Chapter 6 - THE COLLAPSE
The hospital emergency entrance was surrounded by reporters.
Emily and Daniel entered through a side door.
The injured woman, Lisa Moreno, had suffered a broken arm and internal bruising.
Her eight-year-old son had a concussion.
Both were alive.
Emily stood outside their room, sick with guilt.
Carter Development had built the Riverside complex two years earlier.
The original plans required reinforced steel brackets.
The forged contracts replaced them with cheaper materials.
Daniel leaned against the wall.
“I approved the project.”
“You approved the original specifications,” Emily said.
“My name is still on it.”
“So is mine.”
Bennett arrived with an engineer.
“The balcony bolts were counterfeit,” the engineer said. “They looked certified, but they couldn’t carry the required load.”
“How many buildings used them?” Emily asked.
“At least six developments.”
Daniel stared at him.
“That’s hundreds of apartments.”
“We need immediate evacuations.”
Daniel took out his phone.
Bennett stopped him.
“If you issue the order, whoever is behind this will know exactly what evidence we have.”
“People could die.”
Emily looked at Bennett.
“Evacuate them.”
“It may damage the investigation.”
“I don’t care.”
Daniel nodded.
“Neither do I.”
For the next two hours, Emily and Daniel called city officials, property managers, and emergency services.
They worked side by side like they once had, fast and focused.
Patricia repeatedly called Daniel.
He ignored her.
By midnight, all six buildings were being evacuated.
Temporary hotels were arranged at company expense.
The company’s stock value began falling.
News stations called it the Carter Construction Crisis.
As Emily left the hospital, Lisa’s husband approached her.
“You built that apartment.”
Emily didn’t defend herself.
“Yes.”
“My son could have died.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Find out who changed those materials, repair every building, and pay every family’s expenses.”
“You expect me to trust you?”
“No,” Emily said. “I expect to earn it.”
Outside, Daniel watched her speak to reporters.
He had always been the public face of the company.
But that night, he stayed behind Emily.
She accepted responsibility without making excuses.
She promised answers without pretending she had them.
When the questions ended, Bennett pulled her aside.
“We recovered Rebecca’s cloud backup.”
“Is she alive?”
“We still don’t know.”
“What was in the backup?”
“A list of payments to city inspectors.”
Emily’s stomach turned.
“How many?”
“Eleven.”
“From Patricia’s company?”
“No.”
Bennett showed her the account name.
CARTER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
Emily looked at Daniel.
The foundation was managed by his younger brother, Michael.
Before she could speak, Daniel received a text.
He read it and went still.
“What is it?” Emily asked.
He handed her the phone.
The message contained a photograph of Rebecca tied to a chair.
May you like
Beneath it were seven words:
RETURN THE AUDIT FILES OR SHE DISAPPEARS FOREVER.
