Chapter 10 - Richard Mercer
The old mill looked dead from the outside.
Broken windows.
Rusty loading bays.
Trees growing through cracked asphalt.
Police surrounded the property without lights.
Daniel stood beside Grant.
Claire refused to stay behind.
Michael held the brass key.
“If Dad is really in there,” Daniel said, “you tell me everything before we go inside.”
Michael looked at him.
“I was seventeen when I found out Dad was paying people.”
“Paying them for what?”
“Silence. Permits. Contracts. Whatever he needed.”
“And you did nothing?”
“I was seventeen.”
“You were thirty-two when Claire disappeared.”
Michael flinched.
“By then I had spent half my life cleaning up things I thought couldn’t be exposed without destroying all of us.”
Claire stared at him.
“That thinking nearly killed me.”
“I know.”
Grant raised a hand.
“Movement.”
They entered through a side door.
The mill smelled of oil and wet wood.
A single light glowed in the old manager’s office.
Daniel saw Ethan first.
His son was tied to a chair.
Blood on his shirt.
Sophie sat beside him.
Untied.
A man stood behind her.
Richard Mercer.
Daniel stopped.
His father looked older.
Thinner.
But alive.
“Hello, son.”
Daniel couldn’t speak.
Richard smiled.
“You look disappointed.”
“You died.”
“No. I retired.”
Claire stepped forward.
“You buried me.”
Richard looked at her.
“You were supposed to leave.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“No. Arthur did.”
A voice came from the shadows.
Arthur Vale appeared.
Vanessa stood beside him.
Her hands were no longer cuffed.
Daniel looked at her.
“You helped take my children.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I tried to stop him.”
Arthur slapped her so hard she hit the wall.
Daniel lunged.
Richard raised a gun.
“Don’t.”
Everything stopped.
Ethan struggled against the rope.
“Dad!”
“I’m here.”
Richard looked at his grandson.
“Brave boy.”
“Go to hell.”
Richard laughed.
Daniel almost smiled.
That was Ethan.
Even terrified, still Ethan.
Richard pointed the gun toward Sophie.
Daniel went cold.
“Don’t.”
“Then listen.”
Daniel raised his hands.
Richard nodded toward Michael.
“Your brother stole files that could put dozens of powerful people in prison.”
Michael said, “They belong there.”
Richard ignored him.
“I want the originals.”
“They’re with the police.”
Richard smiled.
“No. Claire hid the originals.”
Daniel looked at her.
Claire said nothing.
Richard’s smile deepened.
“Smart girl.”
Arthur stepped closer.
“Enough.”
His patience had vanished.
“Give us the files.”
Claire looked at Sophie.
Then Ethan.
“I’ll take you to them.”
Daniel turned.
“Claire.”
She met his eyes.
Trust me.
She didn’t say the words.
She didn’t need to.
Richard lowered the gun slightly.
“Where?”
Claire pointed toward the floor.
“Under this building.”
Arthur laughed.
“I searched it.”
“Not all of it.”
Michael held up the brass key.
Arthur’s face changed.
“That.”
Michael smiled.
“Been looking for this?”
Richard’s expression darkened.
Michael moved toward an old steel hatch.
Inserted the key.
Turned.
Click.
He lifted the door.
Cold air rose.
Claire looked at Daniel.
May you like
Then whispered:
“The proof isn’t the only thing down there.”
