Chapter 9 - THE BUYER
Naomi discovered the buyer’s name Sunday morning: Whitlock Development.
Whitlock wanted the warehouse and the land beneath it. Its offer would bring quick cash into Mercer House, but the sale would close the distribution center that employed two hundred people.
Daniel had rejected a similar offer six months earlier.
“Victor brought them back,” Naomi said. “If Caroline takes over, she can sign before anyone else sees the terms.”
“And what does she get?”
“We’re looking.”
Daniel spent the day at the hospital. Lily was getting stronger. She complained about the food and asked whether her birthday cake had survived the party.
“Half of it,” Daniel told her. “Evan guarded it.”
“Can I have some when we get home?”
“As much as the doctor says you can.”
Her smile faded. “Will Mom be there?”
Daniel pulled his chair closer. “You’re going to stay with me. Naomi is helping me make sure of that.”
Lily nodded, though she kept worrying the edge of her blanket.
In the afternoon, Ruth came by with a small gift: a wooden music box Daniel’s father had made for the first store. Lily turned its key with her good hand.
“Your grandpa was terrible at keeping secrets,” Ruth told her. “He always smiled before he gave someone a present.”
Lily looked at Daniel. “Dad does that.”
“I know,” Ruth said.
Before she left, Ruth handed Naomi a folder of old board records. They showed that Victor knew about her voting share. He had acknowledged it in writing years ago.
Late that night, Evan called. He had repaired another few seconds of the video.
Daniel watched the clip on Naomi’s laptop.
Lily reached the landing. Caroline leaned close to speak to her. Lily stepped backward.
Then Caroline’s hand rose.
The image froze.
“Can you recover what comes next?” Daniel asked.
“I don’t know,” Evan said. “But there’s audio after the picture cuts out.”
He pressed play.
For two seconds, there was ballroom music. Then Lily said, “I don’t have it.”
Caroline answered, “Then tell me where he put it.”
A thump followed. Lily screamed.
Daniel shut his eyes.
Bennett listened to the recording twice. She asked Evan for the laptop and took it to the department’s video specialist.
At midnight, Naomi received a message from an unknown number.
May you like
It contained a photograph of Lily’s hospital room, taken through the window.
Under it were five words: SIGN TOMORROW, OR LOSE HER.
