Chapter 18 - THE MAN IN THE LIVING ROOM
Julia called Mrs. Alvarez first.
“Go next door.”
“Why?”
“Get Emily out of my house.”
Mrs. Alvarez did not ask twice.
Ortiz dispatched officers.
Julia watched the home camera feed on her phone.
Mrs. Alvarez entered through the kitchen.
“Emily, sweetheart, your mom needs you next door.”
Arthur looked up.
“Does she?”
Emily stood.
Arthur’s smile disappeared.
Then he saw the police lights through the window.
He grabbed Emily’s wrist.
Julia screamed at the phone.
“No!”
Mrs. Alvarez threw a ceramic bowl at him.
It hit his shoulder.
Emily pulled free and ran.
In his briefcase, police found a handgun matching the bullet taken from Grant.
They also found passports.
Cash.
And a signed document transferring Mercer trust assets to an offshore foundation Arthur controlled.
Park stared at the papers.
“He was going to let Grant take the blame and steal everything left.”
Arthur said nothing until Julia entered the interview room.
Then he smiled.
“You look like Daniel when you’re angry.”
Julia sat down.
“You helped Evelyn steal Thomas.”
“I drafted the guardianship papers.”
“You helped hide the other children.”
“I protected clients.”
“You helped kill Daniel.”
Arthur’s smile faded.
“Daniel was warned.”
Julia leaned forward.
“So was I.”
Arthur frowned.
“And I’m still here.”
He looked at her with something close to contempt.
“You think finding your boy fixes this family?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Finding him exposed it.”
Arthur stopped smiling.
Julia stood.
“The difference is better.”
As she reached the door, Arthur called after her.
“You still don’t know why Thomas was chosen first.”
Julia turned.
“The trust.”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
He smiled again.
“Ask for the original newborn screening.”
