Chapter 6
Ryan laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because sometimes the truth is so ugly your body rejects it.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Thomas Price didn’t argue.
He opened the envelope and removed another document.
“Read this.”
Ryan didn’t touch it.
I did.
It was a draft settlement agreement from twenty-nine years earlier.
Linda Carter’s maiden name appeared near the top.
Daniel Mercer’s name appeared below it.
There were references to confidentiality.
Paternity.
Financial support.
Future inheritance rights.
My mouth went dry.
“Ryan.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
I handed him the paper.
“Read it.”
“I said no.”
Thomas lowered his voice.
“My father represented Charles.”
“Then he wrote whatever Charles wanted.”
“Yes.”
“So this proves nothing.”
“It proves there was a dispute.”
“It proves paperwork existed.”
Ryan pushed back from the table.
I touched his arm.
He pulled away.
“Don’t.”
Thomas watched him carefully.
“There’s more.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
“Of course there is.”
“Daniel Mercer transferred money into several accounts after Charles died.”
“We saw transfers from Dad’s business to L.M. Holdings.”
Thomas nodded.
“Linda Marie.”
Ryan stared.
“So she stole it.”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“My father believed Daniel arranged it.”
“Why?”
“Because Charles changed his estate plan shortly before his death.”
Thomas produced a copy of a handwritten note.
Charles had apparently learned, late in life, that Linda and Daniel had resumed contact.
Charles intended to expose the original paternity agreement.
He wanted Ryan to know.
He also intended to move the remaining company assets directly into Ryan’s name.
“He died before signing the final documents,” Thomas said.
Ryan’s jaw clenched.
“Cancer.”
Thomas looked at him.
“That’s what everyone was told.”
I felt a cold pressure in my chest.
“What are you suggesting?”
Thomas immediately raised both hands.
“I’m not suggesting murder.”
“Good.”
“I’m saying the timing frightened my father.”
Ryan stood.
“We’re done.”
“Ryan.”
He looked at me.
“I can’t do this.”
Then his phone buzzed.
He checked it.
Everything in his face changed.
“What?” I asked.
He turned the screen toward me.
A message from Linda.
PLEASE COME ALONE. I CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.
Below it was a photograph.
Linda sitting in her living room.
Her face looked bruised.
There was blood near her lip.
I stared.
“When was that taken?”
Ryan was already calling her.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Thomas looked uneasy.
“Don’t go there.”
“That’s my mother.”
“She may be manipulating you.”
“She may be hurt.”
“And whoever helped her with the cameras may be there.”
Ryan grabbed the envelope.
“We’re leaving.”
I followed.
Thomas caught my arm lightly.
“Emily.”
I turned.
“If you see Daniel Mercer, call the police.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“No.”
“Does Linda?”
Thomas looked at me.
“I think Linda never stopped knowing exactly where he was.”
We called Officer Martinez from the car.
She told us not to enter Linda’s home.
Ryan agreed.
Then drove straight there.
“Ryan.”
“I’m checking through the window.”
“The police said wait.”
“It’ll take them fifteen minutes.”
“And if someone is inside?”
He didn’t answer.
Linda lived in a brick ranch house in Richardson.
Her front door was partly open.
That changed everything.
Ryan parked.
I called 911 again.
He got out.
“Do not go inside.”
“Mom!”
He ran to the door.
I followed because there was no way I was leaving him alone.
The living room was wrecked.
A lamp had been knocked over.
Papers covered the floor.
“Mom?”
No answer.
Then a crash came from the back of the house.
Ryan moved toward it.
I grabbed his sleeve.
“Police are coming.”
A woman moaned.
Ryan pulled free.
“Mom!”
We found Linda in the bedroom.
She was sitting against the wall.
Her cheek was swollen.
Her lip was split.
Her blouse was torn at the shoulder.
Ryan rushed to her.
“What happened?”
Linda looked at me.
Fear flashed across her face.
Not anger.
Fear.
“He came back.”
Ryan froze.
“Who?”
She started crying.
“Daniel.”
My stomach dropped.
“Daniel Mercer?” I asked.
Linda nodded.
Ryan stared at her.
“You know him?”
She looked away.
“Mom.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Not now.”
“Who is he to me?”
Her face crumpled.
Ryan stepped backward.
“Oh my God.”
“Ryan.”
“Is he my father?”
Linda started sobbing.
That was her answer.
Ryan turned away.
He put both hands on his head.
I had never seen him look so lost.
Then Linda pointed at me.
“This is because of her.”
I thought I had misheard.
“What?”
“If she hadn’t made Noah talk—”
Ryan spun around.
“Do not blame Emily.”
Linda blinked.
“You don’t understand.”
“No, I understand plenty.”
“Daniel is dangerous.”
“And you brought him into our lives!”
“I was nineteen!”
“What does that have to do with Noah?”
She went silent.
Ryan crouched in front of her.
“Why did you hurt my son?”
Her face changed.
The fear disappeared.
Something colder replaced it.
“I was trying to stop this.”
“By beating him?”
“He saw things.”
“He is six!”
“He kept asking questions!”
“So you hit him?”
“I panicked!”
Ryan stared at her like she was a stranger.
Linda grabbed his arm.
“You don’t know Daniel.”
“Then tell me.”
“He never lets anything go.”
“Did he send the threatening texts?”
She looked toward me.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you put cameras in our house?”
Silence.
“Mom.”
“I needed to know what Noah told you.”
Ryan’s eyes filled.
“You watched us?”
“I was protecting you.”
“You filmed my wife changing clothes.”
“I never looked at that.”
“Someone did.”
Linda’s mouth trembled.
“Daniel had access.”
“How?”
“He installed the cameras.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“You let him into my house?” Ryan asked.
“Only when you were at work.”
I felt physically sick.
“How long?”
Linda avoided my eyes.
“How long, Linda?”
“Four months.”
I nearly lunged at her.
Ryan stepped between us, not to protect her exactly, but because he knew I was at my limit.
“You let a stranger install surveillance in my bedroom for four months?”
“He isn’t a stranger.”
“To me he is!”
Linda started crying again.
“He said he only wanted to know what you knew.”
“What I knew about what?”
“The money.”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“So the trust was real.”
Linda closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“You stole it.”
“No.”
“Then where is it?”
“Gone.”
“To Daniel?”
“Some.”
“How much?”
She whispered, “Most.”
Ryan stepped backward.
For a moment, I thought he might collapse.
Then we heard sirens.
Linda became frantic.
“No.”
“What?”
“No police.”
“You’re injured.”
“You don’t understand.”
“They’re already here.”
She grabbed Ryan’s shirt.
“You have to tell them I fell.”
His face went blank.
“What?”
“If Daniel thinks I talked—”
“Mom, he beat you.”
“He’ll do worse.”
“Then help us stop him.”
“You can’t stop him.”
Heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway.
“Police!”
Ryan raised his voice.
“Back here!”
Linda started shaking.
Officer Martinez entered with two officers.
She took in the room.
Linda’s injuries.
Ryan.
Me.
Then her eyes landed on the open window.
“Anyone else in the house?”
“Daniel Mercer,” I said. “Maybe.”
Officers immediately moved to clear the rooms.
Martinez knelt beside Linda.
“Who hurt you?”
Linda looked at Ryan.
He didn’t rescue her.
For once, he didn’t answer for her.
She whispered, “I fell.”
I closed my eyes.
Officer Martinez looked at the bruises.
“You fell?”
“Yes.”
Ryan stared at his mother.
Then said quietly, “She told us Daniel Mercer attacked her.”
Linda’s head snapped up.
“Ryan!”
“No more lies.”
Her face twisted.
“You stupid boy.”
Ryan flinched.
She kept going.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Then an officer shouted from the hallway.
“We’ve got something.”
Everyone turned.
In Linda’s home office, they found a laptop.
Still open.
A security program covered the screen.
Multiple camera feeds.
Our kitchen.
Our bedroom.
Our driveway.
And one more feed.
Rachel’s living room.
My heart stopped.
Noah was there.
May you like
Sitting on the couch beside my sister.
Being watched in real time.
