Adrian winced.
Grace looked at him.
He said:
“It cost what birthday present costs.”
Mia frowned.
“That’s not number.”
Grace laughed.
Adrian said:
“You’re going to be difficult.”
Mia smiled.
“Mr. Duca?”
“Yes?”
“Did you open all walls?”
“Every one.”
“Anybody else?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Then she returned to telescope.
Daniel Mercer disappeared for six days before his arrest.
Agents found him at a house in coastal Maine owned through shell company.
He did not run far.
Perhaps he knew running would look guilty.
Perhaps he expected lawyers to save him.
The arrest photographs showed the man Adrian knew climbing into unmarked vehicle wearing navy coat.
He looked old.
That disturbed Adrian more than if he looked monstrous.
Monsters were easier.
Daniel requested private meeting through counsel.
Elena said no.
Adrian said yes.
They compromised: meeting after indictment, with counsel present, no discussion outside agreed parameters.
The room at federal courthouse was plain.
Daniel entered in civilian clothes, no handcuffs in room.
He looked at Adrian.
For several seconds they said nothing.
Then Daniel smiled sadly.
“You look like your father.”
Adrian felt nothing.
Good.
Daniel sat.
His attorney said:
“This conversation is not cooperation session.”
Elena replied:
“Understood.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“Why?”
Daniel sighed.
“That question has too many answers.”
“Pick one.”
“Your father.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Do not blame him.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Daniel looked down.
“Your father built too fast.”
“He borrowed too much.”
“The pension assets became temptation.”
“Temporary bridge.”
“We were going to replace.”
“When?”
“After Atlantic Port acquisition.”
“That failed.”
“Yes.”
“So you took more.”
“We had forty thousand employees.”
Adrian laughed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“Everyone else.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“I kept company alive.”
“You stole pension money.”
“I moved capital.”
“You falsified records.”
“To avoid panic.”
“You killed Thomas.”
Daniel looked up.
“I did not order anyone killed.”
“You arranged crash?”
His attorney said:
“Daniel, don’t answer.”
Daniel ignored.
“I told Pierce to stop Julian from reaching press.”
“I did not tell him ram vehicle.”
“Someone made choice.”
“Convenient.”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“You think I wanted Julian dead?”
“You buried him.”
“I thought containment was temporary.”
“Twelve years.”
Daniel closed eyes.
“That was Kessler.”
“You paid him.”
“Yes.”
“You visited.”
“Yes.”
“You told my brother I abandoned him.”
Daniel opened eyes.
“I needed him to stop fighting treatment.”
“Treatment?”
Adrian leaned forward.
“Do not use that word.”
Daniel’s composure cracked.
“He was unstable after injury.”
“He accused everyone.”