Chapter 13 - The Name on the Certificate
Emily did not understand why Keene wanted the birth certificate.
I did not either.
Until BCI obtained a digital copy.
Father: Caleb Ross.
Mother: Emily Carter.
Witness to paternity acknowledgment:
Martin Keene.
Emily stared.
“He was there?”
“Apparently,” Collins said.
“I don’t remember him.”
“You had just given birth.”
“But why would a lawyer be there?”
“He wasn’t a lawyer yet,” I said.
He was still a deputy.
Keene had witnessed Caleb’s paternity paperwork months after Caleb died.
That required special documentation.
He had inserted himself into June’s legal identity.
Why?
The answer came from Caleb’s file.
One memo described a safe-deposit box opened jointly by Caleb and his attorney.
Contents: evidence copies.
Transfer condition: upon death, access to designated heir or guardian.
Designated heir.
June.
Emily whispered, “Oh my God.”
Caleb had hidden evidence in a box that legally passed to his daughter.
Keene needed June’s birth certificate to access it.
“Which bank?” Collins asked.
The memo listed Heartland Savings.
BCI called.
The box still existed.
No access in seven years.
Until forty minutes earlier.
A man using a court order and certified birth certificate had entered.
Keene.
We were too late.
Then the bank manager added something.
“He’s still here.”
Every chair moved at once.
Police surrounded the bank.
Keene locked himself inside a private records room.
No hostages.
No gun visible.
Negotiators spoke through the door.
I had no business being there.
I stayed in the command area anyway.
Emily stayed with June elsewhere.
Forty minutes passed.
Then Keene asked for me.
Collins laughed.
“No.”
The negotiator looked at her.
“He specifically said Jack Mercer.”
I stared at the door.
“Why?”
Keene answered through the phone line.
“Because Jack likes witnesses.”
I stepped forward.
Collins blocked me.
“You are not walking into that room.”
“I know.”
Keene’s voice came through the negotiator’s speaker.
“Tell him I have Caleb’s last recording.”
I froze.
Keene continued.
“And if he wants June to ever hear her father’s voice, he should come to the door.”
I walked to the hallway.
Not inside.
Just close enough.
“Keene.”
His voice came through the door.
“You played your part beautifully.”
“You picked the wrong kid.”
“No. I picked the perfect kid.”
My hands curled.
“What’s on the recording?”
He laughed.
“The reason Caleb died.”
“Then play it.”
Silence.
A click.
Caleb’s voice came through the door.
Breathing hard.
“If anything happens to me, Alan Brooks ordered it.”
Then another voice spoke on the recording.
Martin Keene.
“No, Caleb. He didn’t.”
May you like
A pause.
“I did.”
