Twenty-Three Letters
Chapter 06 - Twenty-Three Letters
Daniel went directly to his father’s house.
The Mercer estate sat behind iron gates in Lake Forest, exactly as it had when he and Rachel were children.
Nothing there seemed capable of changing.
That had once comforted him.
Now it made him angry.
Charles was in the library.
Daniel placed Rachel’s brown envelope on the desk.
“Where are the letters?”
Charles barely looked up.
“What letters?”
“The twenty-three letters Rachel sent me.”
Silence.
Daniel laughed once.
It contained no humor.
“You kept them.”
Charles closed the book in front of him.
“She was trying to manipulate you.”
“So you decided what I was allowed to read?”
“I decided what the company could survive.”
Daniel stared at his father.
“All these years, I thought she hated me.”
“She did hate you.”
“You made sure of it.”
Charles stood.
“Do not turn this into some sentimental family tragedy. Your sister was reckless. She wanted to expose internal transfers that would have collapsed a refinancing agreement and cost thousands of people their jobs.”
“Were the transfers legal?”
Charles did not answer.
Daniel felt his stomach drop.
“Were they legal?”
“They were necessary.”
That was the first confession.
Not enough for a courtroom.
More than enough for a son.
Daniel walked toward the door.
Charles’s voice followed him.
“You think Rachel is innocent because she is poor now?”
Daniel stopped.
“No.”
“You think poverty makes people honest?”
“No.”
“She took money.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
Charles’s face was unreadable.
“Ask her what happened to the settlement.”
Daniel stared.
“What settlement?”
Charles picked up his book.
“For twelve years, you have had only half the story.”
Daniel drove back to the hospital with his father’s words repeating in his head.
Rachel had accused Charles.
Charles had lied about Rachel’s death.
Charles had hidden the letters.
But now there was a settlement.
Money.
When Daniel entered the room, Rachel knew immediately.
“He told you.”
Daniel closed the door.
“How much?”
Rachel looked at Ellie, still asleep.
“Two hundred thousand.”
Daniel could barely speak.
“You took two hundred thousand dollars from Dad?”
“Yes.”
“To stay quiet?”
“Yes.”
His anger rose so fast it frightened him.
May you like
Rachel did not defend herself.
She simply looked at him and said, “Now ask me what he threatened to do if I refused.”
