Chapter 15 - THE LIST THAT WASN'T A LIST
Investigators initially suspected suicide.
Walter refused to speculate.
He had learned what certainty could cost.
Crewe's death did not end the danger.
Someone searched Margaret's home again.
Someone attempted to access Raymond's archived military files.
Daniel's Army command received an anonymous accusation that he had mishandled classified information.
Daniel spoke to a reporter despite orders not to.
That was his mistake.
He thought sunlight would protect him.
Instead the edited interview made him look reckless.
He was temporarily reassigned.
Walter told him he had handed his opponents ammunition.
Daniel fired back, "You signed dead men away because you were tired."
The sentence landed.
Daniel apologized the next day.
Not that night.
Walter appreciated the delay.
Instant apologies were often fear wearing manners.
The phrase HAYES HAS THE LIST triggered a memory.
Thomas had photographed Crewe's evacuation ledger on microfilm.
Walter hid the film inside the identification plate of a military transport truck.
The truck eventually entered a museum collection.
They opened the compartment under warrant.
Empty.
Museum records showed one researcher had accessed the vehicle six months earlier.
Michael Bennett.
Daniel called his father.
No answer.
Michael's phone was found at home.
The motel Bible June had kept was gone too.
Daniel panicked.
Walter did not tell him everything would be fine.
He said, "Get your coat."
They found a note inside June's old sewing cabinet.
Michael had written:
I'm tired of dead men choosing for me.
I'm going to find out what my father actually did.
Daniel whispered, "Which father?"
May you like
Walter had the same question.
