Chapter 10 - The Trap
Grant Mercer answered on the second ring.
Ethan put the call on speaker.
Everyone remained silent.
“Tell me you’re married.”
Mercer did not bother saying hello.
Ethan looked toward Mary.
“Not yet.”
A pause followed.
“What happened?”
“She caught me with Lauren.”
Mercer cursed.
Ethan continued.
“I can fix it.”
“Can you?”
“Yes.”
Mary watched him.
The confidence in his voice sounded disturbingly natural.
Perhaps lying really was Ethan’s greatest talent.
Mercer lowered his voice.
“Thomas is panicking.”
Mary looked toward her uncle.
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
Mercer continued.
“Rebecca says the contingency is compromised.”
Rebecca stood.
“I never said that.”
Daniel motioned for silence.
Ethan asked the obvious question.
“What contingency?”
Another pause.
Mercer became suspicious.
“You know what contingency.”
Ethan recovered quickly.
“I want to hear what she thinks is compromised.”
Mercer exhaled.
“The voting certificates.”
Robert’s expression changed.
Daniel immediately began typing.
Ethan continued.
“Where are they?”
“Safe.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“They leave tonight.”
“Where?”
Mercer hesitated.
Then said, “Pier 17.”
Mary looked at Daniel.
Daniel quietly left the room.
Ethan continued.
“What time?”
“Eleven thirty.”
Mary checked the clock.
11:06.
Mercer suddenly asked a question.
“Where is Mary?”
Ethan looked at her.
“With her parents.”
“Does she suspect the money?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Mercer continued.
“Once the certificates are out, it doesn’t matter what happens with the wedding.”
Mary’s heart accelerated.
Ethan asked, “What about me?”
Mercer laughed.
“You were always disposable.”
Ethan’s face changed.
Mercer continued.
“You really thought they were going to let you vote Mary’s shares?”
Ethan went silent.
“The proxy was bait.”
Mercer laughed again.
“They needed your signature connected to the forgery.”
Mary understood.
Ethan was not merely a conspirator.
He was also intended to become the fall guy.
Mercer continued.
“When this blows up, everyone sees a desperate businessman who seduced an heiress and forged her signature.”
Ethan’s voice became cold.
“And Rebecca?”
Mercer paused.
“What about her?”
“What does she get?”
Mercer immediately disconnected.
The room became silent.
Rebecca stared at the phone.
“I swear I don’t know that man.”
Thomas laughed.
“You know him.”
Rebecca turned.
“I know his name.”
Mary watched both of them.
Then Daniel returned.
“I sent a team to Pier 17.”
Mary nodded.
“And police?”
“I contacted federal investigators thirty minutes ago.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Federal?”
Daniel gave him a humorless look.
“Forty-three million dollars crossed international banking systems.”
Ethan sat down slowly.
Mary looked toward Rebecca.
“You said the money transfers were not yours.”
“They weren’t.”
“Then help me prove it.”
Rebecca nodded.
“I will.”
Mary turned toward Thomas.
“And you.”
Thomas smiled.
“I was wondering when you would ask.”
Mary looked at everyone in the room.
May you like
“From this moment forward, nobody leaves this hotel.”
Then the lights went out.
