Chapter 15 - Damon’s Offer from His Cell
We left Black Ridge with the ledger under federal protection.
Patricia never entered the cabin. She had used the transmitter to make us believe she was closer than she was.
By the time investigators traced her signal, it had moved through four states.
Anthony was taken to a protected medical facility for questioning. He agreed to cooperate, but refused to explain the initials J. C.
Claire stayed with me.
Neither of us spoke about his warning.
Not yet.
The following morning, Agent Ruiz arrived at my mother’s house with an unusual request.
Damon wanted to talk.
“He is facing additional charges,” Ruiz said. “His attorney says he has information concerning the child in the ledger.”
“What does he want?”
“Consideration from the prosecutor.”
“No immunity.”
“That has already been refused.”
I met Damon through a secured video connection.
He wore a plain detention uniform instead of one of his perfect suits. Without the house, the boardroom or the people who obeyed him, he looked smaller.
But his eyes remained calculating.
“Where is Rose?” I asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Then this conversation is over.”
“I know who placed her in the trust.”
“Patricia.”
“My mother arranged the records. She did not authorize them.”
“Who did?”
“The Continuity Trustee.”
“J. C.”
His expression changed.
“You found the ledger.”
“Answer me.”
Damon leaned closer to the camera.
“Julian Cross.”
The name was familiar.
Julian Cross had served on the Harcourt board for eighteen years. He rarely spoke at meetings, avoided public events and controlled several investment funds that owned minority company shares.
“What does he want?”
“The northern properties.”
“For the evidence?”
“For the power the evidence gives him.”
“Why create Rose?”
“Because your father’s trust cannot be dissolved without a living successor. If you became legally incapable, control would pass to your child.”
“My child does not exist yet.”
“So they created one who did.”
My anger remained steady.
“Why is she real?”
“I saw her once.”
“Where?”
“At my mother’s foundation. Patricia showed me the birth certificate and told me the child was proof that the trust plan could work.”
“And you accepted that?”
“I believed Rose was someone else’s daughter being used on paper.”
“You did nothing.”
“I was trying to gain control before Cross did.”
The excuse sounded exactly like Damon.
Every crime had been necessary because someone else might commit it first.
“Who is caring for Rose?”
Damon hesitated.
“Tell me.”
“My mother said the guardian was a woman who could never appear publicly.”
“Name her.”
He lowered his voice.
“Rebecca Mercer.”
Claire’s mother.
The woman presumed dead in a fire.
Damon watched my reaction.
“That is not all,” he said. “Patricia has kept Rebecca alive because Rebecca knows who Rose’s real parents are.”
Behind me, Claire’s phone vibrated.
She glanced down.
Her face changed.
I ended the call and turned toward her.
“What is it?”
Claire held up the screen.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
CAROLINE, THIS IS YOUR MOTHER.
Beneath it was an address.
A second message appeared.
COME ALONE OR YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN.
May you like
Claire looked toward the doorway.
Her coat was already gone.
