Chapter 4 - The Door Behind the Wall
Arthur's investigation uncovered something worse.
Thomas Vale had secretly created a second accounting system inside Bennett Holdings.
It wasn't recorded in the company's official books.
Payments went to politicians.
Judges.
Consultants.
Private investigators.
And one mysterious account labeled simply:
"Family Protection."
Arthur ordered Rebecca to trace it.
The account had been active for decades.
Then they found the beneficiary.
Arthur's own younger brother.
Richard Bennett.
Arthur stared at the screen.
"Richard?"
Richard had died twelve years earlier.
He had been Arthur's most trusted adviser.
His brother.
His confidant.
The man who had urged him to prosecute Daniel.
Arthur felt sick.
That afternoon, he went to visit Daniel.
The prison's visiting room was cold and fluorescent.
Daniel walked in wearing a gray uniform.
He had silver in his hair.
His face was older.
But his eyes were exactly the same.
Arthur stood.
Neither man spoke.
Finally Daniel said:
"Why are you here?"
Arthur swallowed.
"Because I was wrong."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Thirty-six years late."
"I know."
"You testified against me."
"I know."
"You watched them take me away."
"I know."
"You never visited."
Arthur's eyes filled.
"I was ashamed."
Daniel looked at him.
"You should have been."
Arthur nodded.
"I was."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Arthur placed the photograph on the table.
Daniel stared.
"Where did you get that?"
"Your children."
Daniel's face changed.
"Ethan and Lily?"
Arthur nodded.
"Where are they?"
"Safe."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Thank God."
"They were hungry."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Sarah?"
"She died two years ago."
Daniel looked down.
"I wasn't there."
Arthur reached across the table.
Daniel pulled his hand away.
Arthur withdrew it.
"I won't ask you to forgive me."
"Good."
"I only want the truth."
Daniel looked at him for a long time.
Then he whispered:
"I told you the truth thirty-six years ago."
Arthur nodded.
"And I'm going to prove it now."
Daniel stared at him.
"You think you can?"
"I have to."
A guard announced the end of the visit.
Before Daniel stood, Arthur said:
"Your children know who you are."
Daniel froze.
"What did they tell you?"
"Ethan said his mother believed you were innocent."
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"She never stopped believing."
Arthur nodded.
"I wish I had."
Daniel stood.
Then turned back.
"There's something you need to know."
"What?"
"Thomas Vale wasn't working alone."
Arthur waited.
"My father."
Arthur's face changed.
"Richard?"
Daniel nodded.
"He came to me the night before my arrest."
"What did he say?"
"He told me that if I didn't sign over my inheritance, he'd make sure I went to prison."
Arthur felt the room tilt.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I did."
Daniel's voice cracked.
"You just didn't believe me."
Arthur closed his eyes.
He had no defense.
Then Daniel added:
"There's a safe behind the old fireplace in our family house."
Arthur stared.
"What is inside?"
"I don't know."
"Who put it there?"
"Richard."
The guard called again.
Daniel walked away.
Arthur remained frozen.
That night, Arthur returned to the old Bennett family estate.
The fireplace hadn't been touched since Daniel's arrest.
Behind the stonework was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a metal safe.
And inside the safe was a cassette tape.
A ledger.
And a photograph of Arthur, Richard and Thomas Vale standing together at a company dinner.
On the back, someone had written:
"THE THREE MEN WHO DESTROYED DANIEL."
Arthur's hands shook.
Then he saw the ledger.
Page after page contained payments.
Bribes.
Transfers.
Names.
And at the very bottom was the date Daniel had been arrested.
Arthur whispered:
"My God."
May you like
Someone had planned everything.
And Arthur had unknowingly helped them finish it.
