Chapter 36 - the account that remained openSix months after the trial, Nora discovered one offshore Mercer account had not been frozen.
Money was still leaving it.
The transfers were small and irregular, directed toward addresses linked to three missing children from Thomas’s list.
Someone was helping them.
Or moving them.
Daniel and Rose met with investigators.
The account required Richard’s authorization code.
Only four people had known it: Richard, Margaret, Samuel and Arthur Vale.
Richard was dead.
The others were imprisoned.
Nora traced the most recent access to the Bennett-Mercer Center.
Someone inside the former estate had used the archive terminal.
Security footage showed no unauthorized entry.
Daniel reviewed the recordings.
At 3:17 each afternoon, the camera outside Richard’s study briefly disconnected.
The same time the camera at Daniel’s home had failed before Lily’s party.
He waited in the archive the next day.
At 3:17, the lights flickered.
A panel opened behind Richard’s bookcase.
Thomas stepped into the room.
Claire’s father was supposed to be in federal custody.
He carried a folder marked with the Mercer crest.
“You found the account,” Thomas said.
Daniel blocked the door.
“Tell me why I should not call the police.”
“Because the children receiving that money are still hiding from Samuel’s people.”
“Samuel is in prison.”
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Thomas shook his head.
“Samuel was never the highest person in the organization.”
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