Chapter 7 - The Detective Who Knew the Name
Within fifteen minutes, another unmarked vehicle rolled onto the shoulder. A tall detective stepped out, carrying a weatherproof evidence case instead of a notebook. His eyes briefly scanned the damaged SUV before settling on Walter.
For a moment, he simply stared.
"Mr. Hayes?"
Walter nodded politely.
"It's been a long time."
The detective smiled faintly.
"Long enough for me to retire next year. I never expected to see you standing at another staged crash."
"I hoped I never would," Walter replied.
The detective introduced himself as Daniel Brooks before walking toward the SUV. The troopers handed him the backpack and the list of potential victims.
Brooks flipped through the papers carefully.
The first few pages listed dozens of license plates.
The next contained repair invoices from different body shops.
Then came handwritten notes describing each target.
"Drives alone."
"Avoids confrontation."
"Likely retired."
"Pays cash."
Brooks frowned.
"This isn't random."
Walter quietly agreed.
"No. Someone organized this."
Kyle suddenly interrupted.
"Those papers aren't ours."
Brooks looked at him without expression.
"Interesting."
"I didn't ask."
Kyle immediately fell silent.
The detective continued examining the documents until he stopped on a photograph clipped between two pages.
It showed another elderly driver standing beside a damaged vehicle.
Walter's face darkened.
"I remember him."
Brooks looked up.
"You've seen this victim?"
Walter nodded slowly.
"He testified in one of my investigations almost twelve years ago."
The detective's eyes narrowed.
"Then someone has been continuing the operation long after your retirement."
Walter looked toward Derek.
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"They've been rebuilding it."
Neither Derek nor Kyle said another word.
May you like
For the first time since the collision, both men looked genuinely frightened—not of the police, but of what the investigation might uncover.
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