enough.

Daniel felt three years of grief rearrange itself.

“You got to the hospital first because you were at the crash.”

Victor said nothing.

“And Sofia?”

“She was thrown from the passenger side when the car went through the barrier.

I found her down the embankment.

She was alive.”

Mara’s eyes filled with fury.

“You left her there?”

“No.

I called emergency services anonymously and moved her away from the wreck before the police arrived.”

“Why?”

“Because she had the files.”

Mara stepped toward him.

Daniel raised an arm, stopping her.

“You took them.”

Victor nodded once.

“Yes.”

“And then you told police Claire was alone.”

“I told them I arrived after seeing the wreck.

They assumed Noah was the only passenger.”

“You let them assume it.”

“I was trying to protect the company.”

Daniel stared at his oldest friend.

“My wife was dead.

My son was in surgery.

And you were protecting the company?”

Victor’s voice broke for the first time.

“I panicked.”

“For three years?”

Victor said nothing.

Mara stepped closer.

“Where is my mother?”

Victor looked at her.

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not.”

“Then why did you message me?”

Victor’s eyes widened.

Daniel noticed.

“You didn’t send it?”

Victor frowned.

“Send what?”

Mara showed him the phone.

He read the message.

His expression changed from confusion to alarm.

“That wasn’t me.”

Mara scoffed.

“You expect us to believe that?”

Victor took out his own phone.

“The number isn’t mine.”

Daniel stepped closer.

“Who else knew about Sofia?”

Victor’s face became ashen.

“Only one person.”

“Who?”

Victor did not answer quickly enough.

Daniel seized his coat collar.

“Who?”

“Martin Kessler.”

Daniel released him.

Martin had been the company’s chief legal officer at the time of the crash.

He had retired the following year.

Or so Daniel had been told.

“Why would Martin care about Sofia now?”

Victor swallowed.

“Because the transfers weren’t the only thing Claire found.”

Mara stared at him.

“What else?”

Victor looked toward the doorway as though expecting someone to be listening.

“Kickbacks.

Shell vendors.

Bribes connected to government contracts overseas.

I found out later.

Martin had been using my hidden transfers to bury his own payments.

Claire thought I was behind everything.”

Daniel felt sick.

“And you let her die thinking that.”

Victor’s face tightened with shame.

“Yes.”

A floorboard creaked above them.

Daniel looked up.

Noah stood at the top of the staircase on his crutches.

He had heard everything.

“Noah,” Daniel said.

The boy’s face was pale.

“Mom died because everyone was protecting something.”

Daniel moved toward the stairs.

“Come down in the elevator.”

Noah shook his head.

“No.”

He placed one crutch onto the first step.

Daniel froze.

“Noah, don’t.”

“You told me I had to stop being scared sometime.”

“Not like this.”

Mara moved beneath the staircase, ready to catch him if needed.

Noah looked at her.

“Don’t help me unless I ask.”

She nodded.

Slowly, Noah descended.

One step.

Then another.

His right leg shook, but held.

Daniel’s heart pounded with every movement.

Halfway down, Noah stopped and looked at Victor.

“Did my mom know you were following her?”

Victor’s eyes filled.

“Yes.”

“Was she afraid?”

Victor swallowed.

“Yes.”

Noah closed his eyes.

For a moment Daniel thought he might collapse.

Then Noah continued.

At