Chapter 5 - THE OTHER RYAN MERCERS
Ryan picked up the passports with shaking hands.
RYAN MERCER. DANIEL REED. MARK HOLLIS.
Same face. Different names.
Owen leaned against the desk. "Those were for me."
"For what?"
"Meetings. Banks. Lawyers who only knew you from pictures."
Ryan wanted to hit him again.
"How many times did you pretend to be me?"
Owen looked ashamed. "Seven. Maybe eight."
"Maybe?"
"I was desperate. Emma's mother died two years ago. I had debts. Victor offered me fifty thousand dollars to sign one document. Then it became another."
"And you never thought to call me?"
Owen's eyes hardened. "I thought you knew I was alive."
That stopped Ryan.
Owen pulled a folded letter from his pocket. The paper was worn soft.
It was addressed to Owen in Ryan's handwriting.
I don't want you back. Stay away from my family.
Ryan read it twice.
"I never wrote this."
"I know that now."
A monitor on the desk flickered to life as backup power kicked in.
Six camera feeds appeared: the kitchen, garage, hallway, Lily's room, front gate, and a room Ryan didn't recognize.
Victor Shaw stood in that last room.
Caroline was beside him.
She looked furious.
"You said they would be gone before Ryan got home," Victor said.
"Owen changed the timing."
"Then fix it."
Caroline shook her head. "Ryan called 911."
Victor smiled.
"No, he called our dispatcher."
Ryan felt the blood leave his face.
The sirens outside stopped.
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On another camera, two men in police uniforms stepped out of a cruiser and walked toward the house.
Neither wore a body camera.
