Chapter 13 - Charles Mercer’s Final Will
Charles Mercer died after heart surgery.
Unexpected complications.
Three hours earlier, he signed a codicil.
Grant inherited company shares.
Luke inherited property interests.
Caroline received nothing directly, naturally.
But one clause had been hidden under seal:
Red Fern control passes jointly to Laura Reed and Eleanor Mercer.
Grant’s mother.
Eleanor was alive.
Seventy-one.
Living in Palm Beach.
Grant called.
She answered on the third ring.
“Mom, what is Red Fern?”
Silence.
Then:
“Where are you?”
“Answer me.”
She sighed.
“I wondered when Victor would lose control.”
Grant sat very still.
His mother knew everything.
Charles created Red Fern with her.
Laura administered it.
Eleanor retained family veto authority.
Why?
Because Charles believed Victor understood business but not restraint.
He believed Grant understood growth but not fear.
Luke understood morality but not survival.
Laura understood numbers.
Eleanor understood all three boys.
A system of counterweights.
Then Charles died.
Luke discovered it.
Grant did not.
Why keep him ignorant?
Eleanor answered:
“Because you would have treated it as an enemy.”
Again, probably true.
Then Molly asked:
“Did you poison Grant?”
Eleanor laughed.
“No.”
“Did you order anyone to?”
“No.”
“Then why did Victor ask whether I’m safe?”
Long silence.
“Because the second protector isn't me anymore.”
Eleanor resigned two years earlier.
Who replaced her?
Luke.
After Luke died?
He designated someone else.
Name sealed.
Then Grant understood.
Who had Luke trusted near the restaurant?
Derek?
Caroline?
Thomas?
Molly?
The successor could be anyone.
Eleanor said:
“I don't know. Luke didn't tell me.”
But Victor did.
Victor finally arrived with attorneys.
He looked exhausted.
He gave police the name.
Thomas Vale.
Everyone stared.
Thomas laughed.
“No.”
Victor handed him a signed document.
Luke appointed Thomas as emergency co-protector of Red Fern nine days before his death.
Thomas’s signature appeared.
Forged?
Thomas examined it.
Real.
Then remembered.
Luke had brought him paperwork.
Said it authorized release of Emily’s fire files if anything happened.
Thomas signed without reading everything.
Luke had tricked him into becoming Red Fern protector.
Grant almost laughed at the irony.
The chef trying to save his restaurant unknowingly held power over Mercer Hospitality.
But if Thomas controlled Red Fern—
was he the poisoner?
Motive.
Access.
Hidden authority.
Thomas looked at Molly.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
Then police found one crucial item in Thomas’s office.
Emily’s missing key.
Inside his desk.
Thomas stared.
“I didn't put that there.”
Grant had heard that sentence enough times.
Then Molly whispered:
“Chef…”
She looked terrified.
“What?”
“I saw someone come out of your office before service.”
“Who?”
Molly looked at Grant.
May you like
“Your wife.”
Caroline’s face went blank.
