Chapter 8 - THE EXECUTOR’S SHADOW
The black car led investigators to Gerald Fenn’s former business partner.
His name was Conrad Vale.
He had managed the shell companies created by Harold Mercer and had avoided prosecution by claiming he knew nothing about Victor’s crimes.
Now Detective Morgan believed that was a lie.
Conrad had access to the remaining Mercer Development accounts. He had received more than six hundred thousand dollars in unexplained transfers during the year after Victor’s arrest.
And he had recently hired a private security firm.
Rebecca placed the bank records on her desk.
“He may be trying to locate assets before the court can seize them,” she said.
“Or people,” I replied.
Lily sat beside Grace, who had begun coming to our house for dinner twice a week. The sisters were still careful around one another, but a connection was forming in the small things.
Ava shared old music playlists with Grace.
Lily taught Grace how to make Daniel’s favorite chili.
Grace helped Ava foster an injured stray cat.
They were building a relationship out of moments no one could steal.
But the black car had changed the atmosphere.
Grace began looking over her shoulder.
Naomi stopped sleeping.
Lily brought the blue blanket out of the cedar chest again, not to hold, but to place over the back of the couch where everyone could see it.
A reminder.
We survived before.
We would survive again.
Then Conrad sent a message.
It arrived through Rebecca’s office email.
I have documents that prove Elaine Mercer did not act alone.
Meet me at the old Mercer lake house.
Bring Naomi. Bring no police.
Naomi wanted to go.
“I need to know,” she said.
“No,” Lily replied.
Everyone turned toward her.
Lily’s face was pale, but her voice was steady.
“We do not keep letting people make Mom walk into danger because they have information.”
Conrad sent a second message ten minutes later.
If Naomi does not come, Grace will learn what really happened to her adoptive parents.
Grace went still.
“What does that mean?”
The records revealed that her adoptive parents had received a substantial “facilitation payment” from Bright Horizons. It did not prove they had knowingly bought a child, but it showed Conrad intended to poison every relationship Grace had.
Detective Morgan set up the meeting as a controlled operation.
Naomi would arrive with a concealed recorder.
Officers would surround the lake house.
Rebecca insisted Lily and Ava stay away.
They agreed.
Until Grace disappeared.
Her car was found at the edge of a wooded road near the lake house. Her phone was on the driver’s seat. The passenger door stood open.
On the dashboard lay a note.
BRING THE SETTLEMENT RECORDS, OR GRACE LEARNS HOW EASY IT IS TO LOSE A SISTER.
Naomi collapsed.
Lily became very still.
I recognized that stillness.
It was the expression she had worn in court when Victor had tried to intimidate her. The expression of someone choosing not to break because breaking would give the wrong people power.
She looked at Detective Morgan.
“Get her back,” she said.
Morgan nodded.
But when officers entered the lake house, Conrad Vale was gone.
So was Grace.
Only an old video monitor remained on a table.
The screen flickered to life.
Grace sat tied to a chair in a dark room.
She was frightened, but awake.
Conrad’s voice came through the speakers.
“Bring the original settlement documents to the Mercer office basement.”
May you like
Then he added the words that made Lily’s face turn white.
“Your father’s grave already gave us one secret. Let us see what your mother is willing to sacrifice for another.”
