Chapter 22
Daniel surrendered the tapes voluntarily.
That mattered.
So did the fact he had touched them before police arrived.
But forensic technicians could handle fingerprints, dating, alterations.
The first tape was devastating.
Robert Carter’s voice was unmistakable.
Charles Mercer’s too.
Thirty years earlier.
Mercer: “He won’t stop.”
Robert: “Then scare him.”
Mercer: “We tried.”
Robert: “No bodies.”
Mercer: “Accidents happen.”
A long silence.
Robert: “Not unless there’s no other option.”
Not a murder order.
Not yet.
The second tape was recorded days later.
Robert sounded angry.
“You said he’d back down.”
Mercer replied, “He met with Henry.”
“And?”
“Henry warned Victor.”
Robert swore.
Then:
“If Thomas takes this public, my father loses everything.”
Mercer: “Your father survives scandal.”
Robert: “The company doesn’t.”
Mercer: “Then decide what matters.”
The third tape was recorded after Thomas died.
Robert was shouting.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
Mercer: “He had a weak heart.”
“You poisoned him.”
Silence.
Then Mercer:
“Lower your voice.”
Robert: “You killed him.”
Mercer: “And you gave me his schedule.”
I felt sick.
Ryan left the room.
Nobody stopped him.
His biological father had killed the man who raised him.
Daniel’s father had enabled it.
My father had helped bury the original evidence.
Our family tree had become a crime scene.
The final tape was recorded three years ago.
Weeks before Dad died.
Mercer and Daniel.
My blood turned cold when I heard my cousin’s voice.
Daniel: “I know what my father did.”
Mercer: “Then you know why you should leave it buried.”
Daniel: “Henry is reopening everything.”
Mercer: “Control your uncle.”
Daniel: “I don’t control him.”
Mercer: “Then control Emily.”
I stopped breathing.
Daniel: “Leave her out of this.”
Mercer laughed.
“She owns the trust.”
Daniel: “She doesn’t know anything.”
“Keep it that way.”
Daniel’s voice hardened.
“If you go near her, I’ll put everything online.”
The tape ended.
I looked at Daniel through the interview-room glass.
He sat alone.
Head down.
For once, the secret he kept had protected me in a concrete way.
But he still kept it.
I entered.
Bell stayed outside.
Daniel looked up.
“You heard it.”
“Yes.”
“I was trying to get proof.”
“I know.”
“I met Mercer because I found Dad’s old files after he died.”
“Why didn’t you tell Henry?”
“I did.”
“Dad said he confronted you.”
“He thought Mercer had recruited me.”
“Did you explain?”
“Eventually.”
“Did he believe you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Diane said Dad told her not to trust you.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“He probably did.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“It destroys me.”
He looked at me.
“But he had reason.”
I sat across from him.
“Why did your car enter the toll road after the crash?”
“My girlfriend had it.”
“Who?”
“Laura.”
I remembered her.
They had dated briefly.
“Can she confirm?”
“She died two years ago.”
Of course.
“But there may be camera footage. Old storage.”
Bell was already checking.
I asked, “What car were you driving?”
“Company sedan from Gray Finch.”
“Martin’s?”
“Yes.”
“You worked for him.”
“One summer.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew how it looked after Henry died.”
“And lying looked better?”
“No.”
At least he had learned not to insult me.
“What happened after you found Dad’s car?”
Daniel’s face tightened.
“I told you.”
“Everything?”
He hesitated.
I stood.
“Daniel.”
“Not everything.”
I laughed without humor.
“Of course.”
“I found Henry alive.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Barely.”
“You said you tried to reach him.”
“I did.”
“You spoke to him?”
“Yes.”
My hands trembled.
“What did he say?”
Daniel stared at the table.
“He told me Mercer had forced him off the road.”
“Why didn’t you tell police?”
“Because he also said Diane had the case.”
“That’s no reason.”
“No.”
“What else?”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“He told me not to trust myself.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I asked the same thing.”
“And?”
“He said, ‘Your father taught you to protect the family before the truth.’”
Daniel’s voice broke.
“He was right.”
“What happened next?”
“I climbed back toward the road to call for help because my phone had no signal.”
“You left him?”
“For maybe ninety seconds.”
My stomach tightened.
“When you came back?”
“He was unconscious.”
“Still alive?”
“I thought so.”
“Then?”
“Someone was down there.”
“Who?”
“I only saw them leaving.”
“Mercer?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Diane?”
“No.”
“Who?”
He looked at me.
“Rebecca.”
The room went silent.
“She was beside Henry?”
“Yes.”
“What was she doing?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she have anything?”
May you like
Daniel nodded.
“My uncle’s phone.”
