Chapter 9 - THE DEAD WOMAN
Roman had visited his mother's grave every year for twenty-six years.
Now Helen was telling him it was empty.
He didn't believe her.
Not at first.
Then she gave him an address.
A farmhouse two hours north.
Roman drove himself.
Sadie sat beside him.
Neither spoke.
When they arrived, an elderly woman was watering flowers beside a small porch.
Roman stopped walking.
The watering can slipped from her hand.
"Roman?"
His face broke.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
"Mom?"
The woman covered her mouth.
Sadie stepped away.
Some reunions didn't need witnesses.
Roman crossed the yard.
His mother reached him first.
She touched his face with both hands.
"My boy."
Roman couldn't speak.
Then he hugged her.
Twenty-six years collapsed into one moment.
Later, inside the farmhouse, Eleanor Vale told them everything.
Arthur Grant had been stealing from Vale Meridian with several partners.
Daniel Mercer discovered it.
Thomas prepared to expose Grant.
Then Daniel died.
Eleanor witnessed Grant threatening Thomas.
Grant threatened Roman next.
So Thomas made a choice.
He staged Eleanor's death.
Sent her away.
And promised to bring her home when Grant was gone.
But Thomas died first.
"Why didn't you come back?"
Roman asked.
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"Grant sent me photographs of you."
Roman's face hardened.
"School."
"College."
"Your first office."
"He knew where you were every year."
Sadie understood.
"He threatened to kill Roman."
Eleanor nodded.
"I thought staying dead kept him alive."
Roman looked away.
Sadie reached beneath the table and took his hand.
Eleanor noticed the ring.
"You married."
Roman looked at Sadie.
"Yes."
His mother smiled through tears.
"Good."
Then she looked closely at Sadie.
"Mercer?"
Sadie nodded.
Eleanor stood abruptly.
"Daniel's daughter?"
"Yes."
Eleanor laughed softly.
"Thomas would have loved this."
Roman almost smiled.
Then Eleanor walked toward an old cabinet.
She removed a sealed envelope.
"Grant believes Daniel had the only evidence."
"He didn't."
Inside was a memory card.
Eleanor placed it on the table.
"Thomas recorded him."
Roman stared.
"Recorded what?"
"His confession."
Sadie's pulse accelerated.
Eleanor continued.
"But there's a problem."
"What?"
"The recording isn't complete."
"Grant never admitted ordering Daniel's death."
Roman picked up the card.
"But he admitted the theft?"
"Yes."
"Enough to destroy him financially."
Sadie looked at Roman.
"Not enough for my father."
Roman understood.
She wanted justice.
Not revenge.
Proof.
They left at sunset.
Halfway back to the city, Roman received a call.
His security chief spoke urgently.
Roman immediately turned the car around.
"What happened?"
Sadie asked.
Roman accelerated.
"Grant knows my mother is alive."
Sadie's stomach dropped.
"How?"
Roman looked in the rearview mirror.
A black SUV appeared behind them.
Then another.
Roman's jaw tightened.
"He followed us."
The first SUV accelerated.
Sadie grabbed the door handle.
"Roman."
"I see it."
The SUV rammed them.
Metal screamed.
Roman fought the wheel.
Another impact.
The road curved sharply ahead.
Roman looked at Sadie.
"Seat belt tight?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Why?"
Roman suddenly slammed the brakes.
The SUV behind them shot past.
Roman turned hard onto a dirt road.
The second vehicle followed.
Dust exploded around them.
Sadie looked ahead.
The road ended at an abandoned quarry.
"Roman!"
"I know."
The SUV behind them accelerated.
Roman couldn't outrun it.
So he stopped trying.
He turned the wheel sharply.
The car spun.
The pursuing SUV flew past them.
Straight toward the quarry edge.
Its driver slammed the brakes.
Too late.
The vehicle crashed through a wooden barrier.
Then disappeared.
Sadie stared.
Roman was already reaching for his phone.
Then Sadie saw something in the side mirror.
A man climbing from the first SUV.
May you like
A gun in his hand.
And he was aiming directly at Roman.
