Emily read the sentence three times.
Frank had been only twenty-three when Daniel died, but he had already worked at Whitcomb Transport as an administrative assistant.
She turned toward him.
"You were there?"
Frank stared at the letter.
"Your mother misunderstood things."
"Then tell me what happened."
"Emily, don't do this."
"Tell me."
Frank glanced around the restaurant.
Customers were watching. One woman had quietly begun recording on her phone.
Frank lowered his voice.
"Your father made mistakes. People died in industrial accidents all the time."
Emily felt something inside her break.
"My father was not careless."
"You weren't there."
Thomas's chair scraped backward.
"But I knew him."
The old veteran stood with Walter supporting one arm.
"Daniel Carter worked for my company fourteen years. He reported faulty equipment, unsafe loading procedures, and improper waste handling. He didn't ignore safety rules. He demanded that everyone follow them."
Frank laughed nervously.
"You were retired by then."
"I was recovering from heart surgery."
"Exactly. You weren't involved."
Thomas nodded.
"That was my greatest mistake."
He explained that his younger brother Arthur managed the company while Thomas recovered. Arthur trusted Richard Mercer with daily operations and financial reporting.
By the time Thomas returned, Daniel was dead.
Arthur assured him the accident had been fully investigated.
Thomas accepted the explanation.
Years later, he discovered that the original incident file was incomplete.
Several documents had disappeared, including Daniel's final maintenance report.
His suspicions grew after Arthur died and the family began reviewing archived company materials.
"That's why I've been searching for Emily," Thomas said.
Frank crossed his arms.
"Then find her somewhere else."
Walter stepped between Frank and the veteran.
"You should be careful what you say next."
Frank smiled coldly.
"Or what?"
Walter looked toward the front entrance.
"Or you might make this situation worse than it already is."
At that moment, a black SUV stopped outside the diner.
Then another.
Three men in dark suits stepped into the snow, carrying leather briefcases.
Thomas glanced at his watch.
"They're early," he murmured.
Emily looked from the approaching strangers to Frank.
And for the first time that evening, her manager appeared genuinely afraid.