Chapter 6 - The Uninvited Guest
Nathan stood up instantly, his corporate instincts flaring. “Stay here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Evie whispered, standing right behind him. “This is my kitchen. Nobody cuts my fence without explaining why.”
Nathan grabbed a heavy iron poker from the hearth in the adjoining sitting room while Evie picked up a sturdy rolling pin. They moved quickly and silently down the dimly lit hallway toward the mudroom that led to the service entrance.
The heavy oak door rattled. Someone was leaning against it, breathing heavily.
Nathan unlocked the deadbolt, pulled the door open sharply, and raised the iron poker.
A young man stumbled forward into the mudroom, catching himself against the stone wall. He was soaked to the skin from the mountain mist, shivering violently, and holding a bleeding gash across his temple. His clothes were expensive, but torn and muddy.
It was David Vance—Julian Vance’s younger brother and a junior financial analyst at Mercer Enterprises.
“David?” Nathan lowered the poker, stepping forward. “What in God’s name happened to you?”
David looked up, his eyes wide with blind panic. He grabbed the lapel of Nathan’s jacket with trembling fingers. “Uncle... Mr. Mercer. You have to help me. Julian... Julian isn't just running corporate mergers. He’s been moving illegal shell-company funds through the Calloway-Bennett subsidiary accounts to cover up the environmental fines from Queens.”
Nathan’s blood ran cold. “What are you talking about?”
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“I found the ledgers yesterday,” David gasped, coughing violently. “When I told him I was taking them to the federal auditors, his private security intercepted me in the city. I managed to steal a car and drive up here before they caught me on the ridge road. They’re right behind me, Mr. Mercer. They’re coming up the mountain.”
As if on cue, the low, throbbing rumble of two heavy SUV engines echoed up the winding private driveway, their high beams cutting blinding slashes through the thick mountain fog.
