PART 6:

Can I have a cape? Absolutely not. Nathan said bed now. But bed. Ellie slid off the stool, dragging her rabbit toward the stairs. Vivien, are you staying for breakfast tomorrow? I have to get back to Chicago early. That’s dumb. Dad makes really good pancakes on Tuesdays. Ellie, it’s okay. Vivian said, “Maybe another time.

” After Ellie disappeared upstairs, the garage felt too quiet. “You’re good with her,” Vivien said. “I’m all she’s got.” “That’s not what I meant.” Vivian leaned against the workbench. “I meant your patient, present. My father was never either of those things.” “Is that why you work 80our weeks? Trying to prove something to him? He’s dead.

So, I guess I’m just trying to prove it to myself now.” She pulled up something on her laptop. I went through Crossline’s financial records from the past decade. Every quarter, Mercer authorized bonuses for the executive team based on cost-saving measures. Let me guess, ignoring the recall saved costs. 340 million over 10 years, which generated bonuses totaling 78 million across 15 executives.

Viven turned the screen toward Nathan. They all knew every single one of them profited from keeping those defective engines in production. Nathan studied the spreadsheet. Names he recognized from his brief time at Crossline’s engineering division. People he’d worked alongside, people who’d smiled at him in meetings and then voted to bury his safety report.

This proves financial motive. He said it proves conspiracy. If I can demonstrate that the entire executive board knowingly prioritize profit over safety, we can go after all of them under RICO statutes. You’re talking about dismantling the entire company leadership. I’m talking about justice. Nathan was quiet for a moment.

You know what happens if you do this? Crossline stock will crash. Thousands of employees will lose their jobs. Retirement funds will evaporate. I know. People will blame you. Let them. Viven. Those 73 people who died. Her voice shook slightly. They had families, jobs, futures. Robert Patterson was supposed to coach his daughter’s softball team this spring.

Marcus Webb was three months from paying off his house. They don’t get second chances because my company valued profit margins over human lives. She closed the laptop with more force than necessary. So yeah, thousands of people might lose their jobs. And that’s horrible. But you know what’s more horrible? Letting the people responsible walk away clean because we’re afraid of collateral damage.

Nathan had spent 10 years documenting deaths in silence. He’d never had someone else fight this angry on behalf of the victims. It was disorienting. “When’s the federal prosecutor meeting?” he asked. “Thursday, I’ve already sent preliminary evidence. They’re taking it seriously.

Mercer won’t let it get that far. What’s he going to do? We have documentation. We have financial records. We have his handwritten note ordering evidence concealment. He’s going to come after you personally, make you look unstable, compromised. He’ll say you’re having a breakdown or that I manipulated you or Nathan’s phone buzzed.

He looked at the screen and went very still. “What?” Vivian asked. Nathan handed her the phone without a word. The email was from Child Protective Services. A complaint had been filed regarding Ellie’s living conditions. An inspector would be visiting the property within 48 hours to assess whether the garage apartment met safety standards for housing a minor child.

Viven’s face drained of color. He’s using your daughter. Of course he is. It’s the one thing he knows I can’t fight. Nathan took the phone back, his hand steady despite the rage burning in his chest. He tried this before 8 years ago when I first started documenting the engines. Inspector showed up, wrote a report citing code violations, threatened to remove Ellie if I didn’t fix them within 30 days.

What did you do? Spent every dollar I had bringing this place up to code. Worked 70our weeks for 2 months straight. Nathan laughed bitterly. Mercer knew I’d comply. He knew I’d do anything to keep my daughter. So, he’s counting on you to back down now. He’s counting on me being the same desperate single father who had no options.

Nathan met her eyes. But this time, I’m not alone. Viven straightened. What do you need? Time. If CPS shows up and finds violations, they can start removal proceedings immediately. I need this place spotless before Thursday. Then we make it spotless. Viven called her assistant and cleared her schedule for the next 3 days.

Then she showed up Tuesday morning wearing jeans, a crossline t-shirt, and work gloves that looked like they’d never been used. Nathan stared at her. You don’t have to. Where do we start? They started with the apartment. Viven scrubbed floors while Nathan patched holes in the drywall. She organized Ellie’s chaotic bedroom while he replaced the cracked bathroom tiles.

They worked in efficient silence, occasionally interrupted by Ellie asking questions or trying to help in ways that created more work. “Why is Viven cleaning our house?” Ellie asked, watching Viven attack the kitchen baseboards with industrial cleaner. “Because she’s nice,” Nathan said. “I thought rich people paid other people to clean.

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