Chapter 8 - MAYA GAVE THEM HER FATHER’S WORK
The airline safety investigator called Rachel the next morning.
He wanted to know whether Ethan’s publicly presented scenario had supporting material the family could legally share.
Rachel said she needed time.
After the call Maya said, “Why?”
“Because these files may affect the company.”
“They’re Dad’s.”
“Some are.”
“The training folder is mine.”
Rachel looked at her.
Maya continued.
“He literally labeled it with my name.”
“That doesn’t mean everything in it is safe to distribute.”
“Then have a lawyer check.”
Rachel stared.
Maya shrugged.
“You keep telling me adult problems are complicated. Fine. Use an adult solution.”
Rachel almost smiled.
They contacted the estate attorney who had handled Ethan’s trust.
She reviewed the materials and recommended sharing only files clearly belonging to Ethan personally or to Maya, while referring any technical-company requests through Carter Dynamics.
Daniel called within an hour of learning what they intended to do.
“Absolutely not.”
Rachel put him on speaker.
“Our attorney says Maya can share her own training files.”
“Those scenarios were derived from company work.”
“Then your counsel can make that argument through proper channels.”
Daniel’s voice hardened.
“You sound like him.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Maybe I should have sooner.”
Maya looked at her mother.
Daniel did not speak for several seconds.
“Rachel, this can wipe out the value of Maya’s trust.”
Maya answered.
“Then it does.”
“You’re thirteen.”
“I noticed.”
“You have no understanding of what twelve percent of that company could mean for your future.”
Maya tightened her grip on Rocket.
“Does it mean I’m supposed to pretend Dad was crazy?”
Daniel exhaled sharply.
“Nobody said crazy.”
“You said irrational.”
“He was dying.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Daniel changed tactics.
“Your college could be paid for. Graduate school. A house someday.”
Maya looked toward Rachel.
“Dad left life insurance too, right?”
Rachel nodded.
“Enough for college if we’re careful.”
Daniel sounded furious.
“This is not how responsible adults make decisions.”
Maya said, “Maybe responsible adults shouldn’t make a kid’s money depend on her staying quiet.”
She ended the call.
Rachel stared at her.
“Did you just hang up on your uncle?”
“Yes.”
“Your father would be proud.”
Maya smiled for the first time in days.
Then Rachel said, “And horrified by your phone manners.”
Maya laughed.
The family provided the training scenario and video to the airline’s investigators.
Mark separately agreed to speak with them.
It was an irreversible choice.
By the end of that week, Carter Dynamics’ largest aerospace client had requested its own technical review.
Daniel called Rachel sixteen times in one afternoon.
She did not answer.
At 8:20 p.m., he sent an email instead.
You have no idea what Ethan asked me to do before he died.
Rachel read it twice.
Maya watched her.
“What does that mean?”
Rachel’s face had gone white.
“I don’t know.”
May you like
Maya believed her.
That frightened her more.
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