Chapter 2 - THE NAME IN THE FILE
I didn't confront Nathan.
Not yet.
My mother had taught me something when I was young: never reveal what you know until you understand what the other person fears.
So I let Nathan believe I was confused.
I let Detective Cole believe I was emotional.
And I let everyone in that station think I had no idea what was happening.
Then I asked my mother one question.
“Who is the man in the reflection?”
She looked toward the interrogation-room window.
“His name is Daniel Mercer.”
Nathan suddenly stood.
“That's enough.”
I turned toward him.
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
My mother did.
“Because Daniel was your husband's business partner before you met him.”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
I had never heard the name.
For fifteen years, Nathan had told me he built his consulting company alone.
He had described himself as a self-made man who had started with nothing.
Apparently that wasn't true.
My mother explained that Daniel had once worked closely with Nathan's father.
They handled private investment accounts for wealthy clients.
Then one of their clients disappeared.
Millions of dollars disappeared with him.
Daniel became the obvious suspect.
But before police could question him, he vanished.
Nathan's father claimed Daniel had stolen everything.
Daniel's family denied it.
The case eventually went cold.
“What does that have to do with you?” I asked.
My mother lowered her voice.
“Your father found something.”
My heart stopped.
My father had died eleven years earlier.
A sudden heart attack, according to the doctors.
At least, that's what we had been told.
“What did Dad find?”
She looked at Nathan.
“He discovered that the missing money had never been stolen by Daniel.”
Nathan stepped toward us.
“Stop.”
My mother continued.
“It had been moved through accounts controlled by Nathan's family.”
Silence.
I stared at my husband.
He shook his head.
“My mother is trying to destroy me.”
“Then explain why Daniel was in her house.”
Nathan said nothing.
I looked at Detective Cole.
“Do you know about Daniel Mercer?”
Cole's expression remained blank.
“No.”
That answer came too quickly.
My mother noticed it too.
She whispered, “He knows.”
Cole slammed his folder onto the desk.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.”
I stood.
“Then give me the original evidence file.”
“It has been compromised.”
“Exactly.”
Cole's face reddened.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
A second message followed.
ASK YOUR HUSBAND WHY YOUR FATHER DIED.
I looked at Nathan.
He was staring at my phone.
He knew.
That was enough.
I walked toward the exit with my mother.
Nathan called after me.
“Valerie!”
I stopped.
He lowered his voice.
“You don't understand what you're getting involved in.”
I turned.
“No.”
I looked him directly in the eyes.
“I think I'm finally beginning to understand.”
As I helped my mother into my car, I saw a black sedan parked across the street.
The driver lowered his window.
A silver watch caught the streetlight.
Daniel Mercer was watching us.
But he wasn't hiding.
He wanted me to see him.
May you like
And that meant he wasn't the person I should have been afraid of.
He was trying to warn me.
