Chapter 9 - The Grave With No Grandfather
Edward Mercer’s grave was opened under court order.
The coffin contained remains.
They were not Edward’s.
DNA belonged to an unidentified man.
Adrian stood in the cemetery while snow gathered on black umbrellas.
“My family buries a lot of strangers.”
Noah gave a humorless laugh.
“At least we’re consistent.”
Records showed Edward Mercer supposedly died of a heart attack at seventy-one.
The funeral had been closed-casket.
Richard handled everything.
Emily looked at Adrian.
“Maybe Richard didn’t create North Star.”
“He inherited it.”
Vance’s words returned.
You inherit it.
Investigators traced Edward through old financial accounts.
A pension payment had been collected under another identity until six months ago.
Location:
Maine.
Quinn arranged surveillance at a coastal house.
Nobody was there.
But the interior looked recently abandoned.
On the wall hung photographs of Adrian.
Noah.
Claire.
Emily.
Even Lucy from preschool.
Edward had watched generations of his family from hiding.
In a desk drawer, they found Christmas cards he never mailed.
One to Richard.
One to Adrian.
One to Claire.
Adrian opened his.
You were always too sentimental to understand what families like ours require.
His hands tightened.
Emily took the card.
“Don’t let a dead man define you.”
“We don’t know that he’s dead.”
“Then don’t let a living monster do it either.”
Claire’s card was worse.
Little Claire, someday you will understand why your inheritance required protection from your parents.
Adrian tore it in half.
Quinn stopped him.
“Evidence.”
“Sorry.”
“You can tear a copy later.”
Back in Chicago, prosecutors charged Denise with kidnapping, child endangerment and related offenses. Martin began cooperating. Rebecca entered negotiations.
Claire asked whether Denise would come back.
“No,” Adrian said.
“Ever?”
“She won’t be allowed near you.”
Claire stared at her mittens.
“Is she going to jail?”
“Probably.”
“Good.”
Adrian did not correct her.
Then Claire added, “But I hope somebody gives her a blanket.”
He looked at his daughter.
“Why?”
“Jail looks cold on TV.”
After everything Denise had done, Claire still had room for mercy.
Adrian wondered whether that was strength or simply the part of her nobody had managed to damage.
Christmas decorations began coming down across the city.
Claire protested.
“Too early.”
“It’s December twenty-ninth,” Noah said.
“Still Christmas.”
“According to whom?”
“Me.”
So the Mercer tree remained.
That evening, Martin gave investigators the biggest break yet.
North Star held an annual private meeting.
Always between Christmas and New Year’s.
Always at a different location.
This year’s invitation had arrived before his arrest.
A charity auction at the Grand Ashford Hotel.
Adrian wanted police to raid it.
Quinn wanted surveillance.
Emily wanted every member exposed.
Claire wanted pancakes.
For once, her request won first.
They ate breakfast for dinner.
Adrian burned the first batch.
Emily laughed.
“You still do that?”
“I’m talented.”
Claire ate one anyway.
“This tastes like smoke.”
“Maple syrup fixes character.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
At 11:20 p.m., Quinn called.
The North Star meeting was happening.
Investigators identified judges, doctors, attorneys and executives entering a private ballroom.
Then one final guest arrived.
An elderly man with a cane.
Facial recognition returned no match.
Noah watched the footage.
“That’s him.”
Adrian leaned closer.
Edward Mercer.
Alive.
Twenty-two years after his funeral.
Police prepared to move.
Then every camera in the hotel went black.
When video returned forty-seven seconds later, the ballroom was empty.
Tables remained set.
Coffee was warm.
Nobody had seen dozens of people leave.
On the center table lay one envelope.
Addressed to Adrian.
Inside was a photograph of Claire asleep in her bedroom.
Taken that night.
Adrian’s blood turned cold.
He ran upstairs.
Claire’s bed was empty.
The window was open.
Snow blew across the carpet.
On her pillow sat one red mitten.
And a note.
BRING EMILY TO THE OLD CHRISTMAS HOUSE.
May you like
COME WITHOUT POLICE.
OR THIS TIME, YOU LOSE HER FOR GOOD.
