Chapter 6 - The Safety Report
Sarah stared at the small black flash drive in her daughter's hand, utterly bewildered. "Lily... what is that?"
"Daddy gave it to me the night before he went to heaven," the seven-year-old said simply. "He hid it in my coat pocket. He said it was a secret game."
Nathaniel took the drive gently from the child's hand. He led them into his study, locking the heavy oak doors behind them. He plugged the drive into his laptop. His hands shook slightly as the files loaded on the screen.
It wasn't just a safety report. It was a collection of emails, photographs, and audio recordings. Marcus Evans hadn't just been a foreman; he had been the site's safety inspector. The photos showed structurally compromised steel beams, cheap cement mixtures, and forged inspection signatures.
Nathaniel clicked on an audio file. It was a recording of a phone call.
"I don't care what the safety manual says, Marcus," Richard's voice hissed through the laptop speakers, crystal clear. "We are over budget. You pour the concrete tomorrow, or you're fired. If you try to blow the whistle on this, I'll make sure you never work in this state again."
"The scaffolding won't hold, Richard," Marcus's voice replied, calm but firm. "I'm going to Whitmore. Nathaniel wouldn't stand for this."
The recording ended. The next day, the scaffolding had collapsed, killing Marcus. Richard had blamed Marcus, kept the insurance payout to cover the losses from his cheap materials, and pocketed the rest.
Tears streamed down Nathaniel's face. He looked at Sarah, whose hands were covering her mouth as she wept for the husband who had died an honest man.
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"I am so incredibly sorry," Nathaniel whispered. "I failed him. I failed you both."
Suddenly, the lights in the study flickered and died. The entire house plunged into pitch blackness. Outside the window, tires crunched violently on the gravel driveway.
