Chapter 6 - Leonard Mercer's WarningLeonard Mercer was seventy-eight years old and still capable of making boardrooms silent.
Adrian found him in the library of the family estate.
His father stood beside the fireplace.
“You met the girl.”
It was not a question.
Adrian closed the doors.
“You're having me followed?”
Leonard poured himself a drink.
“I protect this family.”
“From a waitress?”
“From mistakes.”
Adrian placed Julianne's photograph on the desk.
Leonard's hand stopped.
Only for a second.
But Adrian saw it.
“She was alive.”
Leonard looked at the photograph.
“Apparently.”
“Five weeks after we buried her.”
Leonard remained silent.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Look at me.”
Leonard did.
“I did not know Julianne survived the crash.”
Adrian wanted to believe him.
Then Leonard said:
“But you need to leave this alone.”
Adrian laughed once.
“My wife survived her funeral, and you want me to leave it alone?”
“That girl may be running a sophisticated fraud.”
“Her foster mother had a photograph from 2002.”
“Photographs can be manipulated.”
“Twenty-four-year-old instant photographs?”
Leonard's jaw tightened.
Adrian leaned closer.
“What are you afraid of?”
Leonard placed his glass down.
“Your company employs fourteen thousand people. Your name affects pension funds, contracts, hospitals, schools. Digging up the past won't only hurt you.”
“My wife was the past.”
“No. Julianne was a woman who made dangerous accusations against people she didn't understand.”
The room went still.
Adrian had never mentioned accusations.
“What accusations?”
Leonard realized his mistake.
Too late.
Adrian stepped closer.
“What did Julianne discover?”
Leonard looked suddenly tired.
“There are doors that stay closed because what is behind them destroys everyone.”
Adrian picked up the photograph.
“My wife survived a crash, gave birth to a child, and disappeared.”
He moved toward the door.
Leonard said:
“If Emma Doyle is your daughter, she will become a target.”
Adrian stopped.
Again, he had never told Leonard Emma's name.
He turned around.
“How do you know her name?”
May you like
Leonard did not answer.
That silence told Adrian more than a confession could have.
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