Chapter 10 - MERCER TOWER
Ethan went to Mercer Tower.
He did not go alone.
He simply made Raymond think he did.
At 11:57 p.m., Ethan entered the forty-eight-story glass building carrying a metal case.
A guard scanned him.
“No weapons.”
Ethan placed his pistol on the desk.
The guard smiled.
“Smart.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You searched the case?”
The guard opened it.
Flash drive inside.
Nothing else.
He nodded.
Elevator.
Forty-sixth floor.
Raymond waited in a private penthouse office overlooking the city.
Tyler was tied to a chair.
Logan stood by the windows.
His face was bruised from the mansion.
He smiled when Ethan entered.
“Miss me?”
Ethan ignored him.
Raymond gestured.
“Sit.”
“I’ll stand.”
“As always.”
“Release Tyler.”
“When I have the drive.”
Ethan raised the case.
“What’s Project Keystone?”
Raymond smiled.
“You really want the history lesson?”
“I want to know why Laura died.”
Logan rolled his eyes.
“Here we go.”
Raymond looked at his son.
“Leave.”
“What?”
“Leave.”
“You said I could watch.”
“I changed my mind.”
Logan stared at Ethan.
Then walked out.
Raymond poured two drinks.
“You were always stronger than me, Ethan.”
“I’m touched.”
“But strength is expensive. You keep trying to protect everyone.”
He handed Ethan a glass.
Ethan didn’t take it.
Raymond shrugged.
“Laura was brilliant. Too brilliant.”
“You killed her.”
“No.”
Ethan went still.
Raymond sat.
“I ordered her stopped.”
“What’s the difference?”
“A great deal.”
“Not to Grace.”
Raymond’s expression softened.
“I never wanted Grace involved.”
“You told Logan to keep her at the mansion.”
“Because I knew you would come.”
“So she was bait.”
“Yes.”
Tyler struggled against the ropes.
“Raymond, you promised—”
Raymond shot him.
The sound exploded through the office.
Tyler collapsed.
Ethan’s face changed.
Raymond calmly lowered the suppressed pistol.
“He talked too much.”
“You son of a bitch.”
“Don’t pretend you came here for him.”
Ethan stared at Tyler’s body.
Then Raymond.
“You just confessed to murder.”
Raymond smiled.
“To you.”
“Exactly.”
Raymond’s smile faded.
Ethan touched his watch.
Tiny green light.
Live transmitter.
Raymond raised the gun.
“You arrogant bastard.”
Windows suddenly shattered.
Flash-bang devices detonated.
Security teams stormed from three directions.
Marcus.
Claire.
Federal agents.
“Drop the weapon!”
Raymond grabbed Ethan and shoved the gun beneath his jaw.
Everyone stopped.
Raymond laughed.
“You think I didn’t prepare for this?”
He backed toward a private elevator.
“You still don’t understand Keystone.”
“Then explain it.”
“Keystone isn’t files.”
Raymond pressed the elevator button.
“It’s people.”
Doors opened.
Raymond dragged Ethan inside.
Then something unexpected happened.
Logan stepped into the elevator behind them.
He was holding Grace.
A gun pressed against her side.
Ethan’s blood turned to ice.
“Dad.”
Raymond stared at his son.
“What did you do?”
Logan smiled wildly.
“I fixed it.”
Raymond’s face changed.
“No.”
“What?”
“I told you to leave her out of this.”
Logan shoved Grace forward.
“She’s the reason everything fell apart!”
Ethan stared at him.
“You hurt her again, you die.”
Logan laughed.
“You’re not in control anymore.”
The elevator began descending.
Raymond looked at his son.
Then at Grace.
Then at Ethan.
For the first time, Raymond Mercer looked less like a criminal mastermind and more like a father realizing his own son had become something even he couldn’t control.
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And then Logan whispered:
“Dad, tell him who was actually driving the car that killed his wife.”
