Chapter 11 - Daniel Mercer's Real Name
Rebecca moved away from Daniel.
Detective Hayes reached for her weapon.
Daniel raised both hands.
"Wait."
Sarah stared at him.
"Who are you?"
"I told you."
"No. You told me George Alvarez was your uncle."
"He was."
"Then why did Mark warn me about you?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Because he knows who my father is."
Silence.
Sarah already knew she wasn't going to like the answer.
"Who?"
"Victor Hale."
Nobody moved.
Detective Hayes drew her weapon.
Daniel remained still.
Sarah felt betrayed all over again.
"You are Victor Hale's son?"
"Biologically."
"And you thought that wasn't worth mentioning?"
"I haven't spoken to him in eleven years."
"That doesn't answer me."
"My mother left him when I was twelve. Mercer is her name."
Sarah shook her head.
"You used me."
"No."
"You tracked me."
"Yes."
"You knew about the money."
"Not until recently."
"Why should I believe anything you say?"
"You shouldn't."
Again, that answer.
Daniel looked at Hayes.
"Check everything."
She did.
For hours.
By evening, federal agents had arrived.
The original ledger had changed everything.
A joint task force took control.
Daniel's history was verified.
He was Victor Hale's biological son.
He had testified secretly against one of Hale's companies years earlier.
He had also been investigating Hale independently since George Alvarez died.
Sarah sat alone with Rebecca.
"Everyone around me has another identity."
Rebecca smiled sadly.
"I don't."
"Please don't suddenly tell me you're Mark's aunt."
That earned Sarah her first genuine laugh in days.
Then Detective Hayes entered.
"We found Brenda."
Sarah stood.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
Brenda was hiding in an abandoned rental property owned by Richard Collins.
She had injuries but nothing life-threatening.
She agreed to cooperate.
Her testimony confirmed Mark's video.
Richard had used Brenda to monitor Mark.
Brenda had begun an affair with Mark and eventually discovered he was planning to flee.
She copied part of Hale's ledger as insurance.
Then Richard discovered what she had done.
She ran.
"Where's Richard?" Sarah asked.
Hayes's expression hardened.
"Missing."
"And Mark?"
"Still missing."
That night Sarah visited Brenda in the hospital.
Brenda looked smaller without the red dress and confidence.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Sarah remained standing.
"For which part?"
"All of it."
"That's convenient."
"I didn't expect forgiveness."
"Good."
Brenda wiped tears from her face.
"Mark did love you."
Sarah almost walked out.
Brenda continued.
"That's why Hale stopped trusting him."
Sarah turned.
"What?"
"Mark was supposed to frame you years ago."
Sarah stared at her.
"He kept delaying it."
"Why?"
"Because once the case was activated, you were supposed to take the fall."
Brenda swallowed.
"And disappear."
Sarah's blood turned cold.
"Disappear how?"
May you like
Brenda looked away.
"The way Victor Hale disappeared."
