Chapter 8 - THE MERCER FAMILY SECRET
Brandon Mercer had disappeared.
His father, Gregory Mercer, claimed he had fled the city.
Ronan didn't believe him.
Neither did Mirabelle.
They confronted Gregory at his downtown office.
He greeted them with a nervous smile.
"Mr. Voss."
Ronan didn't sit.
"Where is your son?"
"I told the police. I don't know."
Mirabelle stepped forward.
"You know."
Gregory looked at her.
"You should be careful."
She smiled bitterly.
"I've been careful my entire life."
Ronan placed the old watch on the desk.
Gregory's face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"My father."
Gregory swallowed.
"Daniel should have destroyed it."
Mirabelle leaned closer.
"What does it contain?"
"Nothing."
Ronan opened the back.
"The key."
Gregory's face went white.
"You're making a mistake."
"Where does it lead?"
Gregory didn't answer.
Ronan placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Gregory meeting Victor Hale.
"You have ten seconds."
Gregory sighed.
"The key opens a vault."
"Where?"
"Blackhaven First Bank."
Mirabelle frowned.
"My father had a bank vault?"
"Not your father."
Gregory looked at her.
"Your mother."
Mirabelle froze.
"She opened it sixteen years ago."
Ronan's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Gregory looked terrified.
"Because she knew Daniel was being watched."
He leaned closer.
"Your mother knew who was behind everything."
"Who?"
Gregory's mouth opened.
A bullet struck the window.
Ronan shoved Mirabelle down.
The assassin fired again.
Glass shattered.
When the shooting stopped, Gregory was dead.
A single word had been written across his desk in blood:
MOTHER.
Mirabelle stared at it.
Ronan pulled her away.
"Don't look."
But she had already seen it.
Her mother wasn't merely alive.
May you like
She had been part of the secret.
And someone wanted Mirabelle to find her.
