Chapter 4 - The Little Girl Who Remembered Mercy|
Roman arrived at Evie's apartment twenty minutes later.
He came with Bennett and two security officers.
Derek's SUV was gone.
But the tire marks were still visible beside the curb.
Evie stood near the building entrance wearing an old leather jacket.
Her hair was tied back.
Her overnight bag rested beside her feet.
Roman stopped several steps away.
For a moment, they simply looked at each other.
Then he spoke.
“Tell me what happened to Grace.”
Evie swallowed.
“Not here.”
His expression hardened.
“You don't get to choose the terms.”
She looked toward the street.
“Someone followed me home. Someone knows I was at the warehouse.”
Roman stepped closer.
“I know you were there.”
She nodded.
“I was.”
“Then you lied to me.”
“Yes.”
He stared.
“Why?”
“Because the last time someone believed I was responsible for Grace's death, I lost everything.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“And my daughter lost her mother.”
Evie's eyes filled.
“I know.”
The words were so quiet they almost disappeared beneath the traffic.
Roman looked away.
For one terrible second, Evie thought he might leave her standing there.
Then he turned toward Bennett.
“Take her to the estate.”
Evie stepped backward.
“No.”
Roman looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because your family is where this began.”
His expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
Evie looked directly at him.
“Grace was going to expose something.”
Roman went still.
“What?”
“She found records showing money moving through one of your father's warehouse companies.”
Bennett's expression changed.
Roman noticed.
He looked toward his security chief.
“Did you know about this?”
Bennett shook his head.
“No, boss.”
Evie stared at him.
Then looked back at Roman.
“You need to ask your father.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“My father is recovering from a stroke.”
“Then ask whoever handled his business records.”
Bennett lowered his eyes.
Roman looked between them.
Something felt wrong.
But before he could press further, his phone rang.
The estate.
He answered.
“Roman?”
His daughter's voice.
He softened immediately.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Daddy, are you coming home?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Did you find Aunt Mercy?”
Roman stopped breathing.
Evie went completely still.
“Lily?”
“Grandpa said you were looking for her.”
Roman's eyes moved toward Bennett.
Then back to Evie.
His daughter continued.
“Did you find her?”
Roman swallowed.
“Why do you ask?”
A long pause.
Then Lily whispered, “Because I remember her.”
Evie covered her mouth.
Roman stared toward the dark street.
“What do you remember?”
“She carried me.”
His chest tightened.
“When?”
“The night Mommy died.”
Roman closed his eyes.
Lily's voice became small.
“She put her coat over my face so I wouldn't breathe the smoke.”
Evie began crying silently.
Roman didn't move.
His daughter continued.
“She told me to hold on.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Lily asked:
“Daddy, why did Grandpa say Aunt Mercy hurt Mommy?”
Roman's blood turned cold.
He looked directly at Bennett.
The security chief's expression had become unreadable.
Roman swallowed.
“Sweetheart, who told you that?”
“Grandpa.”
“When?”
“Last year.”
Roman slowly closed his eyes.
His father had spent six years telling him Evelyn Mercer was responsible for Grace's death.
Now Lily was remembering something different.
Roman spoke gently.
“Lily, I'm coming home. We'll talk when I get there.”
“Can Aunt Mercy come?”
He hesitated.
Then looked toward Evie.
She was crying.
“Yes,” he whispered.
“I think she can.”
They returned to the Vale estate together.
The mansion stood behind iron gates on a wooded property outside Philadelphia.
Roman's daughter was waiting in the family sitting room.
She wore pale blue pajamas and held a stuffed rabbit.
When Evie entered, Lily stopped.
For several seconds, she stared.
Then her eyes widened.
“Aunt Mercy?”
Evie covered her mouth.
“Lily.”
The little girl ran toward her.
Evie knelt.
Lily threw her arms around her neck.
“You came back!”
Evie held her tightly.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Lily began crying.
“I thought you forgot me.”
Evie shook her head.
“Never.”
Roman stood in the doorway.
He watched his daughter embrace the woman he'd sworn to hate.
And for the first time, he wondered whether the story he'd believed for six years was the greatest lie his family had ever told.
Then Lily pulled back.
She looked toward her father.
“Daddy?”
Roman stepped closer.
“Yes?”
“Can I tell you something about the fire?”
He knelt beside her.
“Anything.”
Lily looked toward Evie.
Then whispered:
“Mommy told Aunt Mercy to take me out.”
Roman's expression changed.
“And then?”
Lily began trembling.
“Mommy stayed behind because Grandpa's friend was in the office.”
Roman went completely still.
“What friend?”
Lily looked frightened.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Mr. Bennett.”
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