Chapter 5 - The Ghost’s Final Test
Detective Harris arrived at the hospital that night.
Daniel was waiting.
Harris closed the door behind him.
“You've caused quite a problem.”
“I found evidence.”
“You interfered with an investigation.”
“What investigation?”
Harris glared at him.
“You need to stop.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Why?”
“Because powerful people are involved.”
“That's exactly why I won't.”
Harris lowered his voice.
“You don’t understand how this city works.”
Daniel smiled.
It was the first genuinely dangerous smile Harris had seen.
“I understand exactly how cities like this work.”
Harris hesitated.
Daniel continued.
“Someone pays a university administrator. Someone calls a detective. Someone deletes a camera. Everyone does one small dishonest thing and tells themselves they didn't create the final injustice.”
Harris said nothing.
Daniel placed bank records on the table.
“Your brother’s company received $180,000.”
Harris went pale.
“You've been investigating me?”
“No.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“I remembered how.”
Harris stared at him.
Then recognition slowly entered his face.
“Walker...”
Daniel waited.
“My father was a detective.”
“I know.”
Harris whispered:
“He used to talk about someone.”
Daniel’s expression remained blank.
“The Ghost.”
Silence.
Harris stepped backward.
“You're him.”
Daniel looked at Lily.
“No.”
He stood.
“That man would have solved this differently.”
Harris swallowed.
“What are you going to do?”
“Give you a choice.”
Daniel pointed toward the evidence.
“Walk into Internal Affairs tomorrow morning and tell them everything.”
“And if I don't?”
“I send the evidence myself.”
Harris stared at him.
“You could destroy me.”
“You helped cover up what happened to my daughter.”
Harris lowered his eyes.
Daniel’s voice softened.
“But I'm giving you something men like me rarely gave anyone.”
“What?”
“A chance to do the right thing before it's too late.”
The following morning, Detective Harris walked into Internal Affairs.
By noon, the case had exploded.
The university announced an independent investigation.
President Whitmore temporarily resigned.
The state ethics committee opened an inquiry into interference involving Senator Hale’s staff.
Richard Cole publicly withdrew his company’s financial support from Ethan’s legal defense.
And three arrest warrants were issued.
Vincent found Daniel outside Lily’s room.
“It’s done.”
Daniel looked through the glass.
“Not yet.”
“They're being arrested.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Vincent understood.
“You're worried about becoming him again.”
Daniel looked at his hands.
“For one night, I wanted to.”
“What stopped you?”
Daniel nodded toward Lily.
“She did.”
Vincent smiled.
“Then maybe The Ghost really is dead.”
Daniel looked at his old friend.
“Good.”
Vincent extended his hand.
Daniel took it.
“Goodbye, Boss.”
“Goodbye, Vincent.”
Vincent walked away.
Then Lily tapped against the hospital window.
Daniel turned.
She held up her tablet.
GET IN HERE DAD
Daniel laughed.
May you like
And obeyed.
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