Chapter 6 - The Lawyer Who Looked Away
Maya saw it.
So did Leo.
Samuel Whitmore, the man who had protected the Mercer family for decades, looked afraid when Eleanor said his name.
Julian closed the library doors behind them.
“What does she know?”
Samuel removed his glasses.
“Anna called me the morning she died.”
Julian went still.
“You never told me that.”
“She asked me to prepare the amendment. She said she had discovered irregular transfers from a Mercer Holdings subsidiary.”
“How much?”
“Just under two million dollars at the time.”
Leo stared. “At the time?”
Samuel nodded. “The transfers continued after her death. I suspected someone inside the company, but I could not prove who.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Julian asked.
“Because Anna made me promise not to until I had evidence.”
“She died.”
“I know.”
Julian slammed his palm onto the desk. “She died in a car crash three days after changing Leo’s trust, and you sat on this for nine years?”
Samuel’s voice broke. “I believed the crash was an accident.”
Maya noticed the wording.
“Believed?”
Samuel looked at her.
“Two months ago, Miles Grant requested old corporate insurance files connected to the vehicle Anna was driving.”
“Why?”
“He claimed Eleanor was reviewing estate exposure.”
Leo’s eyes narrowed. “Was there something wrong with the car?”
Samuel took a long breath.
“The original accident report noted brake-line damage. It was ruled impact-related.”
“After the crash?” Julian asked.
“Yes.”
“But?”
Samuel swallowed.
“But a private mechanic hired by Anna’s father wrote that the cut appeared clean.”
The room went silent.
Julian’s face emptied.
Leo whispered, “Someone cut Mom’s brakes?”
“We don’t know that.”
A crash sounded in the hallway.
Marcus shouted.
They ran out.
A window near the back terrace had shattered inward.
On the floor lay a brick wrapped in paper.
Leo picked up the note before anyone could stop him.
May you like
Three words were written across it.
ASK MAYA'S MOTHER.
