Chapter 15 - The Truth Isn't Clean
Roman watched the recording in a small interview room with Leah at his side.
Danny looked impossibly small on the grainy footage, all elbows and wet hair, a child in a yellow raincoat. He had grabbed a railing while water slammed the walkway below him.
Roman had spent thirty years imagining a slip, a current, a moment no grown man could have prevented.
Now he watched Victor turn away.
He couldn't speak for a long time.
Mara finally paused the video. “Your father comes into frame nine seconds later. He tries to reach Danny. The gate is already open.”
Roman pressed his knuckles to his eyes. “My father knew.”
“He helped conceal what Victor was moving through the station. We have his letter. He admitted it.”
“He could've told me.”
“He should have.”
Roman stared down at his hands. “I've spent my whole life defending that company. Every ugly contract, every threat I thought kept people safe. I told myself I was protecting the family he left me.”
“Some of those choices were yours,” Mara said gently.
“I know.”
Outside, Elena gave a statement about the kidnapping attempt. When she finished, Mara arranged for her and Maisie to stay in a protected apartment away from the estate. Priya had blocked the emergency removal request after proving the report was fraudulent.
Maisie asked why they couldn't sleep at home.
“Because we're going somewhere the bad people don't know,” Elena told her.
“Will it have a door?”
“More than one.”
“Can we keep a light on?”
“All night.”
Back at the station, a forensic analyst examined the fake confession. It had been assembled from a real corporate briefing and altered audio. The source files had come from a server maintained by Birch Twelve Services. A warrant to search the server room was signed that afternoon.
Roman's attorney used the findings and workers' statements to seek an immediate hearing. The judge ordered Roman released under strict conditions pending further investigation. He walked out without a smile.
On the courthouse steps, reporters demanded a statement.
Roman looked into the cameras. “I did not imprison those workers. But my family's business has hurt people, and I won't hide behind my last name while we find out how many.”
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Anika called before he reached the car.
“The Birch Twelve offices are on fire,” she said. “And Detective Keene's team is still inside.”
