Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CRASH
The investigation into Richard Moretti's death reopened.
Independent forensic specialists reviewed the vehicle evidence.
Financial investigators examined the accounts Richard had been studying before the crash.
The evidence pointed toward a conspiracy involving Victor Harlan, Nathaniel Graves, and Dominic Moretti.
Dominic had been my father's younger brother.
He resented Richard's plan to restructure the family businesses.
Victor managed the financial accounts.
Graves helped control access to Delaney's medical information.
Together, they had positioned themselves to gain influence over the trust.
But the investigation uncovered something more disturbing.
Delaney had been in the car because she insisted on accompanying her father to a meeting.
Richard intended to confront Dominic about missing funds.
Delaney remembered hearing an argument shortly before the crash.
She also remembered a vehicle following them.
Her memories were incomplete.
But they aligned with other evidence.
Dominic was arrested several weeks later.
He denied involvement.
Victor and Graves faced separate charges related to financial misconduct, unlawful detention, and other offenses.
Investigators continued examining whether their actions contributed to the crash.
I attended one hearing.
Dominic looked at me from across the courtroom.
"Adrian."
I said nothing.
He smiled.
"You think you're better than us?"
I stared.
Then answered:
"No."
His smile faded.
"I think I should have stopped asking the wrong people to tell me what was right."
The legal process took months.
There were hearings.
Documents.
Witnesses.
Delays.
And difficult days for Delaney.
She chose how much to participate with support from her legal and medical advisers.
I learned to accept that justice did not arrive in one dramatic moment.
It required patience.
Evidence.
And the willingness to let the truth stand without trying to control it.
One evening, I found Delaney writing in her room.
She looked up.
I sat beside her.
"How was therapy?"
She smiled faintly.
Then wrote:
TIRED. GOOD.
I laughed.
"Both?"
She nodded.
Then wrote another sentence.
YOU STAYED HOME.
I swallowed.
"Yes."
She looked at me.
Her hand moved slowly.
THANK YOU.
I took her hand.
"No, Del."
May you like
My voice broke.
"Thank you for waiting for me to listen."
