Chapter 8 - Julia's Crash

Julia's crash had been ruled accidental.

Driver survived with minor injuries.

Caleb remembered none of the details clearly.

He had identified Julia's body.

After that, every official sentence blurred.

Detective Lena Ortiz had retired six months later.

Nathan found her in Kentucky.

"I always wondered when you would call."

"You knew?"

"I knew the report was wrong."

"Then why close it?"

"The vehicle data showed a steering fault."

"Mechanical?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"The steering assist cut out fourteen seconds before impact."

"That's not in the final report."

"No."

"Why?"

"My captain removed it."

"On whose request?"

She slid a photocopy across the table.

WHITCOMB SECURITY TO COOPERATE. CORPORATE COUNSEL REQUESTS MECHANICAL DETAILS WITHHELD PENDING LIABILITY REVIEW.

"Who was the driver?"

"Owen Price."

"Where is he?"

"Gone."

"Dead?"

"No. At least not then."

Ortiz opened another folder.

"Price told me Julia was alive after the crash."

"What?"

"She was injured. Conscious. Trying to get out."

"But she died at the scene."

"That's what the final report says."

"What did Price say?"

"He said another Whitcomb vehicle arrived before EMS."

"Who?"

"He wouldn't name them."

"Why?"

"He changed his statement the next day."

"After what?"

"After his mother's mortgage was paid off."

"Caleb."

For eighteen months he had believed rain killed his wife.

Now he did not know what to believe.

Ortiz said, "I can't tell you Malcolm killed Julia."

"I know."

"I can tell you someone with access to Whitcomb systems influenced the investigation."

Nathan asked, "Do you still have original vehicle data?"

"No."

"Who took it?"

"Corporate counsel."

"Malcolm's lawyer?"

"Yes."

"Caleb, someone came to my motel."

"Who?"

"I don't know. I saw him through the peephole."

"Are you safe?"

"I left through the laundry exit."

"Where are you now?"

"In my car."

"Go to the police."

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