Chapter 3 - The Man Who Had Been Watching From Across the StreetMaggie spent the next three days inside Kane's protected residence.
She hated it.
Dominic knew.
He gave her space.
He didn't lock her room.
He didn't assign guards inside.
He simply made sure no one reached the property without being noticed.
One morning, Maggie entered the library.
Dominic was reading.
He looked up.
“You need sleep.”
“I need answers.”
“Fair.”
She sat.
“Tell me everything.”
He closed the file.
“My father operated a criminal organization.”
“I know.”
“Your father worked for him.”
“I know.”
“Your father discovered money being moved through the organization.”
“Where?”
“Medical companies.”
Maggie froze.
“Medical?”
“Yes.”
She thought of her mother's work.
Hospitals.
Accounts.
Numbers.
“My mother hated hospitals.”
“Because she knew what they were hiding.”
“What?”
“Patients were being used to cover financial transfers.”
Maggie's face hardened.
“That sounds impossible.”
“It happened.”
“Did my father expose it?”
“He tried.”
“What happened?”
“My father found out.”
Dominic continued.
“He ordered Adrian killed.”
“And my mother?”
“She escaped.”
“With me.”
“Yes.”
Maggie stared at the bracelet.
“What did they hide?”
“The ledger.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
She studied him.
“Then why do you think I have it?”
“I don't.”
“Then what does someone want from me?”
“Access.”
“To what?”
“Your mother's records.”
Maggie felt cold.
“I don't have them.”
“Maybe you do.”
He reached for another file.
“Your mother left something with a lawyer.”
“Who?”
“David Mercer.”
Maggie knew the name.
Her mother had once told her:
“If you ever hear that man's name, leave.”
David Mercer was dead.
Or so Maggie believed.
Dominic looked at her.
“Not anymore.”
They found Mercer at a private clinic.
He was older.
Sick.
But alive.
When he saw Maggie, he began to cry.
“You have Claire's eyes.”
Maggie sat.
“What did she leave?”
Mercer handed her an envelope.
Inside was a letter.
My Maggie,
If you are reading this, the people I spent my life hiding from have found you.
I'm sorry.
Maggie's hands shook.
You were never unwanted. You were protected.
She stopped.
Dominic looked away.
The letter continued.
Your father loved you.
Dominic's father hated what your father knew.
But Dominic is not his father.
Maggie looked at Dominic.
The next line made her heart race.
He has been watching over you since he learned you existed.
Dominic's expression didn't change.
Maggie stared.
“Is this true?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Eleven years.”
She felt dizzy.
“Eleven?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother asked me to.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere.”
“My apartment?”
“Yes.”
“My job?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because she feared you would run.”
“I would have.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“You let me think I was alone.”
“I let you believe you were safe.”
Maggie cried.
Not loudly.
She simply wiped her cheeks.
Then asked:
“Did you ever hurt me?”
“No.”
“Did you ever use me?”
“No.”
“Were you trying to get the ledger?”
“No.”
“Then what did you want?”
He looked at her.
“You alive.”
The answer was too simple.
Too honest.
Maggie's chest tightened.
Then a gunshot shattered the clinic window.
Mercer ducked.
Dominic grabbed Maggie.
They ran.
Outside, a black SUV accelerated.
Dominic's security team pursued.
Mercer shouted:
“They have the ledger!”
Maggie turned.
“What ledger?”
Mercer pointed.
“Your mother's.”
Dominic stopped.
“What?”
Mercer whispered:
“She hid the real one before she disappeared.”
“Where?”
Mercer looked at Maggie.
“Inside you.”
Silence.
Maggie felt her heart race.
“What does that mean?”
Mercer shook his head.
“Not inside your body.”
He reached into his pocket.
“Inside the one thing she knew you'd never lose.”
He pointed at the bracelet.
Dominic stared.
“The bracelet contains the key.”
Maggie touched it.
A tiny compartment opened.
Inside was a microchip.
Dominic exhaled.
“The ledger is digital.”
Mercer smiled faintly.
“You're finally catching up.”
Then another shot hit the wall.
Mercer fell.
Maggie screamed.
Dominic pulled her away.
They escaped through a side entrance.
Behind them, David Mercer lay bleeding but alive.
He had protected the secret long enough.
May you like
Now the secret belonged to Maggie.
And everyone wanted it.
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