Chapter 9 - The Incompetent Man
Martin Pike had come prepared.
He handed copies of the order to Sheriff Cross, the fire chief, and two reporters who had arrived after hearing about the blaze.
“Mr. Mercer suffered cognitive episodes before his disappearance,” Martin announced. “His judgment is not reliable. His accusations against Richard are symptoms of paranoid decline.”
Henry stood wrapped in a fire blanket.
He looked older than Leo remembered.
There was a healing cut above his left eyebrow and a stiffness in his right arm.
But his eyes were clear.
“Martin,” Henry said, “you always did mistake paperwork for truth.”
Martin smiled. “And you always mistook power for immunity.”
Claire walked to her father and hugged him.
Henry closed his eyes for one second.
Then he pulled Leo close too.
“You broke the portrait,” he murmured.
Leo looked up. “Sorry.”
Henry gave the smallest grin. “I hated that painting.”
Sheriff Cross stepped forward. “Mr. Pike, this order is temporary. It doesn’t erase evidence of a crime.”
“No, but it means anything Henry says tonight is legally questionable.”
Richard seized the opening.
“My father is confused. Claire is upset. Leo is a child. We should all go home and let professionals handle this.”
Henry laughed.
The sound turned every head.
“Professionals like the doctor you paid to poison me?”
Richard’s face tightened.
Henry reached inside his coat.
Cross tensed.
But Henry pulled out a small waterproof memory card.
“I wore a body camera the night Richard drove my car to Blackwater Bridge.”
Richard went white.
Martin moved first.
He stepped forward, snatched the card, and crushed it under his shoe.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Leo stared at the broken plastic.
Martin seemed to realize too late what he had just done in front of witnesses.
Henry only smiled.
“That,” he said, “was the decoy.”
Leo almost laughed.
Martin’s face hardened.
Henry turned to Cross. “The real recording is stored in three places.”
“Where?”
“One copy was in the blue room.”
Leo looked at the burning west wing.
Henry’s smile disappeared.
“The second was with Maria.”
Maria shook her head. “No. The drive you gave me was taken from my apartment.”
Everyone went quiet.
Cross asked, “And the third?”
Henry looked at Leo.
“I mailed it to someone Richard would never think to search.”
Leo understood immediately.
His heart sank.
“Grandma’s sister.”
Henry nodded.
May you like
“She lives alone in Vermont.”
Claire whispered, “Dad, Aunt Ruth died yesterday.”
