Chapter 18 - What Came Back
In June, federal agents arrested Charles Vance on charges related to procurement fraud, obstruction and conspiracy.
The charges did not come solely from Daniel’s flash drive.
Investigators had combined bank records, contractor testimony, emails, recovered backups and Daniel’s cooperation.
Liam learned that carefully.
One piece of evidence was not the whole truth.
He had become suspicious of stories where one magical object solved everything.
Daniel testified before a grand jury.
His cooperation did not erase his sentence.
But prosecutors agreed not to pursue an additional obstruction charge related to the concealed drive.
Months later, they supported a modest sentence reduction because his information had materially assisted the new case.
When Rachel told Liam, he felt relieved.
Then guilty for feeling relieved.
Frank Keller corrected him.
“You can want accountability and still want your father home.”
They were sitting at a community center meeting about restitution.
Additional recovered assets would partially reimburse affected employees.
Not everything.
But more.
Frank would receive money.
So would dozens of others.
Liam had come because he wanted to understand what Daniel’s actions had actually cost.
One retired woman described postponing dental surgery.
A city worker had delayed retirement.
Another family borrowed money to help an elderly parent while accounts were frozen.
Liam listened.
He did not apologize on Daniel’s behalf.
That was not his job.
Afterward, a man approached him.
“You Daniel’s boy?”
Liam stiffened.
“Yes.”
The man nodded.
“He did damage.”
“I know.”
“Glad he finally talked.”
Liam waited for more.
There was none.
The man left.
For once being Daniel Carter’s son did not become accusation or defense.
It was simply a fact.
At home Liam found his baseball glove in the garage.
The same glove Daniel had seen in the back seat before turning away from the airport.
Rachel had kept it.
“You knew?”
“About the glove?”
“Yes.”
“Daniel told me after he surrendered.”
“Why didn’t you throw it away?”
“Because it’s your glove.”
That answer was so Rachel that Liam laughed.
He joined a summer baseball league.
His first practice was terrible.
He missed two ground balls.
Struck out twice.
Trent, who had joined too, shouted from the dugout, “Carter, your athletic comeback is inspiring nobody!”
Liam threw his helmet at him.
The coach yelled at both.
It was wonderful.
After practice Rachel handed Liam an envelope.
Daniel’s sentence reduction had been approved.
Seven months.
He would come home seven months earlier than expected.
Liam stared at the paper.
“Are you happy?” Rachel asked.
“I think so.”
“You don’t have to know yet.”
“What happens when he comes home?”
“We figure it out.”
“Will people still talk?”
“Yes.”
Liam nodded.
That no longer frightened him much.
Then Rachel added, “Your father asked whether you want him at your games when he’s released.”
Liam looked toward the field.
Months earlier he might have refused because other parents would recognize him.
Now his reason had to be different.
What did Liam want?
“Not the first one.”
Rachel nodded.
“Maybe later.”
“That’s fair.”
Liam put the letter in his backpack.
He was learning that boundaries could be doors instead of walls.
A door could remain closed until you were ready.
May you like
And opening it did not mean forgetting why you had closed it.
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