Chapter 9 - Ten Minutes Before Dawn
Grant Mercer denied everything.
He denied knowing North Bell still existed. Denied ordering any archive destruction. Denied speaking to contractors. Denied ever meeting Elena Marlow outside normal business.
He was smooth enough to make lying look like fatigue.
“What you have,” he told Rebecca, “is a fake badge and a distorted recording.”
Maya sat across from him. “And forty-three shell entities.”
“Legacy vendors.”
“Twelve million dollars through Claire’s foundation.”
Grant’s eyes flicked toward Maya for half a second.
There.
She saw it.
Not surprise.
Calculation.
“You keep dragging Ms. Whitmore into this,” he said. “Why?”
“Because her signature appears on six transfers.”
“Digital signature.”
“Are you saying it was forged?”
“I’m saying your conclusions are amateur.”
Maya leaned back. “Then help me become professional. Who is behind you?”
Grant smiled.
“Your father never taught you patience.”
The room went still.
Maya’s voice lowered. “You know my father.”
“I know of him.”
“No. You know him.”
Grant stood. “This interview is over.”
Rebecca blocked the door. “Sit down.”
Grant’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
For the first time, he looked rattled.
He answered. “Yes?”
His face changed.
“What do you mean she’s alive?”
Maya stood.
Grant turned away. “Where?”
The call ended.
“Who’s alive?” Maya asked.
Grant said nothing.
Rebecca stepped closer. “Grant.”
His eyes moved between them.
Then he laughed once, quietly.
“You really don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“Elena Marlow didn’t die in that crash.”
Maya felt the room tilt.
Grant picked up his jacket.
“Your father knew that too.”
Maya grabbed his arm. “Where is she?”
He looked down at her hand, then at her face.
“Ten minutes ago, someone used an old Whitmore emergency account in Milwaukee.”
“Who?”
Grant smiled without humor.
“The account belongs to Elena.”
Then every phone in the room buzzed.
May you like
A security alert appeared.
HENRY REED HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING.
