Chapter 7 - Victor Hale Did Not Threaten MeVictor called instead.
That surprised me.
Unknown number.
Calm voice.
“Mr. Mercer.”
“Who is this?”
“You know.”
I did.
“You shouldn’t call me.”
“I’m calling to prevent misunderstandings.”
“Your nephew put my daughter in the hospital.”
“Then let police handle Dustin.”
That was not what I expected.
“You’re telling me that?”
“Yes.”
Victor sounded almost bored.
“Dustin has always confused family connection with immunity. I’ve corrected him more than once.”
I did not believe a word yet.
“Then why was your son following Marcy?”
Silence.
Small.
But there.
“Evan?”
“Shipping store. Friday.”
Victor’s tone changed.
“Who told you that?”
“Goodbye.”
“Mr. Mercer.”
I waited.
“If my son involved himself in Dustin’s relationship, that was not on my instruction.”
“Tell that to investigators.”
“I intend to.”
He hung up.
For the first time, the structure inside the Hale family looked less simple.
Dustin believed Victor protected him.
Maybe Victor did.
Maybe not completely.
The next development made it stranger.
Victor’s attorney contacted Agent Pierce voluntarily.
Victor was willing to sit for an interview regarding Dustin and Evan.
Not immunity.
Not cooperation yet.
A proffer through counsel.
Why?
Federal pressure.
Victor apparently suspected his own organization had been leaking information and siphoning money.
Marcy’s documents might not only expose Victor.
They might expose people stealing from him.
Criminal organizations have internal trust problems too.
That did not make Victor good.
It made motives complicated.
Then Evan disappeared.
His phone went dark.
His apartment was empty.
His vehicle was found at Wilmington International Airport, but no record showed him boarding a commercial flight under his name.
Dustin panicked.
Police intercepted a text he sent Ray:
Evan has the drive. Uncle thinks I took it.
Ray immediately gave the message to detectives.
Dustin believed Evan intercepted Marcy’s backup.
And Victor believed Dustin was involved.
Suddenly Marcy was caught between two frightened men and one powerful uncle who no longer knew whom to trust.
Then Dustin violated the temporary protection order.
Not by approaching Marcy.
By coming to my house.
At 2:13 a.m., the driveway camera caught his truck turning in.
I did not go outside.
I did not pick up a weapon.
I called 911.
For perhaps the first time since this began, I obeyed my own rule before anger could speak.
Deputies arrived before Dustin reached the porch.
Inside his truck they found no gun.
No kidnapping kit.
Nothing cinematic.
They found a handwritten note.
TELL MARCY I NEED THE PASSWORD BEFORE VICTOR FINDS EVAN.
The backup drive was encrypted.
Dustin’s cousin had apparently stolen evidence he could not open.
May you like
And now everybody was looking for the one person who knew the password.
My daughter.
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