Chapter 6 - The Man With the Gold Ring
Claire read Rosa's warning three times, then looked through the glass wall of her hospital room.
Officer Perez stood at the nurses' station. No ring.
Beside Daniel near the elevator stood an older detective wearing a gold wedding band.
Maya arrived ten minutes later. One glance was enough.
"Detective Hal Mercer," she said. "Financial crimes. He investigated Bennett Development two years ago. The case vanished."
Claire handed her Rosa's note. "The address?"
"South side. Old commercial district. And you're not going."
"I am."
Maya stared at Claire's pregnant belly. "Your husband apparently thinks homicide is estate planning."
"Exactly why I'm going."
The next afternoon they left through a service entrance after Claire was discharged. The address led to a shuttered tailor shop between two vacant storefronts.
Rosa was inside, wrapped in a blanket, a purple bruise along her jaw.
Claire dropped beside her. "Who did this?"
"Eleanor's driver. He wanted my phone."
Maya locked the door. "You said Daniel didn't cut the balcony bolts."
"He cut the curtain," Rosa said. "But Detective Mercer prepared the railing."
Claire went cold.
Charles had discovered Mercer receiving monthly payments through a company tied to Eleanor. Those payments began after the old embezzlement investigation disappeared.
"Charles recorded everything," Rosa said. "He gave me copies because his computer was not safe."
She pointed toward an antique sewing machine. Beneath its wooden base, Maya found a memory card.
Charles appeared on the video.
"If Daniel and Eleanor ever learn Claire is pregnant, they may try to remove the child before the trust can vest. Mercer has altered reports for them. Dr. Rusk has accepted money from Eleanor. I have documented both."
Claire stopped the video. "Dr. Rusk? My doctor?"
Rosa nodded. "You cannot deliver at that hospital."
Headlights swept across the shop windows.
A black SUV stopped outside.
May you like
Someone tried the front door.
Then a man's voice said, "Police. Open up."
