Chapter 3 - The Evidence That Disappeared
The main Guardian camera should have proved everything.
It had recorded Mason drinking from a flask, speeding through the red light, and refusing to slow down.
When Declan asked about the recording, the police said the camera’s memory card had been removed before the vehicle reached the evidence facility.
The Fenwick had been transported by Vale Automotive’s private recovery team.
Charles controlled the team.
The attorneys produced security footage from the company garage showing Declan signing the vehicle out earlier that week.
Mason claimed he had been unconscious in the passenger seat before the crash and had awakened only after impact.
Then a witness came forward.
A Vale Automotive employee named Robert Kelton told police he had seen Declan drinking at a restaurant two hours before the collision.
Declan had never been inside that restaurant.
Kelton had recently received a promotion approved by Charles.
The final blow came from the vehicle’s seat-position data.
The system reported that the driver’s seat had been positioned according to Declan’s height.
Declan immediately understood what had happened.
Mason had changed the seat adjustment after the crash.
The prosecution did not care.
They had a dead man, a wealthy company under intense public scrutiny, and an engineer whose name was attached to the prototype car.
Declan’s attorney urged him to accept a plea agreement.
“You are facing more than a decade if the jury believes the prosecution,” she explained. “The company’s lawyers have resources we cannot match.”
Declan looked across the courtroom during the preliminary hearing.
Charles sat with Victoria and Mason.
They appeared united in grief.
Mason avoided his eyes.
The prosecution offered two years in prison for vehicular manslaughter if Declan pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility.
Charles met him in a courthouse consultation room.
“This is the best possible outcome,” he said.
“For Mason.”
“For the family.”
“You destroyed the recording.”
Charles did not answer.
Declan stepped closer.
“Did you remove the memory card?”
“I protected everything your grandfather built.”
“You protected Mason.”
“He needs protection.”
“And I don’t?”
For the first time, Charles looked almost irritated by the question.
“You have always managed.”
Declan laughed once, without humor.
“That is what you tell yourself when you abandon someone.”
Victoria visited next.
She carried a photograph of Mason as a child.
“He has already suffered so much,” she said.
“Daniel Cross is dead.”
“It was an accident.”
“Then Mason should face the consequences.”
“He would not survive prison.”
“You think I will?”
Victoria lowered her gaze.
“You are different.”
Declan finally understood.
His parents did not believe he was stronger.
They simply considered him more disposable.
He signed the plea agreement.
Not because he accepted guilt.
Not because he wanted to save Mason.
He signed because his attorney warned him that Charles was prepared to produce additional manufactured evidence that could send him away for fifteen years.
Before sentencing, Declan returned to his apartment under supervision to collect personal belongings.
Priya Shah was waiting outside.
She had been fired from Vale Automotive that morning.
“They erased the project server,” she whispered. “Everything connected to Guardian is gone.”
Declan glanced toward the supervising officer.
“Then we have nothing.”
Priya’s eyes held his.
“Not nothing.”
She could not say more.
May you like
The officer stepped closer.
Declan was taken away before she could explain.
