Chapter 6 - THE DEAD WOMAN’S WARNING
Dominic could not move.
His dead mother looked straight through the screen at him.
“Brooke came to see me yesterday,” Catherine said.
Her breathing was shallow.
“She asked questions about the trust. Too many questions.”
Natalie covered her mouth.
Brooke whispered, “She hated me.”
Dominic didn’t look at her.
On screen, Catherine continued.
“She asked whether the cottage could ever be sold without Natalie’s approval. She asked whether marriage would give her rights to Mercer property.”
Martin shifted toward the door.
Marcus blocked him.
“Stay comfortable.”
Catherine coughed.
Then she leaned closer to the camera.
“I may be wrong.”
Dominic’s eyes burned.
“I hope I am. Because my son loves her.”
Brooke started crying.
“See? She admitted she wasn’t sure.”
Dominic finally turned.
“Shut up.”
The room went silent.
He had never spoken to Brooke like that.
Catherine continued.
“But if I am not wrong, Dominic, remember what your father always said.”
Dominic whispered the words with her.
“People show you who they are when they think there are no consequences.”
Natalie began sobbing.
On screen, Catherine smiled sadly.
“Protect your sister. Protect that boy. And protect yourself from becoming so lonely that you mistake attention for love.”
Dominic lowered his head.
The video ended.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Then Brooke laughed.
It sounded broken.
“So that’s it?”
Dominic looked up.
“Excuse me?”
“Your dead mother makes one paranoid video and suddenly I’m a criminal?”
Martin whispered, “Brooke, stop.”
“No!”
She turned on him.
“You stop!”
Then she looked at Dominic.
“You think your family is innocent?”
“Nobody said that.”
“You think Natalie isn’t using you?”
Natalie stared at her.
Brooke pointed at her.
“She moves in after her husband dies. Free house. Free school for Noah. Drivers. Staff. Food. Security. And I’m the greedy one?”
Dominic stepped between them.
“You forged documents.”
Brooke’s face changed.
He saw it.
Just a flicker.
Fear.
“I did not.”
“You tricked me into signing something.”
“You signed dozens of wedding documents.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Brooke looked toward the door.
Marcus noticed.
“No.”
She ran.
Not toward the hallway.
Toward the window.
She grabbed a heavy brass lamp and threw it.
Glass exploded.
Then she climbed through.
“Brooke!” Dominic shouted.
She dropped onto the lower terrace.
Marcus ran for the stairs.
Martin took advantage of the distraction and shoved Natalie.
Dominic caught her before she hit the floor.
Martin sprinted toward the back corridor.
“Marcus!”
“I’ve got Brooke!”
Dominic looked between the two escape routes.
Then Noah appeared at the top of the staircase.
“Uncle Dom?”
Dominic froze.
The boy saw the broken glass.
Saw his mother crying.
Saw Martin running.
And then Martin changed direction.
Instead of going for the exit, he grabbed Noah.
Natalie screamed.
“No!”
Martin locked an arm around the child.
“Everybody stop!”
Dominic went absolutely still.
Martin dragged Noah backward.
“Give me the trust.”
Dominic stared at him.
May you like
Martin pulled the boy tighter.
“I said give me the damn trust.”
