Chapter 7: My Father’s Son
For several seconds after the recording ended, the chapel held only the sound of rain striking the stained-glass windows.
Daniel didn't move.
He stared at the cassette recorder.
“My son.””
My father's voice seemed to remain in the room even though the tape had stopped.
Daniel turned slowly toward Victoria.
“You knew.””
Victoria's face crumpled.
“Yes.””
The word came out so softly that Daniel almost didn't hear it.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
Victoria wiped at her cheek.
“Since the night you were born.””
Daniel laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“Then tell me why I spent my entire life believing Richard was my father.””
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“Because Richard believed it too.””
Daniel went still.
“What?””
“He was convinced you were his.””
I stared at her.
“You're saying my father and Richard didn't even know?””
Victoria shook her head.
“Not at first.””
Rachel folded her arms.
“Start from the beginning.””
Victoria looked toward the altar.
“Your grandfather controlled the family. Richard was his chosen heir. Henry was the son who refused to obey him.””
She swallowed.
“When Henry left the Mercer family, he changed his name to Hart. He met your mother. They fell in love.””
My chest tightened.
“My parents.””
“Yes.””
“And Richard?””
Victoria hesitated.
“Richard had always envied Henry.””
Daniel whispered, “So how did I become a Mercer?””
Victoria looked directly at him.
“You were born at St. Matthew's Hospital in October 1992.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Go on.””
“Your mother died during childbirth.””
The words hit him.
I had never heard that part of my father's story.
Nobody had ever told me why my mother had disappeared from every family photograph.
Victoria continued.
“Henry was devastated. Your grandfather saw an opportunity.””
“What opportunity?””
“Control.””
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“Of me?””
“Of everything.””
Victoria's voice trembled.
“Your grandfather ordered the hospital records changed. Richard's name was placed on the birth registration.””
Daniel shook his head.
“But why?””
“Because he wanted a Mercer heir.””
Rachel interrupted.
“You're saying Henry's son was deliberately registered as Richard Mercer's child?””
“Yes.””
“Why would Henry allow that?””
“He didn't know.””
That made me look up.
“What?””
Victoria nodded.
“Henry was told you had died.””
Daniel stopped breathing.
“He what?””
“Your grandfather told him the baby didn't survive.””
Daniel's face went blank.
“And you believed him?””
“I was twenty-eight and terrified.””
“You let him believe his son was dead?””
Victoria covered her face.
“I was afraid of your grandfather.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“You were afraid of him.””
“Yes.””
“And my father?””
“He was afraid too.””
“So everyone was afraid.””
His voice cracked.
“Everyone except the people who were hurting us.””
Nobody answered.
Daniel turned away.
He walked to the nearest pew and sat down.
His wounded shoulder made him wince.
I moved instinctively toward him.
He looked up.
“Don't.””
I stopped.
He wasn't angry with me.
He looked ashamed.
“How long have you known?””
“About the truth?”” I asked.
He nodded.
“Only since tonight.””
He looked at the floor.
“You loved me knowing all of this?””
“I loved the man I thought you were.””
“And now?””
I took a breath.
“Now I don't know what you are.””
He nodded.
“That makes two of us.””
Rachel moved closer to the altar.
“There was more on that tape.””
She pointed at the recorder.
The machine had stopped, but the power light was still on.
“Play it again.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
Rachel looked at her.
“Why not?””
“Because the recording doesn't tell you everything.””
“Then tell us.””
Victoria stared at the floor.
“The second half is worse.””
Daniel stood.
“Play it.””
“Daniel—”
“Play it.””
Victoria's hands trembled.
I pressed the button.
Static filled the chapel.
Then my father's voice returned.
“If Daniel is hearing this, I failed to protect him.””
Daniel's eyes closed.
Henry continued.
“Victoria knows the truth. Richard suspects it. And the Mercer patriarch already knows.””
A pause.
“He knows Daniel is my son.””
Daniel's eyes opened.
The recording went on.
“He has ordered Richard to bring Daniel into the Mercer business when he turns twenty-one. Once Daniel becomes the public heir, Henry Hart can disappear.””
I felt cold.
The tape crackled.
“I've hidden the evidence where no one in the family will think to look.””
Daniel whispered, “The archive.””
My father's voice answered from years earlier.
“Not the archive.””
Everyone went still.
“Under the chapel.””
Rachel looked down.
“The chapel?””
Henry continued.
“There is a compartment beneath the baptismal stone. The final ledger is there.””
Victoria began crying.
Daniel stared at her.
“You knew.””
She nodded.
“You knew all these years where the ledger was.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you retrieve it?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“You keep saying that.””
“I was trying to survive.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“And you survived.””
Victoria looked at him.
“Not really.””
The recording continued.
“If anything happens to me, the ledger must remain hidden until Emily is old enough to understand why her father's death was not an accident.””
My name.
I stepped closer to the recorder.
“Why did he mention me?””
Victoria answered.
“Because he knew your family would eventually be dragged into this.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Your father knew you would come back.””
“To the Mercers?””
Victoria nodded.
“He believed the truth would eventually bring you here.””
I stared at the altar.
The chapel no longer felt like a church.
It felt like a vault.
A place where dead people had left instructions for the living.
Rachel walked toward the baptismal stone.
“Move this.””
Daniel helped her.
Together they pushed the heavy stone slab.
A cavity appeared underneath.
Inside was a metal box.
Rachel carefully lifted it out.
A padlock hung from the front.
Daniel looked at me.
“The key.””
I reached into my pocket.
Then froze.
My missing brass key had been returned.
It was lying on the floor beside the altar.
I picked it up.
“This key wasn't there before.””
Rachel's eyes narrowed.
“Someone put it back.””
Daniel looked toward the chapel entrance.
“Then they're still here.””
A faint creak sounded above us.
Everyone looked up.
The balcony.
A shadow moved behind the railing.
“Stay down!”” Rachel shouted.
A gunshot tore through the chapel.
The stained-glass window exploded.
Daniel grabbed me and pulled me behind the pew.
Rachel drew her weapon.
“Police! Drop the gun!””
Footsteps thundered across the balcony.
Rachel ran up the side stairs.
Daniel followed.
I stayed crouched for two seconds.
Then I heard a scream.
Daniel.
I ran.
At the top of the stairs, I found Daniel pressing one hand against the wall.
The shooter was gone.
A piece of shattered glass had cut his palm.
“Are you hurt?””
“No.””
“You're bleeding.””
“It's nothing.””
Rachel appeared at the far end of the balcony.
“He got away.””
I looked down.
The front doors were still closed.
“He couldn't have left.””
Rachel scanned the chapel.
“Then he is hiding.””
A voice came from below.
“Looking for me?””
We turned.
Victoria stood beside the metal box.
She was holding the missing envelope.
And she had a gun pointed at herself.
Daniel froze.
“Mom.””
Victoria's hand shook.
“I warned you.””
“Put the gun down.””
“I tried to protect you.””
“You almost killed Emily.””
“I didn't shoot you.””
“Then who did?””
Victoria looked at me.
“The man who has been cleaning up your father's mistakes.””
Rachel stepped down one stair.
“Who is he?””
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“He's the reason Henry died.””
Daniel's voice became cold.
“Name him.””
Victoria looked toward the chapel's rear doors.
Then she whispered:
“Edward Mercer.””
Daniel went pale.
“My grandfather.””
Victoria nodded.
“He's alive.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Everyone believed Edward Mercer had suffered a stroke three years ago and was living in a private care facility.
Daniel stared.
“He died.””
“No.””
Victoria's lips trembled.
“He never went into care.””
Rachel's expression changed.
“Where is he?””
Victoria answered:
“He owns this hotel.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That isn't possible.””
“He has been watching you for years.””
I felt my blood run cold.
The camera.
The messages.
The missing evidence.
The blackout.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Victoria looked at me.
“And he knows who really shot Henry.””
I stepped forward.
“Who?””
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then the chapel doors opened.
An elderly man entered.
Silver hair.
Perfect black suit.
A silver cane.
He looked directly at Daniel.
And smiled.
“My grandson.””
Daniel whispered, “Grandfather.””
Edward Mercer lifted his cane.
“Congratulations on your wedding.””
His eyes shifted to me.
“Although I suppose it is a little late for that.””
Rachel raised her weapon.
“Edward Mercer, you're under arrest.””
Edward laughed softly.
“No, Detective.””
He tapped the cane against the floor.
“You're standing on my property.””
Then he looked at the metal box.
“And you're holding my ledger.””
His smile vanished.
“Put it down.””
Daniel stepped in front of me.
Edward's eyes narrowed.
“You always were your father's son.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Not Richard's.””
Edward smiled.
“No.””
A pause.
“Henry's.””
May you like
Then he reached into his coat.
And this time, every gun in the chapel came up at once.
