Chapter 16 - MICHAEL'S CHOICE
Michael had not been kidnapped.
He had gone to Voss.
The old man was in federal protective custody, but Michael persuaded him to reveal a storage unit registered under an old alias.
Michael wanted the microfilm before investigators found it.
He did not trust Raymond.
He did not fully trust Walter.
He especially did not trust institutions that had lied to his family for decades.
That choice put him in danger.
Inside the storage unit, Michael found Thomas's original microfilm and Voss's private ledger.
He also found evidence that Alan Crewe had been blackmailing Voss for years.
Crewe's death had not been suicide.
The ledger contained payments to a younger Crewe Security executive: Alan's daughter, Rebecca.
Rebecca had inherited the company and its secrets.
She had built her public reputation around veterans advocacy.
Daniel had met her at Army events.
Walter had seen her speak about integrity.
Rebecca contacted Michael inside the storage facility.
She did not threaten him.
She offered a deal.
Destroy the microfilm.
In exchange, she would release documents clearing Walter and Daniel.
Michael almost accepted.
That mattered.
He wanted his son safe.
He wanted the old men to stop bleeding into his life.
Rebecca gave him ten minutes.
Michael held the film over a metal trash can.
Then he remembered Thomas's letter:
He has a father. I would only be arriving to prove that father is a lie.
Michael suddenly understood the family habit.
Everyone kept protecting him by choosing for him.
He put the microfilm back in his pocket.
"No."
Rebecca sighed.
"Your father made the same mistake."
Michael asked, "Which one?"
A side door opened.
Two security men entered.
May you like
Michael realized the question had bought him exactly three seconds.
