Chapter 9 - THE MURDER NOBODY REPORTED
Troy's mother had supposedly died in a car accident when he was twelve.
Her name was Catherine Mercer.
Amelia had seen photographs of her.
A beautiful woman with dark hair and kind eyes.
Troy rarely discussed her.
When Amelia asked, he always said the subject was too painful.
Now Sofia Moretti was claiming Catherine had been murdered.
And Richard Mercer had hidden the truth.
Amelia sat across from Detective Bennett, trying to understand.
“Why would Sofia witness something like that?”
The detective opened an old case file.
“Catherine Mercer worked with Sofia at a community outreach organization.”
Amelia frowned.
“She did?”
“Yes. They were investigating suspicious financial activity connected to Richard's shipping companies.”
Amelia felt sick.
The pattern was becoming clear.
Women who asked questions.
Women who discovered the truth.
Women who disappeared.
Gabriel arrived with a written statement from Sofia.
She remembered Catherine confronting Richard at Warehouse 19.
An argument.
A threat.
Then a struggle near the loading dock.
Catherine fell.
She never stood again.
Sofia tried to call for help.
But Richard's men stopped her.
Amelia covered her mouth.
“Oh, God.”
Gabriel looked devastated.
“My sister was twenty-three. She tried to do the right thing.”
The detective nodded.
“And Richard made sure she couldn't.”
Amelia stared at Catherine's photograph.
Troy had grown up believing his mother died accidentally.
Or had he?
That question wouldn't leave her mind.
Later that evening, Amelia received another message from Troy.
I know you found Sofia.
Her heart raced.
Another message followed.
Please don't tell anyone what she said.
Amelia forwarded the messages to Detective Bennett.
Then she sat beside the window.
For years, she'd believed Troy was simply controlling because he feared abandonment.
Now she was beginning to understand that his fear might have roots in something far darker.
Her phone rang again.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
A man's voice spoke.
“Amelia Carter.”
Her blood ran cold.
“Who's this?”
“You've caused quite a disturbance.”
The voice was older.
Calm.
Cold.
She already knew.
“Richard Mercer.”
He chuckled.
“So my son told you.”
Amelia gripped the phone.
“Leave my children alone.”
“Children are expensive responsibilities.”
She felt sick.
“What do you want?”
“The bracelet.”
Her heart pounded.
“I don't have anything that belongs to you.”
He laughed softly.
“Oh, Amelia. You have no idea what you've been carrying.”
May you like
Then he said something that made her stop breathing.
“That silver rose doesn't just contain evidence. It identifies the rightful owner of everything the Mercer family stole.”
