Chapter 7 - The Hidden Evidence
With Julian's formal affidavit signed and sealed, Richard and Evelyn launched a multi-front legal assault. However, Richard knew that an affidavit alone wouldn't be enough to convict a powerful Senator's son. They needed irrefutable physical proof.
That evening, Richard met with a retired forensic mechanic named Thomas Vance (no relation to Richard), who had worked for the state police impound yard three years ago. They met in a quiet, dimly lit diner on the outskirts of the city.
"Mr. Vance," the old mechanic said, sliding a coffee cup across the Formica table. "I remember Julian Ross's silver sports car very well. It was a custom German import—a twin-turbo coupe."
"The police report claims the vehicle's internal computer module was destroyed in the crash," Richard said, pulling out a copy of Detective Miller's impound log. "Is that true?"
The old mechanic laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Detective Miller is a liar and a thief, counselor. The main engine ECU was smashed, yes. But those high-end German imports have a secondary, redundant event data recorder built into the steering column mechanism to deploy the airbags."
Richard leaned in, his pulse accelerating. "A secondary recorder? Did Miller know about it?"
"Miller didn't know a damn thing about German engineering," the mechanic sneered. "He just towed the car in, took his pictures, and ordered the wreck scrapped. But before the crusher took it, I pulled the secondary telemetry module out myself. I kept it in my toolbox at home because I knew Miller's investigation was a cover-up."
Richard felt a rush of adrenaline surge through his veins. "Do you still have it?"
The mechanic reached into his worn canvas bag resting on the floor and pulled out a small, heavy black metal box sealed in a clear static bag. He set it on the table.
"This little box recorded steering wheel angle, seat weight sensors, speed, and brake pressure five seconds before impact," the mechanic explained. "The seat weight sensor will prove exactly how heavy the driver was."
Richard knew the significance instantly: Julian weighed a lean one hundred and seventy pounds. Arthur Pendelton weighed over two hundred and twenty pounds. The seat weight sensor data would conclusively prove who was sitting in the driver's seat when the airbags deployed.
"If you testify in court to authenticate this module," Richard said, looking the old man in the eyes, "you could face serious retaliation from Senator Pendelton's people."
The old mechanic set his jaw firmly. "I'm seventy years old, counselor. I watched that poor boy get dragged off to prison while that rich brat walked free. It's time the truth came out."
However, as Richard walked out of the diner carrying the black box securely inside his briefcase, he failed to notice a dark SUV parked across the street with tinted windows.
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Inside the SUV, Officer Miller held a radio to his mouth. "Senator, Vance just left the diner with the retired mechanic. He has the secondary telemetry box."
"Do not let him reach the courthouse with that evidence," Senator Pendelton's icy voice replied through the speaker. "Handle it."
