CHAPTER 13 – The Last Witness
Arthur barely slept that night.
Jonathan's letter lay open on the desk in his study, its final sentence replaying in his mind.
Do not waste your life seeking revenge. Seek justice.
By sunrise, Sergeant Brooks called.
"We found someone connected to Avery Risk Consulting."
Arthur was already reaching for his keys.
"Who?"
"A former investigator named Thomas Reed."
"Is he willing to talk?"
There was a brief pause.
"He refused over the phone."
Arthur's heart sank.
"But when I mentioned Jonathan Sterling's name..." Brooks continued, "...he said we could meet. One hour."
Thomas Reed lived alone in a modest lakeside cabin nearly fifty miles outside the city.
He opened the door cautiously, his gray beard untrimmed, his shoulders slightly stooped with age.
"I've been expecting this day," he said.
Arthur frowned.
"You knew it would come?"
Thomas nodded.
"I just didn't know if you'd come before... or after Evelyn died."
The words sent a chill through Arthur.
Inside, the cabin walls were covered with filing cabinets and old investigation boards.
Thomas unlocked one drawer and removed a thin folder labeled:
STERLING
"I worked for Avery Risk Consulting," he admitted.
"But not for your father."
Arthur already knew the answer.
"My mother hired you."
"Yes."
Thomas sighed heavily.
"Three days after Jonathan's funeral."
Arthur's fists tightened.
"What did she want?"
Thomas looked directly at him.
"She believed your father had hidden evidence against her."
Arthur exchanged a glance with Brooks.
"The same evidence we've been finding."
Thomas nodded.
"She wanted every copy destroyed."
He opened the folder.
"My team searched Jonathan's office, his vehicles, safety deposit boxes, even an old fishing cabin."
"And?"
"We found almost nothing."
Arthur leaned forward.
"Because my father had already hidden it with Richard Collins."
Thomas gave a faint smile.
"Exactly."
Brooks folded his arms.
"Did Evelyn ever admit why she was so desperate?"
Thomas was silent for several seconds.
Finally, he answered.
"She said one sentence I'll never forget."
Arthur held his breath.
Thomas repeated it slowly.
"If Arthur ever learns who I really am... I'll lose everything."
Arthur frowned.
"Who she really is?"
Thomas nodded.
"I asked what she meant."
"And?"
"She fired my company the next day."
The room fell silent.
Arthur's phone suddenly vibrated.
It was Elizabeth Collins.
He answered immediately.
"Elizabeth?"
Her voice sounded urgent.
"Arthur... we've found another sealed envelope."
His pulse quickened.
"From my father?"
"Yes."
"But this one wasn't in the legal files."
"Where was it?"
"In your father's personal safe."
Arthur stood.
"What does it say?"
Elizabeth hesitated.
"It's addressed to someone named... Margaret Hale."
Arthur searched his memory.
"I don't know anyone by that name."
Neither did Brooks.
Then Thomas Reed's face went completely white.
"I do."
Arthur turned sharply.
"You know her?"
Thomas nodded slowly.
"Margaret Hale wasn't just anyone."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"She was the nurse who treated your father after the crash..."
He swallowed hard.
"...and she disappeared three days later."
Arthur felt the blood drain from his face.
If Margaret Hale had vanished immediately after treating Jonathan Sterling...
Then she might have seen something no one else was ever supposed to know.
May you like
And if Jonathan had written her a letter...
He had trusted her with one final secret that could destroy everything Evelyn had spent twenty-five years trying to protect.
