Chapter 8 - WILLIAM MERCER
My uncle had called me every Sunday for fourteen years.
He remembered Lily’s birthday.
He held Noah in the hospital the day he was born.
When Claire disappeared, William sat beside me through three nights while search crews combed the mountain.
Now she was telling me he had kept her alive.
I wanted the world to make sense.
It didn’t.
Rachel traced the call.
“Burner routed through multiple towers.”
“So nothing?”
“Not nothing. We’ve narrowed the region.”
“To where?”
“Westchester County.”
Daniel frowned.
“William owns property there.”
“So do three hundred thousand other people,” Rachel said.
I called William.
Rachel tried to stop me.
Too late.
He answered warmly.
“Adrian.”
“Where is Claire?”
Silence.
Then:
“I was wondering when you’d finally ask the right question.”
My stomach twisted.
Rachel signaled for technicians to trace.
“You knew.”
“Of course.”
“You knew she was alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your wife was dangerous.”
“Claire?”
“Brilliant people often are.”
“What did she find?”
“My brother’s mistakes.”
“My father.”
“Yes.”
“You continued them.”
William sighed.
“That is a childish way to describe it.”
“You kidnapped my wife.”
“I protected the company.”
“You locked her in a psychiatric hospital.”
“She was unstable.”
“That lie is getting old.”
“Is it?”
His voice remained calm.
That scared me more than shouting would have.
“Ask yourself why Claire never came home after she escaped.”
I froze.
“What?”
“She escaped three years ago, Adrian. Three years. Why didn’t she come to you?”
“She was hiding from you.”
“Maybe.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying Claire learned things about you too.”
I looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
William continued.
“Your father used your digital signature on multiple transfers.”
“I know.”
“No. You know he used your name.”
“Yes.”
“But did you know Claire thought you were involved?”
My chest tightened.
“She wouldn’t.”
“She did.”
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
Rachel mouthed: Keep him talking.
“Where is she?”
“With me.”
“Is she safe?”
“For the moment.”
My hands shook.
“If you hurt her—”
“There’s the Mercer temper.”
“Where is my wife?”
“Meet me tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Then Claire disappears again.”
“I’m not coming alone.”
“I know.”
I paused.
He chuckled.
“You really think I don’t know the FBI is in your house?”
Rachel’s expression changed.
Everyone looked around.
Surveillance.
Somewhere.
William said, “Hello, Agent Kim.”
Rachel went still.
The call ended.
Within seconds, agents were checking the house.
They found one listening device under the dining table.
Another inside the security room.
A third in my study.
Vanessa whispered, “He’s been listening the whole time.”
Rachel removed the devices.
I looked toward the hallway.
“My children.”
Her team immediately called the safe house.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
I ran for the door.
Rachel blocked me.
“Adrian.”
“That’s my daughter.”
“Let my people move.”
Then Maria called.
I answered.
Her voice shook.
“Mr. Mercer.”
“Are they okay?”
“Yes.”
I nearly collapsed.
“What happened?”
“A man came to the gate.”
“What man?”
“He said you sent him.”
“Did you let him inside?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“He left something.”
“What?”
“A box.”
Rachel took the phone.
“Do not touch it.”
Maria said, “I didn’t.”
“What does it look like?”
“Just a white box.”
Rachel asked, “Any writing?”
Maria went quiet.
“Yes.”
“What does it say?”
I already knew.
She read it aloud.
A FAMILY SHOULD ALWAYS STAY TOGETHER.
When the bomb squad opened the box later, there was no explosive.
Inside was a child’s red shoe.
Lily’s missing shoe.
And beneath it was a photograph taken through the safe house window less than twenty minutes earlier.
May you like
William didn’t just know where my children were.
He was watching them.
