Chapter 4 - CATHERINE’S SAFE
Catherine Mercer’s study had been sealed since her funeral.
Dominic had left it untouched.
Her reading glasses still sat on the desk.
A half-finished crossword rested beside them.
Her perfume lingered faintly in the curtains.
He entered through a hidden rear passage built during Prohibition.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Your family has secret tunnels?”
“My grandfather had trust issues.”
“Runs in the family.”
Dominic gave him a look.
“Bad time?”
“Very.”
They heard a key turn in the main door.
Dominic pulled Marcus behind the bookcase.
Brooke entered.
She was not alone.
Martin Harrington followed.
Dominic had met him maybe six times.
Tall, polished, expensive smile.
Today, the smile was gone.
“You said he was in London,” Martin whispered.
“He is.”
“You texted me that he suspects.”
“His maid is acting weird.”
Martin rolled his eyes.
“You’re afraid of a maid?”
“I’m afraid of people talking.”
He opened desk drawers.
“Where’s the trust?”
“I don’t know.”
“You told me Catherine kept everything here.”
“She did.”
Brooke yanked open a cabinet.
“You were supposed to find it weeks ago.”
“I’ve been planning a wedding.”
“I’ve been trying to keep us out of bankruptcy.”
Brooke turned.
“Lower your voice.”
Behind the bookcase, Dominic felt something inside him turn to ice.
Us.
Not Martin.
Us.
Martin moved toward Catherine’s portrait.
“If we get the original trust destroyed before Natalie talks to the attorney, the amended copy controls.”
Brooke stopped.
“Keep your voice down.”
Dominic’s eyes sharpened.
Amended copy?
Marcus silently pulled out his phone and began recording.
Martin touched the portrait frame.
“You already got Dominic’s signature.”
Brooke whispered, “He thought it was the wedding property agreement.”
Dominic’s breath stopped.
Martin smiled.
“Exactly.”
Brooke paced.
“If the cottage transfers into the marital estate after Saturday, you refinance it through Eastern Heritage. We pay the lenders, then sell it.”
“And the rest?”
“After six months.”
“What about Natalie?”
Brooke laughed softly.
“Natalie has no money, no husband, and no stomach for a fight.”
Dominic’s expression changed.
Marcus looked at him, silently warning him not to move.
Then Martin found something.
A small brass switch behind the frame.
Click.
A section of wall opened.
A safe.
Brooke smiled.
“There you are.”
Dominic knew that safe.
His mother had used it for family documents.
Martin pulled a small electronic bypass device from his pocket.
Marcus mouthed, Professional.
Thirty seconds later, the safe opened.
Brooke reached inside.
Empty.
Her face collapsed.
“No.”
Martin searched again.
“Where is it?”
Brooke looked around wildly.
“No. No, no, no.”
Then a voice came from the hallway.
“Looking for this?”
Brooke spun around.
Natalie stood in the doorway.
In her hand was a thick cream envelope.
CATHERINE MERCER FAMILY TRUST.
Brooke’s face went white.
Natalie looked from her to Martin.
Then to the open safe.
“What the hell are you doing in my mother’s study?”
May you like
Martin moved first.
Straight toward her.
