CHAPTER 5 — The Witness They Thought Was Dead
The chairman laughed.
"A bodyguard's story won't save you."
But before anyone could respond, one of the federal agents placed a thick folder on the conference table.
"We've spent twenty-three years looking for this witness."
The old man closed his eyes.
"I wasn't hiding from the law."
"I was hiding from the killers."
The room fell silent.
Daniel stared at him.
"Why come back now?"
The old man slowly looked toward the massive window overlooking the city.
"Because they finally made one mistake."
He reached into the notebook and unfolded a faded newspaper clipping.
It showed the chairman shaking hands with a young politician during the grand opening of Sterling Global's new headquarters.
On the back of the clipping was a handwritten note.
'He wore the same watch the night your father disappeared.'
Daniel frowned.
"What watch?"
The chairman instinctively covered his wrist.
Too late.
The old man pointed at the gold watch gleaming beneath his sleeve.
"I'd recognize it anywhere."
"Your father gave that watch to his closest friend on his fiftieth birthday."
Daniel's heart pounded.
"My father gave it away willingly?"
The old man shook his head.
"No."
"He was wearing it when they dragged him into the warehouse."
The chairman's smile finally vanished.
Federal agents immediately photographed the watch.
One detective whispered,
"The serial number matches the missing evidence report from twenty-five years ago."
Gasps filled the room.
Daniel could barely breathe.
Then the old man revealed something even more shocking.
"That watch isn't important."
May you like
"The blood hidden inside it is."
Every face turned pale.
