Chapter 5: The Lawyer Who Knew Too Much
I called my mother back seventeen times.
Every call went straight to voicemail.
By the sixth attempt, Eleanor had summoned the hospital security times.
Every call went straight to voicemail.
By the sixth attempt, Eleanor had summoned the hospital security supervisor. By the tenth, Daniel Mercer had returned to the room, carrying his briefcase and looking more supervisor. By the tenth, Daniel Mercer had returned to the room, carrying his briefcase and looking more concerned than I had ever seen him.
By the seventeenth, I was gripping my concerned than I had ever seen him.
By the seventeenth, I was gripping my phone so tightly that my fingers hurt.
“Find her,” I said.
Daniel stopped near the door.
“ phone so tightly that my fingers hurt.
“Find her,” I said.
Daniel stopped near the door.
“Claire, I understand you're frightened, but I need to know exactly what your mother said.””
“She told me you wereClaire, I understand you're frightened, but I need to know exactly what your mother said.””
“She told me you were at our house the night before my father died.””
His face went blank.
Eleanor turned at our house the night before my father died.””
His face went blank.
Eleanor turned toward him.
“Daniel?””
He placed his briefcase on the chair.
“I never visited Thomas toward him.
“Daniel?””
He placed his briefcase on the chair.
“I never visited Thomas Bennett's home with Richard Hale.””
“My mother recognized your voice.””
“Memory can be unreliable after so Bennett's home with Richard Hale.””
“My mother recognized your voice.””
“Memory can be unreliable after so many years.””
I stared at him.
“You've been a lawyer for twenty-two years. Are you telling me you many years.””
I stared at him.
“You've been a lawyer for twenty-two years. Are you telling me you don't remember where you were on the night my father died?””
“I represented the company don't remember where you were on the night my father died?””
“I represented the company. I met with Richard frequently.””
“Did you go. I met with Richard frequently.””
“Did you go to my mother's house?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
Eleanor heard it, too to my mother's house?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
Eleanor heard it, too.
“Daniel,” she said quietly, “I want you to think very carefully before answering another question.””
His jaw.
“Daniel,” she said quietly, “I want you to think very carefully before answering another question.””
His jaw tightened.
“I have spent more than two decades protecting this family's interests. I have never betrayed Eleanor tightened.
“I have spent more than two decades protecting this family's interests. I have never betrayed Eleanor or the trust.””
“That wasn't the or the trust.””
“That wasn't the question,” I said.
He looked at me.
I could see irritation beginning to replace his professional composure.
“Mrs. Hale, I question,” I said.
He looked at me.
I could see irritation beginning to replace his professional composure.
“Mrs. Hale, I appreciate that you're upset, but accusations of this nature are serious.””
appreciate that you're upset, but accusations of this nature are serious.””
“My mother is missing.””
“We don't know that she's missing.””
“She was crying“My mother is missing.””
“We don't know that she's missing.””
“She was crying. I heard something crash. Then the call ended.””
. I heard something crash. Then the call ended.””
Daniel glanced at Eleanor.
“I suggest we contact local authorities and request a welfare check.””
“Already doneDaniel glanced at Eleanor.
“I suggest we contact local authorities and request a welfare check.””
“Already done,” Eleanor replied.
“The hospital security team is helping me contact the police.””
Daniel,” Eleanor replied.
“The hospital security team is helping me contact the police.””
Daniel picked up his briefcase.
“I'll return to my office and gather the records you requested.””
“No,” Eleanor said.
picked up his briefcase.
“I'll return to my office and gather the records you requested.””
“No,” Eleanor said.
He paused.
“What?””
“You're not taking any files. From this moment forward,He paused.
“What?””
“You're not taking any files. From this moment forward, you have no authority to remove or alter records connected with the investigation.””
His face hardened you have no authority to remove or alter records connected with the investigation.””
His face hardened.
“You cannot simply revoke my access because Claire has made an allegation.””
“Watch.
“You cannot simply revoke my access because Claire has made an allegation.””
“Watch me.””
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Daniel closed his briefcase.
“I see.””
He me.””
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Daniel closed his briefcase.
“I see.””
He looked at me with an expression that made my skin crawl.
“Claire, your father was not the man looked at me with an expression that made my skin crawl.
“Claire, your father was not the man you think he was. Be careful about accepting his letter as the truth.””
He you think he was. Be careful about accepting his letter as the truth.””
He walked out.
The door clicked shut behind him.
I turned toward Eleanor.
“Why did you let him leave walked out.
The door clicked shut behind him.
I turned toward Eleanor.
“Why did you let him leave?””
“Because I want him to believe he still has room to maneuver.””
She took out her phone and?””
“Because I want him to believe he still has room to maneuver.””
She took out her phone and called an independent attorney she trusted. Within minutes, she had instructed him to secure copies of the trust's called an independent attorney she trusted. Within minutes, she had instructed him to secure copies of the trust's records and contact the relevant authorities about the suspected forgery and attempted transfer.
Then she sat records and contact the relevant authorities about the suspected forgery and attempted transfer.
Then she sat beside me.
“I should have listened to your mother years ago,” she said.
“You beside me.
“I should have listened to your mother years ago,” she said.
“You said you didn't know about the letter.””
“I didn't know its contents. I knew Thomas had left said you didn't know about the letter.””
“I didn't know its contents. I knew Thomas had left something with my husband, but Richard told us it was a private matter between them. My something with my husband, but Richard told us it was a private matter between them. My husband was supposed to return it to Thomas.””
“Did he?””
“No. Thomas died before he husband was supposed to return it to Thomas.””
“Did he?””
“No. Thomas died before he could.””
“Why didn't your husband tell the police?””
Eleanor's eyes lowered.
“Because he found out that Richard had been could.””
“Why didn't your husband tell the police?””
Eleanor's eyes lowered.
“Because he found out that Richard had been using company funds improperly, and he feared the scandal would destroy the business. He convinced using company funds improperly, and he feared the scandal would destroy the business. He convinced himself that he could correct things quietly.””
She looked at me.
“He himself that he could correct things quietly.””
She looked at me.
“He was wrong, and so was I for accepting his silence.””
For the first time, I was wrong, and so was I for accepting his silence.””
For the first time, I saw the full weight of her regret.
But regret didn't explain why Daniel knew so much about saw the full weight of her regret.
But regret didn't explain why Daniel knew so much about my father's death.
I called my mother again.
Voicemail.
Then I called our neighbor, Mrs. Alvarez my father's death.
I called my mother again.
Voicemail.
Then I called our neighbor, Mrs. Alvarez, who lived two doors down from my mother's house.
She answered on the second ring.
“Claire, honey? How are, who lived two doors down from my mother's house.
She answered on the second ring.
“Claire, honey? How are you?””
“Have you seen my mom today?””
“Not since yesterday. Why?””
“Could you?””
“Have you seen my mom today?””
“Not since yesterday. Why?””
“Could you please go over and check on her? I'm worried.””
“Of course. Give me five minutes.””
I waited you please go over and check on her? I'm worried.””
“Of course. Give me five minutes.””
I waited with the phone pressed to my ear.
Eleanor sat silently beside me while the fetal with the phone pressed to my ear.
Eleanor sat silently beside me while the fetal monitor continued its steady rhythm.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Finally, Mrs. Alvarez called back.
“Claire, sweetheart monitor continued its steady rhythm.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Finally, Mrs. Alvarez called back.
“Claire, sweetheart, your mother's car is in the driveway, but nobody's answering the door.””
“Can you see inside?””
“The, your mother's car is in the driveway, but nobody's answering the door.””
“Can you see inside?””
“The curtains are closed. But there's something strange.””
“What?””
“Your front door isn't locked.””
I sat curtains are closed. But there's something strange.””
“What?””
“Your front door isn't locked.””
I sat upright.
“Don't go inside.””
“I wasn't planning to, upright.
“Don't go inside.””
“I wasn't planning to, honey. I'm calling the police.””
“Please wait for them outside.””
I ended the call and looked honey. I'm calling the police.””
“Please wait for them outside.””
I ended the call and looked at Eleanor.
“I need to go there.””
“You're not leaving the hospital until your doctor clears at Eleanor.
“I need to go there.””
“You're not leaving the hospital until your doctor clears you.””
“That's my mother.””
“And you're carrying my grandchild. We'll get you.””
“That's my mother.””
“And you're carrying my grandchild. We'll get help without putting either of you in danger.””
She was right, and I hated that she was right.
Daniel's help without putting either of you in danger.””
She was right, and I hated that she was right.
Daniel's behavior had changed the situation. Whoever had called my mother might have been trying behavior had changed the situation. Whoever had called my mother might have been trying to frighten her into silence.
If someone had entered her house, I couldn't assume it to frighten her into silence. If someone had entered her house, I couldn't assume it was safe.
Eleanor arranged for a police officer to meet Mrs. Alvarez and requested was safe.
Eleanor arranged for a police officer to meet Mrs. Alvarez and requested that another officer remain available at the hospital.
Then she made a call to an that another officer remain available at the hospital.
Then she made a call to an investigator who had worked on several financial cases for her investigator who had worked on several financial cases for her family.
“His name is Peter Lawson,” she told me.
“He doesn't work family.
“His name is Peter Lawson,” she told me.
“He doesn't work for the trust, and he has no connection to Daniel. He'll investigate your father's for the trust, and he has no connection to Daniel. He'll investigate your father's records independently.””
“Can he find my mother?””
“He'll do everything he can.””
A little records independently.””
“Can he find my mother?””
“He'll do everything he can.””
A little later, the police officer at my mother's house called.
My mother wasn't there.
The living room was und later, the police officer at my mother's house called.
My mother wasn't there.
The living room was undisturbed. Her handbag sat on the kitchen counter, and her reading glasses lay beside an unfinished cup of tea.
isturbed. Her handbag sat on the kitchen counter, and her reading glasses lay beside an unfinished cup of tea.
But her phone was missing.
The officer had also found something else: aBut her phone was missing.
The officer had also found something else: a small envelope placed in the center of the kitchen table.
My name was written across it.
I small envelope placed in the center of the kitchen table.
My name was written across it.
I asked the officer to read the contents to me.
Inside was a photograph of my father standing beside a asked the officer to read the contents to me.
Inside was a photograph of my father standing beside a black sedan. The picture had been taken at night, outside a building I didn't recognize.
On black sedan. The picture had been taken at night, outside a building I didn't recognize.
On the back, someone had written a date.
The day before he died.
And beneath it were six the back, someone had written a date.
The day before he died.
And beneath it were six words.
*Ask Eleanor what she promised Richard.*
I looked up.
Eleanor had gone pale.
“What words.
*Ask Eleanor what she promised Richard.*
I looked up.
Eleanor had gone pale.
“What did you promise him?”” I asked.
She stared at the photograph.
“Richard wanted Thomas to stop investigating did you promise him?”” I asked.
She stared at the photograph.
“Richard wanted Thomas to stop investigating the missing funds. He threatened to expose a private financial arrangement involving my husband.””
“What the missing funds. He threatened to expose a private financial arrangement involving my husband.””
“What arrangement?””
“My husband had borrowed money from one of Richard's companies years earlier. The loan had arrangement?””
“My husband had borrowed money from one of Richard's companies years earlier. The loan had been repaid, but Richard kept documents that made it look as though the debt was still outstanding. been repaid, but Richard kept documents that made it look as though the debt was still outstanding. He threatened to use them to destroy my husband's reputation.””
“And you agreed to help him?””
“No. I refused.””
“Then He threatened to use them to destroy my husband's reputation.””
“And you agreed to help him?””
“No. I refused.””
“Then why does this photograph mention you?””
“Because Richard knew I was the one person who might persuade why does this photograph mention you?””
“Because Richard knew I was the one person who might persuade Thomas to stop.””
I felt a cold anger rising.
“Did you talk to my father?””
“Yes. Thomas to stop.””
I felt a cold anger rising.
“Did you talk to my father?””
“Yes. I met him once, at his office. I told him that Richard was dangerous and begged him to I met him once, at his office. I told him that Richard was dangerous and begged him to take his family somewhere safe until he could get the evidence to the authorities.””
“Did he listen?””
take his family somewhere safe until he could get the evidence to the authorities.””
“Did he listen?””
“He said he wouldn't run from a man who had stolen money from ordinary people.””
I looked at the photograph again“He said he wouldn't run from a man who had stolen money from ordinary people.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Was this taken that night?””
“I don't know.””
The police officer.
“Was this taken that night?””
“I don't know.””
The police officer called back before I could ask another question.
They had found a witness who remembered seeing called back before I could ask another question.
They had found a witness who remembered seeing a dark vehicle parked near my mother's house earlier that afternoon. The witness couldn't a dark vehicle parked near my mother's house earlier that afternoon. The witness couldn't identify the driver but had noted the license plate because the car had blocked a neighbor's driveway.
The plate identify the driver but had noted the license plate because the car had blocked a neighbor's driveway.
The plate belonged to a vehicle registered to a private security company.
Peter Lawson traced the company within the belonged to a vehicle registered to a private security company.
Peter Lawson traced the company within the hour.
It had once provided security services to Richard Hale's investment firm.
And its current hour.
It had once provided security services to Richard Hale's investment firm.
And its current managing director was a former employee of Marcus's company.
I stared at the report on Eleanor's phone.
“Marcus managing director was a former employee of Marcus's company.
I stared at the report on Eleanor's phone.
“Marcus is involved in this, too.””
“We don't know that,” Eleanor replied.
“The is involved in this, too.””
“We don't know that,” Eleanor replied.
“The company may have been hired by someone else.””
“But it's another connection company may have been hired by someone else.””
“But it's another connection.””
“Yes.””
I felt exhausted.
My father had died under suspicious circumstances. My mother had spent.””
“Yes.””
I felt exhausted.
My father had died under suspicious circumstances. My mother had spent decades afraid to speak. The family lawyer had denied visiting our home, and decades afraid to speak. The family lawyer had denied visiting our home, and now my mother had vanished after receiving a call from him.
Meanwhile, my husband had attempted to move now my mother had vanished after receiving a call from him.
Meanwhile, my husband had attempted to move millions of dollars to his mistress.
I had spent years believing that the worst thing Marcus millions of dollars to his mistress.
I had spent years believing that the worst thing Marcus could do was fall out of love with me.
I had been spectacularly wrong.
A knock sounded at the door.
Peter could do was fall out of love with me.
I had been spectacularly wrong.
A knock sounded at the door.
Peter Lawson entered, carrying a tablet and a thin file.
He was in his early forties, dressed plainly Lawson entered, carrying a tablet and a thin file.
He was in his early forties, dressed plainly, with the watchful eyes of someone who noticed every detail, with the watchful eyes of someone who noticed every detail in a room.
“Eleanor,” he said. Then he turned to me.
“Claire, I've reviewed the initial in a room.
“Eleanor,” he said. Then he turned to me.
“Claire, I've reviewed the initial police report. I'm sorry about your mother.””
“Can you find her?””
“I can try. But I need you to tell police report. I'm sorry about your mother.””
“Can you find her?””
“I can try. But I need you to tell me whether anyone has access to her house, her finances, or her daily routine.””
I gave him the details me whether anyone has access to her house, her finances, or her daily routine.””
I gave him the details I knew.
He wrote everything down, then asked to see the photograph.
When he examined the image I knew.
He wrote everything down, then asked to see the photograph.
When he examined the image, his expression changed.
“Where did this come from?””
“The police found it on my mother's kitchen table.””
He, his expression changed.
“Where did this come from?””
“The police found it on my mother's kitchen table.””
He enlarged the photograph.
The sedan was parked outside a brick building with a stone arch over the entrance enlarged the photograph.
The sedan was parked outside a brick building with a stone arch over the entrance.
Peter leaned closer.
“I recognize this place.””
“Where is it?””
“The old Hale investment office. The company moved out years ago.””
.
Peter leaned closer.
“I recognize this place.””
“Where is it?””
“The old Hale investment office. The company moved out years ago.””
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Are you certain?””
“Almost. I worked a caseEleanor stepped forward.
“Are you certain?””
“Almost. I worked a case involving that building a long time ago.””
He zoomed in on the involving that building a long time ago.””
He zoomed in on the car's windshield.
A reflection showed a second figure standing behind my father car's windshield.
A reflection showed a second figure standing behind my father.
Peter stopped moving.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He turned the tablet toward us.
Peter stopped moving.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He turned the tablet toward us.
The image was grainy, but the face was visible enough.
The image was grainy, but the face was visible enough to make out the shape of the man's jaw and the distinctive scar to make out the shape of the man's jaw and the distinctive scar running from his left temple toward his eyebrow.
Eleanor whispered his name.
“Richard running from his left temple toward his eyebrow.
Eleanor whispered his name.
“Richard.””
Peter shook his head.
“No. Look at the reflection in the side window.””
I leaned closer.
The.””
Peter shook his head.
“No. Look at the reflection in the side window.””
I leaned closer.
The second figure wasn't Richard.
It was a younger man standing beside him, partially obscured by the sedan second figure wasn't Richard.
It was a younger man standing beside him, partially obscured by the sedan's roof.
Peter enlarged the image until the pixels blurred.
Then he looked at Eleanor's roof.
Peter enlarged the image until the pixels blurred.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
“Is that Daniel Mercer?””
She pressed her fingers to her lips.
I felt the room spin.
“Is that Daniel Mercer?””
She pressed her fingers to her lips.
I felt the room spin.
My mother had recognized Daniel's voice. The photograph placed him beside my father the night before his death.
My mother had recognized Daniel's voice. The photograph placed him beside my father the night before his death. He had denied being there, and now his face appeared in the same image as Richard Hale.
Peter. He had denied being there, and now his face appeared in the same image as Richard Hale.
Peter lowered the tablet.
“We need to locate Daniel immediately.””
Eleanor reached for her phone.
Before lowered the tablet.
“We need to locate Daniel immediately.””
Eleanor reached for her phone.
Before she could dial, an incoming call appeared on the screen.
Daniel Mercer.
She answered and she could dial, an incoming call appeared on the screen.
Daniel Mercer.
She answered and put it on speaker.
“Daniel.””
His voice sounded strained.
put it on speaker.
“Daniel.””
His voice sounded strained.
“Eleanor, I need to speak with you privately.””
“About what?””
“Claire's father“Eleanor, I need to speak with you privately.””
“About what?””
“Claire's father.””
I stopped breathing.
Daniel continued.
“I've kept quiet for.””
I stopped breathing.
Daniel continued.
“I've kept quiet for twenty-eight years, but I can't do it anymore. Richard wasn't the only person who wanted Thomas Bennett dead.””
Peter silently twenty-eight years, but I can't do it anymore. Richard wasn't the only person who wanted Thomas Bennett dead.””
Peter silently signaled for Eleanor to keep him talking.
Eleanor's voice remained steady.
“Who signaled for Eleanor to keep him talking.
Eleanor's voice remained steady.
“Who else was involved?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said five words that shattered the room.
“Your husband ordered the car.””
else was involved?””
Daniel hesitated.
May you like
Then he said five words that shattered the room.
“Your husband ordered the car.””
