Chapter 13 - The Mysterious Warning
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Before we could process the connection to Daniel Mercer, the laptop speaker chimed. An automated cloud sync completed, pulling down a batch of unread draft emails that Julian had written over the past forty-eight hours.
One message stood out immediately. It was addressed to an anonymous, throwaway proton-mail account.
The subject line read: HAWTHORNE OCCUPANCY & MEDICAL UPDATE.
To whom it may concern,
The target is currently confined to St. Matthew’s Rehab Unit. Burn recovery is progressing slowly. She has signed the preliminary divorce receipt. Once full legal guardianship of the infant is secured next week, we can proceed with stage two of the site clearing.
"Stage two of the site clearing?" Maya gasped, covering her mouth. "What does that mean?!"
"It means Julian isn't waiting for the divorce court," Sarah realized, her voice tense. "He’s planning to physically occupy Hawthorne House and clear the land before we can secure an injunction!"
Suddenly, my personal cell phone—which Sarah had restored with a duplicate SIM card two days ago—vibrated on the nightstand.
An unknown number appeared on the screen.
I picked it up, putting it on speaker so Sarah and Maya could hear. "Hello?"
"Elena?" a deep, gravelly, elderly man's voice echoed through the speaker. "My name is Daniel Mercer."
May you like
I froze, exchanging a sharp glance with Sarah. "Mr. Mercer. Why are you calling me?"
"Because your husband is a dangerous fool who is about to ruin your father's legacy," Daniel Mercer said bluntly. "And because your father asked me to watch over you if anything ever happened to him."
