Chapter 5 - The Evidence That Shouldn’t Exist
Dorian Mercer was released after twelve hours.
Not because the case vanished.
Because the evidence was strangely perfect.
Too perfect.
Bank transfers.
Encrypted messages.
A burner phone connected to Dorian’s private office.
Documents showing payments to a former dockworker.
Everything pointed toward him.
Cassian trusted documents more than people.
That became a problem.
Penelope trusted people more than documents.
That became a bigger one.
Dorian returned to Mercer House at midnight.
Cassian waited in the study.
Penelope remained outside the door until voices rose.
“You think I did this?” Dorian demanded.
“I think the evidence deserves explanation.”
“The evidence was manufactured.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know.”
“That is becoming your favorite answer.”
Dorian laughed bitterly.
“And suspicion is yours.”
Penelope entered.
Both men turned.
Dorian looked exhausted.
Cassian looked furious.
Penelope crossed her arms.
“If either of you says this is family business, I’m throwing something.”
Dorian smiled faintly.
Cassian did not.
Penelope looked at Dorian.
“Did you contact Thomas Reeve?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“Yes.”
Cassian stood.
“When?”
Dorian’s jaw tightened.
“Three years ago.”
Cassian’s expression turned deadly.
“You lied.”
“I protected him.”
“From whom?”
“Our father.”
“He was already dead.”
“His people weren’t.”
Cassian stepped closer.
“You went behind my back.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dorian looked at him.
“Because you would have killed Graham Voss.”
Silence.
Penelope knew the name.
Graham Voss had been Michael Mercer’s closest business partner.
Now seventy.
Retired publicly.
Still feared privately.
Cassian’s face became stone.
“What did Voss do?”
Dorian hesitated.
“Nothing.”
Cassian laughed coldly.
“You are a terrible liar.”
Dorian looked at Penelope.
That was his mistake.
Cassian moved instantly.
He grabbed Dorian by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
Penelope shouted.
“Cassian!”
Dorian did not fight back.
Cassian’s voice was almost quiet.
“Do not look at her when deciding whether to lie to me.”
Dorian stared at his brother.
Then said, “Voss ordered Thomas killed three years ago.”
Cassian released him.
The room went silent.
“How do you know?”
“Because the man Voss hired came to me.”
“Why?”
“He wanted more money.”
Cassian’s face changed.
“What did you do?”
“I paid him.”
“To walk away?”
“Yes.”
“And you told nobody.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were already at war with Voss over the shipping terminals. If I told you, you would have killed him.”
Cassian’s voice became colder.
“I still might.”
“That is exactly why I didn’t tell you.”
Penelope understood the rule more clearly.
Cassian believed Dorian created secrets.
Dorian believed secrets prevented Cassian from becoming his father.
They were both protecting each other in destructive ways.
Penelope stepped between them.
“Someone knows all of this.”
Both brothers looked at her.
“Someone knows Thomas,” she continued. “Someone knows Dorian contacted him. Someone knows how Cassian thinks. They’re creating evidence designed specifically to make you distrust each other.”
Cassian’s gaze sharpened.
Dorian slowly nodded.
Penelope asked, “Who had access to your father’s old files?”
Cassian answered.
“Several people.”
“Names.”
“Evelyn. Marcus. Graham Voss. My father’s former accountant. Two executives.”
Dorian added, “Arabella’s father.”
Penelope looked at Cassian.
“Arabella?”
Cassian’s jaw tightened.
“Her father, Charles Vaughn, was on Mercer’s board.”
“And now?”
“Still is.”
Penelope felt something cold.
“Why did Arabella approach you at the gala?”
Cassian frowned.
“She wanted information.”
“What kind?”
“About the federal case.”
“What if she wanted something else?”
Dorian looked interested.
Cassian looked annoyed.
“Penelope.”
“You said she almost married you.”
“That was five years ago.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Cassian’s expression hardened.
“Because I discovered her father was feeding information about my company to Voss.”
Penelope stared.
“You left that part out.”
“It wasn’t relevant.”
“It sounds extremely relevant now.”
Dorian leaned against the desk.
“She’s right.”
Cassian glared.
Dorian smiled.
“I enjoy saying that.”
The investigation shifted.
Marcus traced the burner phone.
It had been purchased by a shell company linked to Vaughn Global Security.
Charles Vaughn denied everything.
Arabella requested a meeting.
Cassian refused.
Penelope accepted for him.
He was furious.
“You did what?”
“She asked to meet me.”
“You are not meeting Arabella alone.”
“You made me a public fiancée. This is what fiancées do.”
“No, it is not.”
“What do fiancées do?”
Cassian’s eyes moved over her.
“Do not answer that.”
His mouth almost smiled.
Penelope hated that he could make her forget anger.
“I’m meeting her.”
“I’m coming.”
“She specifically requested me.”
“Which is why I am coming.”
Eventually they compromised.
Penelope met Arabella at a hotel café.
Marcus sat nearby.
Cassian watched through a security feed from the SUV outside.
Arabella arrived in cream silk.
Penelope wore jeans.
“Thank you for coming,” Arabella said.
“You’re welcome.”
Arabella stirred her tea.
“You should leave Cassian.”
Penelope nearly laughed.
“That’s your opening?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Work on your opening.”
Arabella leaned closer.
“You think the danger around him is temporary.”
Penelope’s humor disappeared.
“What do you know?”
“I know my father is terrified.”
“Of Cassian?”
“No.”
Arabella looked toward the window.
“Of whoever is behind this.”
Penelope’s pulse changed.
“Your father is connected.”
“He was.”
“To what?”
“Our fathers built something together twenty years ago.”
“What?”
“A private network.”
“For crime?”
Arabella smiled without humor.
“For everything. Information. Judges. police officers. shipping unions. politicians. Businesses.”
Penelope felt cold.
“Cassian knows?”
“Parts.”
“Dorian?”
“More.”
That surprised her.
Arabella continued.
“Michael Mercer kept records. Insurance against everyone.”
“Where?”
“Nobody knows.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because my father received a photograph yesterday.”
Arabella slid an envelope across the table.
Penelope opened it.
Inside was a photograph of her leaving the bakery.
A red circle surrounded her head.
On the back:
MERCER’S WEAKNESS.
Her blood chilled.
Cassian appeared beside the table less than twenty seconds later.
He had abandoned the SUV.
Arabella looked up.
“You were listening.”
“Yes.”
Cassian took the photograph.
His entire face changed.
“Who sent this?”
“I don’t know.”
He leaned closer.
“If you are lying—”
“Cassian.”
Penelope touched his arm.
He stopped.
Barely.
Arabella watched the gesture.
Something sad entered her expression.
“You really love her.”
Cassian did not answer.
He didn’t need to.
Penelope’s heart pounded.
Arabella looked at Penelope.
“That makes you more dangerous than you realize.”
“To whom?”
Arabella’s eyes returned to Cassian.
“Everyone.”
That night, security around Penelope doubled again.
Cassian tried to send her to a private house in Wisconsin.
She refused.
He threatened to physically put her in the car.
She threatened to put laxatives in every dessert in Mercer House.
They reached a stalemate.
Finally Cassian said, “Why are you making this difficult?”
Penelope stared at him.
“Because I’m not leaving you.”
His expression shifted.
“That is exactly what frightens me.”
She softened.
“Cassian.”
“If something happens to you because of me—”
“Stop.”
“You don’t understand what these people do.”
“Then explain.”
He looked away.
Penelope touched his face.
“I’m already here.”
Cassian closed his eyes.
When he opened them, there was no distance left.
“I love you.”
Penelope froze.
He looked almost angry at himself.
“I did not intend to say that.”
A laugh escaped her.
“Very romantic.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Cassian held her face.
“I love you.”
This time he said it deliberately.
Penelope’s eyes filled.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her.
For one night, they allowed themselves happiness.
The next morning, a package arrived.
No return address.
Inside was an old ledger.
Michael Mercer’s handwriting filled the pages.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
Judges.
Police officials.
Union leaders.
And halfway through, one name appeared repeatedly.
DORIAN.
Not Dorian Mercer.
Dorian Shaw.
Penelope frowned.
“Who is Dorian Shaw?”
Cassian’s face drained of color.
Dorian entered the room.
He saw the page.
And whispered, “My mother.”
Penelope looked between them.
Cassian’s half brother had always been introduced as Michael Mercer’s son.
But suddenly the family history cracked open.
Dorian sat.
“My mother’s maiden name was Shaw.”
Cassian stared.
“Evelyn Shaw?”
Dorian nodded.
Penelope’s breath stopped.
Their attorney.
The woman Cassian trusted more than almost anyone.
The woman who had opposed Penelope’s engagement.
Cassian looked toward the door.
“Where is Evelyn?”
Marcus answered from behind them.
“She didn’t come to work today.”
Cassian’s face went cold.
“Find her.”
May you like
But Evelyn Shaw had already disappeared.
And with her vanished the person who knew more about Michael Mercer’s secrets than either son had ever imagined.
