The Company Falls
Chapter 16 - The Company Falls
Federal investigators eventually charged Richard Reed with fraud, obstruction, and financial crimes.
There was no evidence he intentionally caused Luke's death.
But there was overwhelming evidence he helped conceal the safety violations afterward.
Reed Development collapsed.
Vanessa could have walked away.
Instead, she testified.
Then she sold her remaining stake and created a compensation fund for workers injured in the old construction accident.
Caleb did something even more surprising.
He opened Mercer Industries' records.
Every project.
Every inspection.
Every payment.
His board called it reckless.
Caleb called it necessary.
Three executives resigned.
Two were investigated.
Profits dropped.
For the first time in decades, the company struggled.
But workers started trusting it again.
Caleb renamed the employee safety program after Luke.
At the ceremony, Eli stood beside him.
“Would my dad like this?”
Caleb looked at Luke's name engraved on the wall.
“I think he'd tell me I took too long.”
Eli smiled.
Then he handed Caleb something.
The faded white ribbon.
“I found it in Mom's drawer.”
Caleb held it carefully.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
Eli shrugged.
“Because you look at her like you still love her.”
Caleb stared at the nine-year-old.
“You're very nosy.”
“I know.”
May you like
From across the room, Mara watched them.
And this time, she did not look away.
