Chapter 14: The Last Photograph of Melissa
Raymond stood beside his father's hospital bed, holding the photograph.
Edward looked pale.
An oxygen tube rested beneath his nose, and a monitor beeped steadily beside him.
When Raymond entered, his father tried to sit up.
“Son.””
Raymond didn't move closer.
“Don't call me that yet.””
Edward lowered his head.
“I understand.””
Raymond placed the photograph on the bedside table.
“Who is this man?””
Edward looked at it.
His expression changed immediately.
“Where did you get that?””
“Someone left it here.””
Edward studied the photograph.
Melissa was standing outside a small restaurant.
Beside her was a tall man wearing a dark jacket.
His face was turned slightly away from the camera.
But something about his posture seemed familiar.
“Who is he?”” Raymond repeated.
Edward swallowed.
“His name is Peter Lawson.””
“Who is Peter Lawson?””
“He worked for Northstar Logistics.””
Raymond pulled a chair closer.
“What did he do?””
“He handled financial transfers. He was the man who discovered Miller had been moving money through shell companies.””
Raymond stared at the photograph.
“Why was Melissa meeting him?””
“Because she had evidence.””
“What evidence?””
Edward closed his eyes.
“Bank statements. Shipment records. Names of people receiving payments.””
Raymond leaned forward.
“Did she give you copies?””
Edward nodded.
“Yes.””
“Where are they?””
“I don't know.””
Raymond's voice hardened.
“Stop lying.””
Edward opened his eyes.
“I am not lying.””
“Then tell me what happened the night she died.””
Edward looked toward the window.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he began.
“Melissa called me at 9:14 p.m. She said she had found the original payment records. She wanted to meet somewhere private.””
“Where?””
“An old diner outside Mill Creek.””
Raymond remembered the photograph.
“Did you go?””
“Yes.””
“Did you see her?””
Edward nodded.
“She was frightened. She said Miller knew about the documents.””
“What happened?””
“She told me Peter Lawson had agreed to testify. He was going to bring the original records to federal investigators.””
Raymond rubbed his forehead.
“Then why did she die?””
Edward's voice broke.
“Because someone followed her.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you see the vehicle?””
Edward nodded.
“A dark SUV. It stopped across the road.””
“Did you recognize the driver?””
“No. But I recognized the passenger.””
Raymond leaned forward.
“Who?””
Edward looked directly at his son.
“Samuel Carter.””
Raymond sat back.
“So Carter was there.””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
Edward shook his head.
“I tried to stop them.””
“What does that mean?””
Edward struggled to breathe.
“I ran toward Melissa's car. I heard an argument. Then I heard the engine start.””
He paused.
“When I reached the road, her car was already moving.””
Raymond stared.
“Was she driving?””
Edward shook his head.
“No.””
Raymond felt his heart pound.
“What?””
“Someone else was behind the wheel.””
Edward reached for the glass of water.
Raymond handed it to him.
“Who was driving?””
“I couldn't see clearly. But I saw the passenger door open. Someone jumped out before the car went over the embankment.””
Raymond's mind raced.
“The police report said Melissa lost control.””
Edward nodded.
“They changed it.””
“Who?””
“Miller had people in the department. Carter controlled the investigation. And I was too afraid to expose everything.””
Raymond stood.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Edward looked at him with tears in his eyes.
“Because I was ashamed.””
Raymond stared.
“Of what?””
“Because I had taken money from them.””
Silence.
Edward continued.
“Three years before the convoy incident, Miller approached me with a business proposal. He said he could help me secure a logistics contract after my military retirement.””
“Did you accept?””
“Yes.””
“How much money?””
“Enough to make me feel trapped.””
Raymond stepped away.
“You were part of it.””
“I was.””
“You helped them.””
“At first.””
“And when you tried to leave, they threatened you?””
Edward nodded.
“I discovered the operation was much bigger than I had imagined. I tried to get out. Then Daniel found the records, and I started helping him.””
Raymond shook his head.
“You could have told us.””
“I know.””
“You could have told Melissa.””
“I tried.””
Edward looked toward the photograph.
“But she found out before I could explain.””
Raymond stared at him.
“Did you kill her?””
Edward's eyes filled.
“No.””
“Did you know who did?””
“I suspected Carter. But I never had proof.””
Raymond looked at the monitor.
The steady beeping seemed louder now.
Then Edward reached beneath his hospital blanket.
He pulled out a small folded paper.
“There's something I kept from that night.””
Raymond took it.
It was a receipt from a private parking garage.
The date matched Melissa's death.
At the bottom was a vehicle registration number.
Raymond immediately photographed it.
Then his phone rang.
It was Lieutenant Davis.
He answered.
“Go ahead.””
Her voice was shaking.
“Sheriff, we have a problem with the suspects.””
“What happened?””
“Miller was transferred to the county detention center. Carter was supposed to be held separately.””
“And?””
“Carter is gone.””
Raymond stood.
“What do you mean gone?””
“The transport vehicle never arrived at the detention facility.””
“Who authorized the transfer?””
Angela hesitated.
“Chief Deputy Samuel Carter's former administrative assistant.””
Raymond closed his eyes.
“Carter has been in custody for hours.””
“Yes, sir.””
“Then how did he authorize anything?””
Angela's voice dropped.
“Because the person who signed the order wasn't Carter.””
Raymond stared at the wall.
“Who?””
“Someone used your electronic signature again.””
Raymond looked toward his father.
Then he heard Edward whisper:
“It's Miller.””
Raymond turned.
Edward was staring at the photograph.
“He's not trying to escape,” the old man said.
“What?””
“He's trying to get to Peter Lawson.””
Raymond immediately called Angela.
“Find Peter Lawson. Now.””
She typed rapidly.
Then her voice changed.
“Sheriff, I found him.””
“Where?””
“Registered address is in Mill Creek.””
Raymond grabbed his jacket.
“Send units.””
Angela hesitated.
“There's a problem.””
“What now?””
“Peter Lawson died fifteen years ago.””
Raymond stopped.
Edward slowly turned toward him.
Then he whispered:
“No.””
Raymond looked at his father.
“What?””
Edward's eyes filled with terror.
“That isn't possible.””
He pointed at the photograph.
“That man isn't Peter Lawson.””
Raymond looked down.
Edward continued.
“That's Melissa's brother.””
Raymond felt the blood drain from his face.
Melissa had told him she was an only child.
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And according to her official family records, her brother had died when he was eight years old.
But the man in the photograph was standing beside her fifteen years later.
