Chapter 8 - THE MESSAGE FROM A DEAD MAN
Ryan met Elias in the cemetery maintenance office.
A new envelope sat on the desk.
No postmark.
Delivered by courier.
Ryan recognized Jonathan’s handwriting.
Ryan—
If you reached Unit 114 without returning to prison, you are already doing better than I expected.
Ryan laughed despite himself.
Then kept reading.
The supplier investigation is almost ready.
Do not look for me.
Do not let Patricia use my absence to sell the yards.
Do not let your anger turn Patricia into Malcolm. They are not the same problem.
Ryan stopped.
His father was alive now.
Not thirteen months ago.
Now.
Elias handed him a second page.
Three instructions:
Deliver Unit 114 records to outside counsel.
Support independent valuation.
Do not accept any company office offered because of my absence.
Ryan frowned.
Then reached the final line.
I will return when the supplier case is secured.
Patricia may tell you my return will destroy the company.
She may even believe it.
Ryan looked at Elias.
“Why didn’t he call me?”
“Maybe he still doesn’t trust phones.”
“He sent a courier to a cemetery.”
Elias smiled faintly.
“Your father enjoys drama more than he admitted.”
Then Rachel entered with federal investigator Leah Grant.
Grant showed identification.
“We need to talk about Malcolm Voss.”
The government had evidence that several suppliers paid kickbacks to a consulting entity associated with Malcolm’s brother.
Malcolm himself was not yet charged.
But the evidence was serious.
Ryan asked:
“Did Patricia know Dad was alive?”
Grant chose her words carefully.
“She knew at the beginning that his absence was voluntary. She was later excluded because investigators had concerns about financial conflicts.”
Exactly as the files suggested.
Then Grant added:
“We also believe someone used Patricia’s emergency authority to steer supplier decisions after Jonathan left.”
“Patricia?”
“We don’t know.”
The office door opened.
Officer Lawson stepped in.
He looked at Ryan.
“Your parole officer needs you downtown.”
Ryan’s stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“Malcolm Voss says you threatened him after the board meeting.”
Ryan stared.
“I barely spoke to him.”
Lawson held up a USB drive.
“I know. The room was recorded.”
May you like
Malcolm had tried to use Ryan’s past again.
This time, there was evidence before rage.
