Chapter 5 - Eleven Missing Days
Jonathan Mercer never legally tried take Emma.
No custody petition.
No guardianship claim.
No biological connection.
Catherine sent Emma to Susan voluntarily because she feared retaliation after reporting Meridian billing.
Mercer had threatened expose Catherine for supposedly unauthorized temporary placement of Lucy.
Catherine feared investigation could disrupt household and traumatize children.
She sent Emma to sister Susan while county reviewed complaint.
Eleven days later Emma returned.
No kidnapping.
No identity swap.
But Rebecca remembered Catherine saying:
“Mercer knows about basement file.”
Which basement?
This one.
Catherine had hidden copies of Meridian billing records inside old administrative mansion before leaving job.
Why?
She feared evidence destruction.
Improper method, but understandable.
She later turned copies to county investigators.
Or believed she did.
One packet remained.
That was likely what Daniel Mercer sought.
Police searched basement.
Behind removable concrete panel:
Metal document box.
Empty.
Someone got there first.
Emma's attacker?
Then Grace described woman who brought her to mansion.
Not Daniel.
A brunette.
“Mommy’s friend.”
Police showed photographs.
Grace pointed to Rebecca.
Rebecca recoiled.
“I've never met her.”
But motel search found child hair on Rebecca’s coat.
Rebecca's story cracked.
She admitted more.
She had met Grace.
Daniel contacted her weeks earlier and introduced Grace as Lucy Hale’s daughter.
He claimed Grace could help “recreate” old Ward family photograph to trigger Emma’s memory.
Rebecca agreed to dress Grace like Lily.
She believed it was harmless staged encounter.
She did not know Grace would be brought into mansion during kidnapping.
“Why call herself Lucy?”
Daniel told Grace it was game: pretend be mother when mother was little.
Rebecca knew.
“You helped make Lily think there was another version of herself?”
Rebecca cried.
“I thought Emma would see her, remember Lucy and tell us where Catherine hid file.”
Emma was furious.
“You used children to investigate paperwork.”
Rebecca lowered head.
“Yes.”
No excuse.
But who kidnapped Emma?
Rebecca insisted Daniel never discussed violence.
Daniel was arrested for questioning after Grace confirmed he drove her partway.
He admitted organizing “memory reconstruction.”
Denied abduction.
Phone location placed him miles away when Emma attacked.
Could have accomplice.
Then forensic analysis of rope revealed cosmetic residue.
Rare hand cream.
Emma recognized scent.
Catherine used same brand.
But Catherine dead.
Rebecca used it too.
Police tested Rebecca.
Residue consistent, not unique.
Rebecca's fingerprints on basement exterior.
Expected? She had been there recently? She denied.
Then Ethan asked:
“When did you first enter basement?”
“This morning.”
“Before or after breakfast?”
Rebecca went quiet.
“Rebecca.”
“Last night.”
Emma stared.
Rebecca had come mansion before kidnapping.
Daniel told her hidden file might be downstairs.
She entered via garden passage.
Found Emma there?
“No.”
Room empty at 9:30.
She searched.
Left.
Emma was attacked around 11.
So Rebecca knew hidden passage and lied.
Why?
Because admitting trespass made her look guilty.
Then police found deleted message from Daniel:
IF EMMA WON’T REMEMBER, PUT HER WHERE CATHERINE PUT THE FILE.
Rebecca replied:
I’LL GET HER DOWN THERE.
Everyone stared at her.
Rebecca began shaking.
“I didn't mean tie her up.”
Emma whispered:
“You planned to take me downstairs.”
Rebecca covered face.
“Yes.”
She had intended lure Emma into basement and confront her with old records.
Before she could, someone else acted.
Someone who knew Rebecca’s plan.
Only Daniel and Rebecca had messages.
Unless Daniel shared them.
His phone showed forwarded screenshot.
Recipient:
M. WARD.
Emma frowned.
“There is no M. Ward in our family.”
May you like
Rebecca looked terrified.
“There used to be.”
