Chapter 8 - The Money Did Not Stay With Him
Dad's old bank statements were in the metal box.
The $120,000 arrived.
Then left.
Not at once.
Over nineteen months.
Small transfers.
$8,000.
$12,000.
$4,500.
Some international.
Some domestic.
Julian's forensic accountant identified recurring family names.
Not Carter.
Not Mercer.
Names matching individuals referenced in early Al-Nur records.
Translators.
Porters.
A librarian.
Two families whose relatives had helped move manuscripts during civil unrest.
Dad kept less than six thousand dollars.
Mostly for taxes.
“What does that prove?”
I asked.
Julian answered:
“Not enough.”
Again, accurate.
It suggested the payment was not personal enrichment.
It did not explain why Mercer paid him privately.
Then we found the memo.
One sentence.
Payment authorized pursuant to E.M. commitment regarding displaced custodians.
E.M.
Edward Mercer.
Julian's grandfather.
The founder.
The two dead men were becoming less like opposites.
More like partners in something neither family had explained.
Then Owen found an archived email from Victor in 2008.
To Edward Mercer.
Carter is becoming a liability. He insists the English acquisition language was never intended to establish permanent title.
There it was.
Dad had objected.
But another line followed.
Edward:
Thomas knows why the language was necessary. Remind him.
May you like
Necessary.
That word became the next mystery.
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