Chapter 7 - The BrakesEmma's car failed the next morning.
She was descending a parking garage ramp when the brake pedal dropped uselessly toward the floor.
She pulled the emergency brake.
The car slammed sideways into a concrete barrier.
Emma escaped with a bruised shoulder.
A mechanic later showed her the severed brake line.
“This wasn't wear,” he said.
“Somebody cut it.”
Emma called the police.
Then Adrian.
He arrived before the officer finished taking her statement.
When Emma saw him, anger overcame fear.
“Did your family do this?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not good enough.”
“No, it isn't.”
Adrian looked at the damaged brake line.
For the first time, he stopped thinking of the mystery as something that had happened twenty-four years ago.
It was happening now.
He called his longtime security director, Rebecca Sloan.
“Find out who entered this garage.”
Emma shook her head.
“I don't want Mercer people protecting me.”
“Rebecca works for me.”
“That's exactly the problem.”
Adrian stared at her.
Then nodded.
“You're right.”
The answer surprised her.
He gave her Rebecca's number anyway.
“Use it only if you choose.”
Emma looked at the crushed front end of her car.
“Someone knew I met you.”
“Yes.”
“Your father knew my name.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“How do you know?”
“You just told me with your face.”
He almost smiled.
It disappeared quickly.
Emma lowered her voice.
“If the DNA says what we think it might say, what happens?”
Adrian answered without hesitation.
“We find out what happened to Julianne.”
“And if your father was involved?”
This time Adrian hesitated.
Emma noticed.
Adrian looked toward the damaged car.
May you like
Then said:
“Then he stops being my father before he stops us from finding the truth.”
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