Chapter 6 - The House With the Blue Door
Grant did not go alone.
He simply made sure whoever sent the message believed he did.
At eleven the following morning, his black SUV left the mansion without escort.
Grant drove.
Daniel and Nora followed nearly a mile behind in an unmarked vehicle.
Sophie remained at home under security.
Grant hated leaving her.
But the photograph of Mara had changed everything.
He had spent five years asking himself what he would do if someone proved she was alive.
The answer was apparently anything.
The house stood near Port Haven, Maine, at the end of a narrow road overlooking a gray Atlantic.
Blue door.
White siding.
Weathered porch.
No vehicles.
Grant parked.
Daniel’s voice came through the nearly invisible earpiece.
“We have eyes on you.”
“Keep your distance.”
He approached the house.
The door was unlocked.
“Mara?”
Nothing.
He stepped inside.
Furniture covered in sheets.
Dust.
A clock ticking somewhere.
“Mara?”
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Grant moved toward the staircase.
Daniel said, “Grant, wait.”
He ignored him.
Second floor.
Three bedrooms.
The first empty.
The second contained boxes.
The third—
Grant stopped.
Someone had been living there.
A mug sat beside an unmade bed.
A woman’s sweater hung over a chair.
On the dresser was a photograph of Sophie.
Grant picked it up.
Recent.
School portrait from that year.
Behind him, a voice said, “You never learned patience.”
Grant turned.
An older man stood in the doorway.
Tall.
Silver hair.
Thin face.
Grant knew him.
“Uncle Elias.”
Elias Mercer smiled.
For three years, Grant had believed his uncle was dead.
Now Elias looked remarkably alive.
“You look disappointed.”
Grant’s shock became fury.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
“Sometimes death is useful.”
Grant lunged.
Elias raised both hands.
“Before you hit me, you should know I’m one of the reasons Mara survived.”
Grant stopped inches away.
“Where is she?”
“Not here.”
“The photograph?”
“Taken here this morning.”
“Where did she go?”
“I sent her away before you arrived.”
Grant grabbed his uncle by the shirt.
“Tell me where my wife is.”
“Grant.”
Daniel’s voice warned through the earpiece.
Elias noticed.
“You didn’t come alone.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Grant released him.
“You sent the message?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I needed to see whether Owen followed you.”
“Did he?”
Elias walked to the window.
“His people did.”
Grant’s blood chilled.
Daniel spoke.
“Movement on the east road. Two vehicles.”
Elias looked almost amused.
“Right on schedule.”
Grant whispered, “Who are you?”
“Your uncle.”
“My uncle embezzled from our company and disappeared after a scandal.”
“I disappeared because I discovered the wrong people had turned Mercer Holdings into their personal bank.”
“Project Harbor?”
Elias turned sharply.
“Who told you that?”
“Mara.”
For the first time Elias lost composure.
“You spoke to her?”
“Yesterday.”
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“She was supposed to stop contacting you.”
Grant stepped forward.
“You don’t give my wife instructions.”
“I did when contacting you might get your daughter killed.”
Grant’s fist clenched.
Elias continued.
“Mara discovered Project Harbor accidentally. It began as an accounting mechanism fifteen years ago.”
“What mechanism?”
“Money laundering.”
Grant stared.
“Through our foundation?”
“Through several Mercer entities.”
“Who?”
“Victor Hale started it.”
Victor had been Grant’s father’s financial director.
He died six years earlier.
“After Victor died, someone continued it.”
“Owen.”
Elias nodded.
“Among others.”
“You?”
“No.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
At least the answer was honest.
Elias opened a drawer.
He pulled out a folder.
Inside were bank documents.
Grant scanned them.
Transfers.
Foundation funds.
Offshore accounts.
Digital authorizations carrying Grant’s signature.
“These are forged.”
“I know.”
“How much?”
“Over twelve years? Nearly three hundred million.”
Grant felt sick.
“This would destroy the company.”
“Yes.”
“My father?”
“Suspected something before he died.”
Grant’s father had died of cancer seven years earlier.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He had no proof.”
“And you?”
“I found proof shortly before Mara did.”
“Why fake your death?”
“Because Owen tried to make it real.”
Silence.
Grant stared at him.
“He tried to kill you?”
“Brake line.”
Elias tapped his leg.
“I survived the crash. Owen’s men thought I died later in the hospital. I decided not to correct them.”
“And the funeral?”
“A favor from someone who owed me his life.”
Grant rubbed his face.
“This is insane.”
“No. Insane is believing a man who steals hundreds of millions will stop because someone threatens to expose him.”
“What happened to Mara?”
Elias hesitated.
“Five years ago she came to me.”
“Why you?”
“She found irregularities and knew I had accused Victor years earlier.”
“You were already estranged from the family.”
“Exactly.”
“What did you tell her?”
“To keep quiet until we had proof.”
“But she didn’t.”
“She trusted you.”
Grant closed his eyes.
“She wanted to tell me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she get into Owen’s car?”
Elias looked surprised.
“You know?”
“Some.”
“She believed Owen was taking her to the airport to meet you.”
Grant’s anger sharpened.
“He kidnapped her?”
“He confronted her. She threatened to expose him. There was an accident.”
“The bridge.”
“Yes.”
“Did he push her into the river?”
“No.”
Grant looked up.
“The car never entered the river.”
“Police found evidence—”
“Planted.”
“Then where did she go?”
“Owen’s driver lost control. Mara escaped while they were dealing with the wreck. She ran into the woods.”
Grant’s heart hammered.
“She was injured.”
“Badly.”
“Where was she for eleven months?”
“We still don’t know all of it.”
Grant stepped closer.
“Where is she now?”
Before Elias answered, Daniel’s voice cut through the earpiece.
“Grant, leave now.”
“What?”
“Two men approaching the rear entrance.”
Elias crossed toward a hidden door.
“This way.”
Grant did not move.
“My wife.”
“Come with me and you might see her.”
A window shattered downstairs.
Nora’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Grant!”
A loud crash.
Grant followed Elias through the hidden passage.
They descended into a narrow cellar tunnel.
Behind them heavy footsteps entered the house.
At the end of the tunnel waited Nora and Daniel.
“Move,” Daniel ordered.
They ran toward the cliffs.
A shot cracked behind them—not at anyone, but into the air.
Grant turned.
Nora dragged him forward.
“Don’t.”
They reached the second vehicle hidden behind trees.
As Daniel started the engine, Grant looked toward Elias.
“Where is Mara?”
Elias pulled a phone from his pocket.
“She made me promise not to tell you until we knew Sophie was safe.”
“Sophie is protected.”
Elias looked at him sadly.
“Not from the person standing inside your house.”
Grant froze.
“What person?”
Elias handed him the phone.
A live security image appeared.
Sophie’s bedroom.
His daughter was asleep.
A figure stood beside her bed.
Mrs. Hargrove.
The Mercer house manager for eighteen years.
She slowly reached beneath Sophie’s pillow.
May you like
And removed the silver music box.
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