Chapter 5 - Daniel Returned With Evidence Against Mercer—And Sonia Learned Her Father Had Been Preparing for His DeathDaniel survived.
Barely.
They hid him in an old farmhouse outside the city.
Sonia spent three days beside him.
Joe slept in a chair.
When Daniel woke, he gave Sonia a key.
“Dad left this.”
“To me?”
“Yes.”
“What does it open?”
“The last thing your mother hid.”
They drove to the Lane family home.
Sonia opened the old piano.
Inside was a metal box.
Documents.
Photographs.
A memory card.
And a letter.
Her mother's handwriting.
Sonia read.
She learned everything.
Her mother had discovered Mercer years ago.
She knew Daniel would investigate.
She knew Robert would be threatened.
She knew Sonia would eventually become the target.
The letter ended with:
Trust the one who risks losing everything to tell you the truth.
Sonia looked at Joe.
He understood.
The memory card contained evidence.
Enough to destroy Mercer.
But one problem remained.
The evidence was encrypted.
Daniel knew the password.
He gave it to Sonia.
She entered it.
The files opened.
Bank records.
Videos.
Confessions.
And a recording of Richard Mercer.
He admitted ordering the kidnapping.
He admitted manipulating Robert.
He admitted killing Elena's mother.
Sonia's mother.
Sonia closed her eyes.
Then the recording continued.
Mercer said something else.
“Once Sonia signs, the trust becomes mine.”
Sonia froze.
The date on the recording was one week later.
He planned to force her signature soon.
Daniel looked at her.
“We need to move.”
They did.
The FBI received the files.
Mercer's companies were investigated.
His accounts were frozen.
But he disappeared.
He fled.
Sonia thought it was over.
Then she received a text.
You have one thing I need.
She looked at Joe.
“What?”
Another message.
Daniel.
May you like
Then a location.
Daniel had been taken again.
Related Stories
