Chapter 4: The Secret Daughter
Rebecca had handled divorces, corporate lawsuits, and criminal investigations.
She had seen people lie under oath without blinking.
But that night, she looked afraid.
"Tell me everything," I said.
She closed her eyes.
"The number belonged to Anna Mercer.""
The name meant nothing.
Until it did.
"Mercer?""
Rebecca nodded.
"Jonathan's wife.""
I felt the room become smaller.
"Jonathan was married?""
"Yes.""
"Then why does nobody know about her?""
Rebecca looked at the folder.
"Because according to public records, she died shortly after Jonathan.""
I looked at my phone.
The message.
The warning.
The impossible number.
"She didn't die.""
"No.""
Rebecca's voice was quiet.
"Someone wanted everyone to believe she did.""
The next morning, Maya arranged a meeting.
Not at her office.
Not at a government building.
At a small coffee shop across town.
The kind of place where nobody important went.
When I arrived, a woman was sitting in the corner.
She looked about forty.
Dark hair.
Tired eyes.
A scar near her eyebrow.
She stood when she saw me.
"Claire Bennett?""
I nodded.
The woman swallowed.
"My name is Lily.""
I waited.
She looked at Maya.
Then back at me.
"I'm Jonathan Mercer's daughter.""
The world seemed to stop.
I sat down slowly.
"You?""
Lily nodded.
"My father died protecting me.""
I looked at Maya.
"You knew?""
"We suspected," Maya said.
"Suspected?""
"We couldn't confirm her identity until recently.""
Lily reached into her bag.
She placed a photograph on the table.
A man.
Jonathan Mercer.
A little girl.
Lily.
A family hidden from the world.
"My father discovered what Charles was doing," Lily said.
"Why didn't he go to the police?""
"He did.""
Her voice cracked.
"And then the evidence disappeared.""
I felt anger rise.
"What happened?""
Lily looked down.
"My father planned to expose everything. He created copies of all the documents.""
"Where are they?""
She looked at me.
"Hidden.""
"Where?""
She hesitated.
"Somewhere Daniel would never think to look.""
A cold feeling moved through me.
"Where?""
Lily leaned closer.
"In your company.""
My company.
Bennett Architectural Consulting.
The company Daniel had used.
The company he had stolen from.
"No.""
Lily nodded.
"Your business wasn't chosen randomly.""
"What does that mean?""
"Your company was supposed to be the perfect cover.""
I couldn't speak.
Daniel hadn't just used me.
He had selected me.
The marriage.
The business.
The reputation.
Everything had been planned.
Then my phone rang.
Maya looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
"What is it?""
She answered.
Listened.
Then stood.
"We need to leave.""
"Why?""
She looked at me.
"Daniel Mercer was released.""
My heart stopped.
"How?""
"His family posted bail.""
Of course they did.
Money had always been their escape route.
As we walked outside, I received another message.
This time from Daniel.
I expected anger.
Threats.
Instead, it said:
I'M SORRY.
I stared at the words.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR FATHER WHY HE NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.
