Chapter 6 — The Man Brooke Never Expected to Meet
Chapter 6 — The Man Brooke Never Expected to Meet
“It's not what you think.”
Natalie's voice barely carried across the study.
Dominic stared at her.
The black notebook was still open in his hands.
Her name was written in red ink.
NATALIE MERCER.
For several seconds, he couldn't breathe.
Emma stood beside the desk, frozen.
Natalie took one step into the room.
“I knew you'd find it eventually.”
Dominic's voice was quiet.
“How long?”
Natalie looked at him.
“How long have you been hiding something from me?”
She swallowed.
“Since before Mom died.”
Dominic closed the notebook.
“Then start talking.”
Natalie looked toward the door.
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because we're being watched.”
Emma's face changed.
Dominic immediately looked at the windows.
Nothing.
Then Natalie whispered:
“Brooke isn't the only person inside this house who has a key.”
Dominic locked the study door.
He turned off the lights.
The three of them gathered around the desk.
Natalie sat down.
“I didn't steal from the trust.”
“I know.”
“But you found my name.”
“Yes.”
“That notebook was planted.”
Dominic looked at her.
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Natalie looked exhausted.
“I expect you to listen.”
Dominic remained silent.
She continued.
“After Dad died, Mom told me something.”
“What?”
“That she had created a second identity for me.”
Dominic frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“If anyone ever came looking for the trust, I was supposed to pretend I knew nothing.”
“Why?”
“Because Dad had people watching us.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You knew enough to create a fake identity.”
“I didn't create it.”
“Then who did?”
Natalie looked down.
“Richard.”
Dominic froze.
“Richard Mercer?”
“Yes.”
“He was alive?”
Natalie nodded.
“I met him once.”
“When?”
“The week before Mom died.”
Dominic stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Mom begged me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew you would try to find him.”
Natalie began crying.
“And she was afraid you would get killed.”
Dominic looked away.
His anger slowly disappeared.
“What did Richard tell you?”
“That Dad wasn't the only person who wanted him dead.”
“Who else?”
“He wouldn't say.”
“Why?”
“He said the name would destroy us.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“What name?”
Natalie shook her head.
“I never heard it.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“Then why does this notebook have your name?”
“Because I was supposed to receive the trust.”
Dominic looked at her.
“What?”
Natalie reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a folded document.
“I was the original trustee.”
Dominic opened it.
His mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
NATALIE MERCER — PROTECTIVE TRUSTEE.
Dominic stared.
“This isn't the final trust.”
“No.”
“Then what is?”
Natalie's eyes filled with fear.
“The final trust belongs to Noah.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Three soft knocks.
Nobody moved.
Then another three.
Dominic reached for his weapon.
“Who is it?”
Silence.
He opened the door.
Nobody stood outside.
But on the floor was a white envelope.
Dominic picked it up.
No name.
No address.
Inside was a single sentence.
BROOKE IS ABOUT TO MEET THE MAN SHE HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR.
Dominic looked at Natalie.
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Richard.”
Across town, Brooke sat in the back of a black sedan.
Marcus drove.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Brooke broke the silence.
“Where are we going?”
“You wanted the truth.”
“I wanted the trust.”
“You can't have one without the other.”
Brooke stared out the window.
“You said Richard was dead.”
“I said everyone believed he was dead.”
“You knew he was alive.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
Marcus smiled.
“You weren't ready.”
Brooke's expression hardened.
“I'm ready now.”
Marcus turned onto a narrow road.
“Then tonight you'll meet him.”
Brooke's heartbeat quickened.
“Where?”
“An old church outside Providence.”
She stared at him.
“Why would he agree to see me?”
“Because he wants something.”
“What?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Brooke leaned forward.
“What does he want?”
Marcus finally looked at her through the mirror.
“You.”
The church was empty.
Broken stained-glass windows cast colored shadows across the floor.
Brooke stepped inside.
“Where is he?”
Marcus closed the door behind her.
“Wait.”
She hated waiting.
She had spent months manipulating people.
Convincing them.
Threatening them.
Buying them.
But now she was the one waiting for someone else.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
Finally, footsteps sounded from the balcony.
An elderly man appeared.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
A cane in one hand.
Brooke looked at him.
Her face changed.
“No.”
The man smiled.
“Hello, Brooke.”
She stepped backward.
“You're supposed to be dead.”
“So is half this family.”
She stared at him.
“Richard.”
He nodded.
“Richard Mercer.”
Brooke's breathing became shallow.
“You know who I am.”
“I know exactly who you are.”
“Then why did you call me here?”
Richard walked closer.
“Because you've been looking for me.”
“I thought you were the one behind everything.”
He laughed.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Richard stopped.
“That's what I need you to help me discover.”
Brooke frowned.
“You're asking me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were close to him.”
“Who?”
Richard's expression hardened.
“My brother.”
Richard handed her a photograph.
Brooke looked down.
Catherine.
Her husband.
Marcus.
And another man.
Brooke recognized the fourth person.
She whispered:
“Daniel Harrington.”
Richard nodded.
“Your father.”
Brooke stared at the photograph.
“My father knew you.”
“He worked for your father's company.”
“What does that have to do with Catherine?”
“Everything.”
Richard pointed to the photograph.
“Your father helped Catherine hide the original ledger.”
Brooke's eyes widened.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“Because your father discovered what my brother had done.”
Brooke's voice dropped.
“What had he done?”
Richard looked at her.
“Your father discovered that Dominic's father had been stealing from the Mercer trust for years.”
Brooke shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Catherine blame him?”
“Because he threatened to expose her too.”
Brooke stared.
“Expose her for what?”
Richard's voice became quiet.
“For killing him.”
Brooke froze.
“Catherine killed Dominic's father?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Richard smiled sadly.
“That's the question.”
Brooke suddenly realized something.
“Marcus knew.”
“Yes.”
“And he lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To keep you searching.”
“For what?”
Richard looked toward the church doors.
“The ledger.”
Brooke frowned.
“I thought the ledger was destroyed.”
“So did everyone.”
“Where is it?”
Richard looked at her.
“Inside the Mercer mansion.”
Her heart jumped.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why bring me here?”
“Because Catherine left a clue.”
“What clue?”
Richard leaned closer.
“Your father hid the ledger in a place only his daughter could access.”
Brooke stared at him.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew one day you'd come looking for him.”
Brooke's eyes filled with confusion.
“My father died when I was twelve.”
Richard nodded.
“And before he died, he left you something.”
“What?”
“A letter.”
Richard handed her another envelope.
Brooke opened it with shaking hands.
Her father's handwriting appeared.
Brooke,
If Richard Mercer ever finds you, listen to him.
She stopped.
Her father continued:
Do not trust Catherine.
Brooke looked up.
Richard said nothing.
She read on.
The ledger was never meant to destroy the Mercer family. It was meant to expose the man who destroyed ours.
Then:
If you ever find the ledger, don't give it to Marcus.
Brooke's hands trembled.
The final line was written darker than the rest.
Marcus is the reason I'm going to die.
Brooke looked at Richard.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You knew Marcus killed my father?”
“I knew Marcus was involved.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I needed you to survive.”
Brooke laughed bitterly.
“You call this surviving?”
“No.”
Richard looked at her.
“I call it delaying the inevitable.”
The church doors suddenly opened.
Marcus stood there.
His gun was raised.
Richard turned.
“Marcus.”
“You shouldn't have come.”
Brooke stepped away from him.
“You lied to me.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I protected you.”
“My father said you killed him.”
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Your father was a traitor.”
“He knew about the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“He knew Catherine wasn't responsible.”
“Yes.”
Brooke stared.
“Then why did you kill him?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Richard did.
“Because your father found the original account.”
Marcus fired.
Richard dropped behind a pillar.
Brooke screamed.
Marcus grabbed her.
“Come with me.”
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand everything.”
He pulled her toward the door.
“You're making a mistake.”
Brooke fought him.
Then a gunshot came from outside.
Marcus froze.
Dominic stepped into the church.
His weapon pointed directly at Marcus.
“You've run out of places to hide.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Dominic smiled.
“I heard that a lot tonight.”
Brooke stared at Dominic.
“You followed me.”
“No.”
He looked toward Richard.
“He called me.”
Richard emerged from behind the pillar.
Blood stained his sleeve, but the wound was superficial.
Marcus looked shocked.
“You planned this.”
Richard nodded.
“I needed you to reveal yourself.”
Marcus raised his gun.
Dominic raised his.
“Put it down.”
Marcus laughed.
“You think this ends here?”
“No.”
Dominic's voice was cold.
“I think it starts here.”
Marcus slowly lowered his weapon.
Then he smiled.
“You still don't know who ordered your father's death.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“Tell me.”
Marcus looked at Brooke.
“She does.”
Brooke froze.
“What?”
Marcus smiled.
“Your father left more than a letter.”
Brooke's face went pale.
“What did he leave?”
Marcus's eyes shifted toward her handbag.
“The key.”
Brooke immediately reached inside.
The brass key.
She had taken it from the mansion.
Dominic stepped forward.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
Brooke backed away.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“No.”
She held the key tightly.
“My father said I was supposed to use it.”
“For what?”
“The blue room.”
Dominic froze.
The blue room.
The hidden room Catherine had warned them about.
Richard looked at Dominic.
“Then it's time.”
They returned to Newport before dawn.
Natalie was waiting at the mansion.
When she saw Richard, she stopped breathing.
“Uncle Richard?”
He smiled.
“Hello, Natalie.”
She ran toward him.
They embraced.
Dominic watched silently.
For years, Richard had been a ghost.
Now he was standing in front of them.
Alive.
And carrying twenty-five years of secrets.
Noah came downstairs.
He stared at Richard.
“Are you Grandma's brother?”
Richard smiled.
“Yes.”
Noah studied him.
“Grandma said you were a good man.”
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
“She was wrong sometimes.”
Noah smiled.
“I don't think so.”
Richard knelt.
“Your grandmother loved you very much.”
“I know.”
Then Noah held out his hand.
“Do you want to see something?”
Richard looked confused.
“What?”
Noah opened his palm.
A tiny piece of blue glass.
Richard's expression changed instantly.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Grandma.”
Richard took it.
His hands began shaking.
“Dominic.”
“What?”
“This isn't glass.”
“What is it?”
Richard looked at the others.
“It's a piece of the ledger.”
Dominic stared.
“What?”
Richard turned the fragment over.
Tiny numbers were engraved on it.
“Catherine broke the ledger into pieces.”
“Why?”
“To make sure nobody could ever use it.”
Dominic frowned.
“How many pieces?”
Richard looked at Noah.
“Seven.”
Noah's face brightened.
“I have another one.”
Dominic stared.
“Where?”
Noah pointed toward the upstairs hallway.
“In Grandma's room.”
They entered Catherine's old bedroom.
Noah climbed onto the bed.
He reached behind an old photograph frame.
He pulled out another blue fragment.
Richard's face went pale.
“Two.”
Dominic looked around.
“Where are the other five?”
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Brooke stepped forward.
“My father might.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Your father is dead.”
“He left instructions.”
“Where?”
Brooke held up the key.
“Inside the blue room.”
They followed the old architectural plans.
The hidden entrance was beneath the library.
The brass key fit perfectly.
The door opened.
Inside was a small room covered with blue tiles.
At the center stood a wooden table.
On it were five empty spaces.
And one handwritten message.
THE SEVEN PIECES WILL REVEAL THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO BETRAYED US ALL.
Dominic stared.
Then another sentence appeared beneath it.
THE FIRST PIECE IS WITH THE HEIR.
Everyone looked at Noah.
THE SECOND IS WITH THE WITNESS.
Emma stepped forward.
She slowly opened her hand.
The second blue fragment was there.
THE THIRD IS WITH THE LIAR.
Everyone turned toward Brooke.
She stared at them.
Then slowly reached into her pocket.
She pulled out another fragment.
Three pieces.
Four remained.
Dominic looked at Richard.
“And the others?”
Richard's face became grim.
“One is with Marcus.”
“One is with someone inside this family.”
“And the final two?”
Richard looked at Dominic.
“One is with the person who ordered your father's death.”
“And the last?”
Richard lowered his voice.
“The last piece is with the person who killed Catherine.”
Silence filled the blue room.
Natalie whispered:
“Then Brooke didn't kill her.”
“No,” Richard said.
“She was being used.”
Dominic looked at Brooke.
For the first time, he saw something different in her face.
Not arrogance.
Not greed.
Fear.
Because Brooke had just realized that the man she trusted had never been protecting her.
He had been using her to find the ledger.
And somewhere in the mansion, someone else was still watching.
The lights suddenly flickered.
A hidden speaker crackled.
Catherine's voice filled the room.
“Dominic.”
Everyone froze.
“If you have found the blue room, then you have reached the final stage.”
A pause.
“Do not trust Richard.”
Richard's face went white.
Dominic turned toward him.
Catherine continued:
“Your uncle is telling you the truth.”
Another pause.
“But he is not telling you everything.”
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Noah looked toward the wall.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“There is someone behind that door.”
Dominic turned.
A faint shadow moved beneath the hidden entrance.
He reached for his weapon.
The door opened.
And the man standing there was the last person Dominic expected to see.
His father's former bodyguard.
A man everyone had believed died twenty-five years ago.
He looked at Dominic.
Then at Richard.
Then at Brooke.
Finally, he said:
“I know who killed Catherine.”
Dominic's heart stopped.
May you like
The man raised his hands.
“And before sunrise, you're going to learn why your mother wanted you to hate the wrong person.”
