And a meeting scheduled with Victor Kane.
The date of the meeting was the same day Daniel died.
Owen wanted answers.
But Garrett warned him.
"Don't confront Kane."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know what he is capable of."
Owen looked at him.
"And you do?"
Garrett was silent.
Then he admitted:
"I've seen men like him."
"What happened to them?"
"They learned that money can buy almost anything."
"Except the truth."
Garrett nodded.
"Exactly."
They contacted an attorney.
The attorney recommended preserving every document and avoiding confrontation.
But Victor moved first.
One morning, city inspectors arrived at Iron Rail.
They carried paperwork.
The garage was being investigated for alleged violations.
Garrett looked at the inspectors.
"Who filed the complaint?"
"We can't disclose that."
Owen stepped forward.
"Yes, you can."
The inspector frowned.
Owen pointed to the form.
"Under the public-record statute, the complaint source is available once the investigation becomes active."
The inspector looked surprised.
"How do you know that?"
Owen didn't answer.
After several minutes, the inspectors left.
Garrett stared at him.
"Where did you learn all this?"
"Online."
Garrett laughed.
"You really need hobbies."
"I have one."
"What?"
"Winning bets."
Garrett smiled.
But later that day, another envelope arrived.
Inside was an old photograph of Daniel Carter.
Someone had written a message across it.
Stop digging.
Owen stared at the words.
Garrett took the photograph.
His expression became hard.
"Now we have a problem."
The Challenge
Garrett decided the only way to protect Owen was to move the fight into public view.
He announced another bet.
This time, it was bigger.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
The challenge:
Fix a motorcycle that three certified technicians had declared beyond repair.
The event attracted dozens of bikers.
People came from across the county.
Local media heard about it.
Even Victor Kane heard.
He arrived.
Owen stood beside the motorcycle.
Garrett addressed the crowd.
"This isn't about money."
Victor smiled.
"Then why the bet?"
Garrett looked directly at him.
"Because people pay attention when money is involved."
The crowd laughed.
Victor's expression tightened.
The timer began.
Owen worked.
He found three separate faults.
One had been caused by normal wear.
Another came from poor maintenance.
The third was deliberate.
A small modification had been made to the ignition system.
Owen held it up.
"This wasn't accidental."
Victor stepped forward.
"You're accusing me?"
"No."
Owen looked at the crowd.
"I'm showing what I found."
The audience grew silent.
A reporter raised a camera.
Owen repaired the system.
The engine started.
The crowd erupted.
Garrett handed Owen the twenty-five-thousand-dollar prize.
Then Owen did something unexpected.
He turned to Victor.
"I don't want your money."
Victor laughed.
"Then why take the challenge?"
"To make you stand here."
Victor's face hardened.
Owen held up the photograph of his father.
"My father worked with you."
Victor's smile vanished.
"My father wrote that he was afraid of you."
The crowd became silent.
Victor stared at the photograph.
Then he said:
"Your father was a dishonest man."
Owen's face changed.
Garrett stepped forward.
"Careful."
Victor turned toward the door.
Before leaving, he said:
"You don't know what your father did."
Owen answered:
"Then tell me."
Victor stopped.
But he didn't turn around.
"Some truths destroy families."
Then he left.
The Witness
The next morning, an elderly man arrived at Iron Rail.
His name was Harold Mercer.
He had worked at Kane Automotive fifteen years earlier.
He asked to speak with Owen.
"I knew your father."
Owen sat across from him.
"What happened?"
Harold looked exhausted.
"Your father discovered that Victor was stealing designs."
Owen's hands tightened.
"Why didn't anyone stop him?"
"Because Victor owned the company."
"That's not an answer."
Harold looked at him.
"Your father was going to expose him."
"What happened?"
"He was threatened."
"By Victor?"
Harold nodded.
"Victor told him that if he spoke, your mother would lose her job and your family would lose your house."
Owen stared at him.
"Why didn't my father tell us?"
"Because he thought he could handle it."
Harold pulled a small cassette recorder from his coat.
"I kept this."
Owen stared.
"What is it?"
"Your father recorded one conversation."
Garrett inserted the tape into an old player.
A voice filled the room.
Daniel Carter.
Then Victor Kane.
The conversation was unmistakable.
Victor threatened Daniel.
He demanded the patent.
Daniel refused.
Victor warned him.
Then the recording ended.
Owen sat completely still.
His father had told the truth.
Harold looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
Owen wiped his eyes.
"Why did you keep this?"
"Because I was afraid."
Garrett nodded.
"Fear makes people silent."
Harold looked at Owen.
"But you're not your father."
Owen stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
"You have something he didn't have."
"What?"
"Time."
The Truth Comes Out
The recording changed everything.
An attorney reviewed it.
A forensic specialist confirmed the tape's age.
The documents were authenticated.
The patent history was examined.
And suddenly Victor Kane had a serious problem.
The story spread.
News organizations began asking questions.
Customers started canceling Kane Automotive contracts.