Chapter 6 - WHAT HIS FATHER HID
The tractor had been sitting behind the Mercer house for thirty-four years.
Rust covered almost every surface.
One tire had collapsed.
But the rear axle housing remained sealed.
Ethan knelt in the mud with a wrench.
Grace watched him struggle.
“You own seventeen hotels.”
“Eighteen if the Milwaukee deal closes.”
“And none came with somebody who can open this?”
“My father taught me.”
“Thirty years ago.”
“Your confidence is inspiring.”
Grace smiled.
It was the first time Ethan had heard her laugh.
He stopped working.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring.”
“I forgot people could laugh around me.”
Grace’s smile faded.
“That’s sad.”
“I know.”
Eventually the bolts loosened.
Inside the hollow housing was a cylindrical steel container wrapped in oilcloth.
Grace whispered, “My God.”
They opened it inside the kitchen.
Records.
Photographs.
Inspection reports.
And a cassette tape.
Claire found an old player at a thrift store.
Static filled the room.
Then Joseph Mercer’s voice emerged.
“If anyone hears this, Thomas Vale has probably already found Evelyn.”
Grace covered her mouth.
Joseph described everything.
Faulty equipment.
Bribes.
Threats.
Then another voice appeared.
Thomas Vale.
Recorded secretly.
“You should have kept your mouth shut, Joe.”
Ethan went rigid.
The recording continued.
“You think anybody cares about a mechanic and some pregnant secretary?”
Then Joseph:
“If you touch Evelyn or Anna—”
Thomas laughed.
“You have a son, don’t you?”
The tape ended.
Ethan stared at the machine.
All his life, he had blamed poverty for destroying his family.
Now he understood.
His father had been protecting them.
His mother had been protecting Grace.
And Ethan had spent thirty years running from people whose courage he had mistaken for failure.
Grace touched his hand.
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have.”
“You were seventeen.”
“I never asked.”
“That’s different.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Why are you defending me?”
“Because regret is already beating you up. It doesn’t need help.”
He laughed once.
Quietly.
Then sirens approached.
State investigators arrived.
The evidence was enough to reopen several cases related to Vale Mining.
But Richard was missing.
Two days passed.
Then three.
During those days, Ethan remained in Millstone.
He repaired his mother’s porch.
Grace helped.
The photographs of a millionaire hammering boards beside a hotel cleaner spread online.
But neither cared.
One evening they sat on the porch eating takeout.
“You know what your problem is?” Grace asked.
“I suspect you’re going to tell me.”
“You think everything broken needs money.”
“I have found money surprisingly effective.”
“Can money make this porch level?”
“No. Apparently nothing can.”
She laughed.
Ethan smiled.
Then his phone rang.
It was Richard.
“Hello, Ethan.”
Ethan immediately activated the recorder.
“Where are you?”
“Close.”
“What do you want?”
“What your father hid.”
“The police have it.”
“Not all of it.”
Ethan looked at Grace.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ask your cleaner what was inside Anna Mercer’s red Bible.”
Grace’s face changed.
“My mother had it,” she whispered.
Richard heard her.
“Exactly.”
Grace stood.
“My mother’s Bible is in Chicago.”
“At your apartment?”
She said nothing.
Richard laughed.
“You should hurry.”
The call ended.
Grace ran for the truck.
Ethan followed.
They drove to the airport and flew back to Chicago.
When Grace reached her apartment, the door was open.
Everything inside had been destroyed.
Drawers overturned.
Furniture cut open.
Photographs shattered.
Grace ran to her bedroom.
A small wooden box beneath her bed was empty.
The Bible was gone.
But something else was missing.
Grace stared at the wall.
A photograph of Lily.
Gone.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Grace answered.
Richard’s voice came softly.
“You should have stopped digging.”
Then another voice screamed in the background.
“Mom!”
Grace went white.
“Lily?”
Ethan grabbed the phone.
“Richard, if you hurt her—”
“You have until midnight.”
“For what?”
“The tape.”
“You said you wanted the Bible.”
“I found the Bible.”
Richard laughed.
“But Anna was smarter than my father.”
“What does that mean?”
“The final evidence isn’t here.”
Ethan looked at Grace.
Richard continued.
“Bring me Joseph’s tape.”
“And Lily?”
“You get her back.”
The line disconnected.
Grace began to cry.
Ethan took her shoulders.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“I will bring her home.”
“How can you promise that?”
“Because thirty years ago, your mother trusted mine.”
May you like
His voice lowered.
“This time, a Mercer is going to keep the promise.”
