen when he took that picture.""
I nodded.
"He looked like a good man.""
"He was.""
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Until he discovered what Richard Whitmore was capable of.""
Michael placed the old photograph on the coffee table.
"Mrs. Parker, we need to understand the relationship between your husband, Daniel's father, and Whitmore Technologies.""
Patricia studied the photograph.
Then she closed her eyes.
"Thomas and Daniel's father were friends. They met at an engineering conference. Thomas was a materials scientist. He understood battery chemistry, while Daniel's father was brilliant at mechanical design.""
I leaned forward.
"So they worked together?""
"Yes. They spent years developing the original cooling system. Your father handled the physical architecture. Thomas developed the chemical stabilization process.""
My stomach tightened.
"Then why was my father the only inventor listed on the original patent?""
Patricia looked at Michael.
"Because Thomas refused to have his name included.""
"Why?""
"Richard Whitmore threatened to destroy his career.""
Michael opened his notebook.
"Can you explain?""
Patricia took a shaky breath.
"Whitmore wanted exclusive control over the technology. Thomas believed the system should be licensed to manufacturers under strict safety conditions. Richard wanted to own everything.""
She stood and walked toward a cabinet.
From the bottom drawer, she removed a small cardboard box.
"I kept these after Thomas died.""
Inside were letters, laboratory photographs, and several handwritten pages.
She placed one letter in front of us.
It was addressed to my father.
Arthur,
I have discovered that Whitmore has obtained copies of our preliminary research. They are preparing to claim the system as their own.
I believe they have someone inside the university helping them.
Please protect the final design. I don't trust anyone connected to Richard anymore.
Thomas.
I read it twice.
"Who was helping them?""
Patricia looked toward the window.
"I never knew for certain.""
Michael pointed to another document.
"Mrs. Parker, this appears to be a university research authorization.""
She nodded.
"Thomas kept everything.""
I examined the date.
It was issued shortly before Olivia began her doctoral program.
The document authorized access to archived battery research materials.
The applicant's name was Olivia Parker.
I felt my chest tighten.
"She had access to these files?""
Patricia nodded slowly.
"Her father had hoped she would continue his work. He told her about the cooling system when she was younger.""
"Did she know about my father's patent?""
"Yes.""
The room seemed to grow smaller.
"How much did she know?""
Patricia looked directly at me.
"More than you think.""
Michael leaned forward.
"Did Thomas ever tell Olivia that Daniel's father owned the original patent?""
"Yes. He explained everything.""
I looked down.
For six years, I'd thought Olivia was simply a brilliant student who needed financial support.
But she had known about my father's invention long before I sold the shop.
She had known about the notebooks.
She had known about the patent.
And she'd still let me pay for her education while using the same research to build her career.
Patricia reached for my hand.
"Daniel, I need you to understand something.""
I looked at her.
"My daughter wasn't always like this.""
I said nothing.
"After Thomas died, Richard Whitmore contacted her. He offered her a research position. He said he wanted to finish the work her father had started.""
Michael's expression hardened.
"When?""
"Six years ago.""
Six years.
The exact year Olivia and I started dating.
Patricia began crying.
"I thought he was helping her. I thought she was continuing her father's legacy.""
I pulled my hand away gently.
"Did she ever mention me to Richard?""
Patricia nodded.
"She told him you were Arthur's son.""
My heart sank.
"So he knew who I was?""
"Yes.""
Michael exchanged a glance with me.
"Mrs. Parker, did you ever see any documents concerning the transfer of the patent rights?""
She hesitated.
Then she opened the cardboard box again.
At the very bottom was a sealed envelope.
"Thomas told me never to open this unless someone came looking for the original research.""
She handed it to Michael.
He examined the seal.
"May I?""
Patricia nodded.
Michael opened the envelope.
Inside was a notarized declaration, several pages of financial records, and a photograph of a university laboratory.
But it was the declaration that stopped him.
He read the first paragraph.
Then his face changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He turned the document toward me.
It was a sworn statement signed by Thomas Parker.
The first sentence read:
I, Thomas Parker, hereby declare that the final cooling-system design was transferred to the custody of Arthur Carter for safekeeping, and that neither Richard Whitmore nor any employee of Whitmore Technologies has been granted ownership rights.
Below it was another paragraph.
It identified a person who had helped Richard obtain confidential research documents.
I read the name.
My hands went numb.
*Dr. Olivia Parker.*
Patricia began sobbing.
"I didn't know," she whispered.
"I swear I didn't know.""
Michael carefully placed the declaration inside his folder.
"Mrs. Parker, this document could be extremely important.""
I stared at the signature.
Then I noticed something strange.
The declaration was dated six months before Thomas died.
But beside his signature was a second signature from a witness.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to Richard Whitmore.
Michael looked at me.
"Daniel, this changes everything.""
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Olivia.
I hadn't heard her voice since the conference room.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Daniel, we need to meet.""
"Why?""
"Because my father left something behind, and I think Richard has been looking for it.""
I glanced at the declaration.
"What exactly are you talking about, Olivia?""
She lowered her voice.
"The second design.""
I stood up.
"How do you know about that?""
There was a long pause.
Then she whispered six words.
"Because I have the original.""
May you like
And before I could ask another question, she added:
"Daniel, Alexander knows where it is. He's coming to get it tonight.""
