Chapter 13 - Raymond looked almost calm.That frightened me more than the gun.
He stepped forward.
“Daniel.”
I stood.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Sabrina?”
“She is your daughter in name only.”
Raymond smiled.
“You finally learned.”
Sabrina looked at me.
“I told you to trust no one.”
“You were right.”
Marcus kept the gun near his chest.
“Everyone has been lying.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
He laughed bitterly.
“Because lies are cheaper than justice.”
Raymond stepped beside him.
“Your father created the trust.”
“Yes.”
“He knew it would become valuable.”
“Yes.”
“He also knew people would kill for it.”
I looked at Sabrina.
“So why involve her?”
Raymond answered.
“Because she was the key.”
Sabrina shouted:
“I am not a key!”
Raymond looked at her.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“You are the lock.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
He pulled out another document.
“The trust has a final beneficiary.”
He handed it to me.
I read the name.
Daniel Mercer Foundation.
I stared.
“What is this?”
“Your father created the foundation fifteen years ago.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Raymond shook his head.
“You think it is a charity.”
“It is.”
“Not entirely.”
He pointed to the final clause.
I read it.
The foundation controlled an additional account.
An account worth $110 million.
I looked at him.
“My father had one hundred and ten million dollars?”
“Yes.”
“And the sixty million was only one part?”
“Yes.”
My head spun.
Raymond continued.
“The original inheritance was designed to reach Sabrina when she turned twenty-five.”
“She is twenty-four.”
“Exactly.”
I looked at the date.
“Six months.”
Raymond nodded.
“But there was a special condition.”
“What condition?”
“She had to be legally married.”
Sabrina stared at him.
“To whom?”
Raymond smiled.
“The original trust never specified.”
I looked at Evan.
“He was chosen.”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“Paul.”
“Why Paul?”
“Because Paul had been waiting twenty years.”
I looked at Marcus.
“And you?”
Marcus lowered his head.
“I was paid to monitor the trust.”
“By whom?”
He looked toward Raymond.
Raymond shook his head.
“Not me.”
A cold silence filled the warehouse.
“Then who?”
Marcus whispered:
“Your mother.”
I froze.
“My mother is dead.”
“Yes.”
Marcus looked at me.
“She isn't.”
My heart stopped.
“My mother died when I was twelve.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“She disappeared.”
“That's impossible.”
Marcus reached into his jacket.
He pulled out an old photograph.
My mother.
Alive.
Standing beside a younger Victoria.
And a baby.
Sabrina.
I looked at the date.
Ten years ago.
My hands began shaking.
“She came back?”
Marcus nodded.
“Your mother has been controlling this from the beginning.”
“Where is she?”
Raymond smiled.
“She is waiting.”
“Where?”
“At the house.”
My house.
Sabrina whispered:
“She knew everything.”
I looked toward the police chief.
“Get units to my house.”
He nodded.
Then Raymond said:
“Too late.”
An explosion shook the warehouse.
Windows shattered.
Everyone dropped.
Smoke filled the room.
I grabbed Sabrina.
“Run!”
We moved toward the emergency exit.
Marcus disappeared.
Raymond disappeared.
The police chief shouted commands.
Then I heard a woman's voice through the smoke.
“Daniel.”
I froze.
I knew that voice.
I hadn't heard it in twenty-eight years.
My mother.
She stepped out of the smoke.
Older.
Pale.
Alive.
I stared at her.
She smiled.
“You look just like your father.”
My legs nearly gave out.
“Why?”
She looked at Sabrina.
“Because I had to protect you both.”
“From who?”
She looked toward Raymond.
“From him.”
Raymond stood behind her.
He raised his gun.
My mother turned.
And shot him.
He collapsed.
Sabrina screamed.
My mother looked at me.
“I am sorry.”
I could barely speak.
“You abandoned me.”
“I saved you.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
“Everyone says that.”
She stepped closer.
Then whispered:
“Because everyone you trusted was working for the same man.”
“Who?”
She pointed at Marcus.
Marcus stood at the exit.
He smiled.
“The man who inherited your father's company.”
I looked at him.
“Who?”
He answered:
“Your father’s brother.”
I froze.
“My uncle died before I was born.”
Marcus laughed.
“No.”
May you like
He removed his hat.
“I was the one everyone thought was dead.”
