Chapter 5 - THE RECORDING THAT COULD DESTROY A BILLIONAIRE
I didn't take the flash drive to Roman immediately.
Instead, I contacted an attorney.
Her name was Rebecca Sloan.
She specialized in corporate misconduct and whistleblower cases.
Rebecca examined the documents.
Then arranged for a forensic specialist to copy and preserve the files.
The recording showed security footage from the North Harbor facility.
Workers moved through a loading area.
A maintenance supervisor entered a control room.
Then someone disabled several safety systems.
Minutes later, an explosion tore through the building.
The footage was grainy.
But the man in the control room was recognizable.
Charles Mercer.
Roman's father.
I stared at the screen.
"Why would he do that?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"We don't know yet."
Additional files contained financial records.
Insurance policies.
Maintenance reports.
And internal emails.
The evidence suggested the explosion had been connected to a fraudulent insurance scheme.
But it also showed that several executives had known the safety systems were compromised.
Rebecca looked at me.
"This could be significant."
I swallowed.
"Could it clear my father's name?"
"Possibly."
I thought of Dad.
His tired hands.
His old truck.
His quiet pride.
For the first time since his death, I felt something besides grief.
Hope.
That evening, Roman called.
"Tessa?"
I hesitated.
"What?"
"I heard you met with an attorney."
My stomach tightened.
"How?"
He paused.
"Rebecca contacted our legal department."
I closed my eyes.
"Roman, I told you I wanted independence."
"I know."
He continued.
"I'm not asking you to give me the evidence."
I frowned.
"Then why are you calling?"
"Because if the recording is real, I want to help expose what happened."
I looked toward Eli.
He was sitting at the kitchen table, studying for an exam.
"Even if it destroys your father's reputation?"
Roman's voice was steady.
"Yes."
"Even if it costs you money?"
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
A long silence.
Then Roman answered.
"Because Daniel Vaughn saved my life."
May you like
He paused.
"And I think it's time I finally did something worthy of that."
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