Chapter 17 - Brendan’s Last Secret
Brendan entered Cassidy’s hospital room under guard.
His face was bruised.
His confidence was gone.
He looked older than he had two days earlier.
Cassidy kept Amelia’s bassinet beside her.
Brendan looked toward the baby.
Cassidy immediately shifted between them.
“You came to talk.”
He nodded.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Talk.”
Pain crossed his face.
He accepted it.
“There’s another person.”
“Name.”
“I don’t know the real one.”
Cassidy’s patience vanished.
“You said it was someone I trust.”
“It is.”
“Who?”
Brendan swallowed.
“Naomi.”
Cassidy stared at him.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she almost laughed.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Naomi has represented my family for twelve years.”
“I know.”
“She helped expose the fraud.”
“I know.”
“She called law enforcement.”
“I know.”
Cassidy’s eyes narrowed.
“Then explain.”
Brendan took a breath.
“Six months ago, my mother showed me a copy of the trust.”
“Martin gave it to her.”
“No.”
Cassidy’s pulse changed.
Brendan continued.
“Martin confirmed details later.”
“But the first copy came from someone else.”
“Who?”
“Naomi.”
Cassidy shook her head.
“No.”
“I saw the email.”
“Forged.”
“Maybe.”
Brendan reached slowly into his jacket.
The guard moved.
Brendan stopped.
“It’s only paper.”
The guard removed a folded sheet and handed it to Cassidy.
It was a printed email.
Sender: Naomi Pierce.
Recipient: Evelyn Mercer.
Attached: Continuity Trust Overview.
Cassidy stared.
The wording sounded professional.
The signature looked correct.
But something bothered her.
She read it again.
Then she saw it.
Naomi always signed family matters with N. Pierce.
This email used Naomi L. Pierce.
Cassidy looked at Brendan.
“This isn’t hers.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Cassidy called Gabriel.
Within minutes, forensic analysts examined the message header.
It had been spoofed.
The real sender was hidden behind multiple relays.
But one server matched previous Project Harbor traffic.
Owen Pike.
Brendan seemed relieved.
Cassidy was not.
“Why frame Naomi?”
Gabriel answered.
“To isolate you.”
Cassidy understood.
If the plan succeeded and she later woke from sedation, Naomi would have been the attorney Cassidy trusted most.
Making it appear Naomi had helped leak the trust would destroy that relationship.
Project Harbor accounted for every possible recovery.
Cassidy looked at Brendan.
“Is that everything?”
He looked toward Amelia.
“No.”
Cassidy waited.
“My mother didn’t choose the name Amelia.”
Cassidy felt a chill.
“What?”
“The nursery.”
“She labeled everything Amelia Mercer because you told her the name.”
“I never did.”
Cassidy’s voice became quieter.
“Only four people knew.”
“Me.”
“My mother.”
“Dr. Reed.”
Cassidy stopped.
“And Naomi.”
Brendan nodded.
Cassidy’s heart began pounding.
The email might have been fake.
But the baby’s name was not stored in any company database.
May you like
Someone close to Cassidy had told them.
And suddenly, the investigation that seemed nearly finished opened again.
