The earliest flight ticket to Ronan Airport was for seven o'clock in the evening.
Dirk Carter first requested a leave from Mayor Josias Rayburn, then handed over the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission to Executive Deputy Secretary Blaine Yancy.
At eight o'clock in the evening, the plane to Serenity State took off on ti.
By the ti he exited the terminal, it was almost ten o'clock.
Aziel Grant was already waiting in the car.
Rushing urgently to Ronan City Oncology Hospital, they were inford that Donal Lewis had been discharged and returned to his ho in Stillwater County.
This ant the hospital had given up on resuscitation.
Around twelve o'clock.
Dirk Carter exited the Stillwater County highway toll station.
He received a call from Eleanor Lewis.
While rushing back, Dirk Carter had repeatedly tried to contact Eleanor Lewis; the calls went through but were never answered, so when he finally received one, he imdiately asked, "Eleanor, where are you now?"
"Dad passed away in the evening."
On the phone, Eleanor choked as she spoke.
Dirk Carter's heart sank with a thud.
A silence ensued.
He asked, "I've arrived in Stillwater County. I'll co to your house now."
"No need, we're already at the funeral ho's mourning hall, just co over directly."
Eleanor said.
He put down the phone.
Dirk Carter's mind couldn't remain calm.
Perhaps compared to Caden Dixon, Donal Lewis didn't have that natural intimacy, but when he was most needed, Donal Lewis extended a helping hand. If not for him, Dirk Carter's political career might have "died young" long ago.
He had benefited from Dylan Tate's kindness.
At the last mont, to help Dirk Carter uncover the truth, he even delayed his own treatnt.
A man like him deserves admiration.
Arriving at Stillwater County's funeral ho.
Just as Dirk Carter got out of the car, Caden Dixon ca out to greet him.
"You're here?"
Caden Dixon patted him on the arm.
Dirk Carter responded with a nod and asked, "Secretary Lawson, he..."
"You should go in and see, we'll discuss other matters later."
Dirk Carter nodded emphatically.
He rushed into the mourning hall.
The mourning hall was small, with a few people standing in threes and twos. In the center, on the wall hung a portrait, beneath which was a coffin.
He hurried, but on that mont, his steps slowed.
In the coffin.
It wasn't the familiar face of Donal Lewis.
Very thin, with deeply set eyes, looking gaunt would not be an exaggeration.
Images flashed through his mind, scenes of conversations with Donal Lewis, scenes of him wearing an apron and cooking... like a film reel, scene by scene, fra by fra flashed before his eyes.
His heart tightened, his throat choked, tears welled up in his eyes.
"Don't cry, Dad said before he left that no one should cry. Though he's gone, he has no regrets; even if he ets his old comrades, he can walk tall."
Turning around.
The speaker was Eleanor Lewis.
A smile appeared on her face.
But this smile, she forced it.
"Why did it co to this?"
Dirk Carter asked.
Eleanor Lewis smiled and said, "I've known about Dad's illness for a long ti. I've tried persuading him many tis to get treatnt, but he wouldn't listen. He said... he said..."
"What did he say?"
"He said Uncle Thornton's case hasn't been clarified yet. If he goes for treatnt, he'd have to leave his post, but he couldn't because seeing you, he finally saw hope. In the top position, he could help you a lot."
Eleanor Lewis said.
In that mont, Dirk Carter's heart wrenched.
It did seem true.
Perhaps later Donal Lewis felt his ti was short, coupled with Caden Dixon needing Dirk Carter, he sent Dirk Carter to Kenton County; at least in Kenton County, Caden Dixon would protect him.
Dirk Carter jolted.
With a thud, he knelt on the ground, toward Donal Lewis's coffin, kowtowing three tis.
Standing up.
He wiped the tears in his eyes.
He said, "Alright, since Secretary Lawson doesn't want us to cry, we won't cry."
At this mont, his eyes swept around.
He hesitated: "What's the matter? Wasn't Secretary Lawson the County Committee Secretary? Why is this place arranged so simply?"
Looking around.
The spacious mourning hall, except for a coffin, was almost bare. People within the system have certain standards for funerals; could it be because it was late, and others didn't know?
Seeing the confusion in Dirk Carter's eyes.
Eleanor Lewis said, "The county has already notified, no personnel from the County Committee or county governnt are allowed to attend Dad's funeral."
"Why?"
Dirk Carter jolted and asked, "Wasn't Secretary Lawson's death in the line of duty? How could the county make such a decision?"
"It's Jonah Wright who made the decision."
Dirk Carter was stunned and asked, "Jonah Wright? Is it Deputy County Head Jonah Wright?"
"He's no longer Deputy County Head, but the current County Head."
Eleanor Lewis said.
Dirk Carter realized the situation instantly.
Jonah Wright, when Dirk Carter was in Stillwater County, held the positions of County Committee mber and Deputy County Head; at that ti, he wasn't even part of the Standing Committee.
Dirk Carter hadn't interacted with him much.
But when Dylan Tate was around, he said Jonah Wright was two-faced, a typical opportunist, and very skilled at flattering.
Dylan Tate didn't like him.
Donal Lewis didn't like him.
The city wanted to promote Jonah Wright to the Standing Committee several tis but was opposed by Donal Lewis.
It's undeniable that Jonah Wright had so ability; when local prospects were bleak, he managed to get transferred elsewhere, and when Dirk Carter was at Customs, Jonah Wright was transferred back, this ti as County Head.
After assuming office.
He often clashed with Donal Lewis.
Their conflicts were nearly public in Stillwater County.
Donal Lewis collapsed during a eting; logically, it could be considered an on-duty sacrifice, but Jonah Wright didn't spare even the deceased. After Donal Lewis was taken to the hospital, Jonah Wright quickly reported to the city, citing Donal Lewis's intentional concealnt of illness during office, seeking disciplinary action.
The city's decision hadn't co.
Jonah Wright started publicly criticizing Donal Lewis's "selfish" behavior, saying his actions were a power grab, portraying Donal Lewis as a power-obsessed madman.
Today evening.
After receiving the news of Donal Lewis's passing.
Jonah Wright imdiately ordered, forbidding all units in Stillwater County from mourning at the funeral ho, anyone who dared would face disciplinary actions.
"I'll call him!"
After hearing Eleanor Lewis's words, Dirk Carter furiously took out his phone.
Eleanor Lewis grabbed his arm and said, "Dirk, it's alright. Dad didn't care about these things, and I don't want to disturb his peace. If county people don't co, they don't co; people have passed, let them be."
Dirk Carter embraced Eleanor Lewis.
He said, "Okay, I promise you I won't look for him, but I also can't let Secretary Lawson's funeral be so simple. Spend so ti with Secretary Lawson, I'm going out for a bit."
After speaking.
Dirk Carter left the mourning hall.
He took a deep breath, took out his phone...
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