Harold Price had rehearsed his confession many times.
He had imagined meeting Daniel's widow, speaking to a judge, or writing a letter that someone might discover after his death.
But he had never imagined sitting across from Daniel's daughter.
"I knew your father was telling the truth," Harold began.
Emily remained silent.
Harold described a company under financial pressure.
Arthur Whitcomb had authorized a series of profitable but questionable transportation contracts. Richard Mercer managed the financial arrangements, while several supervisors were instructed to minimize inspections.
Daniel discovered improperly labeled containers during a routine equipment repair.
He photographed damaged seals and recorded chemical warnings that did not match the freight manifests.
When he reported the problem, Richard told him to stop interfering.
Daniel refused.
"Your father believed the workers were being placed in danger," Harold said.
Harold had helped prepare a report for company leadership.
But Richard ordered him to remove several pages.
"I did it," Harold admitted.
Emily stared at him.
"You knew people could get hurt."
"Yes."
"And you helped hide it."
Harold lowered his head.
"Yes."
Thomas sat beside the window, visibly struggling with the account.
Harold continued.
On the night Daniel died, he had been called back to the depot because a maintenance platform was supposedly malfunctioning.
Richard Mercer and Arthur Whitcomb were both present.
Frank, then a junior administrator, had also been there.
Daniel argued with them about the missing safety report.
Harold heard shouting from an office overlooking the loading area.
Then an alarm sounded.
"By the time I reached the platform, Daniel was on the floor below."
Emily swallowed hard.
"Did someone push him?"
Harold shook his head.
"I never saw that happen. I won't pretend otherwise."
His honesty made the answer more painful.
"But I saw something else."
He explained that the platform's safety gate had been removed during maintenance, despite Daniel's repeated warnings.
The official report later claimed Daniel had opened it himself.
"That wasn't true," Harold said.
"How do you know?"
"Because I saw the repair order."
He reached into a drawer and removed a folded sheet of paper.
The document carried Richard Mercer's signature.
It authorized the removal of the gate before Daniel's shift.
And beneath the signature was an instruction that chilled Emily.
Do not delay operations for replacement parts.