Chapter 6 - The Friend Who Knew Too MuchMarcus arrived at Mercer Development headquarters at seven the next morning.
Daniel was waiting inside his office.
Marcus stopped when he saw him.
“Daniel.”
“Sit down.”
Marcus looked toward the glass wall separating the office from the executive floor.
“We should talk privately.”
“We are.”
Daniel placed the torn blue plastic on the desk.
Marcus stared at it.
His face changed just enough.
Daniel noticed.
“You recognize it.”
“No.”
“You wrote the initials.”
Marcus gave a humorless laugh.
“Based on what?”
“I've seen your handwriting for fifteen years.”
“What is this about?”
“My estate binder disappeared.”
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Daniel, your daughter was almost killed. You haven't slept. You need to be careful about what you're accusing people of.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Westbridge Advisory.”
Marcus went pale.
There it was.
A second too long.
A breath held too sharply.
Daniel knew.
“What did you do?”
Marcus stood.
“I'm not discussing company matters without counsel.”
“Three-point-two million dollars.”
“Daniel.”
“You authenticated payments with my forged signature.”
Marcus walked toward the door.
Daniel stepped between him and it.
“Did you help Vanessa?”
Marcus's eyes flickered.
Daniel saw the answer before hearing it.
“Move.”
“Did you know she was going to hurt Nora?”
“No.”
The word came too fast.
Daniel froze.
Marcus realized what he had done.
“You didn't ask whether Vanessa hurt Nora,” Daniel said quietly.
Marcus said nothing.
“You said you didn't know she was going to.”
“Daniel—”
“You knew something.”
“I knew she was angry.”
“About what?”
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Move away from the door.”
“Tell me.”
Marcus looked at his old friend.
For the first time, Daniel saw fear.
“Vanessa found out Julia Hart was auditing the holding company.”
“How?”
“She reads everything.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Marcus sat down again.
For several seconds neither man spoke.
Then Marcus whispered, “I made mistakes.”
Daniel felt almost calm.
“How many?”
“Westbridge was supposed to be temporary.”
“Temporary theft?”
“I was going to put it back.”
“Three million dollars?”
Marcus looked at the floor.
“My investment fund collapsed.”
“You stole from my company.”
“I borrowed.”
“You forged my approval.”
“Vanessa handled that.”
The room went silent.
Daniel stared.
“How long?”
“Six months.”
“And what did she get?”
“Twenty percent.”
Daniel's stomach twisted.
“She was stealing with you.”
Marcus nodded.
“Why?”
“She said she needed money.”
“For what?”
“I didn't ask.”
“You were sleeping with her?”
Marcus looked up sharply.
“No.”
Daniel believed him.
Oddly, that made the betrayal worse.
This wasn't passion.
It was business.
Cold, deliberate business.
“What was the estate binder doing in your hands?”
Marcus exhaled.
“She brought it to me.”
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“Why?”
“She wanted me to explain the corporate structure.”
“And what happens if Nora dies?”
Marcus looked away.
Daniel stepped closer.
“She asked you.”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth.”
Daniel's fists clenched.
Marcus stood quickly.
“I didn't know why she was asking.”
“You didn't wonder?”
“She said she was helping you update the estate plan.”
“You believed that?”
“I wanted to.”
“Because she was helping you steal.”
Marcus flinched.
Daniel's phone recorded everything from his pocket.
Detective Harris had told him not to confront Marcus.
Daniel had ignored him.
A mistake.
But perhaps a useful one.
“What did Vanessa say after you explained the trust?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Nothing.”
“Marcus.”
“She said…”
He stopped.
Daniel waited.
Marcus swallowed.
“She said Nora was the lock on the whole thing.”
Daniel's face changed.
“What?”
“She said, ‘So the little girl is the lock.’”
“And you still didn't ask why?”
“I told you, I thought she meant the shares.”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“What else?”
Marcus stood perfectly still.
“One week ago, she asked me what would happen to your voting control if Nora predeceased you.”
Daniel felt cold.
Marcus continued.
“I told her Rachel's shares would eventually merge back into your estate structure.”
“And then?”
“She said, ‘Good.’”
Daniel reached into his pocket and stopped the recording.
Marcus stared.
“You recorded me?”
Daniel looked at the man who had once stood beside him at Rachel's funeral.
“Yes.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“You can't use that.”
“We'll see.”
Daniel walked toward the door.
Marcus said, “Daniel.”
He turned.
Marcus looked suddenly desperate.
“I never knew she was going to touch Nora.”
Daniel stared at him for several seconds.
May you like
Then he said, “You helped her understand exactly what Nora's death was worth.”
And he left.
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