Chapter 13 - THE FRIEND WHO HELD HER AT THE FUNERAL
Rebecca arrived at Julia’s house before the police could reach her.
She came crying.
“Grant told me everything.”
Julia stood behind the locked door.
“What did he tell you?”
“That Thomas is alive.”
Julia watched her through the glass.
“Why are you here?”
“To help.”
“No.”
Rebecca’s face changed.
“Julia.”
“Stay outside.”
Ortiz arrived two minutes later.
Rebecca was taken in for questioning.
She denied everything until Park showed her transactions.
A shell company owned by Rebecca had paid Raymond Pike.
Another had funded Victor Hale’s Arizona house.
Rebecca stopped pretending.
“I didn’t take Thomas.”
“But you protected the people who did.”
Rebecca stared at Julia through the interview glass.
“You think Grant is innocent?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Then tell the truth.”
Rebecca leaned back.
“Grant wanted control of the trust.”
“Evelyn wanted control of the bloodline.”
“And you?”
Rebecca smiled without warmth.
“I wanted out.”
Julia frowned.
“Out of what?”
“The Mercer family.”
Rebecca said Grant planned to move the trust assets overseas.
She secretly copied records in case she ever needed leverage.
When Daniel started investigating, she fed him information.
Then she panicked when he got too close.
“You warned Grant?” Julia asked.
Rebecca looked down.
“Yes.”
Julia’s stomach twisted.
“You got Daniel killed.”
“No.”
“You warned the man he was investigating.”
“I didn’t know Grant would act.”
Julia stepped toward the glass.
“You knew what this family was capable of.”
Rebecca began to cry.
“I was trying to survive.”
Julia’s voice was flat.
“So was my son.”
Ortiz entered with another file.
She placed it in front of Rebecca.
Phone records from the night Daniel died.
Grant called Rebecca at 8:42 p.m.
Rebecca called Raymond Pike at 8:44.
Pike’s phone hit a tower near Daniel’s crash site at 9:17.
Rebecca stared at the page.
Julia whispered, “You didn’t just warn him.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
May you like
Then she said the words Julia had feared.
“I told Pike to stop Daniel.”
