Chapter 10: The Detective's Deadly Secret
Nobody moved.
The video had stopped, but Rebecca's final words seemed to remain suspended in the air.
Detective Samuel Harris.
Daniel slowly turned toward the man standing behind him.
Detective Harris stared at the frozen screen. His face had lost every trace of color.
“Turn that off,” he said.
Daniel didn't move.
“Why?””
Harris stepped forward.
“I said turn it off.””
Julia immediately moved between them.
“Detective, I suggest you take a step back.””
Harris looked at her.
“You don't understand what you're dealing with.””
“Then explain it.””
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked directly at Daniel.
“Your father was a good man. He didn't deserve what happened.””
Daniel's hands tightened.
“You knew my father?””
Harris nodded slowly.
“I was a junior officer twenty years ago. I worked on the original investigation involving Rebecca Hayes.””
“You were in the photograph.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Harris looked down.
“Because Robert Hayes paid me.””
The admission struck the room like another slap.
Margaret covered her mouth.
Daniel stepped closer.
“How much?””
“Enough to make me believe I could walk away afterward.””
“What did you do?””
“I altered a witness statement. I removed a reference to Rebecca's meeting with your father. I also helped Robert convince the department that she had left town voluntarily.””
Daniel stared at him.
“And my father's death?””
Harris closed his eyes.
“I wasn't involved in his death.””
“Then who was?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No. I expect you to understand that I was young, ambitious, and stupid. Robert controlled people through money. I thought I was doing something temporary.””
Julia pulled out her phone.
“Detective, I need you to understand that this conversation is being documented.””
Harris looked at the phone.
“Good. It should be.””
He removed his badge and placed it on the metal cabinet.
“I'm finished pretending.””
Daniel studied him.
“Why did you come here?””
“Because I recognized the name on the storage facility report. When I saw the photograph, I realized the old case was connected to the current investigation.””
“You knew Rebecca might still be alive?””
Harris nodded.
“I received a message from her three weeks ago.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“And you didn't tell me?””
“She said she had evidence against Robert. She also said someone was following her. I wanted to verify her identity before bringing her into an active investigation.””
“Or you wanted to warn Robert.””
Harris didn't answer.
Julia stepped closer.
“Detective, did you communicate with Robert Hayes recently?””
“Yes.””
Daniel felt his stomach drop.
“How recently?””
“Yesterday.””
“Why?””
“He called me after learning that you had located the trust documents. He wanted to know whether I could stop the investigation.””
Margaret gripped Daniel's arm.
“And what did you tell him?””
Harris looked ashamed.
“I told him I couldn't.””
Daniel stared.
“You were still talking to him?””
“Yes. But I was recording the conversation.””
He reached into his coat and removed a small digital recorder.
“I kept copies of everything. I knew one day I might need to tell the truth.””
Julia took the device.
“Why didn't you report this earlier?””
“Because Robert threatened my family.””
The room fell silent.
Harris continued.
“My wife received photographs of our children outside school. Then my house was broken into. Nothing was stolen. Someone wanted me to understand that they could reach my family whenever they wanted.””
Margaret's expression softened.
Daniel's did not.
“Did you ever tell Rebecca?””
“No.””
“Then why should I trust you?””
Harris looked directly at him.
“You shouldn't. But you can verify everything I give you.””
He handed Julia a second envelope.
Inside were copies of the original police reports, financial records, and a handwritten statement from another officer who had worked on the case.
Daniel picked up the final document.
The officer's name was Anthony Miller.
He was now retired.
The statement described a meeting between Robert Hayes and an unidentified man two days before Thomas Bennett's death.
The meeting had taken place at a private garage.
The unidentified man had left carrying a brown briefcase.
Daniel looked up.
“Who was he?””
Harris shook his head.
“We never identified him.””
“Did you investigate?””
“Robert told us the man was a contractor.””
“And you believed him?””
Harris looked away.
“No.””
Daniel put the document down.
“Then we're going to find him.””
Harris nodded.
“There's something else. Rebecca gave me a second recording. She said it would only make sense when you found the first one.””
He reached into his pocket and removed a small memory card.
Julia immediately placed it inside a protective evidence sleeve.
“Where is the original?””
“Rebecca has it.””
“Where is she?””
Harris hesitated.
Then he gave Daniel the address.
It was the same address Eleanor had provided.
Before anyone could leave, Michael's phone rang.
He answered.
Then his expression changed.
“Daniel, we have a problem.””
“What?””
“Someone just accessed the Bennett Development Group server.””
“Who?””
“The login came from Robert Hayes's office.””
Michael looked at the screen.
“They're downloading the original company records.””
Julia immediately called the bank and requested an emergency freeze on the disputed accounts.
Daniel looked at Detective Harris.
“Can Robert still access the company?””
“Not legally.””
“But?””
Harris took a breath.
“If he still has someone inside the administration, he may be able to move documents before the board discovers what's happening.””
Daniel turned toward Michael.
“Get everyone into the office. Lock down the servers.””
Michael nodded and hurried outside.
Daniel looked at his mother.
“I'm taking you somewhere safe.””
Margaret shook her head.
“No.””
“Mom—”
“I spent twenty years being frightened of Robert Hayes. I'm not spending another day hiding from him.””
Daniel wanted to argue.
But he saw the determination in her eyes.
She reached for the photograph of Thomas.
“Your father deserves the truth.””
Daniel nodded.
They left the storage facility with Julia and the evidence.
But before they reached the car, Daniel's phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Daniel? It's Rebecca.””
He stopped walking.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere Robert doesn't know about.””
“Are you safe?””
A nervous laugh came through the phone.
“For the moment.””
Daniel looked at Julia.
“Can we meet?””
“Yes. But not at the address Eleanor gave you.””
“Why?””
Rebecca's voice trembled.
“Because Robert has known about that address for twenty years.””
Daniel felt his blood run cold.
“Where should we go?””
She gave him a location.
Then she added one final warning.
“Daniel, come without Detective Harris.””
The call ended.
Daniel slowly lowered his phone.
May you like
Behind him, Samuel Harris stood beside the car.
And from the look on his face, Daniel could tell the detective had heard every word.
