My husband drove the car into the river with my brother and me trapped inside, but when the water had already reached my neck, the man who had been “paralyzed” for 15 years stood up from his wheelchair, k:ick:ed the door open, and whispered, “Play d:ea:d. He’s watching.” I didn’t ask any questions… until I saw who was waiting for my husband on the shore.

“Tobias had access.”

I looked at him.

Of course he did.

Samuel continued.

“We also have samples from the bottle Garrett stored in his office.”

“How did you get those?”

“Later.”

I almost laughed.

Everything was later.

Everything was hidden.

“What happens now?”

Samuel sat across from me.

“We document your survival.”

“Privately.”

“We contact federal investigators.”

“Why federal?”

“Because Mercer Marine has defense contracts.”

“And Victor’s network crosses state lines.”

My stomach dropped.

“How big is this?”

“Bigger than a family dispute.”

I looked at Tobias.

He nodded.

“That’s why I stayed quiet.”

For the first time, I understood part of his fear.

Not all of it.

But part.

That evening, Garrett reported us missing.

Then presumed dead.

He gave a statement.

He said he lost control in the storm.

He claimed the current pulled him away from the vehicle.

He said he tried to return.

He cried on camera.