Chapter 7 - PROJECT ORION
Federal investigators arrived at Michael's house the next morning.
There were four of them.
Two from the FBI.
One from the IRS Criminal Investigation division.
One from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
For six hours, Michael explained the history of Donovan-Sterling Industrial Holdings.
Willow explained the gallery files.
Amanda provided her recording.
Naomi provided the assault documentation.
The investigators revealed almost nothing.
But one question changed the room.
"Do any of you know where Rebecca Shaw is?"
Nobody did.
That evening, Lucas appeared at Michael's house.
Alone.
Michael opened the door but did not invite him inside.
"What do you want?"
"I need to speak to Willow."
"No."
"Dad."
Willow stood behind Michael.
It was the first time she had called him that in days.
Michael looked at her.
"I'll talk to him."
"Door stays open."
Lucas almost smiled.
"Still protecting her from me?"
Michael stared at him.
"Especially from you."
Willow stepped onto the porch.
Lucas looked terrible.
"I didn't know everything."
"That's becoming your favorite defense."
"I knew about payments."
"I knew Dad used consultants to pressure people."
"I knew we paid officials."
Willow stared.
"And you signed things anyway."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Lucas looked ashamed.
"Because he told me that's how business worked."
Willow laughed bitterly.
"And you believed him?"
"I wanted to."
That answer was more truthful than anything he had said since the anniversary.
Lucas reached into his coat.
Michael immediately stepped forward.
Lucas froze.
"It's just a flash drive."
He placed it on the porch railing.
"I copied it from Dad's private server."
Willow did not touch it.
"What's on it?"
"Orion."
"Everything?"
"Enough."
"Why give it to me?"
Lucas looked at her.
"Because Rebecca Shaw is alive."
Willow's breath caught.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"But Dad doesn't have her."
"How do you know?"
"Because he thinks you do."
Michael stepped outside.
"Explain."
Lucas looked at him.
"Rebecca copied a list of Orion payments."
"She contacted someone outside the company."
"Then she disappeared."
"Dad thinks she went into hiding."
"Why?"
"Because that's what Daniel Cross did."
Michael's expression changed.
"Daniel Cross disappeared."
Lucas shook his head.
"No."
Willow stared.
"What?"
"He didn't disappear."
"He took money."
Michael's jaw tightened.
"How much?"
"Three million."
"Richard bribed a federal investigator?"
Lucas nodded.
"Cross closed the investigation and moved to South America."
"How do you know?"
"I found payment records."
Willow felt sick.
"So Richard didn't kill him."
"I don't think so."
"You don't think so?"
Lucas looked exhausted.
"That's the problem with my father."
"After enough years, you stop knowing where the lies end."
Willow picked up the flash drive.
"Why now?"
Lucas looked at her bruised cheek.
"Because I became him."
The words hung between them.
"I spent my entire life telling myself I wasn't like him."
"Then you told me no."
Lucas swallowed.
"And I hit you because I couldn't control you."
Willow said nothing.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me."
"Good."
"I don't deserve it."
For the first time, Lucas did not defend himself.
He turned to leave.
Willow called after him.
"Lucas."
He stopped.
"If you really want to do the right thing, don't give evidence to me."
"Give it to the FBI."
Lucas looked over his shoulder.
"If I do that, my father will destroy me."
Willow's voice was quiet.
"Then decide what kind of man you want to be when there's a price attached."
Lucas walked away.
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The next morning, he entered the federal building in downtown Chicago carrying three boxes.
Richard Sterling watched him from across the street.
