Chapter 12 - the trap for malcolm
Detective Shaw wanted Gabriel to stay away from the old Mercer estate.
Gabriel refused.
But he agreed to one condition.
They would not go immediately.
Instead, they would set a trap.
Only four people knew about the key.
Gabriel.
Shaw.
Reese.
And Nora.
Lily knew it existed but not where Gabriel planned to take it.
Gabriel called Malcolm.
His uncle answered on the third ring.
"Gabriel."
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Police have been looking for you."
"I know."
"Why are you hiding?"
"I'm not."
Gabriel smiled coldly.
"Then come to Mercer House."
"For what?"
"I found what Julia hid."
Silence.
Gabriel continued.
"The original trust ledger."
Malcolm did not answer.
Gabriel knew there was no ledger.
He invented it.
"It proves where the Morrow money went."
Another pause.
Then Malcolm said, "Do not discuss this over the phone."
"Come here."
"Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Police?"
"No."
Malcolm arrived forty minutes later.
The mansion was dark except for the foyer.
Gabriel stood near the fireplace.
The stroller remained near the staircase.
He had deliberately left it there.
Malcolm looked at it.
"Where are the children?"
"Safe."
"And Caroline?"
"Jail."
Malcolm removed his coat.
"She made her own choices."
Gabriel almost laughed.
"You made most of them for her."
"I have no idea what she told police."
"She told them you arranged Julia's death."
Malcolm's face remained composed.
"Caroline would say anything to save herself."
"She said you knew about the second SUV."
"I heard about it afterward."
"She says before."
"She is lying."
Gabriel held up the old key.
Malcolm's composure disappeared.
Only briefly.
But enough.
"You recognize this too."
Malcolm looked at it.
"Where did you get that?"
"Julia."
"Impossible."
"Why?"
"Because that key belonged to your grandfather."
Gabriel smiled.
"So you do recognize it."
Malcolm's jaw tightened.
"What did Julia find?"
"You tell me."
"Gabriel."
"Tell me about Jonathan."
Malcolm became still.
"Who told you that name?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"Daniel Reese."
Malcolm's eyes hardened.
"Reese should have kept his mouth shut."
Behind the walls, police microphones recorded everything.
Shaw listened from a surveillance van outside the gates.
Gabriel continued.
"Did Jonathan create Morrow Capital?"
Malcolm looked toward the staircase.
"No."
"Did he steal from the trust?"
"No."
"Did my grandfather steal from Charles Morrow?"
Malcolm said nothing.
"Did he?"
"Your grandfather built this family."
"With stolen money?"
"With opportunity."
"That's not an answer."
Malcolm walked toward the fireplace.
"You think Julia understood any of this?"
"She understood enough to die for it."
Malcolm looked at Gabriel.
Something like regret entered his expression.
"Julia should have stopped."
"So you admit you threatened her."
"I warned her."
"Before or after you paid someone to follow her?"
Malcolm's face changed.
Gabriel saw it.
"Who drove the SUV?"
"No idea."
"Liar."
"Be careful."
"Why? Will I end up like my wife?"
Malcolm's control cracked.
"I was trying to keep her alive!"
Gabriel did not expect that.
Neither did Shaw listening outside.
Gabriel stared at him.
"What?"
Malcolm stepped closer.
"You think I killed Julia?"
"You arranged the psychiatrist."
"Yes."
"You paid Cole."
"Yes."
"You threatened Caroline."
"Yes."
Malcolm's voice rose.
"Because I was trying to control a disaster that began before you were born."
Gabriel stared at him.
"Then explain."
Malcolm looked exhausted.
"Jonathan came back."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Is he Morrow?"
"No."
"Then who is?"
Malcolm shook his head.
"You still don't understand."
"Make me."
Malcolm lowered his voice.
"Morrow was Elena."
Gabriel froze.
"Elena Mercer?"
"Elena Morrow."
"Jonathan's wife."
"Yes."
Gabriel remembered the passport.
"She's alive?"
Malcolm looked toward the dark windows.
"I don't know."
"Did she kill Julia?"
"No."
"Who did?"
Malcolm closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
Gabriel slammed his hand against the fireplace.
"Stop saying that!"
Malcolm finally shouted back.
"I tried to stop it!"
The confession echoed through the foyer.
Gabriel became still.
Malcolm realized what he had said.
"Stop what?"
No answer.
"The crash?"
Malcolm turned away.
"Malcolm."
"I told Cole to watch Julia."
"Why?"
"Because Elena's people were following her."
"Elena's people?"
"Julia found them."
"Who?"
"Families your grandfather ruined."
Gabriel felt sick.
"How many?"
"More than you want to know."
"What happened the night she died?"
Malcolm's voice became quiet.
"Cole told me someone planned to take Julia's files."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Why didn't you warn me?"
"Because I thought she would hand them over and walk away."
Gabriel stared at him.
"Instead she died."
"Yes."
"Who paid the driver?"
Malcolm looked at him.
"I spent four months trying to find out."
Gabriel's anger faltered.
For the first time, Malcolm sounded genuinely afraid.
Then Malcolm noticed a tiny red light beneath the staircase railing.
A police transmitter.
His eyes widened.
"You recorded me."
Gabriel said nothing.
Malcolm stepped backward.
Police vehicles flooded the driveway.
Blue lights reflected across the marble floor.
Malcolm looked toward the doors.
Then at Gabriel.
"You fool."
The front doors opened.
Detective Shaw entered with officers.
"Malcolm Mercer, don't move."
Malcolm did not resist.
He raised his hands.
But as Shaw approached, he looked directly at Gabriel.
"If you open that house, you will wish Caroline had succeeded."
Gabriel stared at him.
"What is inside?"
May you like
Malcolm smiled without warmth.
"Your family's real history."
