Chapter 18 - The House of Cards
The next week was brutal.
Federal investigators raided Larkspur’s registered offices.
Gerald Pike resigned from the Morgan board and was charged with conspiracy and wire fraud.
Thomas Vale agreed to cooperate in exchange for consideration on his own misconduct.
Evelyn testified about the payment to Paul Mercer and stepped down from every Morgan foundation position.
Morgan Holdings lost contracts, money, and nearly a quarter of its market value.
Daniel resigned as CEO before the board could remove him.
Reporters called it a collapse.
For three mornings, television crews waited outside the temporary apartment. Commentators who had never met Daniel debated whether he was a victim, a fool, or both. Former friends stopped returning calls. Employees he barely knew sent messages saying they were scared for their jobs.
Daniel read every message. He did not pretend truth came without collateral damage. He only knew the alternative was asking everyone else to keep paying for his family’s secrets.
Daniel called it a bill finally coming due.
Victoria and Mason faced charges involving fraud, witness tampering, child endangerment, kidnapping, and conspiracy connected to Hannah’s death. Prosecutors argued that whether or not they intended the crash to be fatal, they had deliberately interfered with the brakes and then covered it up.
Victoria requested to speak with Daniel.
He refused.
She sent a letter.
He gave it to Rebecca unopened.
“You sure?” Rebecca asked.
“Yes.”
“You may want answers later.”
“I have enough answers.”
That night, Lily sat at the kitchen table in the apartment Daniel had rented while the house remained evidence.
She colored a rocket ship purple.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Is Victoria going to jail because I told?”
Daniel put down his coffee.
“No.”
“But I told the judge about the phone.”
“And that was brave.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
“If I didn’t tell, she wouldn’t be in trouble.”
Daniel moved beside her.
“Victoria is in trouble because of choices Victoria made. Grown-ups are responsible for their own choices. Not kids.”
Lily nodded slowly.
“Even when grown-ups say it’s a secret?”
“Especially then.”
She leaned against him.
Later, after Lily slept, Rebecca arrived carrying a small evidence bag.
“What’s that?” Daniel asked.
“Something recovered from Hannah’s locked laptop.”
Investigators had finally bypassed the encryption.
Inside the bag was a USB drive labeled in Hannah’s handwriting.
FOR DANIEL AND LILY.
Daniel’s throat tightened.
Rebecca placed it on the table.
“There’s one audio file.”
May you like
“When was it recorded?”
“The night before she died.”
