Chapter 14 - The Mercer Family Rule
Anna stopped halfway down the cellar steps.
Leo saw her and reached out.
“Mommy!”
Catherine tightened her arm around him.
“Don’t move.”
Richard came into view behind Anna.
His face changed when he saw the gun.
“Mom.”
Catherine smiled sadly.
“You always were weak where she was concerned.”
“Put the gun down.”
“I spent forty years protecting what your father built.”
“You kidnapped my son.”
“I protected my grandson.”
“From his mother?”
“From chaos.”
Anna’s voice shook with rage. “Vanessa pushed him down a staircase.”
Catherine’s eyes moved to her.
“She was supposed to frighten you.”
The words landed like ice.
Richard stared at his mother. “You knew?”
“I knew there would be an incident.”
“You knew she was going to hurt Leo?”
“No.” Catherine’s control cracked for the first time. “Vanessa lost her temper. She has always had difficulty controlling emotion.”
Anna almost laughed.
This woman had turned attempted murder into a personality flaw.
“Give him to me,” Anna said.
Catherine lifted the pistol.
“Stay where you are.”
Footsteps sounded above.
Alvarez called down, “Catherine Mercer, police have the property surrounded.”
Catherine’s mouth tightened.
Richard took one slow step lower.
“Mom. Look at Leo.”
“I am looking at him.”
“No. Look at him.”
Leo was shaking so hard his teeth clicked.
Tears covered his face.
“You say you’re protecting him,” Richard said. “He’s terrified of you.”
Catherine glanced down.
For one second, the gun dipped.
Anna moved.
She did not think.
She ran down the final steps and grabbed Leo.
Catherine shouted.
Richard hit his mother’s wrist as the gun fired.
The bullet tore into the wooden ceiling.
Anna fell behind an old furnace with Leo underneath her.
Officers rushed in.
Catherine screamed as they forced her to the floor.
“Richard! Stop them!”
He stood above her, breathing hard.
For the first time in his life, he did not obey his mother.
Anna held Leo against her chest.
“I’ve got you,” she whispered.
Again.
The same words from the staircase.
“I’ve got you.”
Then Leo looked past her toward the dark corner of the cellar.
His eyes widened.
“Vessa.”
Anna turned.
May you like
A narrow door behind the shelves stood open.
Vanessa was gone.
