Chapter 5 - THE MAN WITH THE BRIEFCASE
David Mercer appeared at the end of the hallway.
He carried a leather briefcase.
He looked annoyed until he saw Andrew blocking the blue room.
Then he saw Lucinda.
Then the broken lamp.
Then Alex.
“What the hell happened?”
Andrew held up Caroline’s phone.
David’s face changed.
Only for a second.
But Andrew saw it.
“You knew about this.”
David recovered quickly.
“Knew about what?”
“The phone.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Lucinda said, “Andrew’s losing his mind.”
Elizabeth snapped, “She admitted pushing Caroline.”
David’s eyes cut to Lucinda.
That look was fast.
Sharp.
Warning.
Andrew noticed that too.
“Why are you here?” Andrew asked.
David lifted the briefcase.
“You called me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
David paused.
Lucinda said, “I did.”
Andrew turned to her.
“When?”
“Earlier.”
“Why?”
“To discuss the trust.”
Andrew’s stomach dropped.
The recording.
Caroline had mentioned stolen money from the family trust.
Andrew looked at David again.
“How much is missing?”
David laughed nervously.
“Andrew, I’m not discussing financial matters in front of the help.”
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed.
Andrew stepped toward him.
“You’ll discuss whatever I ask.”
David’s smile vanished.
“I recommend you calm down.”
“I recommend you answer.”
David placed the briefcase on a table.
“There were accounting discrepancies.”
“How much?”
“Nothing that can’t be corrected.”
“How much?”
David hesitated.
“About two million.”
Andrew’s face hardened.
Lucinda looked away.
Andrew said, “Caroline said Lucinda was moving money.”
David rubbed his jaw.
“Caroline made accusations shortly before her death.”
“You knew?”
“I was investigating.”
“And you never told me?”
“There was no proof.”
Andrew held up the phone.
“There is now.”
David’s eyes dropped to it.
Then to Lucinda.
Lucinda said, “Don’t.”
Andrew turned sharply.
“Don’t what?”
Nobody answered.
Andrew looked between them.
His blood ran cold.
“You two were working together.”
David laughed.
“That’s absurd.”
Elizabeth walked toward the briefcase.
“Then what’s in there?”
David’s reaction was instant.
“Don’t touch that.”
Elizabeth stopped.
Andrew moved toward it.
David grabbed the handle first.
Andrew grabbed the other side.
“Let go.”
“This is privileged material.”
“My family trust is privileged?”
“Andrew.”
“Open it.”
“No.”
Andrew pulled harder.
The briefcase dropped.
It hit the floor.
The locks broke open.
Documents spilled across the carpet.
Bank statements.
Property records.
Passports.
Cash.
And a printed airline itinerary.
Elizabeth picked it up.
“One-way tickets.”
Andrew stared.
“For who?”
She read the names.
“Lucinda Ward.”
Lucinda’s breathing quickened.
Elizabeth looked at the second passenger.
Then her face changed.
“David Mercer.”
Andrew slowly turned toward his attorney.
David reached into his jacket.
Elizabeth screamed.
May you like
“Andrew!”
David pulled out a gun.
