Chapter 6: The Man Who Took My Family
I wanted to reject Lily's explanation immediately.
Daniel had threatened me, trapped us in a stairwell, and demanded a ledger in exchange for Catherine's life. Whatever his motives, he was dangerous.
But my daughter wasn't guessing.
She was remembering something.
“Tell me exactly what your mother said,” I asked.
Lily drew her knees to her chest.
“She said Daniel made a terrible mistake. He believed Victoria when she told him you were going to have Mom arrested for stealing money.””
“I would never have done that.””
“I know. Mom knew, too. But Daniel had seen documents with your signature. He thought you were part of it.””
My mind returned to the years before Catherine vanished.
Daniel had been our company's security consultant, responsible for protecting executives and investigating internal threats. He had been competent, quiet, and unusually protective of Catherine.
When Victoria accused him of misusing company funds, I had authorized his dismissal after seeing a stack of documents bearing my signature.
I had never questioned whether those documents were genuine.
“Did your mother tell him the truth?””
“Eventually. But by then, Victoria had threatened his family.””
“What family?””
“His wife and little boy.””
I looked at Evelyn.
“Can you find out whether Daniel Mercer has a wife and child?””
“Already checking.””
Lily continued.
“Daniel took us away because he thought it was the only way to keep Victoria from finding us. He said he would bring us back when he had proof.””
“And then he kept you for three years?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“He kept moving us. Sometimes Mom was allowed to call people. Sometimes she wasn't.
I don't know what happened between them, Dad. I only know that Mom said he was afraid.””
“Afraid of Victoria?””
Lily nodded.
“And of the man she worked for.””
A cold feeling settled in my chest.
“Victoria worked for someone else?””
“Mom said she wasn't the person in charge.””
Before I could ask more, Evelyn returned from the corridor.
“Richard, I have a preliminary report.””
She placed her tablet on the desk.
Daniel Mercer's employment history appeared on the screen, followed by an old photograph of a woman and a young boy.
“His wife, Sarah, and their son, Owen,” Evelyn said.
“They disappeared from their home two years ago. No formal missing-person report was filed, but Daniel's former neighbors told investigators that armed men arrived at the property one night.””
“Were they connected to Victoria?””
“We don't know yet.””
I stared at the photograph.
The little boy looked about eight years old.
A child who might have been living somewhere in fear, just as Lily and Noah had.
“Find them,” I said.
“And find Daniel before Victoria's people do.””
Evelyn nodded.
My phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a private number.
I answered.
“Who is this?””
A man's voice replied.
“You shouldn't have brought the children back to Atlanta.””
“Daniel?””
A pause.
“I'm glad Lily found you.””
“Then tell me where Catherine is.””
“I can't.””
“You've had three years to tell me. You've had three years to bring my family home. Why should I believe anything you say now?””
“Because if I wanted Lily dead, she wouldn't have made it to your birthday.””
I clenched my jaw.
“You threatened her.””
“I threatened you. There's a difference.””
“Not to a father.””
The line went quiet.
Then Daniel said, “Victoria isn't the person you need to worry about most.””
“Who is?””
“The man who owns the accounts she manages.””
I thought of the shell companies, the foundation transfers, and the original ledger.
“Give me a name.””
“Not over the phone.””
“Then meet me.””
“I can't. I'm being watched.””
“By whom?””
Daniel breathed heavily.
“Richard, listen carefully. Three years ago, Catherine found a second set of financial records. Those records connected the stolen money to a private security firm that operated outside the law. The firm was being paid to move witnesses, intimidate employees, and arrange disappearances.””
“Who owns it?””
“Your business partner.””
I went still.
I had only one business partner.
Martin Caldwell.
Martin and I had founded Whitmore Development when we were twenty-six. He was the godfather of my children, the man who had stood beside me at my wedding, and the person who had lent me money when my first property deal nearly bankrupted me.
He had also been the first person to suggest that Catherine might have abandoned us.
“No,” I said.
Daniel's voice hardened.
“You asked for the truth.””
“Martin has been my partner for twenty-four years.””
“And Victoria has been stealing from you for eleven. Which one is harder for you to believe?””
I gripped the edge of the desk.
“Why would Martin want Catherine gone?””
“Because she found out he was using your foundation to finance operations that could send him to prison.””
I thought of the children's hospital we had funded the previous spring. I thought of the photographs of Martin shaking hands with doctors, smiling beside sick children, accepting awards for his generosity.
Had all of it been a performance?
“Where is Catherine?”” I demanded again.
Daniel exhaled.
“She has the original ledger. She was supposed to meet me tonight.””
“Where?””
“The old railway warehouse on Marietta Street.””
My stomach tightened.
The same place he had ordered me to visit.
“Why should I believe this isn't a trap?””
“Because Victoria doesn't know I'm talking to you.””
A loud crash sounded through the phone.
Daniel cursed.
Then another voice shouted something in the background.
“Mercer! Put the phone down!””
The call ended.
I immediately dialed the number back.
It was disconnected.
Evelyn was already moving.
“I'll alert the police.””
“No.”” I held up my hand.
“If Martin is involved, we can't assume everyone on the force is clean.””
“We can't conduct an investigation ourselves with two children in danger.””
“I know. We'll work with a small team of officers whose identities we can verify.””
Lily rose from the sofa.
“Dad, I need to tell you something.””
I turned toward her.
“Go ahead.””
She reached into her pocket and removed a small brass charm shaped like a swan.
“Mom gave me this before we separated. She said it would help you recognize the truth.””
I took it from her.
The swan's underside had a tiny screw. I twisted it, and the metal body opened.
Inside was a rolled strip of paper.
I carefully unfolded it.
There were three names.
Victoria Hale.
Daniel Mercer.
Martin Caldwell.
Beside Martin's name, Catherine had written a date.
Tonight.
And beneath it, one final sentence.
*The man who ordered my disappearance will be at Richard's birthday party until midnight.*
I looked at the clock.
It was 10:46 p.m.
The party was over. The guests had been evacuated. Victoria was in police custody.
But Martin had never appeared on the security team's list of people still inside the hotel.
I called his private number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then he answered, sounding calm and almost amused.
“Richard! Happy birthday, old friend. I heard there was some trouble at the hotel. Are you all right?””
I stared at Catherine's note.
“I'm fine, Martin.””
“Good. Listen, I was going to stop by, but something urgent came up. We'll talk tomorrow.””
“Actually, I'd like to see you tonight.””
A pause.
“Tonight?””
“Yes. There's something I need to show you.””
His voice changed.
Only slightly.
But I heard it.
“What is it?””
I closed my fist around the brass swan.
“The original ledger.””
For three seconds, Martin said nothing.
Then he whispered, “Richard, whatever Catherine told you, don't bring that book to the hotel.””
My blood ran cold.
I hadn't told him Catherine's name.
I hadn't told him there was a book.
And I certainly hadn't told him what was inside it.
“Martin,” I said carefully, “how did you know Catherine was involved?””
The line went silent.
Then I heard the unmistakable sound of a car door slamming.
May you like
Martin's voice returned, no longer warm or familiar.
“Because, Richard, I'm the one who made sure she never came home.””
