Daniel looked at Richard across the room.
Now he understood.
The share transfer had not been the only theft.
Richard had been stealing from the company's history, its people, and its future.
Harold Whitmore called the meeting back to order.
"Members of the board, we have a decision to make. I propose that all acquisition activity be suspended, that Richard Collins be removed from all negotiations pending investigation, and that Daniel Bennett remain in his position while an independent review is conducted."
Before anyone could vote, Richard stood.
"I object."
Harold sighed.
"On what grounds?"
Richard looked toward Daniel.
"Because this board is being manipulated by a family that has concealed its own secrets for decades."
Daniel did not move.
Richard continued.
"Perhaps you should ask Arthur Bennett why he never disclosed the full founding agreement. Perhaps you should ask him what happened to Edward Collins's original shares."
Arthur slowly rose.
"I will answer any question you ask."
Richard smiled.
"Then answer this one. Did Robert Bennett promise my father a permanent share of the company?"
Arthur looked at the old document.
"No. He promised to establish a charitable trust in his name."
"Did your father honor that promise?"
"Yes."
"Then why did the trust disappear?"
Arthur's voice became heavy.
"Because you stole it."
Richard's smile vanished.
"Prove it."
James raised another document.
"We can."
Richard looked toward the door.
A security officer stood there.
Then another.
He realized the board was no longer simply questioning him.
They were preparing to stop him.
Richard slowly sat down.
But as the vote began, he leaned toward the chairman and whispered:
"You have no idea what that final page says."
Harold looked at him.
"Then perhaps you should tell us."
Richard said nothing.
He only stared at Arthur.
And Arthur finally understood why Margaret had written that the truth could no longer be avoided.
The final page was not merely a record of ownership.
It contained the name of the person who had approved the original transfer.
And that person was not Richard.
It was someone the Bennett family had trusted.
The board voted unanimously to suspend the acquisition.
Richard Collins was removed from all company negotiations pending a formal investigation.
The motion to suspend Daniel was withdrawn.
But the relief in the room was short-lived.
The final page of the original charter was still missing.
And without it, the board could not determine who had authorized the permanent transfer of Arthur's shares.
James gathered the documents.
"We need that page."
Daniel looked at Victoria.
"You said Richard kept a separate file."
"Yes."
"Then we need to get it."
Victoria shook her head.
"He won't let us near his office."
Arthur stood.
"Then we ask him."
Daniel turned toward his father.
"He's not going to cooperate."
"Perhaps not. But he may be willing to talk when he realizes there is nothing left to gain by lying."
Richard was still seated at the far end of the table.
Two security officers stood behind him.
Harold approached.
"Mr. Collins, I must ask you to remain available for further questioning."
Richard looked up.
"Am I under arrest?"
"No. This is an internal board proceeding."
"Then I am free to leave."
Harold exchanged a glance with James.
"We are not preventing you from leaving, but the company reserves the right to pursue legal action based on the evidence presented."
Richard stood and straightened his jacket.
"Then I suggest you do so."
He walked toward the door.
As he passed Arthur, he stopped.
"You should be careful what you wish for."
Arthur looked at him.
"I wished for the truth."
Richard leaned closer.
"The truth has a price."
Arthur replied quietly.
"Then I am willing to pay it."
Richard walked out.
Daniel watched him disappear down the corridor.
"He's hiding something."
James nodded.
"Definitely."
Victoria looked uneasy.
"There's something else."
Daniel turned.
"What now?"
"When Richard was speaking to his assistant earlier, I heard him mention a person named Peter Lawson."
James frowned.
"Peter Lawson?"
"Who is he?" Daniel asked.
James hesitated.
"Former corporate secretary. He handled the original records during the restructuring."
Arthur slowly sat down.
"Peter."
Daniel looked at him.
"You know him?"
"I trusted him."
James opened the company archive database on his laptop.
"Peter Lawson left the company twelve years ago, shortly after the transfer was completed."
"Why?" Daniel asked.
"The official record says he resigned for personal reasons."
Victoria shook her head.
"Richard mentioned him several times. He said Peter was the only person who could confirm the final page."
Arthur stared at the table.
"Then Peter knows what happened."
James closed the laptop.
"I'll find him."
"Wait," Daniel said. "What if Richard gets to him first?"
James nodded.
"That's possible."
Arthur picked up Margaret's letter.
"Then we must reach him before Richard does."
Two hours later, James returned with an address.
Peter Lawson was living in a small coastal town nearly three hours from the city.
He was seventy-four years old and had been retired for more than a decade.
Daniel immediately arranged for a car.
Arthur insisted on going with him.
"Father, you've had a long morning."
"I've had twelve years of waiting. I can manage a three-hour drive."
Daniel smiled.
"All right. But you're resting on the way."
They left the company shortly after noon.
Michael, the security guard, stood near the entrance as they walked out.
"Mr. Bennett."
Arthur turned.
"Yes, Michael?"
Michael looked slightly embarrassed.
"I wanted to apologize again for that first morning. I should have done more."
Arthur smiled gently.
"You did more than you think. You treated me like a human being when others didn't."
Michael lowered his head.
"I wish I had stopped them."
"Sometimes courage begins with a small act. Don't underestimate what you did."
Michael nodded.
"Good luck, sir."
"Thank you."
As the car pulled away, Daniel looked through the window at the company building.
For the first time in years, he did not see it as a monument to his success.
He saw it as a place built by people whose names were rarely remembered.
People like his father.
People like his mother.
People like Michael.
And perhaps that was what he had forgotten while climbing toward the top.
The coastal town was quiet.
Small houses lined the narrow streets, and fishing boats rested near the harbor.
Peter Lawson lived in a modest white house with a blue door.
When Daniel knocked, an elderly man opened it.
His eyes moved from Daniel to Arthur.
Then his face turned pale.
"Arthur Bennett?"
Arthur nodded.
"Hello, Peter."
Peter took a step backward.
"I wondered when this day would come."
Daniel looked at him.
"You know why we're here?"
Peter nodded slowly.
"Yes."
He opened the door.
"Come inside."
The house smelled of old books and coffee. Family photographs covered one wall. On a small table sat a framed picture of a young woman holding a baby.
Peter noticed Daniel looking.
"My daughter and grandson."
"They're beautiful," Daniel said.
Peter smiled faintly.
"My grandson is seven. He wants to become an engineer."
Arthur looked around.
"You always loved engineering."
Peter's smile disappeared.
"I used to."
They sat in the living room.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Then Arthur placed the old charter on the table.
"We need the final page."
Peter looked down.
His hands began to tremble.
"I wondered if Richard had destroyed it."
"Did you keep a copy?" James had asked earlier, but now Daniel was the one asking.
Peter nodded.
"I did."
"Where is it?"
Peter looked toward a locked cabinet.
"Before I show you, I need to tell you something."
Arthur leaned forward.
"Go ahead."
Peter took a deep breath.
"Twelve years ago, Thomas Reed brought the transfer papers to the office. He told me that you had agreed to transfer your shares permanently."
Arthur shook his head.
"I never agreed to that."
"I know."
Arthur stared at him.
"You knew?"
Peter's eyes filled with shame.
"I discovered the alteration after the documents were filed. I compared the temporary agreement with the final registry copy. The wording had changed."