Chapter 5 - THE DOCTOR WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
Andrew Mercer had attended every important moment in Lucas’s adult life.
He had been beside Lucas when Emma was born.
He had signed the death certificate after Lucas’s first wife, Rachel, died in a highway accident.
He had helped Lucas survive the months that followed.
He had introduced Lucas to Vanessa at a charity dinner.
Now his voice was on a recording discussing Emma’s removal.
Lucas called him.
The phone went directly to voicemail.
Detective Reyes sent officers to Mercer’s clinic.
It was closed.
His receptionist had been told he was attending the wedding.
He had never arrived.
Lucas checked the guest list.
Mercer’s name appeared at table four.
His seat was empty.
The head of security reviewed exterior cameras.
At 9:18 that morning, Mercer’s black sedan entered the estate through the service gate.
At 10:04, he left in a catering van.
He had been inside long enough to prepare the champagne glass.
He had also entered Vanessa’s bridal suite.
The hallway camera captured him adjusting the lower left side of her wedding dress.
He was the man who had hidden the recorder and documents inside the silk.
“Why would he record himself?” Claire asked.
“He may not have known it was active,” Reyes replied.
The recorder had been turned on at 8:52 a.m.
It captured nearly two hours of conversation.
Most of the audio consisted of fabric moving, footsteps, and distant voices.
Then Reyes found another clear section.
Mercer spoke first.
“The test results will show a neurological event.”
Vanessa answered.
“How long will he be confused?”
“Several hours.”
“And after he recovers?”
“He will discover that you have already transferred Emma’s temporary guardianship.”
“What about the trust?”
“The first transfer will be complete.”
A third voice entered the recording.
It belonged to Patricia.
“Vanessa, this is becoming dangerous.”
Vanessa responded.
“It became dangerous when Rachel changed the trust.”
Lucas stopped the recording.
“What did she say?”
Reyes replayed the line.
Rachel had created Emma’s trust before her death.
Only Lucas, Rachel’s attorney, and Andrew Mercer knew the complete terms.
Vanessa should not have known Rachel changed anything.
Lucas turned toward Patricia.
“How did your daughter know about my late wife’s trust?”
Patricia began crying.
“I do not know.”
Vanessa remained silent.
Lucas remembered the weeks after Rachel’s accident.
Mercer handled the hospital.
He handled toxicology reports.
He told Lucas that Rachel died instantly.
He told him there was nothing anyone could have done.
A terrible question entered Lucas’s mind.
He did not want to speak it.
Detective Reyes saw it in his face.
“When did your wife die?”
“Three years ago.”
“Was Dr. Mercer involved in her treatment?”
“He was the first physician at the hospital.”
Reyes made a call to the district attorney’s office.
She requested Rachel Bennett’s complete medical file.
Lucas walked away from the others.
He entered the library.
Emma was asleep on the sofa with her head in Claire’s lap.
Lucas sat beside her.
Claire studied his face.
“What are you thinking?”
“I am thinking I invited the same man who signed Rachel’s death certificate to help raise her daughter.”
“You did not know.”
“I never questioned him.”
“Because he was your friend.”
Lucas looked toward Emma.
“That explanation is becoming very expensive.”
His phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
He answered.
Andrew Mercer’s voice came through the speaker.
“You need to stop the police from examining Rachel’s file.”
Lucas stood.
“Where are you?”
“That does not matter.”
“It matters to me.”
Mercer breathed slowly.
“This wedding was supposed to solve a problem.”
“You tried to drug me.”
“I tried to prevent a larger disaster.”
“You planned to remove my daughter.”
“Emma was never supposed to be harmed.”
“She was locked in a bathroom.”
“That was Vanessa.”
Lucas clenched the phone.
“What happened to Rachel?”
Mercer did not answer.
Then Lucas heard a car door close in the background.
Mercer whispered one final sentence.
“Ask Claire why Rachel was driving that night.”
The call ended.
May you like
Lucas turned toward his sister.
Claire’s face had gone white.
