Chapter 18 - The Man My Father Trusted
Martin Hale agreed to meet us.
He chose a small restaurant far from the city.
When he saw me, he looked older than I remembered.
“You look like him,” he said.
I didn't sit down.
“You knew my father suspected Atlas.”
Martin lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of whom?”
He didn't answer.
Caleb stepped forward.
“Mr. Hale.”
Martin looked at him.
“Your father believed someone was using his authorization to move contracts through Atlas,” he finally said.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You've had years to think about it.”
“I know.”
He reached into his coat.
Then he placed a small flash drive on the table.
“Your father gave me this.”
I stared at it.
“Why?”
“He told me to protect it if anything happened to him.”
My heart pounded.
“What is on it?”
“Proof that he was trying to stop the transfers.”
“Then why didn't you give it to the authorities?”
Martin's face collapsed.
“Because I was a coward.”
I wanted to hate him.
But the exhaustion in his eyes stopped me.
“What happened?”
He whispered the answer.
“Your father confronted someone.”
“Who?”
Martin looked directly at me.
“Your mother's attorney.”
I froze.
Victoria had been the face of the corruption.
But perhaps she hadn't acted alone.
Caleb took the drive.
“We need to preserve this.”
Martin nodded.
Then he said something that stayed with me.
“Your father knew your mother was dangerous.”
“I know.”
“No.”
His voice trembled.
“He knew she was dangerous before he ever confronted her.”
I looked at him.
“What are you saying?”
Martin swallowed.
“Arthur believed her gambling debts weren't the only reason she needed money.”
“What else?”
“I don't know.”
I hated those words.
I had heard them too many times.
But this time, there was something different.
Fear.
Real fear.
May you like
The kind my father had carried before his death.
---
