Chapter 4 - Twenty-One Years Ago
Daniel turned away first.
He crossed the library, stopped beside the fireplace, and pressed both hands against the mantel.
"Luis worked electrical maintenance on Riverside."
Mateo followed him.
"That's not what I asked."
"He fell from the nineteenth floor during the night shift."
"I know how he died."
"Do you?"
Mateo's jaw tightened.
Daniel looked at him.
"The company report said he entered an unfinished section alone after being told to stay out."
"My mother said he hated heights."
Thomas stepped in. "Daniel, this has nothing to do with tonight."
Mateo swung toward him.
"You brought me here. It has everything to do with tonight."
Ortiz lifted a hand. "Mr. Mercer, let him answer."
Daniel pulled a chair out but did not sit.
"Luis had been making complaints."
"About what?"
"Budget problems. Safety problems."
Mateo took out his personal backup phone and called his mother.
She answered on the third ring.
"Mateo? It's late."
"Mom, I need you to tell me something about Dad."
Silence.
Daniel watched him.
"Did he ever say anything about Riverside before he died? Anything strange?"
His mother's breathing changed.
"Why are you asking?"
"Please."
Another pause.
Then she said, "Three days before he died, he came home after midnight. His shirt was torn."
Mateo closed his eyes.
"Torn how?"
"At the collar. Like someone had grabbed him."
Daniel's head lifted.
Thomas moved toward the door.
Ortiz blocked it.
Mateo kept the phone pressed to his ear.
"What did he say?"
"He told me if anything happened, the numbers weren't wrong."
"What numbers?"
"I don't know. I was eight months pregnant with you. I begged him to quit. He said he couldn't."
Mateo looked at Daniel.
"Did you know somebody threatened him?"
Daniel's face tightened.
"No."
Thomas gave a sharp exhale. "This is twenty-one years ago. Memories change."
Mateo's mother heard him.
"Who is that?"
"Thomas Mercer."
She went quiet.
Mateo stood straighter.
"Mom?"
"Your father hated that name."
Thomas froze.
Daniel turned toward him.
"Why?"
"I don't know," she said. "Luis never told me everything. He thought he was protecting me."
A drawer scraped through the phone.
"What are you doing?" Mateo asked.
"I kept his things."
Boxes shifted.
Paper rustled.
Daniel's phone vibrated on the desk.
A message from his attorney flashed across the screen.
INSURANCE SIGNATURE IS NOT YOUR STANDARD DIGITAL CERTIFICATE.
Daniel read it twice.
Mateo's mother suddenly sucked in a breath.
"Mom?"
No answer.
"Mom, what is it?"
"There's an envelope."
Mateo gripped the phone.
"From Dad?"
"No. It's in his handwriting, but it isn't addressed to me."
Daniel took one step forward.
Mateo swallowed.
"Who is it addressed to?"
His mother read the name.
May you like
"Daniel Mercer."
