CHAPTER 24 THE MERCER TRUST
Director Claire Rowan did not deny the accusation.
She closed the chapel doors behind her.
Rebecca moved between Claire and Miriam.
“You are Iris?”
Claire looked at Elena.
“My legal name is Claire Rowan.”
“That was not my question,” Elena said.
Claire removed her badge.
“I was raised by a family in North Carolina. I learned the truth about Samuel when I was thirty.”
“Why didn’t you contact us?”
“Because Samuel’s instructions were clear.”
“Samuel was dead.”
“His instructions survived.”
Claire placed a folder on the altar.
Inside were trust documents, adoption records, and financial statements.
The Mercer Trust controlled more than four hundred million dollars in undeveloped land, mineral rights, and investment accounts.
Samuel had created it years before Whitmore Development reached its peak.
Elena studied the beneficiary page.
Adrian Mercer.
Elena Mercer.
Iris Mercer.
And one additional name added two days before Elena was pushed down the courthouse stairs.
Grace Samuel Mercer.
Elena looked up sharply.
“How was Grace added before she was born?”
“Samuel’s original trust allowed any biological grandchild to become a beneficiary automatically,” Claire said. “Thomas tried to redirect those assets through the Whitmore marriage.”
“Grant married me for the trust.”
“Partly.”
Elena’s hands tightened around the documents.
“What was the other part?”
Claire looked toward Grace, who was sitting with Daniel near the chapel benches.
“To identify which Mercer child carried a specific genetic marker.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“This is becoming absurd.”
“It is not about illness,” Claire said. “It is about inheritance.”
“Property does not require a genetic marker,” Rebecca said.
“This property does.”
Claire turned another page.
The trust contained a sealed codicil.
Control of the primary assets would transfer only to a biological descendant of Samuel Mercer carrying a rare blood trait.
Samuel had created the clause to prevent Thomas Whitmore from claiming the trust through marriage, forged adoption, or manipulated guardianship.
Elena read the final line.
Upon confirmation, sole administrative authority shall pass to the eldest eligible female descendant.
“Grace?” Elena whispered.
“Possibly,” Claire said.
“Or you?”
“Possibly.”
“Or Iris.”
Claire held Elena’s gaze.
“That is why they need samples from all three of us.”
Rebecca glanced toward Daniel.
“The camera in Grace’s room.”
Miriam nodded.
“They were collecting hair.”
Elena immediately lifted Grace into her arms.
“Who are they?”
Claire looked toward Adrian.
“The original Mercer trustees.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“They are dead.”
“No,” Claire said. “They resigned publicly and continued operating privately. Judges, bankers, contractors, police officials. Thomas was never their leader.”
“Who was?”
Claire opened the final page.
A name had been removed with black ink.
Only the title remained.
Chief Custodian.
Elena touched the page.
“Who is the custodian now?”
Claire looked toward Rebecca.
“Captain Robert Hale.”
Rebecca’s father.
The man publicly disgraced after Samuel’s crash investigation.
The man Rebecca believed had disappeared overseas.
Rebecca’s phone vibrated.
An encrypted message appeared.
A live photograph showed Grace’s bedroom inside the Mercer Center.
A person in black gloves held Grace’s hairbrush.
May you like
Below it were six words:
THE BLOOD TEST BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT.
