Chapter 3 - Hannah Met the Stranger Who Knew Her Father Better Than She Ever Had—and Learned Her Husband's Mistress Was More Than Just an AffairThe bank was underground.
No signs.
No security guards.
No visible entrance.
Benjamin led Hannah through a private elevator beneath a historic building downtown.
The vault opened only after Hannah placed her palm against a scanner.
A green light appeared.
ACCESS GRANTED.
Hannah stared.
“I'm really starting to hate how much my father apparently knew about me.”
Benjamin smiled.
“He knew you would be stubborn.”
“That's your polite word for difficult?”
“Very.”
The vault contained one box.
Nothing else.
Hannah opened it.
Inside were letters.
A family photograph.
A gold key.
And a small cassette tape.
She recognized her mother's handwriting.
Hannah.
If you are reading this, then I failed to protect you.
She pressed the cassette into the old machine.
Her mother's voice filled the room.
“My darling girl.”
Hannah covered her mouth.
“I don't know when you will hear this.”
Jean's voice shook.
“But I need you to know your father did not leave us.”
Hannah closed her eyes.
“He loved you more than anything.”
A pause.
“He left because he believed someone inside our family wanted you dead.”
Hannah looked at Benjamin.
The recording continued.
“There is a man named Victor Kane.”
Benjamin's expression hardened.
“He will tell you Elias betrayed him.”
Jean laughed softly.
“He will be lying.”
“Your father discovered that Victor had been stealing from the Mercer Trust.”
“He confronted him.”
“And Victor threatened to destroy our family.”
Hannah whispered:
“He did.”
Jean continued.
“When Elias disappeared, I hid you.”
“I told you he was gone.”
“I told you never to ask.”
“Forgive me.”
The recording paused.
Then Jean said something that made Hannah cry.
“You have a brother.”
Hannah's chest tightened.
“His name is Michael.”
She looked at Benjamin.
“Michael was taken before I could hide him.”
“I spent years looking for him.”
“I think he is alive.”
The tape ended.
Hannah wiped her eyes.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Benjamin answered.
“Because your mother believed knowing would make you search.”
“And searching would make me vulnerable.”
“Yes.”
Hannah stared at the gold key.
“What does this open?”
Benjamin looked at it.
“A box that belonged to your father.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
“Where in Chicago?”
“Inside the Grand Meridian Hotel.”
Hannah frowned.
The Grand Meridian was one of the city's oldest luxury hotels.
And Grant had recently been hired to represent its ownership group.
She looked at Benjamin.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“He's been trying to get access to the hotel.”
“Yes.”
“Because he wants the trust.”
“Yes.”
“And my father hid something there.”
“Yes.”
Hannah stood.
“Then we're going.”
That evening, she returned home.
A woman stood in the kitchen.
Hannah froze.
Lacey Pierce.
Hannah grabbed her coat.
“What are you doing here?”
Lacey didn't look embarrassed.
“I wanted to talk.”
“You have no right.”
“I know.”
“Then leave.”
Lacey looked at Hannah.
“I was wrong.”
Hannah laughed.
“You humiliated my children.”
“I did.”
“You slept with my husband.”
“Yes.”
“You laughed at me.”
Lacey's face cracked.
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Lacey whispered:
“Because Grant is going to kill me.”
Hannah froze.
“What?”
“I found out what he was doing.”
“What was he doing?”
“Moving money.”
“Whose?”
“Northbridge.”
“And Victor Kane?”
Lacey nodded.
“I thought Grant was cheating because he loved me.”
Hannah said nothing.
“I was stupid.”
“No.”
Hannah's voice softened.
“You were selfish.”
Lacey began to cry.
“He told me he loved me.”
“He lied.”
“I know.”
Lacey placed a USB drive on the table.
“I copied his files.”
Hannah stared.
“Why?”
“To survive.”
The files showed payments.
Bribes.
Forged documents.
Insurance policies.
And one account labeled HM-01.
Hannah's initials.
Her face went cold.
Someone had created an account in her name.
Lacey whispered:
“Grant was going to use your identity to move the Mercer assets.”
Hannah closed the laptop.
“Thank you.”
Lacey looked at her.
“Do you hate me?”
Hannah thought.
“Yes.”
Lacey nodded.
“I deserve that.”
“But I'm more angry at him.”
Lacey left.
Benjamin arrived twenty minutes later.
Hannah showed him the drive.
He looked at the account.
“HM-01.”
“What?”
“It's not an account.”
“What is it?”
“A control designation.”
“Control of what?”
“The Mercer Trust.”
Hannah stared.
“And Grant has it?”
“No.”
Benjamin shook his head.
“He only has access to the shell.”
“Then who controls it?”
Benjamin looked at the door.
Someone walked in.
A man.
Thirty-five.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Scar beneath his left eye.
Hannah stared.
She knew those eyes.
She had seen them in childhood photographs.
“Michael?”
The man swallowed.
“Yes.”
Hannah's legs nearly gave out.
He crossed the room.
They stared at each other.
Then he hugged her.
Hannah cried into his shoulder.
“My little sister.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did I.”
Michael looked at Benjamin.
“He found me.”
Hannah pulled away.
“How?”
“Twenty years ago, Victor's men moved me through five countries.”
“Why?”
“To keep me from the trust.”
Hannah shook her head.
“And now?”
Michael looked toward the city.
“Now Victor wants us both.”
Then he smiled sadly.
“And someone else wants us too.”
“Who?”
Michael looked at Benjamin.
“Your father.”
Hannah froze.
“What?”
May you like
Michael's voice dropped.
“Elias Mercer is alive.”
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