He walked to the door.
Then knocked.
Daniel opened it.
Crane looked at him.
"Mr. Mercer."
Daniel said nothing.
Crane glanced toward Harris.
"I think we need to talk."
Daniel smiled.
"Thirty-eight years too late."
Crane entered the house.
He looked at the document on the table.
For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
"You don't understand what you're holding."
Daniel replied:
"I understand perfectly."
Crane looked at Harris.
"You should give that to me."
"No," Harris said.
Crane laughed.
"You think you're different?"
Harris stepped forward.
"I know I'm different."
Crane stared at him.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Your brother made a mistake."
Daniel's voice became cold.
"What mistake?"
"He thought exposing the truth would save people."
"And?"
"It didn't."
Daniel stared at him.
"What happened to Thomas?"
Crane said nothing.
Daniel stepped closer.
"You owe me an answer."
Crane finally spoke.
"Thomas was alive when I last saw him."
Daniel's face changed.
"When?"
"After the quarry."
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
Crane shook his head.
"No. I was told to let him disappear."
"By whom?"
Crane looked toward the window.
Then he whispered a name.
Daniel froze.
It was the name of a former police chief.
Someone who had died years ago.
Someone who could no longer answer for himself.
But Crane continued.
"Your brother escaped."
Daniel stared.
"Escaped?"
"He had evidence. He knew he was being hunted. He disappeared before they could kill him."
Daniel's heart pounded.
"Then why didn't he come home?"
Crane looked down.
"Because he believed they were watching your family."
Silence filled the room.
Thomas hadn't abandoned them.
He had protected them.
For thirty-eight years, Daniel had believed his brother was gone.
But perhaps Thomas had been alive somewhere.