Chapter 8: The Grandson's Secret
Martha stood at the kitchen window, unable to move.
The black sedan remained parked across the street.
Its engine was running.
Wade approached quietly.
"What happened?""
She turned toward him.
"Eleanor called.""
"Your sister?""
Martha nodded.
"She says Frank is alive.""
Wade's face brightened.
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
"Then what did she tell you?""
Martha hesitated.
She looked at the documents on the table.
Then she whispered:
"She said Lucas is involved.""
Wade frowned.
"Your grandson?""
"She said he's the person who signed Frank's death certificate.""
Wade stared at her.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"I know.""
"Lucas was a child.""
"He was thirteen when the certificate was issued.""
Wade walked to the table.
"Maybe Eleanor meant someone using his name.""
Martha picked up the photograph of Frank and Eleanor.
"She sounded terrified.""
A car door slammed outside.
Wade moved toward the curtains.
The black sedan was empty.
"Get away from the window.""
He pulled Martha back.
A second later, something struck the glass.
A small metal object bounced onto the kitchen floor.
Wade reached for it.
"Don't touch it.""
He examined it from a distance.
It was a key.
Attached was a piece of paper.
Three words had been written on it.
*ASK LUCAS WHY.*
Martha's phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed Emily.
She answered immediately.
"Emily?""
"Mom, where are you?""
"At home. What's wrong?""
"Lucas just called me.""
Martha gripped the phone.
"What did he say?""
"He asked if I knew anything about Grandpa Frank.""
Wade looked up.
Martha continued.
"Why would he ask that?""
Emily lowered her voice.
"Because somebody sent him a photograph of Dad's old motorcycle.""
Martha closed her eyes.
"Emily, listen. You need to bring Lucas here.""
"No, Mom. He sounded scared.""
"Of what?""
"He said somebody had been following him for two weeks.""
Wade stepped closer.
"Put her on speaker.""
Martha did.
Wade spoke directly into the phone.
"Emily, this is Wade Mercer.""
"Hello, Mr. Mercer.""
"Can you tell me where Lucas is?""
"He's at the hospital.""
"Why?""
A pause.
"Because he got into a fight with somebody outside his apartment last night.""
Martha gasped.
"Is he hurt?""
"He's okay. A broken wrist. But Mom, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Lucas told me he has been receiving money from someone for the last three years.""
Wade's expression hardened.
"Who?""
"He doesn't know. The payments come through an account under his name.""
Martha looked at the documents.
"How much?""
Emily hesitated.
"Almost two hundred thousand dollars.""
Wade whistled softly.
Martha sat down.
"My grandson wouldn't steal.""
"I don't think he did, Mom. He said he was offered a scholarship and a research position. He thought the money was legitimate.""
Wade stared at the old photograph.
"What's his field?""
"Cybersecurity.""
Wade and Martha exchanged a look.
The stolen records.
The customer information.
The old motorcycle network.
A young man with technical skills and access to money.
It was beginning to make sense.
At the hospital, Lucas sat beside his mother with his left wrist wrapped in a cast.
He was tall, thin, and wore the tired expression of someone who had spent too many nights staring at computer screens.
When Martha entered, he stood.
"Grandma.""
She embraced him carefully.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
Lucas looked at Wade.
"Who is he?""
"Wade Mercer. He was your grandfather's friend.""
Lucas's expression changed.
"You knew Grandpa Frank?""
"For a long time.""
Lucas looked down.
"Then maybe you can explain something.""
He reached into his backpack and removed a laptop.
"I received this yesterday.""
He opened an encrypted folder.
Inside were scanned documents, bank transfers, and photographs.
Wade leaned closer.
One photograph showed Richard Bell standing outside the dealership.
Another showed Detective Collins.
The third showed a younger man beside Frank.
Lucas enlarged the image.
"Do you know him?""
Wade stared.
The man was Jonathan Vale.
The same identity found on Collins's false identification card.
But this photograph had been taken in 1995.
Wade shook his head.
"That's not Jonathan Vale.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I knew the real Jonathan Vale.""
Lucas turned the screen.
"Who was he?""
Wade swallowed.
"Frank's older brother.""
Martha stared.
"Richard?""
"No. Before Richard, Frank had another brother. Jonathan. He died in a construction accident in 1988.""
Lucas opened another file.
A document appeared.
It was a death certificate.
Jonathan Bell.
Date of death: August 14, 1988.
Cause: Industrial accident.
Wade leaned closer.
The signature at the bottom belonged to a county medical examiner.
He read the name.
Then his face went pale.
"Dr. Samuel Price.""
Martha frowned.
"Who is that?""
Wade looked at her.
"The man who signed Daniel's death certificate.""
Lucas opened another document.
"And this one?""
It was a death certificate for Frank Bell.
The same medical examiner's signature.
Martha covered her mouth.
Three separate deaths.
One signature.
Wade looked at Lucas.
"Where did you get these?""
"They were in the encrypted folder. Somebody sent me the password.""
"Who?""
Lucas hesitated.
Then he opened an email.
The sender's name was displayed.
*ELEANOR BELL.*
Martha stared.
"Your great-aunt.""
Lucas nodded.
"She sent me the files three years ago. She told me to keep them safe and never open them unless somebody asked about Grandpa.""
Martha's voice trembled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she said it would put you in danger.""
Wade rubbed his forehead.
"Did she say anything else?""
Lucas nodded.
"She told me to watch the dealership.""
He opened another file.
It contained a list of bank transfers.
Each payment was connected to a different motorcycle identification number.
But the final entry was different.
It listed a property address.
A small house outside the city.
And beside it was a name.
*FRANK BELL.*
Lucas zoomed in.
The transaction date was only four days old.
Martha stood.
"He's there.""
Wade read the address.
"That's where we need to go.""
Lucas closed the laptop.
"There's a problem.""
"What?""
"The file has a tracking code.""
Wade frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Lucas looked at the screen.
"It means whoever sent me this can see every time it's opened.""
A notification appeared.
*REMOTE ACCESS DETECTED.*
Then another.
*LOCATION SHARED.*
Lucas's face went white.
"They know we're here.""
The hospital room door opened.
A nurse stepped inside.
"Mrs. Bell?""
Martha turned.
"Yes?""
The nurse held out a small envelope.
"Someone asked me to give you this.""
Martha opened it.
Inside was a photograph of her grandson standing beside a black sedan.
On the back was a message.
*WE KNOW WHERE THE BOY IS.*
Wade immediately stood.
"Get him out of here.""
Lucas looked confused.
"What's happening?""
Before anyone could answer, the hospital lights went out.
A scream came from the hallway.
Then came the sound of running footsteps.
May you like
And a man's voice shouted:
"Find the Bell family!""
