Chapter 5 - Family Money
Richard Mercer arrived at Beth’s house carrying grocery bags.
He did that whenever something went wrong.
A death.
A fever.
A fight he didn’t want named.
He filled a refrigerator and waited for gratitude to soften the room.
“Where are the kids?” he asked.
“Upstairs,” Nathan said.
Richard put the bags on the counter.
“Vanessa called me.”
“I thought she might.”
“She says you’re accusing her of something involving Claire.”
Nathan set the photograph between them.
Richard glanced down.
His hand stopped inside a grocery bag.
“You knew they worked together.”
“I knew she had done some office work.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I assumed you knew.”
Nathan watched his father’s face.
Richard had taught him to inspect foundations.
Look for the thin crack that runs farther than it should.
Look where someone has painted over damage.
“Claire requested an audit.”
Richard removed a carton of milk.
“Claire asked a lot of questions.”
“She handled our books.”
“And she was good at it.”
“Then why are you saying it like a complaint?”
Richard shut the refrigerator too hard.
“Because your children are upstairs, your marriage is falling apart, and you’re digging through a tragedy that nearly destroyed you.”
“Money went missing.”
“Businesses lose money.”
“Through a fake supplier?”
His father faced him.
“What exactly are you accusing me of?”
“I’m asking why you approved it.”
Richard’s eyes shifted toward the stairs.
“Keep your voice down.”
Nathan hadn’t raised it.
That made him angrier.
Beth came into the kitchen and stood beside her brother.
Richard looked between them.
“You two have decided I’m the enemy?”
“No,” Beth said. “We’re waiting for you to answer a question.”
For a moment, he looked old.
Then the expression disappeared.
“Claire found irregularities. I was handling them.”
“With Vanessa?”
“She was an employee.”
“She married your son.”
“I didn’t arrange your marriage.”
Nathan pushed the photograph closer.
“Did Claire come to you before she died?”
Richard said nothing.
That was the crack.
Nathan saw it widen.
“What did she tell you?”
His father reached for his keys.
“Get some rest. We’ll talk when you can think clearly.”
“You don’t get to leave this conversation.”
Richard’s mouth tightened.
“Watch me.”
The front door closed.
Upstairs, a floorboard creaked.
Lily stood in the hallway holding her stuffed rabbit.
Nathan forced his face to soften.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Is Grandpa mad?”
“No.”
The lie came automatically.
He caught himself.
“He’s upset. That isn’t your fault.”
She rubbed the rabbit’s ear.
“Mommy said that too.”
“What?”
“When Grandpa yelled.”
Nathan stayed still.
May you like
Lily looked at the kitchen table.
“He told Mommy to give the papers back.”
