Chapter 7: The Secret Behind the Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars
I stared at the message from Robert Hayes.
"Claire, before you destroy your career, you need to know what your sister did to Daniel.""
For twelve years, Robert had been the man I called when I needed advice. He had recommended me for promotions, defended me during difficult investigations, and stood beside me when I received my detective commendation.
Now his name appeared beside a $75,000 payment in a notebook recovered from my brother-in-law's garage.
I wanted to believe there was an explanation.
But then I remembered the photograph.
Robert standing in Emma's bedroom while my sister lay injured on the floor.
I handed my phone to Marcus.
“Preserve that message.””
“Already doing it.””
Laura examined the photograph of the handwritten list.
“Seventy-five thousand dollars is a substantial payment. We need to establish whether this was a business transaction, a personal payment, or something connected to the suspected obstruction.””
“Robert's a police sergeant,” I said.
“He doesn't have a legitimate reason to receive money from Daniel.””
“Not without an explanation,” Marcus replied.
My phone vibrated again.
Another message.
This time, Robert had attached a photograph of an old document.
I opened it.
It was a photograph of a bank transfer dated four years earlier.
The sender was Daniel Mercer.
The recipient was Emma Bennett.
Amount: $75,000.
I frowned.
“Marcus, look at this.””
He studied the screen.
“Do you recognize the account?””
“No.””
Laura moved closer.
“Why would Daniel send Emma that amount?””
I turned toward my sister.
“Emma, do you know anything about this?””
Her face had gone pale.
She stared at the screen for several seconds.
Then she slowly shook her head.
“I've never received seventy-five thousand dollars.””
“Are you sure?””
“I've never had that kind of money in my account.””
Marcus took a photograph of the document displayed on my phone.
“Don't respond to Hayes.””
I nodded.
But Emma was trembling.
“Claire, that's not the only thing.””
I pulled my chair closer.
“Tell me.””
She looked at the photograph again.
“Four years ago, Daniel told me he was helping your parents.””
My heart skipped.
“What?””
“He said Dad had financial problems. He told me he'd transferred some money to help him.””
I stared at her.
“Dad never told me anything about that.””
“I know. Daniel said your parents didn't want you to find out because you were working so hard to become a police officer.””
That sounded like something Daniel would say.
He had always been exceptionally good at making lies sound like acts of kindness.
“What happened after he transferred the money?”” I asked.
Emma swallowed.
“He told me the money was being held temporarily in my name because his company was having problems with its bank accounts.””
Laura looked up.
“Did you sign anything?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did he ask for your identification?””
Emma nodded.
“He said he needed it for paperwork.””
“When?””
“About four years ago.””
I felt a cold sensation settle in my stomach.
“Did you ever receive bank statements?””
“No. Daniel handled everything.””
Marcus looked at Laura.
“That's something we'll need to investigate separately.””
I leaned toward Emma.
“Did he ever tell you that the money belonged to someone else?””
She shook her head.
Then she suddenly covered her mouth.
“What?””
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Claire, I think I remember.””
I waited.
“Last year, Daniel got angry because I asked about a letter from the bank. He said it was about an old account and told me not to worry.””
“What letter?””
“A statement. I think it had a different company name on it.””
“Do you remember the name?””
Emma closed her eyes.
“Mercer Holdings.””
Marcus immediately wrote it down.
Laura stepped outside to make another call.
I looked at my sister.
“Why didn't you tell me any of this?””
She started crying.
“Because I thought it was normal. He told me married couples shared financial responsibilities. He said I didn't need to understand every business decision.””
I squeezed her hand.
“You weren't supposed to understand. He wanted you not to ask questions.””
She looked at me.
“Do you think he used my identity?””
“I don't know yet.””
I wasn't going to give her an answer without evidence.
But the possibility was frightening.
A few minutes later, Marcus returned.
“We've confirmed that the $75,000 payment was part of a larger transaction involving a company associated with Mercer Property Group.””
“What does that mean?””
“Not enough to draw conclusions yet. But the transaction records suggest money moved through several accounts.””
“And Robert?””
Marcus looked at the handwritten list.
“His name appears beside the amount, but we need to identify the original records and determine whether the payment actually occurred.””
My phone rang.
Mom.
I answered immediately.
“Claire?””
Her voice sounded frightened.
“What's wrong?””
“Your father is looking for something.””
“What?””
“An old folder. Daniel gave it to us years ago. He said it was important financial paperwork.””
I closed my eyes.
“Mom, don't touch anything. Where is it?””
“In your father's study.””
“Is Dad home?””
“He's looking now.””
“Tell him to stop and leave everything where it is.””
Mom lowered her voice.
“Claire, I think Daniel lied to us.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did you find?””
“There's a document with Emma's signature. And yours.””
I went completely still.
“Mine?””
“Yes.””
“What document?””
“I don't know. It's a company agreement. But there's a date from four years ago.””
I looked at Marcus.
He immediately motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
“Mom,” I said carefully, “do not sign, move, or destroy anything. We're sending someone to help preserve the documents.””
Then she said something that made my heart stop.
“Claire, there's another page.””
“What page?””
“The one with Robert Hayes's signature.””
I stared at Marcus.
He slowly lowered his notebook.
May you like
And for the first time that morning, neither of us had anything to say.
Because whatever Daniel had been hiding, it had started years before Emma's first bruise.
