Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW WHERE THE BODIES WERE BURIED
Daniel Mercer had underestimated Tessa.
He believed fear would keep her silent.
He believed she was too frightened to fight.
He believed she would always protect Lily by obeying him.
He was wrong.
Tessa had spent three years collecting evidence.
Bank statements.
Contracts.
Emails.
And recordings of conversations Mercer believed nobody else would ever hear.
She had hidden copies with an attorney.
Another set was stored in an encrypted archive.
And one physical copy was sealed inside a safety deposit box.
When Detective Ruiz arrived, Tessa gave her everything.
Ruiz listened carefully.
Then asked, “Why didn't you come to us sooner?”
Tessa looked down.
“Because I was afraid.”
Ruiz nodded.
“I understand.”
Tessa's voice broke.
“He threatened my daughter.”
Ruiz's expression hardened.
“We're going to do everything we can to protect her.”
Gideon stood near the window.
For once, he had no desire to interrupt.
He watched Tessa.
The woman who had managed his office with perfect efficiency.
The woman who never complained.
The woman who had been carrying a secret large enough to destroy powerful men.
And he realized something.
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He had never truly seen her.
Not until tonight.
