Chapter 15 - THE BURIED LEDGERS
Emergency lights flashed across Plant Four.
A computerized voice announced ninety seconds until detonation.
Thomas panicked.
“You said we were destroying the records.”
Malcolm moved toward the exit.
“We are.”
“What about us?”
Malcolm did not answer.
Vanessa drove her shoulder into Thomas and broke free from his grip.
Arthur caught her before she fell.
Marcus’s voice came through Arthur’s earpiece.
“The main doors are sealed.”
Reyes examined the control system.
“Malcolm wired the charges through the furnace computer.”
Arthur remembered Claire’s video.
“The recording system is inside the control room.”
He ran toward the upper walkway.
Vanessa followed.
“I know the code.”
They reached the control room as the countdown passed sixty seconds.
Rows of dead monitors covered the walls.
Vanessa entered a password.
The main console activated.
A list of archived recordings appeared.
Arthur copied the data onto Claire’s flash drive.
“Stop the charges.”
“I’m trying.”
Vanessa opened the emergency menu.
The system demanded authorization from two executives.
One code belonged to Malcolm.
The second belonged to Thomas.
Arthur shouted through the broken window.
“Thomas.”
Thomas stood below, staring at Malcolm.
“You were going to leave me.”
Malcolm continued toward the private exit.
Thomas removed a card from his wallet and threw it toward Arthur.
Vanessa caught it.
She entered the second code.
The countdown stopped at nine seconds.
The plant became silent.
Federal agents forced open the western doors.
Malcolm reached the private exit, but it would not open.
Marcus stood on the other side.
“You changed the locks two years ago.”
Marcus raised Claire’s vehicle computer.
“I kept the evidence.”
Malcolm turned toward Arthur.
For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
“You cannot expose those records.”
“The company will collapse.”
Arthur walked down the stairs.
“Then it collapses.”
“Our name will be destroyed.”
“A name that depends on dead families staying silent deserves to be destroyed.”
Agents surrounded Malcolm.
Thomas sank to his knees.
Vanessa leaned against the control panel.
Reyes entered the control room and opened a floor compartment.
Beneath it were the original inspection ledgers.
Payment records.
Photographs.
Signed orders.
Everything Claire had died trying to reveal.
Malcolm watched as the agents placed the documents into evidence containers.
“You think Claire would be proud of this?”
May you like
Arthur looked at him.
“She would be proud that Bella survived you.”
