Chapter 7 - THE SISTER WHO DISAPPEARED
Grant finally told us everything.
Or what he claimed was everything.
His father, Gregory Mercer, had worked security for Adrian’s family.
Loyal.
Trusted.
Invisible.
Exactly the kind of man who heard secrets because powerful people stopped noticing him.
Elena discovered Dominic Vale was secretly selling routes to rivals and laundering money through legitimate companies.
She began collecting evidence.
Gregory found out.
Instead of helping her, he warned Dominic.
Why?
Money.
Fear.
Maybe both.
Dominic paid Gregory.
The fire came weeks later.
“My father thought they were only going to scare her,” Grant said.
Adrian’s face showed nothing.
“Do you believe that?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Grant continued.
Years later, Elise found their father’s old journals.
She confronted Grant.
He told her to burn them.
She refused.
Then she disappeared.
“Why tell everyone she died?”
“Because I thought Dominic’s remaining people were looking for her.”
“Was she?”
“No.”
Grant lowered his head.
“She ran.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian’s anger filled the room without him raising his voice.
“You let me believe she was dead.”
“I was protecting her.”
“You sound like every liar who thinks protection excuses control.”
Grant flinched.
I noticed Adrian’s eyes briefly move toward me.
Maybe he knew the sentence applied to himself too.
“What does Elise have to do with NB Consulting?” I asked.
Grant looked genuinely confused.
“I don’t know.”
“Her email was used.”
“Then maybe she’s alive.”
The possibility changed everything.
If Elise created NB Consulting, why use my identity?
We found the answer that evening.
Adrian’s cyber team traced the recovery email activity.
The account had been accessed six weeks earlier.
From Philadelphia.
Not Boston.
Then I remembered something.
Six weeks earlier, a new temporary housekeeper had worked at Vale House for three days.
Quiet woman.
Mid-forties.
Dark hair.
Called herself Ellen.
She disappeared without collecting her final paycheck.
I told Adrian.
Security footage was pulled.
Grant watched the screen.
Then he stood.
“Elise.”
The temporary cleaner had been his sister.
She had returned to the house disguised as staff.
Just like me.
Why?
We checked every camera.
On her second night, Elise spent seven minutes in the service corridor.
Near the wooden frame.
She never touched it.
She simply stood beneath it.
Watching.
Then she looked directly toward the camera.
And mouthed three words.
We replayed it.
Adrian leaned closer.
“What did she say?”
Grant’s face went pale.
I understood first.
“She said, ‘Find Nora Bennett.’”
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My blood went cold.
Elise had known my name before I knew she existed.
