Chapter 8: The Truth About Daniel Mercer
Ethan refused to believe it.
Not because he trusted his father blindly.
Because dead people did not break into houses.
Dead people did not access accounts.
Dead people did not leave fingerprints behind.
But the evidence kept appearing.
And evidence did not care what anyone believed.
At the police station, Detective Harris placed the report on the table.
“The fingerprint matches Daniel Mercer.””
Ethan stared.
“That’s impossible.””
“Yes.””
“Then explain it.””
The detective folded his hands.
“That’s what we’re trying to do.””
Claire sat beside Ethan.
She looked exhausted.
But she stayed.
Even after everything.
Even after he questioned her.
That hurt him more than anything.
Detective Harris continued.
“The fingerprint was found on a document box.””
“What box?””
“The one removed from your office.””
Ethan looked at Claire.
“The security drive?””
“No,” she said.
“The old financial records.””
The records Daniel kept before his death.
The ones nobody knew existed.
The detective slid another document forward.
“Your father apparently left behind evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
“Fraud.””
Ethan’s heart tightened.
“By who?””
Detective Harris looked between them.
“Richard Vale.””
Everything stopped.
The name that had followed them for days.
The man hiding behind every disaster.
The man who had convinced everyone else to destroy each other.
“But Richard disappeared,” Ethan said.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because your father discovered he had been stealing from the company for years.””
Claire looked at Ethan.
“And Brooke?””
The detective sighed.
“She was manipulated.””
That was the first time anyone had said it.
Not excused.
Not forgiven.
But understood.
Ethan returned home that night with one thought.
They had been fighting each other while someone else watched.
Someone else benefited.
But there was still one question.
Why Claire?
Why frame her?
The answer came when Marcus arrived.
He placed a folder on the table.
“I found the original plan.””
Ethan opened it.
Inside were Richard’s notes.
A timeline.
Names.
Targets.
And Claire’s name appeared repeatedly.
“She was never chosen randomly,” Marcus said.
Ethan looked up.
“Why?””
Marcus pointed.
“Because your father trusted her.””
Claire went still.
“Richard knew Daniel left something with her.””
“What?””
“The letter.””
Ethan looked at Claire.
Marcus continued.
“Richard believed Claire had evidence that could expose him.””
Claire whispered:
“I never had the evidence.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“But Richard didn’t know that.””
The truth was suddenly clear.
The entire attack was not about money.
Not originally.
It was about fear.
Richard wanted Claire discredited before she could reveal Daniel’s final secrets.
But there was something else.
Something Ethan noticed.
A name.
On the last page.
A payment.
Richard Vale had paid someone.
Someone close.
Ethan read it twice.
“No.””
Claire saw his expression.
“What?””
He handed her the paper.
The recipient name appeared.
Brooke Mercer.
Claire looked shocked.
“But she said he used her.””
“He did.””
Ethan stared.
“Then why did he pay her?””
Nobody had an answer.
Until Brooke walked into the room.
“I can explain.””
Everyone turned.
She stood there holding a small envelope.
“I know what happened.””
Ethan looked at her.
“Why should we believe you?””
Because this time, Brooke wasn’t angry.
She was broken.
She placed the envelope on the table.
“Because I was the one who helped Richard.””
Silence.
Claire stepped back.
“What?””
Brooke’s eyes filled.
“I didn’t know how far it would go.””
Ethan stared.
“You lied again.””
“Yes.””
The word was quiet.
“I did.””
She looked at him.
“But I’m done protecting him.””
She pushed the envelope forward.
“Inside is everything.””
Ethan opened it.
Photos.
Messages.
Recordings.
Then one final document.
A confession.
Signed by Richard Vale.
Except there was one problem.
The signature date was yesterday.
Ethan looked up.
“How did you get this?””
Brooke swallowed.
“Because Richard came to see me last night.””
A chill moved through the room.
“He’s alive.””
Everyone froze.
Brooke whispered:
“And he knows where Claire hid the original letter.””
Claire’s face changed.
Because there was only one place.
A place nobody else knew.
May you like
The old family house.
Where Daniel died.
