Chapter 12 - THE LAST LIE
We could have tried to stop the story.
My father’s first instinct was exactly that.
“Get an injunction.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
He stared at me.
“Some of those documents are false.”
“Then we identify the false ones.”
“The company will collapse.”
“Maybe.”
“Thousands of jobs—”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
I had heard that argument before.
Employees.
Shareholders.
Reputation.
Always a reason truth had to wait.
“No more hiding.”
The next morning, I called a press conference.
Rebecca thought I was taking a risk.
Elias thought I was doing the right thing.
My father thought I was ending Mercer.
Maybe all three were correct.
At noon, cameras filled the lobby.
I walked to the podium.
No designer dress.
No Mercer jewelry.
Just a black suit and the hospital bracelet I still hadn’t taken off.
“My name is Claire Mercer.”
“For years, my family’s company concealed financial misconduct connected to the Monterrey project of 2009.”
The room erupted.
I kept speaking.
“Evidence indicates that inspection records were falsified.”
“Money was diverted.”
“Corporate ownership records were altered.”
“And members of my family participated.”
Reporters shouted questions.
I raised my hand.
“I will not defend the indefensible simply because my last name is attached to it.”
Silence.
“Mercer Development Group will cooperate fully with investigators.”
“We will establish a compensation fund for workers and families affected by misconduct connected to our projects.”
“And every executive implicated will be removed, including members of my family.”
A reporter shouted.
“Does that include your father?”
I looked directly into the camera.
“Yes.”
Somewhere, I knew he was watching.
Another reporter asked about my mother.
“Yes.”
“Your brother?”
“Yes.”
Then someone asked:
“Are you taking over Mercer Development Group?”
“No.”
That surprised them.
“I will serve temporarily while an independent board is established.”
“Then shareholders will decide what Mercer becomes.”
I stepped away.
My phone rang before I reached the elevator.
Daniel.
I answered.
“You always were dramatic.”
“Where are you?”
“Watching.”
I scanned the lobby.
Hundreds of people.
Cameras.
Employees.
Security.
“Your grandfather made the same mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“Thinking truth saves people.”
“It doesn’t.”
“It just decides who burns first.”
Then I saw him.
Across the lobby.
Maintenance uniform.
Baseball cap.
Daniel Cross.
He wasn’t looking at me.
He was looking behind me.
At Elias.
And Noah.
Elias had brought Noah down after the press conference ended.
Daniel reached inside his jacket.
Security moved instantly.
Someone screamed.
Elias turned.
I ran.
Daniel never reached whatever he was carrying.
Three security officers brought him to the floor.
The object fell from his jacket.
Not a weapon.
A flash drive.
He laughed as police handcuffed him.
“You’re too late.”
I stared at him.
“For what?”
May you like
His smile widened.
“The email already went out.”
