"I'm offering you a chance to survive."
"Did you make the same offer to Michael?"
Brooks didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
"Did he refuse?"
Her expression changed slightly.
"Michael was stubborn."
"And my father?"
"Your father was worse."
Daniel slowly pushed the folder back.
"I don't want your money."
Brooks sighed.
"Think carefully. You have a sister. A future. A life that could still be normal."
"You took that away when you arranged my arrest."
"I didn't arrange your arrest."
"Then who did?"
Brooks smiled.
"Sergeant Miller."
Daniel froze.
"Hayes told him to bring you in. Miller believed you had the original evidence. He thought a few hours of pressure would make you talk."
"Why?"
"Because Hayes was desperate."
Daniel stared at her.
"Are you saying Hayes was working for you?"
Brooks took a slow sip of coffee.
"You're asking the wrong questions."
She leaned closer.
"The truth is that Hayes became a liability. Michael became a liability. Your father became a liability. And now you are becoming one."
Daniel understood.
Brooks was trying to distance herself from the people who had already been exposed.
She wanted to sacrifice Hayes and Miller to save herself.
He stood.
"Thank you for the conversation."
Brooks looked surprised.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"You're making a serious mistake."
Daniel turned toward the exit.
Then Brooks spoke again.
"One more thing. Ask your uncle Thomas what he did the night your father died."
Daniel stopped.
His heart began to race.
"What does Thomas have to do with this?"
Brooks smiled faintly.
"More than you know."
Daniel walked out without another word.
Outside, Ryan approached him.
"Did she say anything useful?"
Daniel looked at him.
"She confirmed that Miller arrested me under Hayes's instructions. But she also said something about my uncle."
Ryan frowned.
"What about him?"
"She claims he knows what happened to my father."
Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Brooks picked up her phone.
She called a number she had memorized years ago.
"He's not accepting the deal."
A man's voice answered.
"Then we move to the next option."
Brooks looked through the window.
Daniel was standing beside Ryan.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"What about the evidence?"
"We'll get it."
"And Daniel?"
The voice paused.
"Make sure he never gets the chance to tell the story."
Brooks ended the call.
For the first time that morning, she looked nervous.
Because the man she had just spoken to was not Richard Hayes.
It was someone Daniel had trusted his entire life.
Thomas Carter.
And he had been watching Daniel's every move.
Daniel had spent his entire life believing that family was the one thing nobody could take away from him.
His parents were gone.
He had lost friends.
He had worked through poverty, exhaustion, and years of uncertainty.
But Thomas Carter had always been there.
He had helped Daniel find his first job. He had paid for Olivia's schoolbooks when money was tight. He had attended every important family gathering.
When Daniel needed advice, he called Thomas.
When Olivia was sick, Thomas drove her to the hospital.
He was not simply their uncle.
He was the closest thing they had to another father.
Now Deputy Chief Brooks was telling Daniel that Thomas knew something about his father's death.
Daniel refused to believe it.
He called his uncle.
No answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Finally, he sent a message.
Uncle Thomas, we need to talk. I know about the original investigation.
An hour later, Thomas replied.
Come to the old family house. Alone.
Daniel showed the message to Rachel.
"Absolutely not," she said.
"I need to hear what he has to say."
"Then we'll meet him somewhere safe."
Daniel shook his head.
"If he's involved, he'll know we're investigating. I need to know why."
Ryan looked at the message.
"At least let us follow you."
Daniel agreed.
That evening, he drove to the old family house.
The building had been empty for years. His parents had lived there before their deaths, and Thomas had kept the property rather than selling it.
Daniel parked outside.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the living room smelled of dust and old wood.
Thomas was sitting in the kitchen.
He looked older than Daniel remembered.
His hair had turned almost completely gray, and his hands trembled slightly as he poured a glass of water.
"Daniel."
"Uncle."
They stared at each other.
Then Thomas pointed toward a chair.
"Sit down."
Daniel remained standing.
"Did you know about Dad's investigation?"
Thomas looked down.
"Yes."
"Did you know he was in danger?"
"Yes."
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
"Then why didn't you tell us?"
Thomas closed his eyes.
"Because I promised your father I would protect you."
"Protect us from what? The truth?"
Thomas stood.
"Your father was trying to expose a group of powerful people. He knew they were dangerous, but he believed the evidence would protect him."
"What happened the night he died?"
Thomas didn't answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Uncle, I need the truth."
Thomas finally looked up.
"Your father called me that night. He said he had found proof that Hayes and Brooks were working together. He wanted me to take the original files somewhere safe."
"Did you?"
"Yes."
"Then what?"
Thomas swallowed.
"I drove to meet him. But when I arrived, Hayes was already there."
Daniel felt his legs weaken.
"You saw Hayes?"
Thomas nodded.
"He was arguing with your father."
"What happened?"
"I was afraid. I stayed inside my car."
Daniel stared at him.
"You watched?"
Thomas began crying.
"I didn't know what to do."
"You watched my father argue with the man who was threatening him, and you did nothing?"
"I was scared, Daniel."
Daniel stepped backward.
"Where were you when they told us he died in an accident?"
Thomas covered his face.
"I was there."
"And you said nothing?"
"I thought they would kill you too."
Daniel felt something break inside him.
For twelve years, he had believed his uncle had helped the family survive.
Now he was discovering that the same man had watched his father die.
But Thomas was not finished.
"There is something else."
Daniel looked at him.
"Of course there is."
Thomas walked toward a cabinet and removed a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed James Carter standing beside a black vehicle.
The photograph had been taken on the night of his death.
On the back was a date and a handwritten note:
11:42 p.m. Thomas arrived. 11:51 p.m. James departed.
Daniel stared at the words.
"What does this mean?"
Thomas's voice broke.
"I took the evidence from your father. I thought I was saving him. But I gave the files to Hayes because he promised that James would be left alone."
Daniel couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You gave him the evidence?"
Thomas nodded.
"That night, Hayes told me your father would be safe."
"And you believed him?"
"I wanted to."
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"Because of you, they knew what Dad had."
Thomas dropped into his chair.
"I know."
Daniel turned away.
For a moment, the room was completely silent.
Then Thomas said something unexpected.
"I didn't know they were going to kill him."
Daniel looked back.
"Who ordered it?"
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know. But I know where the original files are."
He reached into his pocket and removed a small brass key.
"Your father left a safe deposit box at the old railway station. I kept the key for twelve years."