Chapter 12 - WASHINGTON DOES NOT FORGETWithin forty-eight hours, Washington became involved.
Federal investigators arrived.
Congressional staff requested documents.
The Senate launched a preliminary inquiry.
News networks broadcast Nicholas's name constantly.
But the more attention the case received, the more dangerous it became.
A federal prosecutor warned him:
“You are dealing with people who have survived investigations longer than you've been alive.”
Nicholas replied:
“Then we'll make this one different.”
The prosecutor looked at Eleanor.
“Your mother has evidence?”
“Yes.”
“Enough to convict?”
“No.”
“Then you need more.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“There is a witness.”
“Who?”
She gave him a name.
The prosecutor went silent.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because that witness died six years ago.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Nicholas.
“He disappeared.”
The witness was Robert Gaines.
The same former highway patrol officer.
They found him living under an assumed name in Oregon.
He agreed to testify.
But before he could reach Washington, his house exploded.
He survived.
Barely.
And before losing consciousness, he gave the investigators one sentence.
“Look inside the American flag.”
Nicholas didn't understand.
Then Eleanor did.
“The flag in the mansion.”
They returned home.
The old American flag from his father's military service hung in the study.
Nicholas removed it.
Inside the wooden pole was a hollow compartment.
A small drive fell out.
The files contained photographs.
Contracts.
Recordings.
And one video.
Richard appeared on screen.
“This is my confession.”
Nicholas stared.
Richard admitted everything.
The network.
The money.
The threats.
The manipulation.
But he also named someone Nicholas had never suspected.
Eleanor.
Nicholas looked at his mother.
She stood perfectly still.
The recording continued.
“Eleanor knew.”
Nicholas stopped breathing.
Richard's voice continued.
“She helped me build it.”
The screen went black.
Nicholas turned slowly toward his mother.
“Mom?”
May you like
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I did.”
