Chapter 6 - THE SECOND PERSON
Ethan ordered Grant to surrender his security credentials.
Grant refused.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Give me the badge.”
“I’ve protected this family for nine years.”
“And two cameras failed while my son nearly drowned.”
Grant’s face tightened.
Ethan held out his hand.
“Badge.”
Grant removed it slowly.
Then Detective Ortiz arrived with two officers.
“We need to speak with Mr. Mercer.”
Grant looked at Vanessa.
It lasted less than a second.
But Maya saw it.
So did Ortiz.
“Separate rooms,” the detective ordered.
Vanessa shouted, “This is ridiculous!”
Ortiz ignored her.
Maya stayed with Ethan in the kitchen while officers questioned them.
He looked older than he had six hours earlier.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Maya stared at him.
“For what part?”
His eyes lowered.
“For believing her.”
“You still don’t know the whole truth.”
“I know you saved Oliver.”
“That should have been obvious when I jumped into the pool.”
He accepted the blow.
“You’re right.”
Maya crossed her arms.
“Why does Vanessa want Oliver hurt?”
Ethan looked toward the stairs.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
He looked back.
“You just don’t want to say it.”
He sat down.
“Oliver’s mother, Claire, died eleven months ago.”
“I know.”
“What you probably don’t know is that Claire’s family left Oliver a trust.”
“How much?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Twenty-four million dollars.”
Maya stared.
“And who controls it?”
“I do until he turns twenty-five.”
“So Vanessa gains nothing.”
“Not exactly.”
Maya waited.
Ethan looked ashamed.
“Three months ago, Vanessa convinced me to change my will.”
A chill moved through Maya.
“If you die?”
“She becomes trustee for Oliver.”
“And if Oliver dies?”
Ethan’s face went still.
“The remaining assets eventually pass back into my estate.”
“And Vanessa is your main beneficiary.”
“Yes.”
Maya whispered, “My God.”
Footsteps thundered from the hallway.
Ortiz entered.
“Ethan, where’s Vanessa?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s not in the sitting room.”
The officer behind her looked embarrassed.
“She asked to use the bathroom.”
Maya ran toward the stairs.
“Oliver.”
Ethan sprinted past her.
They reached the nursery.
The door was open.
The crib was empty.
Ethan made a sound Maya would never forget.
“No.”
Maya rushed inside.
The blanket was gone.
So was the diaper bag.
The balcony door stood open.
Ortiz shouted into her radio.
“Lock the gates!”
Maya ran to the balcony.
Below, a dark SUV tore across the back service road.
Ethan saw it.
“VANESSA!”
He ran downstairs.
Maya followed.
Then her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Oliver.
Strapped into a car seat.
May you like
Below it was one sentence.
STOP TALKING TO THE POLICE OR NEXT TIME THERE WON’T BE A POOL TO SAVE HIM FROM.
