He had never been satisfied with the explanation.
Now he wondered whether the old case was connected to Emily's confrontation.
"Emily," he said, "I think you should preserve every document you have."
"I intend to."
"And don't confront Richard alone again."
She gave him a tired smile.
"I wasn't planning to."
Then she walked toward the police officer.
At the hospital, Richard was furious.
His head injury was not life-threatening, but the doctor had advised him to remain under observation.
Margaret sat beside his bed.
"You need to tell me what is happening."
Richard closed his eyes.
"Not now."
"That girl said her father's name, and you looked terrified."
"You're imagining things."
"Don't lie to me."
Richard opened his eyes.
"Margaret, I have enough problems without you interrogating me."
She leaned forward.
"Who was Thomas Carter?"
Richard looked at her for a long time.
Then he answered.
"He was an employee who betrayed the company."
Margaret shook her head.
"That isn't what I remember."
Richard said nothing.
"I remember him coming to our house. I remember him bringing a gift for Ethan. I remember you telling me he was one of the most trustworthy people in your organization."
Richard turned away.
"People change."
"Did he steal the money?"
The older man remained silent.
Margaret stood.
"Richard?"
He finally looked at her.
"That matter was handled."
"Was he innocent?"
Richard's face hardened.
"Stop asking questions."
Margaret felt a chill.
She had been married to Richard for thirty-eight years.
She knew his expressions.
She knew when he was angry, when he was embarrassed, and when he was hiding something.
This was different.
He was afraid.
And she had never seen him afraid before.
Meanwhile, Alexander drove Emily to a nearby medical clinic.
After the examination, the doctor confirmed that she had minor bruising on her arm and no serious injuries.
When they left, the evening air was cool.
Emily stood near the entrance, staring at the busy street.
"Do you have somewhere safe to go?" Alexander asked.
"My apartment."
"Would you like me to drive you?"
She hesitated.
"I don't want to trouble you."
"You aren't troubling me."
After a moment, she agreed.
During the drive, neither spoke much.
Eventually, Alexander asked about the documents.
"What exactly were you trying to show Richard?"
Emily opened her bag and removed the folder.
"Financial records. My father kept copies of several transactions before he died."
Alexander glanced at the papers.
"May I?"
She handed him a few pages.
He studied them carefully.
One transaction caught his attention.
A transfer of $4.8 million had been made from a Whitmore subsidiary to a company called Northbridge Consulting.
The transfer had been approved under Thomas Carter's employee identification number.
But the date was six months after his death.
Alexander frowned.
"This is impossible."
"That's what I thought."
"Who owns Northbridge Consulting?"
"I don't know."
Alexander examined the next page.
There was another transfer.
Then another.
All connected to the same account.
He looked at Emily.
"How long have you had these?"
"About two months."
"Have you shown them to anyone?"
"No."
"Good."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because if these records are genuine, they suggest that someone continued using your father's identity after his death."
Emily stared at him.
"Are you saying they were stealing money in his name?"
"That's one possibility."
He returned the papers.
"But we need to verify everything before making accusations."
Emily looked out the window.
"Three years. Three years of my father being called a criminal. And now I find out that someone may have continued using his name after he died."
Alexander's voice softened.
"We'll find out."
She looked at him.
"Why are you so sure?"
He paused.
"Because I don't like unfinished cases."
Emily gave a faint smile.
For the first time that day, she felt a little less alone.
CHAPTER 4: A FAMILY BUILT ON SILENCE
The Whitmore family had always appeared perfect from the outside.
Richard was a respected businessman.
Margaret was a charitable society leader.
Their son, Ethan, had graduated from one of the country's finest universities and was expected to inherit the family empire.
They owned a mansion, several vacation properties, and a collection of businesses worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
But the family had been falling apart for years.
Ethan had spent most of his childhood trying to earn his father's approval.
Richard had never been satisfied.
If Ethan received excellent grades, Richard asked why he had not received the highest marks.
If Ethan won an award, Richard asked whether someone more important had been competing.
If Ethan made a mistake, Richard reminded him that the Whitmore name carried expectations.
Over time, Ethan learned to hide his emotions.
He became successful, disciplined, and outwardly confident.
But he never felt that he was enough.
His mother tried to protect him, although she rarely challenged Richard directly.
She had convinced herself that keeping the family together was more important than confronting her husband's behavior.
Then came the death of Thomas Carter.
Ethan had been twenty-six at the time.
He remembered Thomas as a kind man who often visited the office with documents and coffee.
Thomas had once helped Ethan understand the company's financial structure.
He had never spoken to him like a privileged heir.
He had treated him like a young employee who needed guidance.
When Thomas was accused of theft, Ethan had been shocked.
He had privately questioned his father.
Richard told him that the matter was complicated and that he should stay out of it.
Ethan obeyed.
For years, he regretted that decision.
Now Emily Carter had appeared in the mansion.
And everything he had tried to forget was returning.
That evening, Ethan arrived at the hospital.
Richard was sitting upright in bed.
Margaret stood near the window.
"How are you feeling?" Ethan asked.
"Like I've been attacked by my own family."
Ethan ignored the remark.
"Did you tell the police what happened?"
Richard frowned.