Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS DEAD
Nicole Mercer had officially died in a car accident in Missouri.
Except she hadn’t.
Records showed the body had been badly burned.
Identification came from dental records.
Those records had been submitted by Malcolm Reed’s associate.
Sheriff Ruiz stared at the report.
“They faked her death.”
Brenda nodded.
“Kyle told me once when he was drunk.”
“What does Nicole do?”
“She handles paperwork.”
Shawn laughed bitterly.
“Of course she does.”
Fake signatures.
Fake identities.
Fake deaths.
The entire scheme suddenly made sense.
Nicole could impersonate relatives.
Access accounts.
Sign papers.
Move money.
And disappear legally because, on paper, she was already dead.
Ruiz issued statewide alerts.
The next morning, a security camera caught Nicole at a bus station ninety miles away.
She wasn’t alone.
She carried a document tube.
The deed.
Shawn pointed at the screen.
“Where was she going?”
A deputy checked.
“Chicago.”
Shawn’s phone rang.
His business office.
He almost ignored it.
Then answered.
“Shawn?”
His operations manager sounded nervous.
“We have a situation.”
“What?”
“Two federal agents are here.”
Shawn closed his eyes.
“Why?”
“They’re asking about land purchases connected to Miller Logistics.”
Shawn froze.
“What land purchases?”
“That’s what I’m trying to understand.”
Documents had been filed using Shawn’s company.
Purchases totaling nearly nine million dollars.
All tied to shell companies associated with Reed.
Shawn’s signature appeared on them.
Forged.
Reed hadn’t only targeted his parents.
He had used Shawn’s company as part of the fraud.
Ruiz swore.
“He was setting you up.”
Shawn understood immediately.
If the scheme collapsed, evidence would point toward him.
Successful businessman.
Estranged son.
Secret property purchases.
Parents declared incompetent.
Money transferred.
It looked like Shawn had come home to finish stealing their land.
“He planned everything,” Shawn whispered.
Ruiz nodded.
“And now Nicole has the original deed.”
A deputy entered.
“We located her.”
“Where?”
“She got off the bus early.”
“Why?”
“Someone picked her up.”
“Who?”
The deputy showed them traffic footage.
Malcolm Reed’s wife.
Carolyn.
Shawn stared.
“She’s involved too?”
Ruiz looked grim.
“Apparently.”
Brenda whispered:
“No.”
Everyone turned.
“She isn’t involved.”
“How do you know?”
“Carolyn hates Malcolm.”
Ruiz frowned.
“Then why pick up Nicole?”
Brenda’s eyes widened.
“Because she’s helping her escape.”
“Why?”
Brenda looked at Shawn.
“Because Carolyn has been collecting evidence against her husband for years.”
Shawn stared.
“How do you know that?”
May you like
Brenda answered:
“Because she’s the one who told Dad to start the ledger.”
