Chapter 8 - HER FATHER'S SECRET
Clare couldn't speak.
She watched the blank screen.
"My father made that?"
"Apparently."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Maybe he was trying to protect you."
"By letting me work here?"
Daniel said nothing.
Clare turned toward him.
"You knew him."
"Yes."
"How well?"
Daniel looked away.
"Very well."
She froze.
"How well?"
Daniel finally told her.
Thomas Bennett hadn't merely worked for Mercer.
He had been Daniel's closest friend.
They had built the company together.
Daniel had supplied the money.
Thomas had built the operations.
They had trusted each other completely.
Until the payroll fraud began.
Thomas had confronted someone.
Then he died.
Officially, it had been a heart attack.
But Daniel had never believed it.
Clare sat down.
"You think my father was murdered?"
"I think his death deserves another investigation."
She stared at him.
"Why didn't you investigate before?"
Daniel's eyes filled with regret.
"Because I failed him."
Clare didn't expect that answer.
Daniel continued.
"After Thomas died, I buried myself in the company. I thought if I kept moving, I wouldn't have to think about what happened."
"And you never found out?"
"No."
"Until now."
"Until you."
The words hung between them.
Clare looked at him.
"What am I?"
Daniel stepped closer.
"The person your father trusted to finish what he started."
She shook her head.
"I'm not some detective."
"No."
"I'm a single mother who works customer service."
"I know."
"I don't know anything about corporate fraud."
"You don't need to."
"Then what do I need?"
Daniel looked directly into her eyes.
"Courage."
Before Clare could respond, every light in the building went out.
Emergency alarms began screaming.
Someone shouted from the hallway.
Then a gunshot cracked through the darkness.
Daniel grabbed Clare and pulled her behind the conference table.
"Stay down."
Clare heard footsteps.
Then a voice from the hallway.
"Mr. Mercer!"
Daniel's security chief shouted.
"Someone's inside!"
Another shot.
Clare grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
"What do we do?"
May you like
Daniel whispered:
"We find out who wants us dead."
