Chapter 14: The Truth Michael Died Protecting
Thomas Reed’s face filled every screen in the security room.
He looked calm.
Professional.
The same man who had comforted me at Michael’s funeral.
The same man who had held Emily’s hand and promised her that her father was a hero.
Now he was looking into cameras and destroying everything Michael had left behind.
“My former colleague, Captain Michael Brooks, was involved in serious violations before his death.””
I felt sick.
Emily covered her ears.
“Turn it off.””
I immediately reached for the remote.
But Captain Harris stopped me.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“We need to hear this.””
Thomas continued.
“Captain Brooks ignored safety protocols and endangered hundreds of passengers.””
Laura whispered:
“He’s rewriting everything.””
Captain Harris nodded.
“He’s trying to make Michael look guilty before the evidence comes out.””
I stared at the screen.
“How can we stop him?””
Laura looked at the flash drive.
“By releasing the truth.””
We connected the drive to the computer.
Files appeared.
Documents.
Audio recordings.
Flight reports.
And one folder.
*THOMAS_REED*
Everyone froze.
Captain Harris opened it.
Inside were years of records.
Payments.
Messages.
Altered reports.
My hands covered my mouth.
“He did this?””
Laura nodded.
“Thomas was changing documents for the company.””
“Why?””
“Money.””
Captain Harris opened another file.
Then stopped.
“What?””
He looked at Laura.
“This isn’t possible.””
“What?””
He turned the screen.
A video file.
Recorded the night Michael died.
I pressed play.
The screen showed a dark room.
Michael was there.
Alive.
And sitting across from him was Thomas.
My breath stopped.
Thomas looked younger.
Angrier.
“You should have stayed out of this.””
Michael’s voice was calm.
“You changed reports that could have killed people.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“You don’t understand how the world works.””
Michael shook his head.
“No. I understand exactly how it works.””
Thomas laughed.
“You think people care about the truth?””
Michael looked at him.
“I do.””
The video shook.
Then Thomas stood.
“You’re going to lose everything.””
Michael smiled sadly.
“No.””
A pause.
“I already know what matters.””
The screen froze.
Then Michael’s voice continued from the audio.
“If anything happens to me, Thomas Reed is responsible.””
Nobody spoke.
Emily began crying.
“My dad knew.””
I pulled her close.
“Yes.””
“He knew.””
Laura wiped her eyes.
“He always knew.””
Then the final file opened automatically.
A recording.
Michael’s voice.
“Hello, Emily.””
My heart broke.
His voice.
Again.
“If you’re hearing this, it means the people who wanted me silent failed.””
Emily held my hand.
Michael continued.
“I need you to remember something.””
A pause.
“The truth does not need you to be fearless.””
Another pause.
“It only needs you to be brave enough to speak.””
I cried silently.
Then Michael said something I never expected.
“Your mother will think she wasn’t part of this fight.””
I looked at Emily.
“But she is.””
My breath caught.
“Mom?””
Michael continued.
“She has the strongest heart of anyone I know.””
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Then the security door slammed open.
An officer rushed inside.
“Captain Harris.””
“What?””
“We found Thomas Reed.””
“Where?””
The officer looked nervous.
“He’s heading toward the private terminal.””
Laura stood.
“No.””
Captain Harris looked at her.
“What?””
“He’s leaving.””
I grabbed the flash drive.
“Then we stop him.””
Captain Harris shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
“What?””
He looked at the screen.
At Michael’s final message.
“He wants us to follow him.””
A cold feeling passed through me.
“Why?””
Captain Harris looked toward the terminal.
“Because Thomas knows something we don’t.””
“What?””
May you like
His voice dropped.
“He knows who gave him the orders.””
