"What does this mean?"
Arthur swallowed.
"Daniel, there are things I should have told you years ago."
"Then tell me now."
Arthur lowered himself into a chair.
"I knew about the money before Helen discovered it."
Daniel stared at him.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"And you said nothing?"
"I was trying to find out who was responsible."
"That doesn't explain why you kept it from me."
Arthur looked down at his hands.
"Because I was afraid."
"Of whom?"
Arthur lifted his eyes.
"Of Michael."
Daniel shook his head.
"You're accusing my brother again."
"I'm telling you what happened."
"Then tell me everything."
Arthur took a deep breath.
"Michael came to me shortly before the transfers began. He said the company was in trouble and that Richard had found a way to protect our assets. He asked me to sign several documents."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Did you sign them?"
"Some of them."
"Without reading them?"
"I trusted him."
Daniel stepped back.
Arthur continued.
"Later, when I discovered what the documents actually authorized, I confronted Michael. He told me that Richard had arranged everything and that the money would be returned."
"Did you believe him?"
"I wanted to."
"And Helen?"
"She found out before the money was returned."
Daniel looked down at the notebook.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Arthur's voice broke slightly.
"Because Helen asked me not to."
Daniel stared at him.
"She asked you to hide this from me?"
"She believed that if you confronted Michael, you would defend him before examining the evidence. She was afraid you would make the situation worse."
Daniel felt anger rising inside him.
"She should have trusted me."
Arthur looked at him sadly.
"She did trust you. That's why she was afraid."
"What kind of answer is that?"
"She knew you loved your brother more than you trusted your own judgment."
Daniel opened his mouth.
Then he closed it.
He could not deny that.
For most of his life, Michael had been the one person he never questioned.
Arthur continued.
"Helen wanted to gather enough evidence before anyone confronted him. She believed that Richard and Michael were working together. But she also suspected there was someone else behind them."
"Who?"
Arthur shook his head.
"We never found out."
Daniel turned another page.
There was a handwritten note dated the evening before the accident.
*Tomorrow I will speak to Daniel. He deserves to know. I cannot continue pretending everything is normal.*
Daniel read the sentence twice.
He felt his throat tighten.
Helen had intended to tell him.
She had planned to come home and explain everything.
But she never had.
He closed the notebook.
"Where are the original documents?"
Arthur pointed toward the cabinet.
"They should be in the folder at the back."
Emily began searching.
She removed several files, arranging them carefully on the desk.
Then she stopped.
"Father."
Arthur turned.
"What is it?"
Emily held up a photograph.
It showed Helen standing outside the building.
She was smiling, holding a folder against her chest.
Beside her stood a man.
Daniel moved closer.
The photograph was slightly faded, but the man's face was clear.
It was Richard Cole.
On the back of the photograph was a date.
The night Helen died.
Daniel stared at it.
"Why were they together that night?"
Arthur looked at the picture.
"I don't know."
Daniel took it from Emily.
He examined the background.
The photograph had been taken near the old headquarters entrance.
Helen appeared calm.
Richard was looking directly at the camera.
Neither seemed aware that the photograph would one day become important.
Daniel turned it over again.
Then he noticed a handwritten sentence beneath the date.
*Richard says he has the proof. Meet him before I speak to Daniel.*
Daniel's fingers tightened around the photograph.
"She met him here."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"Apparently."
"That means Richard was the last person who saw her before the accident."
"Possibly."
Daniel looked at the older man.
"Why didn't you tell the police?"
"I didn't know about the photograph."
"Did you know she had met Richard?"
Arthur shook his head.
"No."
Daniel turned toward Emily.
"Can you examine this?"
She nodded.
"I'll need to compare the date and the original files."
"Do it."
She placed the photograph inside a protective sleeve.
Then a sound came from the corridor.
A metallic click.
All three froze.
Arthur turned toward the door.
"Did you hear that?"
Daniel nodded.
Emily switched off her phone's flashlight.
The room fell into darkness.
Footsteps echoed outside.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Someone was walking toward them.
Daniel moved closer to the door.
He could hear breathing now.
Then a voice spoke from the corridor.
"Arthur?"
The older man went rigid.
Daniel recognized the voice immediately.
Richard.
"Richard?" Daniel whispered.
Arthur raised one finger to his lips.
The footsteps stopped outside the office.
Then the door began to open.
***
Richard stood in the doorway.
He was holding a flashlight.
His expression changed when he saw the three of them.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Richard lowered the flashlight.
"Daniel."
Daniel stepped forward.
"What are you doing here?"
Richard looked toward Arthur.
"I could ask you the same question."
Daniel held up the photograph.
"Why were you with Helen on the night she died?"
Richard's face changed.
It was a small movement, almost invisible, but Daniel saw it.
He saw fear.
"You found it," Richard whispered.
"Answer me."
Richard entered the room and closed the door.
"I didn't know she kept the photograph."
"Why were you here with her?"
Richard rubbed his face.
"She wanted to meet me."
"About the missing money?"
"Yes."
"Did you give her the evidence?"
Richard looked down.
"I tried."
Daniel stepped closer.
"What does that mean?"
Richard's eyes moved toward Emily.
"Who is she?"
"Emily Carter."
Richard nodded.
"Of course."
"Answer the question."
Richard took a breath.
"Helen had discovered that Michael was involved in the transfers. She believed I had arranged them. I told her the truth was more complicated."
"What truth?"
Richard looked at Arthur.
The older man did not move.
Finally, Richard spoke.
"Michael didn't arrange the transfers for himself."
Daniel frowned.
"Then for whom?"
Richard looked directly at him.
"For you."
Daniel felt the words strike him like a physical blow.