Chapter 7 - The Godfather's BetrayalRichard Mercer arrived at Caldwell Meridian's Boston headquarters at 8:10 the next morning.
He wore a navy suit, carried a leather portfolio, and greeted the receptionist with his usual easy smile.
He had no idea Ethan was waiting in his office.
“Ethan?”
Richard stopped in the doorway.
“I thought you were taking time off.”
Ethan stood beside the window.
“Close the door.”
Richard's smile faded.
“What's going on?”
“Where's Olivia?”
The question hung between them.
Richard blinked.
“What?”
“Where is my wife?”
Richard stared at him.
“Ethan, Olivia died seven years ago.”
“Then explain Hartford.”
Richard's eyes shifted.
A small movement.
But Ethan saw it.
“What's in Hartford?”
“The neurological research foundation your holding company owned.”
Richard placed his portfolio on a chair.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Ethan slid a photograph across the desk.
Richard looked down.
His face drained.
“Where did you get that?”
Ethan stepped forward.
“That's the wrong question.”
Richard swallowed.
“Ethan—”
“Is she alive?”
Richard looked toward the door.
Ethan's voice rose.
“Answer me!”
Richard sat down.
For several seconds, he stared at the photograph.
Then he whispered, “I don't know anymore.”
Ethan felt the room tilt.
“Anymore?”
Richard covered his face.
“She was alive after the accident.”
Ethan backed away.
“No.”
“Listen to me.”
“No!”
Richard stood.
“She discovered something. Something Warren was doing through the foundation. She wanted to go to the authorities.”
Ethan stared at him.
“And you stopped her?”
“I tried to protect her.”
“By telling me she was dead?”
Richard's eyes filled.
“You don't understand what was happening.”
“Then explain it!”
Richard looked toward the window.
“Olivia believed Warren had falsified clinical records for several children. Some were enrolled in privately funded research programs. The foundation was using questionable diagnoses to justify expensive treatments and collect funding.”
Ethan's voice was flat.
“Was Noah one of them?”
Richard hesitated.
“Yes.”
Ethan grabbed the edge of the desk.
Richard continued.
“She had evidence. She was going to expose the entire operation.”
“So what happened?”
“Warren found out.”
Richard swallowed.
“He threatened her. He said if she went public, he'd make sure Noah was taken away under a medical-neglect allegation.”
Ethan shook his head.
“She would have come to me.”
“She tried.”
The words struck like a blow.
Richard looked at him.
“You were never home, Ethan. Warren convinced you Olivia was unstable. Every time she raised concerns, you called him for reassurance.”
Ethan remembered.
The arguments.
Olivia begging him to read a report.
His irritation.
His exhaustion.
His certainty that the doctors knew best.
“What happened at the bridge?”
Richard stared at the floor.
“I helped her disappear.”
Silence.
Ethan could hear his own heartbeat.
“You what?”
“Olivia said she needed time to gather evidence without Warren knowing where she was. She arranged to leave the car near the river. Another woman had died in an unrelated incident, and Warren manipulated the identification process.”
Ethan's face twisted.
“You used a dead woman?”
Richard looked sick.
“I didn't know that part until afterward.”
“Then why didn't Olivia come home?”
Richard's voice broke.
“Because someone took her.”
Ethan froze.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear to you.”
Richard stood.
“Three weeks after she disappeared, I received a message saying she was safe and needed money. I sent it. Then another request came. Then another.”
“From Olivia?”
“I thought so.”
“How much?”
“Millions.”
Ethan stared at him.
“From the company?”
Richard nodded.
“Some of the payments to Vance were disguised as consulting fees. I believed he was arranging her protection.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You financed the man she was trying to expose.”
Richard's eyes filled.
“I know.”
Ethan stepped away from him.
“Did you ever actually speak to her?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“Five years ago.”
“What did she say?”
Richard hesitated.
“She asked about Noah.”
Ethan stopped moving.
“She asked whether he was walking.”
The room went silent.
Richard wiped his face.
“I told her he was getting the best care available.”
Ethan looked at him with something close to hatred.
“You told his mother that while he was being kept in a wheelchair.”
Richard lowered his head.
“I didn't know.”
“Neither did I.”
Ethan turned toward the door.
“Get out.”
“Ethan—”
“Daniel has the records. The investigators will want your statement.”
Richard looked frightened.
“Warren isn't working alone.”
Ethan stopped.
“What does that mean?”
Richard lowered his voice.
“The foundation had other investors. People who knew what was happening.”
“Names.”
“I don't have them.”
“Then find them.”
Richard shook his head.
“You don't understand. The money wasn't the only reason they wanted Olivia quiet.”
Ethan stared.
“What else?”
Richard reached into his portfolio and removed a sealed envelope.
“Olivia gave me this before she disappeared. She told me not to open it unless someone came looking for her.”
Ethan took it.
Inside was a photograph of Noah as an infant.
On the back, Olivia had written:
If they tell you my son has a disease, ask why the other children have the same symptoms.
Below that was a list of six names.
Ethan recognized one immediately.
Noah Caldwell.
The second name made him stop breathing.
May you like
Luke Bennett.
Claire's younger brother.
Related Stories
