Chapter 9: The Daughter They Tried to Erase
I threw myself in front of Maya.
The gunman laughed.
"Still protecting everyone except yourself, Daniel.""
I recognized the voice.
Robert Mercer.
My father's identical twin.
The man who had stolen a dead man's identity, manipulated my family, and turned my life into a maze of lies.
He wore a dark overcoat and leather gloves. His hair was silver at the temples, and a thin scar crossed his jaw.
For one terrible moment, I understood why everyone had believed he was my father.
We looked alike.
Not exactly.
But enough that someone who knew us casually might have mistaken one for the other.
"Put the gun down," I said.
Robert smiled.
"You sound just like James.""
"You killed him.""
"James made a foolish decision. He thought morality was more important than family.""
"You murdered your own brother.""
Robert's expression hardened.
"I gave him every opportunity to stay out of my affairs.""
Behind him, Michael appeared at the top of the stairs, bleeding from his forehead. Eleanor followed, holding her pistol in both hands.
Robert didn't even glance at them.
His attention remained fixed on Maya.
"Such a beautiful little girl," he said.
"You have no idea how much trouble you've caused.""
Maya pressed her face into my back.
"Don't talk to her," I said.
Robert laughed.
"You're going to tell me what to do?""
He stepped closer.
"Your brother has something that belongs to me. Give me the drive, and I'll let you leave with the girl.""
Michael raised the flash drive.
"You mean the records that prove you stole dozens of children from their families?""
Robert's smile vanished.
"Careful, Michael.""
"No. I'm done being careful.""
Michael stepped forward.
"For three years, I watched Daniel grieve for Alicia. I watched Maya cry herself to sleep. I let you threaten me because I thought silence would keep them safe.""
He threw the flash drive onto the floor.
"But I'm not helping you anymore.""
Robert looked down at it.
Then he laughed.
"You really think those files matter? Every official who could have prosecuted me has already been paid. Every record that could identify the children has been destroyed.""
Eleanor raised her pistol.
"Not every record.""
Robert turned toward her.
For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face.
Eleanor held up a small envelope.
"Your original adoption ledgers. The names, dates, payments, and signatures. All of them.""
Robert's eyes narrowed.
"Where did you get those?""
"From James.""
The name silenced him.
Eleanor continued.
"He knew what you were doing. He copied everything before you could destroy it. He gave me the records and told me to protect the children.""
Robert's face twisted with fury.
"James was a fool.""
"He was your brother.""
"He was weak!""
Robert swung the gun toward Eleanor.
I seized the moment.
I shoved Maya behind the stairwell wall and lunged at him.
The gun fired.
Pain exploded through my shoulder as we crashed against the railing.
Robert struck my face with the butt of the weapon. I stumbled, tasting blood, but caught his wrist before he could aim again.
We struggled.
He was stronger than I expected.
He drove his knee into my stomach and threw me against the wall.
I fell to the floor.
Robert raised the gun.
Then Michael hit him from the side.
They crashed down the stairs together.
The weapon skittered across the landing.
Eleanor grabbed it.
"Daniel, get Maya out!""
I crawled toward my daughter.
She was crying silently, both hands clamped over her mouth.
I gathered her into my arms.
"Look at me, sweetheart. Look at Daddy.""
She lifted her eyes.
"Are you hurt?""
"Just a little.""
"Are you going to die?""
The question tore through me.
"No. I'm not going anywhere.""
I carried her down the corridor and into the archive room, where I placed her behind the desk.
"Stay here.""
She caught my hand.
"Please don't leave me.""
I crouched beside her.
"I have to help Uncle Michael.""
"But he's the bad one.""
I stared at her.
For a moment, I saw the little girl in the bridal suite, hiding behind the bench with her torn dress.
I kissed her forehead.
"People can do terrible things and still have a chance to make one good choice. I need to know which choice he's going to make.""
Maya reluctantly released my hand.
I ran back to the staircase.
Michael was on the floor, struggling to hold Robert down. Robert punched him repeatedly, shouting that he had ruined everything.
I grabbed Robert's arm.
Together, Michael and I forced him against the wall.
Eleanor arrived moments later, her pistol aimed at Robert's chest.
"Don't move.""
Robert slowly raised his hands.
Then he smiled.
"You think you've won?""
Eleanor kept the weapon trained on him.
"I think you're finally going to answer for what you've done.""
Robert looked directly at me.
"Ask your mother.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Ask your mother why she helped James fake his death. Ask her why she allowed you to grow up believing the wrong man was your father.""
I shook my head.
"My mother is dead.""
Robert laughed.
"Then why did she call me yesterday?""
Silence.
He leaned closer.
"She wants the same thing I do, Daniel. The family trust. The records. And the girl.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"What girl?""
Robert's smile widened.
"Sophie.""
Michael went rigid.
Robert continued.
"Your mother isn't the only person who knows where Sophie is. Vanessa has her. She took the child from the residence two days ago.""
I stared at him.
"Why would Vanessa take Sophie?""
"Because she finally understood that marrying you was no longer enough. She wants a family of her own.""
My stomach twisted.
"Where is she?""
Robert shook his head.
"You'll never find her before sunrise.""
Eleanor tightened her grip on the pistol.
"You're going to tell us.""
Robert's eyes flicked toward the archive room.
Then he smiled again.
"Ask Daniel why Vanessa was chosen to marry him. Ask him why she spent two years pretending to love a little girl she couldn't stand.""
I felt sick.
"What are you talking about?""
Robert leaned back against the wall.
"Vanessa was never supposed to marry you for your money alone. She was chosen because she already knew you.""
I stared at him.
"I met Vanessa at a charity dinner.""
"No. You met her long before that.""
My mind raced backward.
A school playground.
A summer afternoon.
A girl with dark hair who had fallen off a bicycle and scraped her knee.
I had been ten years old.
She had been standing beside the fence, crying.
I had helped her up.
Her name had been Vanessa.
I hadn't seen her again.
Not until the charity dinner, nearly twenty years later.
Robert watched recognition dawn across my face.
"Now you're beginning to understand.""
I shook my head.
"Why would that matter?""
"Because Vanessa's father worked for James. He knew about the trust. He knew that if you married someone approved by the family, the old restrictions would disappear.""
Eleanor looked stunned.
"Approved by whom?""
Robert's eyes gleamed.
"By the woman who raised Daniel.""
My breath caught.
"My mother?""
"Your mother chose Vanessa years ago. She was supposed to become your wife, gain access to the trust, and help locate the records James hid.""
I stepped backward.
Everything I had believed about my life was collapsing.
My mother had arranged my marriage.
Vanessa had approached me under false pretenses.
My brother had hidden the truth.
And my wife had vanished while everyone around me pretended to mourn her.
I looked at Robert.
"Where is my mother?""
He smiled.
"At the place where all of this began.""
He named an address.
The old Mercer estate.
The house where I had grown up.
The house I had sold after my mother's funeral.
The house that had stood empty for years.
Then Robert added one final detail.
"Bring the original records, and I'll give you Alicia, Sophie, and the truth about your family.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"He's lying.""
Robert laughed.
"Of course I am. But you still have to come.""
He looked at me.
"Because Vanessa has your daughter.""
I spun toward the archive room.
The door stood open.
Maya was gone.
On the desk lay her white flower-girl ribbon.
Beside it was a note written in red ink.
*BRING THE RECORDS TO THE ESTATE. COME ALONE. IF YOU CALL THE POLICE, THE GIRL DIES.*
My hands began to shake.
Michael staggered to his feet.
"Daniel, we have to go.""
I picked up the ribbon.
Then I looked at Robert.
"You said Vanessa has my daughter.""
He nodded.
"Which one?""
For the first time, Robert's smile disappeared.
I held up the note.
"Because if you're talking about Maya, you're lying. If you're talking about Sophie, you're too late.""
May you like
Robert's face turned white.
And somewhere in the distance, a car engine roared to life.
