“And you have every right to be.”
He kissed my forehead.
“We’ll get through the surgeries. We’ll get through the recovery. And we’ll get through whatever my family thinks they’re doing.”
I wanted to believe him.
For that moment, I did.
Evelyn arrived an hour later carrying two cups of coffee and a thick folder.
She handed one cup to Hayes.
Then sat beside the window.
“I’ve reviewed the transfer documents.”
Hayes straightened.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. The estate transfer was properly executed.”
He exhaled.
“But we need to discuss what happens next.”
I watched her open the folder.
Inside were pages of financial statements.
Property schedules.
Trust distributions.
Investment holdings.
Numbers so large they almost seemed imaginary.
Hayes’s inheritance was worth approximately twenty-three million dollars.
I knew he was wealthy.
I had never understood just how wealthy.
Evelyn turned a page.
“The independent trust contains commercial properties, investment accounts, and minority interests in several Mercer-affiliated businesses.”
Hayes nodded.
“All of which are now transferred?”
“The covered beneficial interests have been assigned to Marin’s trust. Some administrative registrations will take time, and certain company interests remain subject to their governing agreements.”
He looked at me.
“Good.”
Evelyn continued.
“But there’s something else.”
Of course there was.
She removed a second document.
“This is a loan agreement between Mercer Holdings and a subsidiary controlled by your father’s investment office.”
Hayes frowned.
“I’ve never seen that.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
He studied the page.
“What is it?”
“A debt facility secured against several properties your grandfather originally placed in the independent estate structure.”
Hayes sat forward.
“Those properties weren’t supposed to secure family debt.”
“Correct.”
“Then how did Dad use them?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“That’s the question.”
I watched Hayes read the document.
His face changed.
“Eight million dollars?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Approximately.”
“Borrowed against assets he didn’t control?”
“That’s what the documents appear to indicate. We need to verify the authorization and determine whether any security interests were validly created.”
Hayes stared at her.
“If the estate is now in Marin’s name…”
“Then the discrepancy can no longer be hidden inside your father’s consolidated reporting.”
He leaned back.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then I reached for my notepad.
DID ORSON KNOW THE TRANSFER WOULD EXPOSE THIS?
Evelyn read the question.
“Possibly.”
Hayes looked toward the window.
“And that’s why he panicked.”
Evelyn didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
That evening, Orson Mercer called again.
Hayes stared at the screen.
Then answered on speaker.
“Hello, Dad.”
Orson’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Hayes. We need to resolve this.”
“There’s nothing to resolve.”
“Don’t be childish.”
I felt my shoulders tighten.
Orson continued.
“Your wife has suffered an unfortunate injury. Everyone regrets it.”
Hayes’s expression hardened.
“Your son deliberately threw a steel ball at her face.”
“My nephew.”
“Your nephew. Fine. That doesn’t make it better.”
“You’re allowing emotion to cloud your judgment.”
Hayes laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Emotion?”
“Yes.”
“My wife nearly died.”
“And I have offered generous compensation.”
I closed my eyes.
There it was again.
Money.
Always money.
Orson spoke as though a financial transaction could erase the sound of my bones breaking.
Hayes looked at me.
Then back at the phone.
“Marin doesn’t want your money.”
“Everyone wants money, son.”
“Not like this.”
Orson sighed.
“Your grandfather would be ashamed of how you’re behaving.”
Hayes went still.
Then he said, “Don’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t use Grandpa to manipulate me.”
Orson’s tone sharpened.
“Arthur Mercer understood loyalty.”
“He understood integrity.”
“Careful.”
Hayes leaned forward.
“No, Dad. You be careful.”
Silence.
Then Hayes continued.
“I know about the eight-million-dollar loan.”
The line went quiet.
So quiet I wondered whether the call had disconnected.
Finally, Orson spoke.
“Who showed you that?”
Hayes looked at Evelyn.
She gave him a small nod.
“Does it matter?”
“It matters very much.”
“Then explain it.”
Orson’s breathing changed.
“Those are complicated financial arrangements.”
“Using Grandpa’s assets?”
“Don’t discuss things you don’t understand.”
Hayes’s voice became colder.
“Then help me understand.”
A long pause.
Finally, Orson said, “Come to the house tomorrow. Alone.”
“No.”
“Hayes.”
“My wife is recovering from surgery.”
“This is family business.”
Hayes looked directly at me.
“Marin is my family.”
Then he ended the call.
The next morning, I received a video message from an unknown account.
It showed Kale sitting beside a swimming pool.
He was laughing.
Someone off-camera asked whether he was worried about the police.
Kale shrugged.
“My dad knows people.”
Then he lifted a drink.
“Besides, that crazy woman was asking for it.”
My stomach twisted.
He continued.
“She’ll take the money. They always do.”
The video ended.
I stared at the screen.
Hayes was in the bathroom washing his face.
I waited until he returned.
Then handed him the phone.
