Thomas's confession left Maya struggling to control her anger. He explained that after the factory closed, Richard offered him a settlement in exchange for withdrawing certain claims and agreeing not to discuss the company's internal transactions publicly.
Thomas accepted part of the money.
He told himself he needed the funds to finance his legal challenge and support former employees. But the agreement restricted what he could disclose, and breaking it threatened costly litigation.
"Why didn't you tell Evelyn?" Maya asked.
"She already knew I'd been offered something."
"Did she know you accepted?"
Thomas looked away.
"Yes."
Maya stood.
"She must have been furious."
"She was."
Her mother had spent years teaching Maya that integrity meant telling the truth even when doing so cost something. Now the former chairman was admitting he'd signed an agreement that helped silence allegations affecting hundreds of workers.
Thomas began crying.
"I thought I could use the money to build a stronger case."
"Did you?"
"I tried."
"But you didn't warn people."
"No."
Maya looked toward the hospital window.
She wanted to blame Thomas for every hardship Evelyn endured after losing her job. But she also knew the factory's collapse involved decisions far beyond one man's failure to act.
She needed truth, not a convenient villain.
"What happened to the money?"
"Legal fees. Debt repayments. Helping workers when I could."
"Can you prove that?"
Thomas nodded.
"Adrian has the records."
Maya considered the answer.
"Then you need to give Claire Donovan everything. Including what makes you look bad."
Thomas agreed immediately.
"I will."
When she left the hospital, Maya felt exhausted.
Jordan met her outside.
"How'd it go?"
She told him about Thomas's settlement.
Jordan listened carefully.
"Are we still helping him?"
Maya sighed.
"I don't know."
He thought about that.
"Maybe we're not helping Thomas. Maybe we're helping Mom and everyone who lost their jobs."
Maya looked at her brother.
He was growing into someone more thoughtful than she sometimes remembered. For years, she'd treated him as a child who needed protection. Now he was becoming a partner in something important.
"You're right," she said.
Jordan smiled.
"That doesn't happen very often."
Maya laughed despite herself.
That evening, Claire called with unexpected news.
A judge had ordered the preservation of specified materials at the factory pending further review. Demolition affecting the relevant areas would be delayed temporarily.
Maya nearly dropped the phone.
"Does that mean we can retrieve the records?"
"Not yet. But we're closer."
Claire paused.
"There's another development."
"What?"
"Someone delivered an anonymous package to my office."
Maya felt her pulse quicken.
"What's inside?"
"Photographs of the boiler room."
"From when?"
"Yesterday."
Maya stared toward the window.
Someone had entered the building despite the security restrictions.
And the photographs showed the hidden compartment already open.