Chapter 6 - The Name Behind the Company
The name was Richard Vale.
Chairman of Kang Meridian’s board.
Daniel had trusted him for fifteen years.
Vale had been his father’s oldest business adviser.
And he had personally recommended Marcus for promotion.
Torres traced the breach.
A detective working the case had received money from a Vale-controlled shell company.
The pattern went back years.
David Miller had discovered it.
Daniel’s father had discovered it.
Marcus had discovered it too.
But instead of exposing Vale, Marcus had joined him.
Until Marcus decided he wanted the company for himself.
Daniel finally understood.
The crash had not been a single conspiracy.
It had been a war between conspirators.
Marcus drugged Daniel to obtain the trust password.
Vale had then manipulated the investigation to keep Daniel unidentified.
Marcus believed Daniel had died.
Vale knew Daniel hadn’t.
That was why nobody found Room 307.
Someone had made sure they didn’t.
Daniel returned to the hospital.
His rehabilitation intensified.
He needed his body back.
He also needed his company.
Margaret filed an emergency motion restoring Daniel’s voting rights.
Vale fought it.
The board demanded proof Daniel was mentally competent.
Daniel attended remotely from his hospital bed.
Vale appeared on the screen.
“Daniel, everyone is relieved you survived.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You knew.”
Vale’s expression didn’t change.
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
Daniel produced evidence of the stolen funds.
Vale denied everything.
The board postponed the Northstar vote.
It was a victory.
Small.
Temporary.
But real.
Noah arrived afterward carrying Day 96.
Daniel was standing with a cane.
“You’re getting lazy,” Daniel said.
“How?”
“You used to draw me without one.”
Noah shrugged.
“Stories need steps.”
Daniel looked at Emily.
“Did he learn that from you?”
“No.”
“My grandpa.”
“That explains the drama.”
Noah taped the picture up.
Then he became serious.
“Are bad people still looking for you?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.”
Noah nodded.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“You looked for me.”
Daniel understood.
The kidnapping had changed something between them.
Not obligation.
Family.
That frightened him more than he expected.
Because family could be lost.
Three days later, Daniel walked six steps between parallel bars.
Emily stayed beside him.
Noah counted each one.
At six, Daniel collapsed into her arms.
For one second, neither moved.
Emily looked at him.
Daniel looked back.
Something quiet passed between them.
Neither named it.
Then Noah shouted, “Seven tomorrow!”
The moment broke.
That night, Torres found Marcus.
Dead.
His car had been discovered near the waterfront.
A note inside blamed Daniel for everything.
Torres didn’t believe it.
Neither did Daniel.
Marcus had been silenced.
Before his death, however, he had mailed a package.
To Noah.
Inside was a toy robot.
Emily nearly threw it away.
Daniel stopped her.
“My father made these.”
The robot was an early Kang Electronics prototype.
Daniel opened the battery compartment.
A memory card fell out.
The video on it showed Marcus.
He looked terrified.
“If you’re seeing this, Vale knows I failed.”
Daniel leaned closer.
Marcus continued.
“I caused your crash. I drugged you. I wanted the trust. I admit all of it.”
Emily held Noah away from the screen.
“But Vale ordered David Miller killed.”
Emily stopped breathing.
“And Daniel, your father didn’t die from a heart attack.”
The video glitched.
Marcus looked behind him.
Then returned to the camera.
“He was poisoned.”
Daniel’s hands began shaking.
Marcus whispered, “The person who administered it is still beside you.”
The video ended.
Daniel stared at the black screen.
Then slowly looked around Room 307.
Someone knocked.
May you like
Grace Park entered carrying tea.
And Daniel suddenly remembered she had been the last person alone with his father before he died.
