“Who?”
“Orson Mercer.”
Silence.
Tessa continued.
“His credentials appear on the approval records.”
Hayes stared at the phone.
For years, his father had described himself as the guardian of Arthur’s legacy.
The responsible son.
The man who kept the business together.
Now his own credentials appeared on the transactions that might have helped corrupt it.
The following morning, the independent directors voted to place Orson on administrative leave from his executive duties while the outside investigation proceeded.
The announcement was carefully worded.
It did not declare him guilty.
It did not establish that every suspicious transaction was fraudulent.
But it removed his immediate authority over certain company records and approvals.
For Orson Mercer, that was an earthquake.
He had spent decades treating Mercer Holdings as an extension of his own will.
Now he needed permission to enter the offices he once controlled.
Hayes read the announcement twice.
Then set down his phone.
“It’s happening.”
I reached for my notepad.
WHAT?
He looked at me.
“My father is finally being told no.”
I nodded.
But I didn’t feel victorious.
Not yet.
Because my father was still missing.
Graham was still somewhere beyond our reach.
Margaret was recovering from a suspicious fall.
And Orson had already shown how dangerous he became when he lost control.
At noon, Claire Rourke finally called.
I answered immediately.
“Marin?”
Her voice was tired.
I tried to speak.
Pain caught in my jaw.
Hayes took the phone.
“Claire, it’s Hayes. Marin’s here.”
“I know.”
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you yet.”
He exhaled.
“Claire, you sent us a video of Thomas.”
“I did.”
“Is he really alive?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
My eyes filled.
“Have you seen him recently?” Hayes asked.
“Yesterday.”
I covered my mouth.
Yesterday.
My father had been alive yesterday.
Breathing.
Walking.
Somewhere in the same world as me.
Hayes looked at me.
“Can Marin speak to him?”
Claire hesitated.
“Not yet.”
My heart sank.
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t trust the people around him.”
Hayes frowned.
“Who?”
“Anyone connected to Mercer Holdings.”
I understood.
Twenty years of threats could change a person.
My father had survived by staying hidden.
Now his daughter had married into the family he feared.
Claire continued.
“He knows about Marin’s injuries.”
I closed my eyes.
“He cried when I told him.”
Tears slid down my cheeks.
Claire’s voice softened.
“He wants to see her.”
I reached for my notepad.
THEN PLEASE HELP HIM.
Hayes read it.
Claire was silent for several seconds.
Then she whispered, “I’m trying.”
Before the call ended, I made Hayes ask the question that had been burning inside me.
“Claire, the trust lists you as Thomas Bennett’s daughter.”
Silence.
Then she said, “I know.”
I gripped the blanket.
Hayes continued.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
My heart pounded.
Claire took a breath.
“Daniel Rourke raised me. He’s my dad in every way that matters.”
She paused.
“But Thomas is my biological father.”
I stared at the phone.
For twenty years, I had believed I was an only child.
Now I had a sister.
A woman who had been helping me without telling me why.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Hayes asked.
Claire’s voice broke.
“Because I didn’t know how.”
I closed my eyes.
She continued.
“I found out when I was seventeen. My mother had known Thomas before he disappeared. Daniel married her later and raised me.”
I listened.
“Thomas didn’t know about me until years afterward.”
I felt my chest tighten.
Claire continued.
“When I found him, I thought he’d reject me.”
Her voice trembled.
“He didn’t.”
I reached for my notepad.
I WON’T EITHER.
Hayes read it aloud.
Claire began crying.
For several seconds, neither of us could speak.
Then she whispered, “Thank you.”
That evening, Margaret Mercer called from her hospital room.
Her voice was weak but clear.
“Hayes?”
He stood.
“Aunt Margaret. How are you?”
“Old and irritated.”
Despite everything, he smiled.
“That sounds like you.”
She sighed.
“I heard about Orson.”
Hayes glanced at me.
“He’s been placed on leave.”
“Good.”
The word was sharp.
Margaret continued.
“Arthur should have done it years ago.”
Hayes sat down.
“Rebecca said you had a letter for me.”
“I did.”
“Where is it?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Graham has it.”
My heartbeat quickened.
Hayes leaned forward.
“Why?”
“Because I gave it to him.”
He frowned.
“You knew he was alive?”
“Yes.”
Hayes went still.
“All these years?”
“Not all of them.”
She paused.
“But long enough.”
Hayes closed his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Graham was afraid.”
“Of Dad?”
“Of what your father would do if he came forward.”
I stared at Hayes.
Margaret continued.
“Graham wanted to confess. He had documents. He had names.”
Hayes leaned forward.
“Then why didn’t he?”
“Because he believed someone would kill him.”
The room went silent.
