Chapter 17: The Woman Who Saw the Accident
Detective Carter traced Rebecca Collins's call to a public telephone near the abandoned Whitmore factory.
By the time officers arrived, the area was empty.
No car.
No witnesses.
Only a folded receipt tucked beneath the telephone.
On the back, Rebecca had written an address.
A small house on the edge of town.
Daniel, Margaret, Sarah, Christopher, and Helen followed the police convoy there just before dawn.
The house looked abandoned.
Its windows were covered with dusty curtains, and weeds had grown across the front steps.
Carter knocked.
"Police. Rebecca Collins, we need to speak with you.""
Nothing.
He knocked again.
A faint sound came from inside.
Then the door opened a few inches.
A woman with tired eyes looked out.
"You're late.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Are you Rebecca?""
She studied him.
"You look like James.""
Daniel felt his throat tighten.
"You knew my father?""
Rebecca opened the door.
"I was seventeen when he died. My father drove for Richard Whitmore. I used to think he was just a chauffeur.""
She led them into a small living room.
On the table sat a photograph of a man in a driver's uniform.
Peter Collins.
Rebecca touched the frame.
"My father was terrified of Richard. He knew what Edward had done, and he knew James was collecting evidence. The night of the accident, Richard called him and ordered him to drive to the old highway.""
Margaret sat down slowly.
"Was Peter there when James crashed?""
Rebecca nodded.
"He arrived before the ambulance. He told me later that James was still alive.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"What happened?""
"Richard was standing beside the wrecked car. Martin Graves was with him. They were arguing.""
"About what?""
"About Charlotte. About the company. About a recording James had made.""
Rebecca took a breath.
"My father said Richard wanted to make sure James never spoke again. But Martin said they couldn't leave him there.""
Daniel looked at Helen.
"Then James was deliberately abandoned?""
Rebecca nodded.
"My father heard Richard say, 'If he survives, everything is over.''"
Margaret covered her mouth.
For twenty years, she had believed her husband died because no one had reached him in time.
Now she understood that someone had chosen not to save him.
Daniel's voice shook.
"Why didn't your father tell the police?""
"He tried. But Martin had already changed the accident report. Richard threatened to accuse my father of causing the crash. He said he would make sure I went to prison too.""
Carter spoke carefully.
"Did your father keep any evidence?""
Rebecca nodded.
"He recorded a conversation in the car after the accident.""
She opened a drawer and removed a small memory card.
"My father hid it inside an old radio. I found it after he died.""
Daniel stared at the card.
"Is this the missing recording?""
"No. It's something different.""
Rebecca handed it to Carter.
"It proves Richard was at the scene before the ambulance arrived.""
Carter placed the card in an evidence envelope.
"We'll have it examined.""
Rebecca looked at Daniel.
"But there's another thing.""
"What?""
"My father said Martin wasn't the only person who wanted James dead.""
Daniel felt a familiar chill.
"Who else?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Your mother's signature was on the original accident report.""
Margaret stood abruptly.
"That's impossible.""
Rebecca shook her head.
"I know. My father said Richard used a document Margaret had signed in the hospital. He attached it to the report to make it appear she agreed with his version of events.""
Margaret's face turned white.
"I never signed anything about the accident.""
Helen looked at Carter.
"That could be the document Richard has been using to discredit her.""
Rebecca nodded.
"He kept the original in a safe at the factory.""
Daniel remembered the brass key.
"Then that's where we're going.""
Carter raised a hand.
"Not until we know whether Richard is still there.""
Rebecca looked toward the window.
"He's not.""
Everyone turned.
"How do you know?"" Daniel asked.
"Because he called me an hour ago. He said he was leaving the country.""
Christopher frowned.
"Richard wouldn't abandon the company while the trust documents are still unresolved.""
"He isn't abandoning it," Rebecca replied.
"He's transferring everything.""
She opened a laptop.
On the screen was a document showing a series of international transfers.
Helen leaned forward.
"These are company assets.""
Rebecca nodded.
"Richard has been moving money into accounts controlled by a private holding company. The transfers are scheduled to complete tonight.""
Daniel looked at Carter.
"Can you stop them?""
"We can seek an emergency freeze, but we need direct evidence of the fraudulent transfers.""
Sarah studied the screen.
"I can get that.""
She pointed to a line near the bottom.
"Those transactions require approval from the corporate archive director because they're tied to historical ownership records.""
Helen frowned.
"You're still authorized?""
"Yes. Richard hasn't officially removed me.""
Sarah's phone vibrated.
She checked the message.
Then her face changed.
"What is it?"" Daniel asked.
She turned the screen toward them.
A message from an unknown number.
*Emily is safe. Stop looking for her. If you want her to stay that way, sign the transfer documents.*
Sarah's hands began to shake.
Daniel took the phone.
"He's threatening her again.""
Rebecca leaned closer.
"That number belongs to a phone registered to the factory security office.""
Carter immediately stood.
"Then we're going there.""
Sarah grabbed her coat.
"I'm coming.""
Helen shook her head.
"You're the only person who can authorize the archive transfer. We need you safe.""
Sarah's voice was firm.
"I'm not hiding while my daughter is being used against me.""
Daniel looked at her.
"She's right. Richard knows we're coming. We need to make him believe Sarah is still willing to cooperate.""
Helen considered the idea.
"An undercover approach?""
"Not exactly," Sarah said.
"I'll send him the signed authorization he expects. But I'll attach the original ownership records and transaction history.""
Christopher smiled grimly.
"That will expose every transfer.""
Helen nodded.
"If we can preserve the transmission and get a warrant, we can move before he realizes what happened.""
Carter's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"We have a location for Emily.""
Sarah stepped forward.
"Where?""
"An apartment owned by Whitmore Holdings. Officers are outside now.""
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
"Is she there?""
Carter hesitated.
"Yes. But there's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"The woman guarding her says she has legal custody papers signed by a judge.""
Sarah went pale.
"Those papers are forged.""
Carter nodded.
"That's what our preliminary review suggests.""
Daniel looked at his sister.
"Then we're going to bring her home.""
But as they stepped outside, Carter's phone rang again.
He answered.
His expression hardened.
"Repeat that.""
A long silence followed.
Then he lowered the phone.
"The apartment is empty.""
Sarah nearly collapsed.
Carter caught her arm.
"The officers found Emily's rabbit on the bed.""
Sarah stared at him.
"Where is my daughter?""
May you like
Carter looked toward the road.
"Someone moved her before we arrived.""
