Chapter 7 - The Night Everyone Turned
At 7:03 that evening, Dominic Mercer entered a ballroom filled with people who had already decided he was finished.
The Mercer Grand glittered beneath enormous chandeliers.
Hundreds of guests in formal attire stood around white-clothed tables, drinking champagne and discussing charity donations.
A string quartet played near the windows.
On a stage beneath the Whitmore Foundation emblem, Valerie Whitmore stood beside Adrian Mercer.
She wore an ivory silk gown.
Her engagement ring caught the light.
And when she saw Dominic enter, she smiled.
Norah walked beside him in a simple black dress.
She had refused the diamond necklace Dominic's assistant offered her.
"I don't need to look rich," she had said.
"Valerie will try to humiliate you."
"Then let her."
Dominic had studied her for a moment.
"You really don't care what she thinks?"
"I care about finding Lily. Everything else is decoration."
Now, inside the ballroom, Norah felt the weight of hundreds of curious eyes.
Valerie approached.
"Dominic."
He said nothing.
Her gaze shifted to Norah.
"How charming. You brought the help."
Norah looked at her.
"Good evening, Valerie."
Valerie's smile tightened.
"I suppose you've mistaken this for a staff function."
"No. Staff functions usually have better company."
Dominic turned his head slightly.
Norah thought she saw him suppress a smile.
Valerie's expression hardened.
"You should enjoy tonight while you can."
She walked away.
Dominic watched her join Adrian near the stage.
"Something's wrong," he murmured.
Norah followed his gaze.
"What?"
"Adrian doesn't look nervous."
"Should he?"
"If he plans to murder me, yes."
A server approached carrying two glasses of champagne.
Dominic refused.
Norah noticed the server's hands trembling.
He couldn't have been older than twenty.
She recognized that fear.
The same expression Lily had worn at table six.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
The young man glanced toward the stage.
Then lowered his voice.
"Don't drink anything."
Before Norah could respond, he hurried away.
Dominic had heard.
He took her arm.
"We're leaving."
But the ballroom doors opened.
Four uniformed officers entered.
Behind them walked Detective Daniel Cross.
"Dominic Mercer," Cross announced.
The music stopped.
Conversations died.
"You are under arrest for conspiracy, racketeering, and the unlawful detention of Samuel Parker."
A ripple of shock spread through the room.
Norah stared at him.
"That's a lie."
Cross ignored her.
Dominic remained calm.
"Do you have a warrant?"
Cross held up a document.
"Signed this afternoon."
Dominic glanced at the officers.
Then at Adrian.
His brother looked devastated.
Too devastated.
Adrian hurried forward.
"Dominic, what's happening?"
Dominic stared at him.
"You're a better actor than I realized."
Adrian recoiled.
"Don't do this."
Valerie placed a hand against her chest.
"Oh, my God."
Norah looked around the room.
Phones were rising.
Guests were recording.
Valerie had arranged the perfect public destruction.
Dominic extended his wrists.
"Call my attorney."
Cross handcuffed him.
Then he turned toward Norah.
"Norah Bennett, you're wanted for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Lily Parker."
Her breath caught.
"What?"
"We have evidence you were the last person to communicate with her."
"She worked with me."
"And you accessed her employee locker without authorization."
Norah felt the room tilt.
How did he know?
The restaurant manager.
Leo.
Someone had been watching.
Cross reached for her wrist.
Dominic stepped forward.
"She's not involved."
Cross smiled.
"That'll be for investigators to determine."
Norah pulled her hand back.
"Am I under arrest?"
"Not yet."
"Then don't touch me."
Several guests gasped.
Cross's face hardened.
"You're making a mistake."
"No," Norah said. "I've made plenty of mistakes. This isn't one."
Adrian approached.
"Norah, please. Everyone just wants to resolve this peacefully."
She turned toward him.
"Where's your mother?"
Adrian stopped.
Dominic looked at her sharply.
Norah stepped closer.
"Where is Catherine Mercer?"
For the first time that evening, Adrian's composure slipped.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"She's alive."
Valerie's smile disappeared.
Norah raised her voice.
"Dominic's mother is alive. Someone kept her locked inside a private medical facility for more than twenty years."
The ballroom erupted.
Adrian grabbed her arm.
"Be quiet."
Norah pulled away.
"Don't touch me."
Cross moved toward her.
Dominic stepped between them despite the handcuffs.
"Enough."
The single word silenced the people nearest him.
Adrian leaned close.
"You should have stayed out of this."
Dominic met his brother's eyes.
"Where is she?"
Adrian's smile returned.
"Who?"
"Mom."
For a moment, something ugly passed across Adrian's face.
Then he whispered, "You always were her favorite."
Cross led Dominic away.
Norah watched the doors close behind him.
The room began buzzing again.
Valerie stepped to the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm terribly sorry for this interruption."
She looked toward Norah.
"Unfortunately, some people mistake kindness for an invitation to take advantage."
Norah felt hundreds of eyes turn toward her.
Valerie continued.
"The Mercer family has been betrayed by individuals who exploited its generosity."
Adrian stood beside her.
A large screen behind them illuminated.
Bank documents appeared.
Transfers from Mercer accounts.
Payments to Norah Bennett.
Norah stared.
The amounts were enormous.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Seventy-five thousand.
One hundred thousand.
All supposedly deposited into an account bearing her name.
Valerie looked directly at her.
"Perhaps Miss Bennett would like to explain why a waitress has been receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from my fiancé."
Norah's mouth went dry.
"I've never seen that money."
Valerie smiled.
"Of course not."
The crowd began whispering.
Norah reached into her purse.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
If you want Lily alive, stop talking.
Below it was a photograph.
Lily sat in a dark room.
Her wrists were tied.
And beside her stood a woman Norah recognized from the hospital photograph.
Catherine Mercer.
May you like
The message continued.
You have ten minutes to choose which one dies.
