Chapter 4 - THE OPEN DRAWER
The figure wore a gray hood and carried no flashlight.
He knew where the furniture was.
On Elena’s phone, they watched him cross the study and open the bottom drawer of Thomas Carter’s old desk.
Daniel moved toward the door.
Bell blocked him.
“Officers are going.”
“That’s my house.”
“And your children need you here.”
He looked back at Noah.
The boy was watching.
Daniel stopped.
On the screen, the intruder emptied the drawer onto the carpet.
He checked beneath it.
Then he turned toward the bookshelf.
Elena whispered, “The picture.”
The photograph of Thomas and Noah sat between two hardcover books.
The intruder grabbed it.
Seconds later, red and blue light flashed against the study window.
He bolted.
The camera caught one clear glimpse of his face as he passed the doorway.
Elena knew him.
“That’s the contractor.”
Daniel looked closer.
Wade Mercer.
He had supervised the mansion’s renovations.
Vivian had introduced him as a trusted friend.
An officer called Bell.
The intruder had escaped through the rear yard, leaving the photograph beside the fence.
They had his vehicle description.
Bell ended the call.
“Do you have renovation invoices?”
“Every one,” Elena said.
“Send them to me.”
Daniel sat down slowly.
Vivian had recommended the house.
Vivian had selected the contractor.
Vivian had brought the rug.
The pattern was so obvious now that he felt sick.
At dawn, Bell returned with photographs of the frame.
Inside its loose backing, officers had found an impression left by a missing strip of paper.
They had also recovered part of an envelope wedged behind the bookshelf.
On it, Thomas had written two words.
FOR DANIEL.
Below them was a number.
Daniel recognized the handwriting immediately.
His father wrote fours without closing the top.
“What does it mean?” Bell asked.
“I don’t know.”
Elena stared at the photograph.
“Your dad used to rent an office downtown.”
“He gave it up years ago.”
“Did he?”
Daniel looked at her.
Thomas had spent his last year growing forgetful.
At least that was what Vivian and Ruth had told everyone.
They had handled his appointments, bills, and business records.
Daniel had been told not to upset him with financial questions.
Bell took out her notebook.
“What building?”
Before Daniel could answer, Martin Shaw called.
His voice was tight.
“Daniel, don’t sign anything Ruth sent you.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“I just reviewed the settlement again.”
May you like
Martin paused.
“The house you bought may already have belonged to you.”
