Chapter 21 - The Interview
Victor announced a national television interview before they could release the evidence.
He chose a business network.
Prime time.
The teaser ran all afternoon:
FORMER PARTNER TO EXPOSE BILLIONAIRE THOMAS BENNETT’S DEADLY CORPORATE SECRET.
Arthur wanted an immediate injunction.
Claire disagreed.
“Let him talk.”
Thomas studied her.
“You sound like your mother.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
At 8:00 p.m., Victor appeared in a Manhattan studio.
He looked calm.
Sympathetic.
Almost reluctant.
“I protected Thomas for years,” Victor told the interviewer.
Claire watched from Bennett headquarters surrounded by Noah, Derek, Marcus, Arthur, Samuel, and federal investigators.
Victor described the old truck crash.
He claimed Thomas had personally ordered defective brakes ignored to protect a shipping contract.
Thomas’s fists clenched.
Then Victor presented documents.
Altered maintenance records.
The interviewer looked horrified.
Victor continued.
“Elizabeth Bennett discovered what her husband had done.”
Claire whispered, “Careful, Victor.”
“She wanted to expose him.”
Thomas shook his head.
Victor looked directly into the camera.
“I believe the stress of living with Thomas’s secrets destroyed Elizabeth emotionally during the final years of her life.”
Claire stood.
“That’s enough.”
Arthur nodded to the network contact.
Thirty seconds later, the interviewer touched her earpiece.
“Mr. Hale, we’ve just received information from counsel representing the Bennett family.”
Victor’s expression flickered.
The interviewer continued.
“They claim the documents you displayed are altered.”
Victor smiled.
“Of course they do.”
“They’ve provided what they say are originals.”
Victor’s smile weakened.
The screen split.
Original document.
Altered document.
Visible differences.
Then Samuel Reyes appeared live from Austin.
Victor’s face went pale.
Samuel described everything.
The defective parts.
The warning.
Victor’s order.
The threat.
The falsified inspection.
Victor interrupted.
“He’s lying!”
Then Claire authorized the final piece.
Elizabeth’s recording.
Her mother’s voice filled the studio.
Older technology.
Static.
But unmistakable.
Victor, you knew that truck wasn’t safe.
Then Victor’s younger voice.
We would have lost the contract.
A man died.
It was an accident.
You changed the maintenance record.
I protected the company.
Victor stared into the studio lights.
The interviewer stopped speaking.
The recording continued.
No. You protected yourself.
Claire felt tears sliding down her face.
Her mother sounded strong.
Fearless.
Alive.
The tape ended.
Victor removed his microphone.
“Interview over.”
The host said, “Mr. Hale, did you falsify records related to a fatal accident?”
Victor stood.
“I said we’re finished.”
He walked off set.
Within minutes, federal authorities announced they were seeking Victor for questioning relating to evidence tampering, financial fraud, witness intimidation, and the Bennett Capital money-laundering investigation.
Thomas sat down slowly.
The room erupted.
Noah hugged Samuel.
Marcus called his board.
Derek simply stared at the screen.
Claire walked toward the window.
Thomas joined her.
“You did it.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Mom did.”
Thomas smiled sadly.
Outside, headlights crossed the parking lot.
Arthur received a phone call.
His expression turned serious.
“What?”
Claire turned.
Arthur ended the call.
“Victor’s plane departed New Jersey twenty minutes ago.”
Thomas frowned.
“For where?”
“Flight plan says the Bahamas.”
Claire immediately asked, “Do they believe it?”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
Federal authorities tracked the jet.
It landed in Nassau.
Victor was not aboard.
The crew claimed he never boarded.
A decoy.
Then Noah’s phone buzzed.
He opened a message.
His face drained.
“What is it?” Claire asked.
Noah showed her.
A photograph of the original Bennett-Hale warehouse.
A fire burning inside.
Below it, one sentence.
SOME HISTORY SHOULD STAY BURIED.
Claire turned toward Thomas.
Victor wasn’t running.
May you like
He was destroying evidence.
And he was still in Texas.
