Chapter 10 - The Trap at HarborLight
“YOU WANT THE EVIDENCE, JULIAN? THEN LOOK ME IN THE EYES AND TELL ME WHAT YOU DID TO THAT LITTLE GIRL.”
Julian Mercer sat behind an enormous mahogany desk inside the headquarters of HarborLight Children's Foundation.
His office overlooked the city.
Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed expensive buildings, snow-covered streets, and the distant mountains where I had found Nora.
Photographs lined his walls.
Mercer standing beside governors.
Mercer receiving humanitarian awards.
Mercer smiling with children at hospital fundraisers.
I wondered how many people in those photographs had trusted him.
How many parents had believed his promises.
How many children had disappeared while he collected praise for helping families.
“You look exhausted, Michael,” he said.
I remained standing.
“Where is Natalie Reed?”
Mercer poured himself a glass of water.
“I'm afraid I don't know the woman.”
“You knew her well enough to threaten her daughter.”
His smile disappeared.
“Careful.”
I stepped closer.
“An eight-year-old girl nearly froze to death because of you.”
Mercer placed the glass on his desk.
“An unfortunate situation.”
The casual cruelty of his response made my skin crawl.
“Unfortunate?”
“You're an intelligent man, Michael. Don't let sentiment interfere with business.”
I stared at him.
“What business involves abandoning children in snowstorms?”
He leaned back.
“You're hardly qualified to lecture anyone about morality.”
He was right about one thing.
My hands weren't clean.
I had built my fortune through intimidation, fraud, and violence.
I had spent years convincing myself that the harm caused by my organization was simply the cost of power.
But I had never imagined that the business I controlled was being used to erase children from their families.
And I had never bothered to look closely enough to discover it.
Mercer opened a drawer.
“Let's stop pretending. You have Natalie's records. I want them.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You lose the opportunity to help her.”
My stomach tightened.
“Is she alive?”
Mercer tilted his head.
“For now.”
I fought to keep my expression steady.
“What do you want?”
“The original drive. Every copy. And your signed statement taking responsibility for the transportation contracts.”
I laughed without humor.
“You want me to confess to your crimes?”
“Your companies moved those children.”
“Thomas authorized those shipments without my knowledge.”
Mercer shrugged.
“A distinction the public may find difficult to appreciate.”
I glanced at the photographs behind him.
“What's the plan, Julian? Blame the entire operation on me?”
“You already have a reputation for criminal behavior. I have a reputation for saving children.”
He smiled.
“Which story do you think people will believe?”
I slipped my hand into my pocket.
A small recording device was hidden beneath the fabric.
Agent Grant had instructed me to keep Mercer talking.
We had arranged the meeting after his representatives contacted my attorney with an offer to exchange Natalie's freedom for the evidence.
I was carrying a replica drive.
The originals were already secured in federal custody.
“Where are the children?” I asked.
Mercer stood.
“Our conversation is over.”
I didn't move.
“Where's Nora's mother?”
His eyes hardened.
“You've become remarkably attached to that child.”
“She was left to die.”
“And yet she survived. Perhaps you should consider that a fortunate outcome and walk away.”
For a moment, I imagined reaching across the desk.
I imagined making him understand fear.
Then I remembered Nora's small hand holding mine.
I remembered the way she had asked whether hospitals were safe.
If I lost control now, I might destroy our chance to save Natalie.
So I remained still.
Mercer walked toward a television mounted on the wall.
He switched it on.
A news broadcast filled the screen.
My photograph appeared above a breaking-news banner.
The anchor was discussing an expanding investigation into possible child abductions and financial wrongdoing.
Then a second photograph appeared.
Me carrying Nora into St. Catherine's Hospital.
Mercer folded his arms.
“You see, Michael, I've already spoken to the authorities.”
I stared at the television.
The anchor continued.
Authorities were investigating allegations that an organized-crime figure had unlawfully taken custody of a missing child.
My name was being circulated as a central suspect.
I turned toward Mercer.
“You told them I kidnapped her.”
He smiled.
“You're the one who found her on an isolated mountain road. You're the one who transported her. And your companies appear in the financial records.”
Then he leaned forward.
“By the time the police finish questioning you, Natalie Reed and every child connected to her investigation will be gone.”
At that moment, my phone vibrated.
A message from Agent Grant.
Michael, leave the building immediately. An arrest request has been issued.
I looked toward the office door.
Two uniformed officers stood outside.
Mercer followed my gaze.
May you like
His smile widened.
“I'm afraid you're not going anywhere.”
