Daniel smiled sadly.
"And you remember him."
"I remember everything."
Inside the house, Evelyn brought out a wooden box.
She opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Thomas stood beside three men.
One was Richard Vale.
Another was Edward Crane.
The third man was someone Daniel recognized immediately.
His heart stopped.
It was his own father.
Daniel stared at the photograph.
"No."
Evelyn watched him.
"Your father wasn't part of the corruption."
"Then why was he there?"
"He was investigating it too."
Daniel sat down.
For years, he had believed his father knew nothing.
But the photograph proved otherwise.
Evelyn explained that Thomas and their father had worked together secretly.
Their father had discovered financial records showing that money was being moved through several local businesses.
Thomas wanted to expose the scheme.
Their father wanted to protect his sons.
"He was afraid," Evelyn said.
"Of Vale?"
"Of what Vale could do."
Daniel looked at the photograph.
"What happened to my father?"
"He died before Thomas disappeared."
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"And he never told me."
"He wanted you out of it."
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Thomas made me promise."
"Why?"
"Because he believed the truth would eventually find you."
Daniel looked down at the photograph.
The truth had finally found him.
But it had brought more questions than answers.
Edward Crane was still alive.
And still powerful.
Harris wanted to confront him immediately.
Daniel stopped him.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because if Crane is involved, he'll know we're looking."
Harris nodded reluctantly.
They decided to investigate quietly.
They discovered that Crane had purchased property near the old quarry shortly after Thomas disappeared.
The transaction was buried under another company name.
Harris contacted the county archives.
The documents revealed something shocking.
A small building had once stood near the quarry.
Officially, it had been demolished in 1989.
But satellite records showed evidence that part of the structure remained.
They went there the following morning.
Inside the ruins, they found a hidden room.
The room contained boxes.
Old boxes.
Police reports.
Bank statements.
Photographs.
And one final piece of evidence.
A letter written by Thomas.
Daniel read it aloud.