Chapter 10 - Emily's Father
Emily's father had supposedly died when she was nine.
His name was Thomas Carter.
Jackson searched his father's private files.
Thomas Carter appeared repeatedly.
Accountant.
Reed Industries.
Internal investigations.
Jackson understood.
Emily's father had worked with Jackson's father.
Together, they had discovered Victor's criminal network.
Both men died.
Emily's father's “accident” occurred first.
Jackson's father had secretly supported Emily's mother afterward.
That was why he possessed her childhood photograph.
“He was protecting us,” Emily whispered.
Jackson nodded.
Their families had been connected long before they met.
Victor hadn't targeted Emily randomly after the crash.
He recognized her name.
The daughter of Thomas Carter had rescued the son of David Reed.
Two surviving children of the men who nearly destroyed his organization had found each other.
Emily laughed bitterly.
“That's almost unbelievable.”
Jackson took her hand.
“Maybe that's why he was so afraid.”
They continued investigating.
Thomas had hidden one final set of records.
Emily remembered something her father used to say:
“When you're lost, go where the music started.”
Her mother had owned a piano.
Inside its old bench, they found a key.
It opened a storage locker.
Inside were tapes.
Dozens.
Thomas had recorded meetings.
The conspiracy extended across twenty years.
Now they finally possessed enough evidence to dismantle it.
But one tape contained something unexpected.
A woman's voice.
Jackson recognized it.
May you like
His mother.
Evelyn Reed.
