Chapter 14 - CATHERINE’S LAST CALL
Ruiz insisted on using an isolated police laptop.
No estate network.
No Mercer devices.
No excuses.
The flash drive contained financial spreadsheets, scanned invoices, photographs of checks, and an audio file dated the night before Catherine Mercer died.
Natalie sat beside Dominic.
Emma stood behind them.
Adrian was no longer in the room.
Ruiz had separated him for questioning.
Brooke was still missing inside a house with more than forty rooms, three service staircases, two old wine tunnels, and a storm loud enough to hide footsteps.
Ruiz clicked the audio file.
Catherine’s voice filled the library.
Weak.
Angry.
Completely clear.
“Natalie, it’s Mom. Don’t call me back tonight. I don’t want anyone to know I reached you.”
Natalie covered her mouth.
“I found transfers. Adrian says Dominic approved them, but the dates don’t match. Grant brought me an amendment I never asked for. I refused to sign it.”
Dominic stared at the screen.
Catherine continued.
“Brooke was here this afternoon. She wanted to know where I kept original trust papers. I told her none of her business. She laughed.”
Emma’s eyes filled.
Then Catherine coughed.
When she spoke again, her voice was lower.
“I may be old, but I am not confused. If anything happens before I see you, tell Dominic to look at Harbor Nine. And tell him not to do what his father would do. Make him prove it.”
The recording went quiet.
A door clicked somewhere in the background.
Catherine whispered, “Someone’s here.”
Then another voice.
Female.
Soft.
“Catherine?”
Brooke.
The file ended.
Natalie broke.
She folded forward, sobbing into both hands.
Dominic sat frozen.
He had known his mother died after a cardiac episode.
He had known Brooke visited her sometimes.
He had never known Brooke was there that night.
Ruiz paused the recording.
“This does not prove anyone caused Catherine’s death,” she said carefully. “But it proves she believed crimes were occurring and identifies people she suspected.”
Dominic nodded once.
He could barely hear her over the blood pounding in his ears.
Emma put a hand on Natalie’s shoulder.
“Where is Brooke?” Dominic asked.
Luca answered through the radio.
“Found a service door open near the south garage.”
“Car?”
“One missing.”
“Which one?”
“The old black Range Rover. Not registered in her name.”
Ruiz stood. “Send me the plate.”
Luca did.
Another officer entered fast.
“Detective.”
Ruiz turned.
“We found Grant Vale.”
“Where?”
“Not here. State troopers stopped him near the bridge. He had two suitcases, eighty thousand dollars in cash, and a passport.”
Dominic almost laughed.
Grant had lasted less than four hours.
Ruiz asked, “Is he talking?”
“He wants a lawyer.”
“He is a lawyer.”
“He says he wants a better one.”
Even Natalie let out a broken laugh through her tears.
Then Dominic’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Brooke spoke.
“You found the recording.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
“Where are you?”
“You always ask the least important question first.”
“What’s the important one?”
“Whether you want the originals.”
Dominic looked at Ruiz.
She motioned for him to keep Brooke talking.
“What originals?” he asked.
“The real trust. The real Harbor Nine books. Everything Adrian thinks was destroyed.”
Dominic glanced toward the empty doorway.
“You’re turning on him.”
Brooke laughed once.
“No. I’m finally understanding him.”
“Where are the records?”
“Harbor Nine.”
“Then Ruiz can get a warrant.”
“By the time she does, there won’t be a Harbor Nine.”
Dominic stood.
“What did Adrian do?”
Brooke’s breathing was fast now.
“He’s burning it.”
A loud bang sounded through the phone.
Brooke gasped.
Then whispered, “He found me.”
The line went dead.
—
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