Chapter 10 - The Missing Name
Rachel deliberately omitted suspect.
Why?
Daniel reconstructed her final week.
She called Eleanor.
Margaret.
Thomas.
Martin.
Aaron.
Vanessa.
One other number appeared repeatedly.
Blocked through corporate switchboard.
Carter Biomedical executive office.
Daniel requested internal routing logs.
Calls went to chairman emeritus suite.
Nobody officially occupied suite after William died.
But one person still used it.
Charles Mercer.
William Carter’s oldest friend.
Former vice chairman.
Daniel’s godfather.
Seventy.
Trusted family adviser.
Charles had comforted Daniel at Rachel’s funeral.
He had held Noah while Daniel signed hospital paperwork.
He had encouraged Daniel months later to let Vanessa move in because “children need family.”
Daniel felt physically ill.
Charles also supported campus sale.
But had no transaction bonus.
He owned enough shares that sale could make him wealthier, but he was already wealthy.
What deeper motive?
Charles had worked with William and Samuel Blake during original land acquisition.
He was one of few people alive who knew Red Cedar’s true origin.
Daniel confronted him.
Charles did not run.
He invited Daniel inside.
“Rachel came to see me.”
“When?”
“Day before she died.”
“What did she want?”
“The truth about Red Cedar.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Not enough.”
Charles admitted worker families had pooled land through cooperative structure. Samuel Blake served trustee.
Early Carter company leased it.
During financial crisis, cooperative interests were converted into corporate ownership.
Some families signed.
Some records missing.
William later realized conversions might not have been fair.
He created Red Cedar as restitution mechanism.
Secretly.
Why secrecy?
Public admission could trigger litigation threatening company.
So William tried correcting injustice without admitting it.
A morally compromised repair.
Rachel hated secrecy.
She wanted independent audit and disclosure.
Charles feared it would destroy company.
“Did you stop her?”
“I argued with her.”
“Were you in my house?”
“No.”
“Did you touch her?”
“No.”
“Did you trip electricity?”
“No.”
Daniel watched him.
Then Charles said:
“Ask Vanessa why Rachel screamed her name.”
“She already told me.”
“No. She told you about argument.”
“What else?”
Charles opened drawer.
Inside was photograph.
Rachel and Vanessa.
Taken three months before death.
They stood beside Charles.
Between them was original deed.
Daniel stared.
“You had it.”
“For one night.”
Rachel brought deed to Charles for authentication.
He confirmed genuine.
Then Vanessa arrived unexpectedly.
Rachel hid deed.
Where?
Charles didn't know.
But Vanessa saw enough to understand mother’s $4.8 million might belong partly to worker families.
That was true reason Vanessa panicked.
Not just fear Eleanor committed theft.
Fear Eleanor might have to repay money.
Daniel looked at Charles.
“You're protecting Vanessa.”
“No.”
“Then why keep this?”
“Because Rachel asked me to.”
Another secret request.
Then Charles handed Daniel note Rachel left.
IF I DIE BEFORE I FIX THIS, DO NOT LET DANIEL BLAME VANESSA FOR THE FALL.
Daniel read it twice.
Rachel herself did not believe Vanessa would kill her.
But why scream Vanessa’s name?
Charles said:
“Maybe she wasn't calling Vanessa.”
May you like
“What?”
“Maybe she was warning her.”
