Richard remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"Find out where they're going."
Helen Brooks' office was small compared with the luxurious legal firms Daniel had seen in the city.
There were no expensive decorations or impressive paintings.
Only shelves filled with legal books, a large desk, and several framed certificates.
Helen herself was a woman in her late forties. She had short black hair, a serious expression, and the calm confidence of someone who had spent years confronting powerful people.
When Victoria explained the situation, Helen listened without interrupting.
She examined the phone, the financial documents, and the messages from Richard.
Then she looked at Daniel.
"You're the young man who helped Arthur?"
"Yes."
"Why are you involved?"
Daniel thought for a moment.
"Because I saw someone who needed help."
Helen gave a small smile.
"That's a surprisingly rare answer."
She turned toward Victoria.
"I need to be clear about something. We cannot rely on an audio recording alone. We need to establish that it is authentic, preserve the original device, and obtain independent financial evidence."
Victoria nodded.
"What about the old company records?"
"If they still exist, they could be extremely valuable."
Helen examined the key Arthur had given them.
"Do you know where this leads?"
"An archive room beneath the old headquarters."
Helen leaned back.
"Then we need a lawful way to retrieve those documents. We cannot simply break into a building and take company property."
Daniel nodded.
"Can we ask the police to accompany us?"
"Possibly, but first we need to establish who controls the building and whether the records are still there."
Helen opened her laptop.
She searched through several public company documents.
After a few minutes, she frowned.
"That's interesting."
Victoria leaned forward.
"What?"
"The old headquarters was transferred to a subsidiary two years ago. The subsidiary is now controlled by a company registered overseas."
"Richard's company?"
"Not directly. But there are connections."
Helen printed a document.
"This could be part of the money-laundering structure your father discovered."
Daniel looked at the paper.
"So Richard moved the company's property to hide the records?"
"That's one possibility. We need evidence before drawing conclusions."
Helen looked at him seriously.
"Daniel, I also need to know whether you are prepared for what may happen."
He frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"People involved in financial crimes often have resources that ordinary witnesses don't. They may attempt intimidation, discrediting, or legal pressure."
Daniel remembered Richard's threat.
"I've already experienced some of that."
Helen nodded.
"Then I recommend you document every contact. Save messages. Record dates and times. Do not confront anyone privately."
Victoria looked worried.
"What about my father?"
"We'll arrange independent medical and legal protection. I'll also contact the appropriate authorities regarding the evidence."
Helen paused.
"But there's one thing I want to ask."
She looked at Victoria.
"Did Arthur ever tell you why he kept working with Richard after discovering the original fraud?"
Victoria shook her head.
Helen opened another document.
"Because according to these records, Richard became a majority shareholder shortly after Michael Carter was dismissed."
Daniel looked up.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Richard didn't simply steal money. He gradually acquired control of the company by using financial manipulation to weaken Arthur's position."
Victoria looked shocked.
"My father lost control of his own company?"
"Not immediately. But his voting power decreased significantly."
Helen turned another page.
"And here's something else. A substantial portion of the money appears to have been transferred through charitable organizations."
Daniel frowned.
"Charities?"
Helen nodded.
"Organizations that supposedly supported homeless families, medical treatment, and educational programs."
Victoria looked confused.
"Why would someone steal money and send it to charities?"
"Because some of those organizations may have been fake. Others may have been used to disguise the movement of funds."
Helen closed the file.
"However, I found something unusual. One organization appears to have actually operated for several years."
"What was it called?" Victoria asked.
Helen checked the document.
"The Carter Family Foundation."
Daniel stopped breathing for a moment.
"What?"
Helen looked at him.
"Does that name mean something to you?"
Daniel shook his head slowly.
"My father never mentioned a foundation."
Helen studied the records.
"It was established shortly before Michael left Bennett Development. Its purpose was to provide financial support to families affected by workplace accidents."
Daniel felt confused.
"Was my father involved?"
Helen looked at the registration document.
"His name appears as one of the original trustees."
Victoria turned toward him.
"Daniel, perhaps your father was trying to create something good before he was forced out."
Daniel could not answer.
He thought about the old photographs and letters in the wooden box at home.
There were still so many things he did not know about his father.
Helen closed her laptop.
"We need to find out whether this foundation still exists."
Daniel looked at her.
"Can you help?"
"I can investigate the records. But I want you both to understand that the foundation may be more important than it first appears."
She paused.
"If Richard used charitable organizations to move stolen money, there may be other victims involved."
For the first time, Daniel realized that exposing Richard might do more than restore his father's reputation.
It could uncover a network of people who had been silently suffering for years.
And perhaps, somewhere in that network, there were families who still believed they had been forgotten.
That evening, Daniel returned home and opened the wooden box again.