Chapter 7 - Diane’s LieDiane Mercer refused to speak until morning.
When she finally agreed, she asked that Caleb leave the room.
That hurt him more than he admitted.
Tessa sat opposite her at a county safe house while Detective Ortiz turned on a recorder.
Diane looked exhausted.
Her elegant gray hair was uncombed.
Without Walter beside her, she appeared smaller.
Older.
“Did you check the parachute rig out using Caleb’s credentials?” Ortiz asked.
“Yes.”
Tessa stared.
“Why?”
“Walter told me to.”
“Why would you do that?”
Diane closed her eyes.
“Because he said Caleb had stolen money from the company.”
Caleb, listening from the hallway through Ortiz’s permission, went rigid.
Diane continued.
“Walter showed me spreadsheets. Transfers. He said Caleb had moved almost six million dollars.”
Tessa shook her head.
“That isn’t true.”
“I know that now.”
“When did Walter show you these records?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“What did he ask you to do?”
“Retrieve the rig.”
“Why?”
“He said it was part of an internal investigation. Something about proving Caleb had authorized unsafe equipment.”
Ortiz frowned.
“You believed him?”
Diane looked ashamed.
“I believed my husband.”
Tessa asked, “Did you know Elliot would wear it?”
Diane’s head snapped up.
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
“No. Never.”
“Then why did you later tell Elliot Walter was stealing from him?”
Diane’s hands tightened.
“Because I discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
“Walter had fabricated the records against Caleb.”
“How?”
“I found the original ledgers.”
“Where?”
“In our home office.”
“And then?”
“I confronted him.”
“That was the argument Elliot saw?”
“Yes.”
Diane began crying.
“He told me the development contract would collapse if Elliot received Blackstone Ridge.”
“What contract?”
“A sale option.”
“To whom?”
“Halcyon Peak Development.”
Caleb had heard the name.
A private real-estate group that specialized in luxury mountain resorts.
Tessa said, “How much?”
Diane whispered, “Twenty-eight million dollars upfront.”
Ortiz stopped writing.
“And after permits?”
“Walter expected more than fifty million.”
There it was.
Not pride.
Not discipline.
Money.
Tessa fought the urge to be sick.
“Why does Elliot’s survival threaten the deal?”
“The land transfers in twenty-one days. Halcyon requires clear title before then.”
“And if Elliot dies?”
“The trust dissolves. The property returns to Mercer Ridge Holdings.”
Diane wiped her eyes.
“Walter controls the voting shares.”
Tessa spoke carefully.
“So when Walter learned Elliot had seen your argument…”
“He panicked.”
“How did he know?”
Diane looked away.
“I told him.”
Tessa stared at her.
“What?”
“I didn’t know what he planned.”
“You told Walter that Elliot witnessed you accusing him of stealing?”
“I was trying to protect Elliot.”
“How?”
“I told Walter that a child wouldn’t understand what he heard.”
Tessa stood.
“You gave him the name of the only witness.”
Diane flinched.
“I know.”
“You gave Elliot a key afterward. Why?”
“Because I realized Walter had begun destroying records.”
“Where is the key now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Walter entered our house.”
“I know.”
Diane looked toward the window.
“There is a second key.”
Tessa stopped.
“To the bank box?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Walter has it.”
Ortiz immediately called the bank.
Thirty seconds later, her expression darkened.
“When did he access the box?”
She listened.
“Understood.”
The call ended.
Tessa knew before Ortiz spoke.
“Walter entered Box 417 at nine thirteen this morning.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“What was inside?” Ortiz asked.
“Trust documents. Company ledgers. Copies of the Halcyon contract.”
“Anything else?”
Diane hesitated.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“A letter written by my father three weeks before he died.”
“To whom?”
Diane looked at Tessa.
“To Elliot.”
Tessa frowned.
“Elliot was a baby.”
“My father knew he wouldn’t read it for years.”
“What did it say?”
May you like
Diane’s answer was barely audible.
“It explained why Walter must never be allowed to own Blackstone Ridge.”
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