Chapter 15 - THE FIRE BELOW
By the time Daniel reached Mercer headquarters, reporters filled the sidewalk.
"Mr. Mercer, did you steal charitable funds?"
"Is the wedding cancellation related to fraud?"
"Was Vivian Cross cooperating with investigators?"
Daniel pushed through with Marcus and two officers.
Smoke hit them in the lobby.
An alarm screamed.
"Basement," Marcus said.
They ran down six flights.
The archival server room door was open.
Flames climbed one wall.
Eric Lawson stood near the emergency exit with a metal case.
"Stop!" an officer shouted.
Eric bolted.
Marcus chased him while Daniel grabbed a fire extinguisher and attacked the flames around the server cabinets.
Sprinklers finally burst overhead.
Cold water poured down.
For one absurd second, Daniel thought of the wedding.
A little spilled water.
That was all it had taken to expose everything.
A gunshot cracked in the hallway.
Daniel dropped the extinguisher and ran.
Marcus had Eric pinned against a wall. A pistol lay several feet away.
Blood ran from a cut over Marcus's eyebrow.
Eric laughed when he saw Daniel.
"You think this saves your reputation?"
Daniel took the metal case.
Inside were hard drives and original accounting ledgers.
"No," Daniel said. "Truth saves the truth. Reputation can take care of itself."
Police handcuffed Eric.
Then his phone rang.
Celia.
Daniel answered before anyone could stop him.
"Eric?" Celia said.
Daniel said nothing.
She understood.
Her breathing changed.
"Daniel."
"Where are you?"
"You ruined my daughter."
"You did that years ago."
Silence.
Then Celia's voice became very calm.
"Your father spoke to me like that too."
Daniel's hands tightened.
"And look how his night ended."
The call disconnected.
Marcus stared at the phone trace.
"She isn't at the marina."
"Where is she?"
May you like
Marcus looked up.
"Your mother's house."
