Chapter 7: The File Hidden on Chandler’s Computer
For a moment, nobody reacted.
The words hung in the air.
Your brother’s.
Captain Brooks didn’t need to explain further.
Everyone understood what those words meant.
My eyes moved slowly toward Chandler.
He looked like someone who had just watched the ground disappear beneath him.
“No,” he whispered.
Nobody answered.
“Wait.””
His voice became louder.
“No. That’s not possible.””
I stared at him.
“Why not?””
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
That was the problem with the truth.
Eventually, everyone ran out of excuses.
My father stepped forward.
“This is a mistake.””
Captain Brooks looked at him.
“The forensic team verified the device.””
“Devices can be stolen.””
She nodded slightly.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“Which is why we’re investigating.””
My father looked relieved for half a second.
Then she continued.
“But the file was created while Chandler was logged into the computer.””
The relief disappeared.
Chandler shook his head.
“I didn’t do this.””
I watched him carefully.
And for the first time that night, I wasn’t sure what I believed.
Because Chandler had lied.
He had hidden things.
He had stood outside that shed and walked away.
But creating forged documents?
Using my name?
That felt different.
“Chandler,” I said.
He looked at me.
His eyes were red.
“I swear to you.””
His voice broke.
“I didn’t forge your signature.””
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
Because no matter how much someone hurts you, a part of you still remembers the person they used to be.
The little boy who followed Grandpa around the garden.
The kid who cried when our dog died.
The brother who once stood outside my bedroom door when I was twelve because I was afraid of thunderstorms.
But memories didn’t erase choices.
“What did you do with the computer?”” I asked.
He looked confused.
“What?””
“The computer.””
He swallowed.
“It’s in my office.””
“Can we see it?””
Captain Brooks answered before he could.
“We’re going to see it.””
Chandler didn’t argue.
That surprised me.
If he was hiding something, he wasn’t fighting very hard.
We walked upstairs.
The Mercer house felt different now.
The same walls.
The same paintings.
The same furniture.
But everything looked like evidence.
Every room had secrets.
Every object had a story.
Chandler’s office was at the end of the hallway.
A room my parents always called his “workspace.””
I had never been allowed inside.
Funny.
The child they called useless was kept away from everything.
The child they protected had a room full of secrets.
Captain Brooks opened the door.
The first thing I noticed was how organized everything was.
Too organized.
Chandler had always been messy.
Growing up, his room looked like a storm had passed through it.
But this office was different.
Folders lined the shelves.
Documents were stacked perfectly.
His desk was clean.
Almost staged.
An officer moved toward the computer.
“Don’t touch anything until we document the area.””
Chandler stood near the doorway.
Silent.
I looked around.
Then I noticed something.
A framed photograph on his desk.
Me and Chandler.
We were children.
I was about sixteen.
He was twelve.
Grandpa was behind us, smiling.
I picked it up.
“You kept this?””
Chandler looked at the photo.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then:
“Because before everything got complicated, you were the only person who believed in me.””
The answer hurt.
Because it sounded honest.
I placed the photo down.
“Then why did you help them?””
His face fell.
“I thought I was protecting the family.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You were protecting yourself.””
He didn’t argue.
The officer working on the computer called Captain Brooks over.
“We found something.””
Everyone moved closer.
The screen showed a folder.
Hidden.
Encrypted.
Created seven years ago.
My stomach tightened.
Seven years.
The same time period as the first forged document.
Captain Brooks looked at Chandler.
“Password.””
He shook his head.
“I don’t know it.””
“Try.””
“I don’t know it!””
His voice cracked.
Everyone went silent.
The officer looked at the screen.
“Actually, it unlocked.””
My eyebrows lowered.
“What?””
The officer looked confused.
“The password was already saved.””
Nobody spoke.
Then the folder opened.
Inside were hundreds of files.
Documents.
Emails.
Scans.
Audio recordings.
My father took a step back.
“No.””
That single word changed everything.
Because he wasn’t looking at the computer.
He was looking at evidence.
Captain Brooks began reviewing the files.
Then she stopped.
“Delaine.””
I walked closer.
“What?””
She turned the screen.
The first file was named:
*MERCER SUCCESSION PLAN — FINAL VERSION*
I opened it.
My eyes moved down the page.
It was a document describing control of the family trust.
My name appeared repeatedly.
But then I saw something else.
A paragraph highlighted in red.
*If Delaine Mercer refuses cooperation, emotional manipulation strategy will be implemented.*
My blood ran cold.
“What is this?””
Nobody answered.
I kept reading.
*Primary objective: convince Delaine she has failed the family. Remove her from Halloway permanently.*
My throat tightened.
They had planned this.
Not just the money.
Not just Grandpa.
Me.
My entire life.
I looked at my parents.
My mother’s face was pale.
My father wouldn’t meet my eyes.
Then I saw another file.
A video.
Recorded three months before I returned.
Captain Brooks opened it.
The screen showed Chandler sitting at a desk.
My heart sank.
It was him.
But younger.
More nervous.
He was talking to someone off camera.
My father’s voice appeared.
“Your sister can’t come back.””
Chandler looked uncomfortable.
“She’s still family.””
Richard replied:
“Family is useful only when it understands its place.””
I felt cold.
The recording continued.
“She has no idea what she’s inherited.””
Chandler looked down.
“What if she finds out?””
My father laughed.
“She won’t.””
A pause.
“Delaine always leaves when things get difficult.””
The words hit me.
Because that was the story they created.
Not that they pushed me away.
That I abandoned them.
The video continued.
Then Chandler asked:
“What about Grandpa?””
My father’s answer was quiet.
“She’s the only person he still trusts.””
A pause.
“That’s why he has to lose her first.””
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
I looked at Chandler.
He was crying silently.
“I didn’t know about that part.””
I believed him.
And somehow that made it worse.
Because he had been part of something he didn’t fully understand.
Captain Brooks continued searching.
Then she found another file.
A recent one.
Created two days ago.
The title was simple.
*Emergency Plan.*
She opened it.
My father immediately reacted.
“Don’t.””
The room froze.
Captain Brooks looked at him.
“Why?””
He didn’t answer.
She opened the file.
Inside was a list.
Names.
Locations.
Instructions.
My name was at the top.
I read the first line.
*If Delaine returns and discovers the truth, remove access to all accounts immediately.*
My stomach tightened.
The second line was worse.
*If legal action begins, transfer remaining assets and leave the country.*
Then the third line.
The one that made everyone silent.
*Chandler will take responsibility if necessary.*
I looked at my brother.
He stared at the screen.
“No.””
His voice was barely audible.
“He was going to blame me.””
My father said nothing.
Because silence was confirmation.
Chandler backed away.
“I trusted you.””
Richard looked at his son.
“Chandler—”
“No.””
My brother shook his head.
“You were going to let me go to prison.””
Nobody spoke.
For years, Chandler had been protected.
But now he understood something.
The same person who protected him had also been willing to sacrifice him.
I looked at my father.
And for the first time, I didn’t see a powerful man.
I saw someone who had spent years building a machine that eventually turned against everyone inside it.
Captain Brooks closed the file.
“We have enough evidence to proceed.””
My father looked at her.
“You don’t understand.””
She stared back.
“I understand perfectly.””
“No.””
His voice became desperate.
“You don’t know what’s coming.””
Everyone went quiet.
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at me.
And for a moment, I saw real fear.
Not fear of prison.
Not fear of losing money.
Fear of something else.
“There’s someone else.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Richard swallowed.
“I wasn’t the one who started this.””
Captain Brooks narrowed her eyes.
“Who was?””
My father looked toward the basement.
Toward the old family records.
Toward everything he had tried to hide.
Then he said:
“The person who taught me how to do it.””
A cold silence filled the room.
“Who?””
My father looked at me.
And the answer destroyed the last piece of my childhood.
“Your grandfather’s closest friend.””
I frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
His voice dropped.
“Because he’s the reason Amos built the trust in the first place.””
Captain Brooks stepped forward.
“Name.””
My father closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“Thomas Vale.””
My blood ran cold.
Because I knew that name.
Everyone in Halloway knew that name.
The man who had attended every Mercer family event.
The man who had helped my grandfather build his empire.
The man my grandfather called his brother.
And the man who had just been named as the person behind everything.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
One sentence appeared:
*Your grandfather told you the truth too late. Now ask him why he never told you who your real enemy was.*
I looked up.
My grandfather was standing at the doorway.
May you like
And the expression on his face told me one thing.
He knew exactly who sent it.
