"But that isn't the worst part."
He removed another document.
A photograph.
It showed a young man standing beside the burning vehicle.
Walter recognized him immediately.
It was Michael.
But there was another person standing behind him.
A woman.
Margaret.
Walter looked up.
"Why was your mother there?"
Michael took a deep breath.
"Because she was the one who arranged the accident."
Walter felt his chest tighten.
"No."
"She wanted to fake my death so I could disappear before Grant's people found me."
Walter shook his head.
"Your mother wouldn't do that."
"She thought it was the only way to save me."
"Then why did she disappear?"
Michael looked at his father.
"Because the plan failed."
Walter stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
Michael's voice dropped.
"Someone changed the location. The car was supposed to be empty."
Walter slowly sat up.
"Who changed it?"
Michael looked directly into his father's eyes.
"Robert Collins."
A long silence followed.
Then Michael added:
"And he wasn't working alone."
Walter's phone vibrated.
An incoming message.
It contained a photograph of Margaret standing outside the abandoned hotel.
Underneath it were seven words.
YOUR WIFE IS ALIVE. COME FIND HER.
Walter looked at Michael.
His son nodded.
"Let's bring Mom home."
But neither of them noticed the small camera hidden inside the hospital room.
Someone had been listening to every word.
And seconds later, that person sent a message to Robert Collins.
THE HAYES FAMILY KNOWS EVERYTHING.
At 10:45 p.m., Walter and Michael arrived at the abandoned hotel.
Rain poured heavily over the empty parking lot.
Walter carried a small bag containing the original documents. Michael walked beside him, constantly checking the surrounding buildings.
"Are you sure she's here?" Walter asked.
Michael nodded.
"Rebecca traced the message. This is the last location where Mom's phone was active."
Walter stopped at the entrance.
For fifteen years, he had believed his wife was dead.
Now he was only a few steps away from discovering the truth.
They entered the building.
A single light illuminated the reception desk.
Then a woman's voice came from the staircase.
"Walter."
He turned.
Margaret stood on the landing.
Her hair was gray, and her face showed the exhaustion of someone who had spent years running.
But her eyes were unchanged.
Walter couldn't move.
"Margaret?"
She slowly walked toward him.
"I'm sorry."
Walter stared at her.
"Fifteen years."
Margaret began crying.
"I know."
"You let me believe you were dead. You let me bury our son."
"I never wanted that."
"You let our daughter grow up believing her family was gone."
Margaret lowered her head.
"I thought I was protecting you."
Walter's voice broke.
"By destroying us?"
Margaret had no answer.
Michael stepped forward.
"Mom."
She turned toward him.
For a moment, she simply stared at her son.
Then she rushed into his arms.
"My baby."
Michael held her tightly.
"I thought I'd never see you again."
Margaret cried against his shoulder.
Then Walter finally approached her.
He didn't embrace her immediately.
Instead, he asked one question.
"Why did you arrange the accident?"
Margaret wiped her tears.
"Because Robert Collins had discovered Michael's investigation. He threatened to kill him and Emily unless I gave him the original witness files."
"So you helped Michael disappear?"
"Yes. But Robert changed the plan. He arranged for the vehicle to be occupied and set it on fire. He wanted everyone to believe Michael was dead."
Walter looked at her.
"And you?"
"I escaped before they could find me. I spent years trying to locate Michael and the girls."
Michael frowned.
"The girls?"
Margaret nodded.
"Emily and Elizabeth."
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the darkness.
"Beautiful reunion."
Robert Collins stepped out from behind a pillar.
He was holding a pistol.
"Unfortunately, it ends here."
Robert pointed the weapon at Walter.
"Put the documents on the floor."
Walter slowly lowered the bag.
"Why did you do it, Robert?"
Collins smiled.
"Because I understood something you never did. Power is worth more than loyalty."
"You destroyed innocent lives."
"I built an organization that controlled the most important information in the country."
Michael stepped forward.
"And you killed people to protect it."
Collins turned toward him.
"You should be grateful. I gave you fifteen extra years."
Michael clenched his fists.
"You stole fifteen years from my family."
Robert laughed.
"Your mother helped me."
Margaret shook her head.
"I never wanted any of this."
"But you signed the documents."
"Because you threatened my children."
Robert smiled.
"Exactly."
He turned toward Walter.
"Now give me the original ledger."
Walter looked at the bag.
Then he looked at Collins.
"You've spent fifteen years believing you controlled every piece of evidence."
Collins frowned.
"What?"
Walter slowly smiled.
"There's something you don't know."
He pulled a small USB drive from his pocket.
"The ledger you wanted is already in federal custody. Rebecca has copies of every document, every payment and every recording."
Collins' expression changed.
"You're bluffing."
A voice came through the hotel's speakers.
"He's not."
Rebecca Morgan stepped into the reception area.
Behind her were several federal agents.
"Robert Collins, you're under arrest for conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and obstruction of justice."
Collins turned toward the exit.
But two agents were already standing there.
He raised his weapon.
"Stay back!"
Margaret suddenly stepped between him and Walter.
"Robert, it's over."
For a moment, Collins hesitated.
Then he pointed the gun at her.
Walter shouted.
"Margaret!"
A gunshot echoed through the hotel.
Margaret fell.
Michael rushed toward her.
The agents immediately tackled Collins and disarmed him.
Rebecca ran forward.
"Call an ambulance!"
Walter dropped to his knees beside his wife.
"Margaret. Look at me."
She opened her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Walter."
He held her hand.
"Don't talk. Help is coming."
Margaret looked toward Michael.
"Take care of your sister."
Then she turned toward Walter.
"I wish we had more time."
Walter shook his head.
"We will. You're coming home."
Margaret tried to smile.
But her eyes slowly closed.
At the hospital, surgeons worked for nearly four hours.
Walter waited outside the operating room.
Michael sat beside him.
Neither man spoke.
Finally, Rebecca approached.
"Collins is in custody."