Chapter 21 - The Call from Leah Mercer
Leah called again the next morning.
Detective Bennett traced the call to a motel near the Illinois border, but Leah refused to reveal the room number.
“I need proof that Martin isn’t listening,” she said.
Jake stood beside the phone in Bennett’s office.
“You found photographs of my family.”
“They were mailed to me.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know. The first envelope arrived six months ago. It contained your military photograph and our father’s death notice.”
“Our father?”
Leah became quiet.
“I had DNA compared with material Andrew left in the suitcase. He was my biological father.”
Jake closed his eyes.
Hearing someone else call Andrew their father affected him more deeply than he expected.
“Why didn’t you contact me?”
“Because the second envelope said Lorraine had already tried to take one child from your wife.”
Leah knew about the trial, the guardianship petition, and Grace.
Someone had sent her court documents that were supposed to contain protected information.
The third envelope contained a warning that Martin Voss would locate her if she contacted Jake.
“Then why call now?” Bennett asked.
“Because Martin came to my apartment.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“He said he wanted to help me claim my inheritance. Then he mentioned Grace’s DNA.”
Megan moved closer to the speaker.
“What did he say about my daughter?”
“He called her the confirmation sample.”
No one in the room understood.
Leah explained that her DNA report contained several unusual inconsistencies. The laboratory listed Andrew as a match, but the case number belonged to a different family.
She believed Martin substituted results.
“Are you saying you might not be Jake’s sister?” Megan asked.
“I’m saying Martin wanted everyone to believe a specific version of our family.”
Leah agreed to meet them in a public location.
Before ending the call, she added one condition.
“Do not bring Lorraine.”
Jake almost laughed bitterly.
May you like
“That won’t be a problem.”
“You don’t understand,” Leah replied. “Someone has already filed paperwork requesting her temporary release.”
