Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO SAT UP
Grant stared at Daniel as if he had misheard him.
"Transfer of what?"
"Voting control of Hart Design Group."
Grant laughed once.
Nobody joined him.
Daniel held up the document.
"Upon verified evidence of fraud, coercion, incapacity manipulation, or attempted interference with Emily Mercer's estate, all temporary spousal authority terminates automatically."
"Verified by who?"
"By me."
"You work for my wife."
"Correct."
"My dead wife."
Evelyn heard Sloane gasp before anyone else did.
Emily pushed the satin cover away and slowly sat up in the coffin.
A woman in the second row screamed.
Grant stumbled backward.
But she was alive.
"Not dead," she said.
Grant could not speak.
Emily climbed carefully from the coffin while Evelyn and Daniel supported her.
The room erupted.
"Everybody remain where you are."
Grant finally found his voice.
"What the hell is this?"
Emily faced him.
"The first honest thing that's happened in our marriage for months."
His eyes dropped to her belly.
"You're pregnant?"
Emily watched his face closely.
"You knew," she said.
Grant shook his head too quickly.
"I didn't."
"You knew before the crash."
"Emily, you're confused."
"Don't."
Her voice sharpened.
"Don't ever call me confused again."
Sloane started backing toward the side aisle.
Detective Mara Velez blocked her.
"Stay where you are."
"I didn't do anything."
"Where did you get my bracelet?"
Grant answered for her.
"I gave it to her."
The church went silent again.
Emily nodded slowly.
"Interesting."
"Why?"
"Because I wasn't wearing that bracelet the night of the crash."
Grant frowned.
"It was locked in the glove box of my SUV."
Detective Velez saw it.
"Nobody leaves."
Daniel opened a folder and removed a printed photograph.
It showed Emily's wrecked SUV at the impound lot.
The glove compartment hung open.
"The bracelet was listed as missing before Mr. Mercer was granted access to the vehicle," Daniel said.
"So either you stole it from my car after someone tried to kill me..."
"Or Grant gave it to you after he did."
"He told me it was at home."
Grant turned on her.
"Shut up."
Sloane flinched.
Emily saw fear replace arrogance.
Then Daniel's phone buzzed.
"Emily."
"What?"
A live alert showed a login to Hart Design Group's emergency banking portal.
Someone was moving money.
May you like
Right then.
From Grant's private office.
