Chapter 6 - THE OFFICER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Julian called the police anyway.
But he didn't give them the entire story.
He contacted a federal investigator recommended by his attorney.
Her name was Elena Brooks.
She arrived within an hour.
She listened without interrupting.
Then she looked at Dominic.
“You're the woman we've been searching for.”
Dominic stared.
“What?”
Elena opened a file.
“Your father disappeared eight years ago.”
“Yes.”
“He didn't disappear.”
Dominic's face went pale.
“He was arrested under a false identity.”
“For what?”
“Murder.”
Dominic covered her mouth.
“My father didn't kill anyone.”
Elena nodded.
“We know.”
She placed photographs on the table.
The victims were connected to Blackthorne Holdings.
But one photograph showed something unexpected.
A younger Richard Hale.
Standing beside Dominic's father.
And beside them…
Arthur.
Julian stared at his father.
“You knew all of them.”
Arthur whispered:
“I was trying to bring them down.”
Richard laughed from the doorway.
“Still telling that story?”
Federal agents immediately surrounded him.
But Richard didn't resist.
Instead, he looked at Julian.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Then ask your father why he kept the original evidence.”
Julian turned.
Arthur looked broken.
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Arthur admitted that he had hidden the evidence after his wife's murder.
He had hoped to expose the network later.
But fear made him silent.
Richard exploited that silence.
And Dominic's father became the scapegoat.
Then Richard revealed one final secret.
“Noah's biological father isn't Adrian Cross.”
Dominic froze.
“What?”
Richard smiled.
“Adrian was the cover story.”
Julian stared.
“Then who is?”
Richard looked at Arthur.
“Ask him.”
Everyone turned toward the old man.
Arthur closed his eyes.
“I never wanted you to know.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Know what?”
Arthur whispered:
“Noah is my grandson.”
Silence.
Dominic stared at him.
“What?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Your mother and I had a child.”
Dominic's face drained of color.
“You're saying…”
Arthur nodded.
“Noah is part Hale by blood.”
Julian couldn't speak.
Then Elena's phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
She listened.
Then looked at Julian.
“Richard wasn't working alone.”
“Who else?”
Elena slowly said:
May you like
“Your mother.”
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