Chapter 9 - DAVID MERCER RETURNS
David looked older than the photograph.
His hair was gray at the temples.
His face was thinner.
But his eyes were the same.
Anthony stared at him.
“You're supposed to be gone.”
David smiled faintly.
“I was.”
Marissa looked at Thomas.
“You knew?”
Thomas nodded.
“We found him yesterday.”
David stepped inside.
He looked around the townhouse.
“Nothing changed.”
Marissa asked:
“What happened to you?”
David looked at Anthony.
“Ask him.”
Anthony shook his head.
“I don't know.”
David laughed quietly.
“You always were a terrible liar.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“You're making a mistake.”
David looked at her.
“You said that the last time.”
Eleanor's face went pale.
Marissa noticed.
“What happened the last time?”
David looked at her.
“I found the original records.”
Marissa's attention sharpened.
“Where are they?”
David hesitated.
“Not here.”
Anthony suddenly moved.
Thomas stopped him.
“Don't.”
Anthony glared.
“You don't understand.”
Thomas said:
“I understand enough.”
David continued.
“The records proved where the money came from.”
“Where?”
David looked at Eleanor.
“That's the question.”
Eleanor whispered:
“You don't know.”
David smiled.
“I know more than you think.”
Marissa looked between them.
“Tell me.”
David reached into his coat.
He removed a small key.
Marissa stared at it.
“What is that?”
“The key to a safety deposit box.”
Anthony's face changed.
David continued.
“The original documents are inside.”
Marissa reached for it.
David stopped her.
“But there's a problem.”
“What?”
“The box is not in your name.”
Marissa frowned.
“Whose name?”
David looked directly at Anthony.
“His.”
Anthony's face drained.
Marissa turned toward him.
“You still have access?”
Anthony shook his head.
“I don't know about the box.”
David laughed.
“You opened it.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
Anthony said nothing.
Marissa took the key.
“Where is the bank?”
David gave her the name.
Thomas immediately intervened.
“We'll handle this.”
“No.”
Marissa looked at him.
“I want to know what's inside.”
Thomas studied her.
“You may not like what you find.”
“I already know that.”
The next morning, they went together.
The safety deposit box was opened under supervision.
Inside was a single envelope.
No money.
No jewelry.
Only documents.
Marissa reached for it.
Then she saw the handwriting.
Her own.
She stared.
“I didn't write this.”
David said quietly:
“You did.”
Marissa looked at him.
“What?”
David pointed toward the envelope.
“That was written before your deployment.”
“I never saw it.”
“You weren't supposed to.”
She opened it.
Inside was a document bearing her signature.
But the date was twelve years old.
Anthony stood behind her.
“What does it say?”
Marissa read the first line.
Her expression changed.
Thomas noticed.
“What is it?”
Marissa didn't answer.
David looked at Anthony.
“Now you understand why I disappeared.”
Anthony whispered:
“Who gave you that?”
David looked at Marissa.
“Your wife.”
Marissa's heart stopped.
“What?”
David smiled sadly.
“You left it with me twelve years ago.”
Marissa stared at the document.
May you like
She remembered nothing.
And that frightened her more than anything else.
