Chapter 7 - THE TWELVE NAMES
The names changed everything.
Twelve workers.
Twelve incidents.
Twelve families whose lives had been altered by accidents at facilities connected to Northbridge.
Some workers survived with permanent injuries.
Others died.
Several families accepted confidential settlements.
Three had filed lawsuits that disappeared after private negotiations.
Tommy's name appeared last.
Dileia stared at the page until the letters blurred.
Julian stood beside her.
For once, he had nothing to say.
Rachel reviewed the document the next morning.
"This could be evidence of a pattern," she said. "But we need to verify each incident independently."
Dileia nodded.
"I want to speak with the families."
Rachel hesitated.
"Carefully. Some may not want to reopen painful memories."
"I understand."
Over the next week, Dileia and Rachel contacted the families.
The first refused.
The second hung up.
The third agreed to meet.
Her name was Teresa Morales.
Her husband, Luis, had lost his left hand in a loading-platform accident.
The company offered a settlement.
But only if he signed a broad confidentiality agreement.
Teresa showed Dileia the paperwork.
The settlement had been funded through a third-party account.
Northbridge.
Dileia's stomach tightened.
"Did your husband ever mention Tommy Hail?"
Teresa looked up.
"Tommy?"
Dileia nodded.
Teresa's eyes filled.
"He tried to help us."
Dileia froze.
"What?"
"After Luis got hurt, Tommy came to our house. He said the equipment had been reported as unsafe."
Dileia leaned forward.
"Did he have proof?"
Teresa nodded.
"He showed us maintenance logs. Someone had changed them."
"Who?"
"He didn't know. But he said the records were being altered from an office downtown."
Dileia swallowed.
"Did he mention a name?"
Teresa thought for a moment.
"Martin."
Dileia closed her eyes.
There it was.
Another connection.
Another piece.
Teresa reached across the table.
"Your husband was a good man."
Dileia's eyes filled.
"I know."
"He told us not to sign anything until we understood it."
Dileia nodded.
"That sounds like Tommy."
Teresa hesitated.
"There's something else."
Dileia looked up.
"After Tommy died, a man came to our house."
"What man?"
"Older. Expensive suit. Silver watch."
Dileia's blood turned cold.
"He told us Tommy had been confused. That his accusations were false."
"Did he threaten you?"
Teresa looked away.
"He said our settlement could disappear."
Dileia felt anger rise.
Not the sharp anger of humiliation.
The deep, steady anger of someone discovering that suffering had been treated as an administrative inconvenience.
She thanked Teresa.
Then returned to Julian's office.
He was reviewing a security report.
Dileia placed the list of names on his desk.
"Your company helped fund settlements for workers injured at facilities connected to Northbridge."
Julian looked up.
"I know."
She froze.
"What?"
"I learned this morning."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was verifying the records."
Dileia stared.
"That's not your decision to make."
Julian's expression tightened.
"I didn't want to give you incomplete information."
"You don't get to decide what information I'm emotionally capable of handling."
Silence.
Julian looked at her.
Then nodded.
"You're right."
Dileia was too angry to appreciate the admission.
She continued.
"These weren't random accidents. Someone altered maintenance records."
Julian's face darkened.
"I've ordered an independent review of every facility."
"Good."
"And I've suspended Martin Voss."
Dileia froze.
"When?"
"An hour ago."
She stared.
"Why didn't you tell me that either?"
Julian closed his eyes briefly.
"Because I apparently haven't learned how to communicate with someone who expects honesty instead of obedience."
Dileia studied him.
Then said quietly, "Start now."
Julian nodded.
"Martin disappeared before security could escort him from the building."
Her stomach dropped.
"What?"
"His office was empty. His phone is off."
Dileia felt cold.
Then Julian added:
"And someone accessed the archived Northbridge files using his credentials."
"When?"
"Forty minutes ago."
Dileia stared.
"From where?"
May you like
Julian looked at her.
"The hospital where Tommy died."
