Page 118 of Hidden Tide

“Where was Grandpa?”

“Searching Daniel’s office for copies of the shipping records.”

Mom shakes her head. “James came to the house while we were gone?”

“Yes.”

“Did my husband know?”

“He asked him to.”

“So the argument between them was over?”

“No. They were still angry with each other, but James wasn’t going to abandon his son.”

I lower my head.

My grandfather spent years blaming himself for Dad’s death.

Maybe he believed that if he hadn’t been angry, Dad would have told him sooner.

Maybe he believed he could have stopped what happened.

“What was the plan?” Ben asks.

“Daniel would give Kessler the original film. James would keep the documents hidden until federal agents opened an official investigation. Once warrants were issued, Daniel would tell them where to find the records.”

“But the investigation never happened,” Ward says.

“No.”

“Because Kessler betrayed him,” I say.

Thomas’s hands tighten on his cane. “I didn’t know that then.”

“Tell me what I saw.”

Thomas looks directly at me.

“Daniel was speaking to Kessler when you ran toward him.”

I see the red sleeves of my jacket.

My hair blowing across my face.

Dad turning when I call his name.

“You were supposed to stay with your mother,” Thomas continues. “But you heard Daniel arguing.”

“With Kessler?”

“Yes.”

“About what?”

“Kessler wanted the film. Daniel wanted proof that an investigation had been opened before he handed it over.”

“That was smart,” Keating says.