Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew
I called Mercer immediately.
He didn't answer.
I called again.
Voicemail.
“Mr. Mercer, I just received a photograph of you having dinner with my wife and her mother. Call me before I get on this plane.””
I hung up.
Our boarding group was called.
“Come on,” I told the kids.
Ethan grabbed my hand.
Chloe grabbed his.
We boarded.
The entire flight, my thoughts ran in circles.
Maybe Mercer had a legitimate explanation.
Maybe Lauren had contacted him about estate planning.
Maybe Patricia knew him independently.
But every excuse collapsed against one fact.
He had just told me to get an attorney.
Not call me tomorrow.
Not this is a misunderstanding.
Get an attorney.
When we landed in San Diego, I had three missed calls.
Two from Lauren.
One from Mercer.
His voicemail contained six words.
*Do not discuss this with Lauren yet.*
I called him while the kids waited for our luggage.
He answered immediately.
“You saw the photograph,” I said.
“Yes.””
“You lied to me.””
“I withheld information.””
“That sounds prettier.””
“I had legal reasons.””
“You met my wife six weeks ago.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“She contacted my office.””
“You told me you couldn't discuss that.””
“I couldn't while I was in the office with staff around me.””
My anger sharpened.
“Start talking.””
Mercer sighed.
“Lauren said she was helping you prepare for Ethan's upcoming trust transition.””
“I never asked her to.””
“I know that now.””
“What did she want?””
“She asked several questions about administrative authority.””
“What kind?””
“Whether the guardian could use trust funds for household expenses.””
My stomach turned.
“What did you tell her?””
“That funds could only be used for Ethan's benefit.””
“What else?””
“She asked whether housing counted.””
“Does it?””
“Potentially. If the housing expense directly supports Ethan.””
I looked at my son across baggage claim.
He was laughing as Chloe tried to lift a suitcase that was nearly as big as she was.
“What if Ethan didn't live in the house?””
Mercer became quiet.
“That's the question Patricia asked.””
There it was.
“What did you say?””
“I told them significant household withdrawals would be difficult to justify if Ethan primarily lived elsewhere.””
“So they knew.””
“Yes.””
“Then why were they trying to send him to my mother?””
“I don't know.””
I thought about the consultation plan.
Gradual transition.
Keep me as legal guardian.
Move Ethan physically.
But if that prevented them from accessing the trust, their plan made less sense.
Unless—
“What happens when Ethan turns eight besides the money?””
Mercer didn't answer immediately.
“Samuel.””
“You need to read Rachel's supplemental instructions.””
“What instructions?””
“A sealed letter.””
“To whom?””
“You.””
My knees almost weakened.
“Rachel left me a letter?””
“Yes.””
“And nobody told me?””
“Her instructions required delivery thirty days before Ethan's eighth birthday.””
I checked the date.
We were already inside that window.
“When were you planning to deliver it?””
“This week.””
“What's in it?””
“I don't know. It's sealed.””
“Then why did Lauren meet you?””
“She knew about the delivery date.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
That was the second time he'd said those words.
I was starting to hate them.
“Did you tell her?””
“No.””
“Did anyone in your office?””
“I am investigating that.””
I lowered my voice.
“Could Patricia have known Rachel?””
A long pause.
“I can't answer that.””
My skin prickled.
“Can't or won't?””
“I genuinely don't know.””
“Then why did you hesitate?””
“Because Patricia asked me something at dinner that disturbed me.””
“What?””
“She asked whether Rachel's sealed letter could affect your marriage.””
I stopped walking.
“Why would she ask that?””
“She claimed Lauren was concerned Rachel might have written something emotionally manipulative.””
“Rachel died before I even met Lauren.””
“I pointed that out.””
“What did Patricia say?””
Mercer's voice dropped.
“She said, ‘Rachel knew more than Daniel realized.’”
A chill moved through me.
“About what?””
“She wouldn't elaborate.””
Chloe called from across the baggage area.
“Daniel! We found it!””
“I have to go.””
“Mr. Carter.””
“What?””
“Don't return home until you've spoken with your own attorney.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Was Rachel protecting him from something?””
“I don't know.””
“That's not good enough.””
“No,” Mercer said quietly.
“It isn't.””
We checked into a hotel near the waterfront.
The room had two beds and a sofa.
Ethan immediately claimed the sofa because it looked like a “secret fort.””
Chloe ordered pizza.
For two hours, we did nothing serious.
We ate.
We watched a terrible animated movie.
Ethan put Minnie Mouse ears on me.
I let him.
At bedtime, he hugged me longer than usual.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“You won't send me away?””
“Never.””
“Promise?””
I kissed his forehead.
“Promise.””
After both children were asleep, I stepped onto the balcony.
My phone buzzed.
Lauren.
This time I answered.
“Where are you?””
“California.””
“You need to bring Chloe home.””
“She wanted to come.””
“I changed my mind.””
“We'll discuss it tomorrow.””
“Daniel, this isn't a game.””
“I agree.””
Silence.
Then I asked, “How did you know about Rachel's trust?””
Lauren stopped breathing.
I heard it.
A tiny intake of air.
“Who told you?””
“You just answered my question.””
“Daniel—”
“How did you know?””
“I found paperwork.””
“Where?””
“In the attic.””
“What paperwork?””
“Old estate documents.””
“And somehow those documents told you exactly when a sealed letter would be delivered?””
Silence.
I gripped the balcony railing.
“Lauren.””
Then she said something I wasn't expecting.
“My mother told me.””
“Patricia knew?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
“Stop lying.””
“I'm not!””
Her voice broke.
“She knew Rachel.””
The world seemed to tilt.
“What?””
May you like
Lauren started crying.
“My mother knew Rachel before you did.””
