Chapter 9 - Naomi’s Message
The email contained no attachment.
Only coordinates.
An old church outside Sacramento.
Mara objected immediately.
“It’s a lure.”
“Yes.”
Cassidy said.
“I know.”
“You’re not going alone.”
“I didn’t say I was.”
They notified law enforcement.
A surveillance team reached the church first.
No Naomi.
No Victor.
Only an envelope taped beneath a pew.
Inside was a photograph.
Jonathan Mercer.
A young Elena.
And another woman.
Cassidy recognized the third woman from old Halcyon photographs.
Rose Pierce.
Arthur Pierce’s sister.
Naomi’s aunt.
On the back.
Elena Rose Pierce.
Cassidy stopped breathing.
Her mother had been born a Pierce.
Mara looked at her.
That changed motive.
Arthur Pierce was not merely challenging an old trust.
He was Elena’s biological uncle.
Naomi was Cassidy’s cousin.
The inheritance war was family.
The envelope also contained a letter from Jonathan.
If Elena ever asks why I changed her name, tell her the truth only when she is strong enough to understand that some relatives see children as ownership claims.
Cassidy read on.
Elena’s biological mother, Rose, died shortly after childbirth.
Her brother Arthur became temporary guardian.
Jonathan and his wife had been close to Rose.
They discovered Arthur using funds left for Elena.
A court battle followed.
Jonathan and his wife adopted Elena.
Arthur later sued for control of her inheritance.
He lost.
Years later, Jonathan hired him as trust counsel after Arthur claimed he had changed.
That was the mistake.
He had not changed.
Cassidy whispered.
“My mother spent her whole life escaping him.”
Mara nodded.
“And now Naomi thinks the Mercer fortune should have remained Pierce property.”
Cassidy looked at the final line.
Arthur has always believed Elena belonged to him because she was his blood.
Same idea.
Different generation.
Margaret believed Brendan deserved Halcyon because Thomas helped build a company.
Brendan believed Cassidy’s life belonged within his financial reach.
Arthur believed Elena’s inheritance belonged to the Pierce family.
Victor believed Cassidy’s unborn child was leverage.
Everyone confused relationship with ownership.
Then Cassidy’s phone rang.
Naomi.
Mara activated recording.
Cassidy answered.
“Where are you?”
Naomi’s voice was calm.
“You found the letter.”
“Yes.”
“Then you understand.”
“I understand my mother was adopted.”
“No.”
Naomi said.
“You understand your family stole her from ours.”
Cassidy closed her eyes.
“Your father stole from a child.”
Naomi’s breathing changed.
“That is Jonathan’s version.”
“Court records exist.”
“Courts favor money.”
Cassidy looked at Mara.
Naomi continued.
“Protocol 7 was never supposed to be yours.”
“Halcyon was built with Pierce assets.”
“That is a lie.”
“Come prove it.”
Then Naomi gave another address.
This time Cassidy recognized it.
May you like
Her mother’s old house.
The one she had refused to sell after Elena died.
