Chapter 2 - SAMUEL CLOSES THE DOORSamuel did something nobody in our family had managed all afternoon.
He sent everyone out.
Julian objected first.
“This is my father’s house.”
Samuel replied:
“It belongs to the estate until administration says otherwise, and there are nineteen people standing around potential financial records.”
“My family.”
“Exactly.”
The bank investigators waited.
The woman introduced herself as Rachel Kim.
Senior fraud investigator.
The man was Owen Brooks.
Corporate-banking risk.
Neither wore a badge.
Neither pretended to be police.
Important distinction.
Julian stared at them.
“Why is the bank here?”
Rachel answered:
“Mr. Mercer requested a meeting after his death under circumstances Mr. Price can explain.”
Julian looked at Samuel.
“Dad arranged this?”
Samuel’s eyes went to my lip again.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We will discuss that once the room is controlled.”
Aunt Caroline refused to leave until she confirmed I was not alone with Julian.
Good aunt.
Mark stayed just outside the door.
Samuel allowed both co-executors to remain.
Me.
Julian.
He also asked Rachel and Owen to remain.
Then he closed the study door.
My hand still held Dad’s unopened note.
Samuel said:
“Elena, put that down for a moment.”
I did.
He photographed the safe exactly as we had found it.
Rachel did the same.
Six folders.
Flash drive.
Notes.
No one touched anything else.
Samuel asked me:
“Did you remove anything before I arrived?”
“No.”
“Julian?”
“No.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
Samuel looked at my mouth.
“Do you need medical attention?”
“I’ll get stitches if necessary after this.”
“No.”
I stared.
“No?”
“You were struck hard enough to bleed at a funeral. We are not delaying medical care for estate paperwork.”
Julian muttered:
“She provoked me.”
Samuel looked at him.
I had never seen a lawyer silence someone with his face before.
“Julian, do not improve this afternoon by making admissions.”
My brother shut up.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Samuel sat in Dad’s desk chair.
“Your father contacted me approximately eleven weeks ago.”
Julian’s hands tightened.
“About what?”
“Financial concerns.”
There it was.
Not accusation.
Concerns.
“He also contacted Atlantic Commonwealth Bank.”
Rachel nodded.
Julian asked:
“What kind of concerns?”
Samuel pointed toward the safe.
“That is what Thomas intended us to review.”
I looked at the folders.
All six had labels.
But from where I stood, I could only read dates.
Not descriptions.
Samuel picked up the top note.
He did not open it.
Instead he put it into a clear document sleeve from his briefcase.
“Your father instructed that the notes be read in sequence after the contents are inventoried.”
Julian laughed once.
“Dad turned his death into a scavenger hunt.”
Samuel replied:
“No. He was trying to preserve records.”
That sentence changed the room.
Rachel asked:
“Mr. Mercer, before we proceed, I need to ask whether you have access to your father’s business or personal online banking credentials.”
Julian looked at her.
“I ran his company.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I had legitimate access to company accounts.”
“Personal?”
“No.”
She wrote something.
Then:
“Any power of attorney?”
“He gave me one when he got sick.”
Samuel corrected:
“A limited business power of attorney.”
Julian glared.
Samuel continued:
“It did not authorize unrestricted personal transfers.”
My brother stood.
“I’m done being interrogated in my father’s study.”
Rachel stayed calm.
“You are not under arrest and we are not law enforcement.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
Samuel said:
“You may. But as co-executor, I recommend you remain for the inventory.”
Julian hesitated.
Then sat again.
May you like
Fear outweighed pride.
For now.
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