Chapter 9 - The Wrong Enemy
Victoria demanded the video be replayed.
Again.
Again.
On the third viewing, she stopped breathing like a woman and started staring like a child.
"My father died because of Collins?"
Nathan answered carefully.
"According to Ethan's father, yes."
"He told us the Mercers buried everything."
"He helped bury it."
Victoria looked sick.
Ethan had no sympathy left for her actions, but he recognized the betrayal.
"You let him use you."
She snapped, "Don't pity me."
"I don't."
That was worse.
Police separated Victoria for questioning.
Ethan, Sarah, and Nathan focused on Collins.
If Daniel had him, Daniel might be trying to force a confession.
Or kill him.
Sarah said, "Daniel never sounded like he wanted money."
Nathan nodded. "He wanted the restricted folder."
"He wanted proof."
Ethan looked at the baby monitor footage.
"And he said not to leave marks."
Sarah shook her head.
"That still matters."
Victoria may have been angry.
Daniel was dangerous.
The police traced the video upload to an abandoned Mercer lab outside the city.
The same complex where Robert Vale had died.
Ethan wanted to go.
Detective Mara Chen said no.
"This is a hostage situation."
"He's holding my employee."
"Your employee helped frame you and Sarah."
"He's still a person."
Sarah watched Ethan.
That answer told her something about him.
The raid began after midnight.
Collins was found alone in a locked equipment room.
Alive.
Daniel was gone.
On a table beside Collins was a recorder.
Detective Chen pressed play.
Daniel's voice asked:
"Who killed my father?"
Collins answered, "I didn't mean for him to die."
"Who falsified the report?"
"I did."
"Who recruited Victoria?"
"I gave her information. She wanted revenge."
"Who told her Ethan was responsible?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because as long as she hated the Mercers, she never looked at me."
The recording ended.
Collins covered his face.
Ethan stared at him.
"You built this."
Collins whispered, "I didn't tell her to touch Leo."
"You put her in my house."
Collins started crying.
Then Detective Chen found a second recorder.
This one contained Daniel's voice alone.
"If Ethan hears this, tell him Victoria doesn't know the final plan."
Sarah felt cold.
"What final plan?"
The recorder continued.
"At sunrise, the Mercer Foundation board meets to vote on emergency guardianship."
Nathan swore.
"That meeting was canceled."
May you like
Daniel's voice answered from the recording as if he had heard him.
"No, it wasn't."
