The prosecution panicked.
Suddenly, their case began falling apart.
The investigators found the Black River accounts.
They traced them to Thomas.
Then to Adrian.
Then to an investment group that had already prepared an offer to purchase Morgan Steel.
The plan was obvious.
Destroy Daniel's reputation.
Force the company into financial crisis.
Convince shareholders to remove him.
Buy the company cheaply.
Thomas would become chairman.
Daniel would disappear.
The trial resumed two weeks later.
Thomas looked confident.
Until Adrian walked into the courtroom.
Thomas's face changed.
For the first time, Daniel saw fear.
The Truth
The prosecutor questioned Adrian first.
“You created the credentials used in the fraudulent transfers?”
“Yes.”
“And those credentials belonged to Daniel Morgan?”
“Yes.”
“Then isn't it possible that Mr. Morgan ordered you to create them?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because Thomas Reed paid me.”
The courtroom erupted in whispers.
Thomas's attorney stood.
“Objection.”
The judge called for silence.
Adrian continued.
“He told me exactly what to do.”
The prosecutor asked:
“What was the purpose?”
Adrian looked toward Daniel.
“To make it appear that Daniel Morgan stole the money.”
Thomas stared at the floor.
The prosecutor turned to Daniel.
Then back to Adrian.
“Did Daniel Morgan ever know about the transfers?”
“No.”
“Did he receive any of the money?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Adrian answered:
“Thomas Reed.”
The next witness was a bank investigator.
She presented transaction records.
Twenty-three million dollars.
Multiple transfers.
All eventually connected to accounts controlled by Thomas.
Then Sarah introduced the old warehouse files.
Project Nightfall.
The plan to remove Daniel.
The plan to take control of Morgan Steel.
The jury read every page.
Finally, Sarah played the recording.
Thomas's voice filled the courtroom.
“Daniel won't fight back. That's his weakness.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
The room was silent.
Sarah looked toward him.
“You were wrong.”
Thomas opened his eyes.
Daniel didn't smile.
He simply watched.
The prosecutor approached Thomas.
“Mr. Reed, did you make that recording?”
Thomas said nothing.
“Mr. Reed?”
Still nothing.
The judge warned him.
Finally, Thomas whispered:
“Yes.”
That one word ended everything.
But Daniel wasn't satisfied.
He wanted to know why.
During a break, Thomas asked to speak with him.
Daniel agreed.
They sat in a small room.
Thomas looked older.
Much older.
“You know what I hated most about you?” Thomas asked.
Daniel said nothing.
“You never had to fight for anything.”
Daniel frowned.
Thomas continued.
“Your father gave you the company.”
“I worked for it.”
“You inherited the name.”
“I worked for it.”
“You had employees who worshipped you.”
“I earned their trust.”
Thomas laughed bitterly.
“Exactly.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You wanted what I had.”
“I wanted what I deserved.”
“No.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“You wanted what someone else built.”
Thomas looked away.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Daniel said:
“You could have built something yourself.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Not like you.”
“Why?”
“Because you knew something I never understood.”