Chapter 11: The Director's Last Lie
I showed Sergeant Grant the photograph.
She immediately called airport security.
"Trace the message. I want the location identified. And notify the local authorities that we may have a kidnapping victim.""
I stared at Thomas's face.
His eyes were open.
He was looking directly at the camera.
A small cut crossed his forehead.
For the first time that day, I felt something other than anger toward him.
Fear.
He was still my brother.
Whatever he had done, I couldn't simply leave him to die.
"Can you determine where that picture was taken?"" I asked.
Grant enlarged the image.
"Not immediately. We'll need digital forensics.""
I noticed something behind Thomas.
A metal cabinet.
A white wall.
And a small sign partly visible near the door.
I leaned closer.
"Wait.""
Grant looked up.
"What?""
"Zoom in on that sign.""
She enlarged it.
Three letters became visible.
*HGR.*
My mind raced.
"Hangar.""
"Which hangar?""
I looked at Michael.
He studied the photograph.
Then his face changed.
"Hangar Twelve.""
"How do you know?""
"That's where Arthur used to meet Daniel.""
Grant immediately contacted airport operations.
"Check Hangar Twelve. Possible hostage situation. Do not approach without authorization.""
She turned to me.
"You're staying here.""
"I need to identify the people involved.""
"That's fine. But you're not going anywhere near an active security operation.""
I nodded.
Then the aircraft door opened.
Two airport security officers stepped aside.
Margaret Sloan entered wearing a charcoal business suit and carrying a black leather portfolio.
Her silver hair was perfectly arranged.
Her expression was calm.
She looked at me.
"Eleanor.""
I didn't stand.
"Margaret.""
She glanced at the security officers.
"Could we speak privately?""
"No.""
Her eyebrows lifted.
"I beg your pardon?""
"Everything you say can be recorded.""
She looked at Grant.
"Is that necessary?""
Grant nodded.
"Given the circumstances, yes.""
Margaret placed her portfolio on the counter.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
I almost smiled.
"That's becoming a popular phrase today.""
She ignored the remark.
"Give me the photograph and the original documents. I'll have them examined by an independent team.""
"Why should I trust your team?""
"Because I'm the director.""
"Your credentials were used to access Arthur Bennett's personnel file yesterday.""
Her expression remained steady.
"I review thousands of files.""
"Your name also appears in Richard's financial records.""
For the first time, Margaret's composure slipped.
"Richard was confused.""
"Richard was murdered.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"Be careful, Eleanor.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you help Thomas?""
She opened her portfolio and removed a document.
It was a printed financial statement.
"Your brother received money from Daniel Cross. He was involved in questionable transactions. But I was never part of that arrangement.""
I looked at the document.
It was a transfer record showing payments to Thomas's consulting company.
"Why are you showing me this?""
"Because your brother was the problem.""
"Then why does Richard's note say you received the final payment?""
Margaret's face tightened.
"Richard didn't understand the financial structure.""
"Did you receive the money?""
She looked toward Grant.
Then back at me.
"Some payments were routed through accounts I controlled.""
Grant immediately stepped closer.
"Are you admitting to receiving funds connected to this investigation?""
Margaret sighed.
"I was managing an account on behalf of the department.""
"Which department?"" Grant asked.
Margaret ignored her.
"Eleanor, you have no idea what this operation prevented.""
I stared at her.
"Operation?""
She nodded.
"Six years ago, the airline was on the verge of bankruptcy. Thousands of jobs were at risk. We needed to keep the company operating while its maintenance problems were resolved.""
"By falsifying safety reports?""
"By managing information until the necessary repairs could be completed.""
"Passengers were injured.""
"Passengers are injured every day.""
The cabin went silent.
Even Victoria looked up.
Margaret continued.
"Do you think the aviation industry survives because everyone tells the truth? It survives because responsible people make difficult decisions.""
I stood.
"Responsible people don't conceal dangerous defects.""
She gave me a cold smile.
"You still think this is about safety. It isn't.""
"What is it about?""
"Power. Contracts. Money. People who understand that institutions cannot survive every scandal.""
I looked at her.
"And Richard?""
Her smile disappeared.
"He was an obstacle.""
My heart pounded.
"Did you arrange his death?""
Margaret didn't answer.
Instead, she picked up her portfolio.
"You're exhausted, Eleanor. You're grieving. I recommend you take some time away from this case.""
"Did you arrange his death?""
She looked directly into my eyes.
Then she whispered:
"Ask Thomas why he was driving the car that followed Richard that night.""
I felt as though the floor had moved beneath me.
"Thomas was driving?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your brother was involved, yes. But he wasn't the person who ordered the accident.""
"Who was?""
She looked at the photograph.
"Arthur Bennett.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"Is it? Ask yourself why Arthur disappeared after the accident. Ask yourself why he allowed you to believe he was dead.""
I looked at Michael.
He seemed just as stunned.
Margaret stepped closer.
"Arthur wanted revenge. Richard was caught between them. Thomas was merely following instructions.""
"You're lying.""
"Am I?""
She opened her portfolio and removed a second photograph.
It showed a car on a rain-soaked highway.
A damaged windshield.
Emergency lights.
And Thomas standing beside the driver's door.
Margaret placed it in front of me.
"Your brother was there when Richard died.""
I stared at the image.
"Where did you get this?""
"From the original accident investigation.""
"That investigation concluded Thomas was out of state.""
Margaret smiled.
"Exactly.""
Grant reached for the photograph.
"Director Sloan, I'm placing you under temporary detention pending further verification of these allegations.""
Margaret looked surprised.
"You can't be serious.""
Grant gestured toward the officers.
"Please step away from the documents.""
Margaret didn't move.
Instead, she looked at me.
"There's something you should know, Eleanor.""
"What?""
"Your husband wasn't the only person who knew about the original maintenance records.""
She leaned closer.
"Your son did too.""
I stopped breathing.
My son, Daniel Whitmore, had died in a boating accident at twenty-nine.
Seven years ago.
I looked at her.
"What did you say?""
Margaret smiled faintly.
"Ask yourself why the police never found his phone.""
Then the security radio erupted.
"Hangar Twelve team to control. We have located the hostage.""
Grant grabbed the radio.
"Is he alive?""
A pause.
Then the answer came.
"Negative. The individual is deceased.""
I stared at the radio.
"Who?""
The officer hesitated.
May you like
Then he answered.
"Thomas Whitmore.""
