The signature at the bottom belonged to Elliot Lawson.
Lorna made a small sound and sat down.
Jaylen did not move.
Wendell kept reading until he reached the final attachment. It was a memo from Lawson to outside counsel.
The language was cold enough to freeze blood.
Employee Tate’s complaint creates exposure risk. Recommend limiting discoverable communications and directing all medical claims through third-party occupational review.
Wendell closed the laptop.
No one spoke for a long time.
Then Jaylen said, “He knew.”
Wendell looked at the boy.
“Yes.”
“And you made him important.”
The words cut cleanly.
“Yes.”
Wendell’s phone rang before he could say more.
Elliot Lawson’s name flashed on the screen.
Wendell answered.
Lawson’s voice was smooth, controlled, and dangerous.
“Wendell. You need to come back immediately.”
“I’m busy.”
“With a child in Alabama?”
Wendell’s eyes lifted to the window.
Outside, beyond the porch light, a black sedan sat at the far end of the lane.
He had not heard it arrive.
Lorna followed his gaze.
Her face changed.
Lawson continued, “You’ve always had a weakness for dramatic discoveries. But whatever you think you found, it won’t help the company.”
Wendell stood slowly.
“What did you do?”
“I protected what you built.”
“You buried a man.”
“I buried a liability.”
Jaylen heard it.
So did Lorna.
The boy’s hands curled into fists on the table.
Lawson sighed.
“Listen carefully. The board meets tomorrow morning. By noon, you will no longer control Hayes Renewables. The federal contract will proceed under my leadership, with or without your dirt-road genius.”
Wendell went cold.
“You knew about Jaylen’s invention.”
Another pause.
Then Lawson said, “You really should teach your assistant better security.”
