Chapter 13 - The Family SecretWendell couldn't speak.
His father's name was there.
Thomas Hayes.
Founder of Hayes Energy.
Dead for fifteen years.
Wendell stared at the agreement.
Jaylen looked at him.
“Was your father involved?”
“I don't know.”
The file showed payments.
Contracts.
Offshore accounts.
And one sentence repeated throughout the document:
PROJECT ORION WILL NEVER BE PUBLICLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE HAYES FAMILY.
Wendell sat down.
His father had known.
Maybe he had even funded the original project.
Maybe Daniel had discovered it.
Maybe Richard had simply continued something much older.
Then they found another file.
A video.
Thomas Hayes appeared on screen.
Wendell was eighteen years younger.
His father looked directly into the camera.
“If Wendell ever sees this, he will believe I betrayed him.”
He paused.
“I didn't.”
Wendell stared.
Thomas continued.
“Orion was created because the world wastes too much energy.”
The screen changed to old laboratory footage.
Daniel.
Richard.
And another scientist.
A woman.
Wendell recognized her.
His mother.
He stopped breathing.
His parents had worked together on Orion.
The project wasn't new.
It was unfinished.
Thomas continued.
“Daniel was the only person who believed the system could become safe.”
Then his voice changed.
“Richard believed it should become profitable.”
Wendell closed his eyes.
His father knew Richard was dangerous.
But why had he stayed silent?
Another file answered.
THOMAS HAYES: MEDICAL RECORD — POISONING SUSPECTED
Wendell's eyes widened.
His father's death had been called a heart attack.
Jaylen looked at him.
“Someone killed him too.”
Wendell read the final line.
Patient reported seeing Richard Voss three days before death.
Everything connected.
Richard didn't begin the conspiracy.
He inherited it.
For fifteen years, he had protected it.
Daniel had tried to expose it.
Thomas had tried to bury it.
Wendell had unknowingly built the empire over the grave.
Then Marcus entered.
“Sir.”
Wendell looked up.
“What?”
“We found Richard's storage unit.”
“And?”
“There are documents.”
Wendell stood.
“What documents?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Your father's original will.”
Wendell frowned.
“My father changed his will before he died?”
“Yes.”
“What's in it?”
Marcus looked at Jaylen.
Then back at Wendell.
“Your father left thirty percent of Hayes Energy's original Orion patents to Daniel Tate.”
Wendell froze.
“Why?”
Marcus handed him the document.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
If I fail to protect Daniel, protect his son.
Wendell looked at Jaylen.
The boy had gone pale.
Then he whispered:
“That's why my dad trusted you.”
Wendell nodded.
“And that's why Richard has been afraid of you.”
Suddenly the facility alarms began screaming.
Marcus ran to the monitor.
“Someone breached the outer gate.”
“Richard escaped?”
“No.”
Marcus stared at the screen.
“Someone else.”
A convoy was approaching.
Not Richard's.
Federal vehicles.
And at the front was a woman carrying a warrant.
May you like
She looked directly at Wendell.
“Mr. Hayes, you're under investigation.”
