Chapter 3: The Man Who Knew My Husband's Secret
At 8:30 the following morning, I walked into Daniel Mercer's law office carrying Robert's letter and the original property agreement.
Daniel was seventy-two, with silver hair, a narrow face, and the same careful manner I'd remembered from Robert's funeral.
He stood when he saw me.
“Margaret. I wasn't expecting you.””
“I think my husband knew I might need you.””
I placed the envelope on his desk.
Daniel read the handwriting.
Then he slowly removed his glasses.
“Robert always said this day might come.””
My stomach tightened.
“What day?””
He gestured toward the chair.
“Please sit down.””
I sat.
Daniel opened the folder and examined the documents one by one.
“The property agreement is still valid,” he said.
“Collins Holdings remains the legal owner.””
“What about the loan?””
He looked at me.
“Have Ethan and Brooke attempted to use the property as collateral?””
“Ethan admitted they told a lender they owned it.””
Daniel leaned back.
“Did he sign a representation of ownership?””
“Yes.””
He closed his eyes briefly.
“That's serious.””
“I need to understand how serious.””
“Very serious. But before we discuss that, there's something Robert asked me to explain to you if this situation ever occurred.””
He opened a locked drawer and removed a thick blue folder.
“Your husband established Collins Holdings in 1998. Over the years, the company acquired several properties. Some were sold, some were refinanced, and some remain in the portfolio.””
“I know about the properties.””
“Do you know their approximate value?””
I shook my head.
Daniel slid a sheet across the desk.
I stared at the numbers.
The company held commercial buildings, residential rentals, and two parcels of undeveloped land.
The estimated value was more than $8 million.
I blinked.
“That's impossible.””
“It's accurate based on the latest independent valuation.””
“Robert never told me it was worth that much.””
“He wanted to preserve the business for you. He also wanted Ethan to establish his own financial independence.””
I looked down at the papers.
“And the house?””
“Currently valued at approximately $1.35 million.””
I remembered Brooke's chandelier.
Her imported decorations.
The champagne fountain.
All those expensive details suddenly looked different.
Daniel continued.
“Your son has been living there under an occupancy agreement. He pays a reduced monthly amount, but he doesn't own the property.””
“Can he lose the right to live there?””
“If the agreement has been breached, we can pursue the remedies specified in the contract. But I don't recommend making any decisions before reviewing all the documents.””
I nodded.
Then Daniel asked a question I hadn't expected.
“Margaret, has anyone contacted you about transferring your shares in Collins Holdings?””
“No.””
“Has anyone asked you to sign a power of attorney?””
I shook my head again.
Daniel's expression became serious.
“That's good.””
“Why?””
He pulled another document from the folder.
“Three weeks ago, someone contacted our office requesting information about the company's ownership structure.””
“Who?””
“The inquiry came from a representative of Harrington Development Group.””
I frowned.
“That's Brooke's father's company.””
“Yes.””
“Why would he be asking about our company?””
Daniel folded his hands.
“That's what concerned Robert before he died.””
I stared at him.
“Robert knew?””
“He suspected that certain members of the Harrington family were interested in acquiring the commercial properties owned by Collins Holdings.””
My heart began beating faster.
“Why?””
“Your largest commercial building sits on a valuable redevelopment corridor. There are plans for a major mixed-use project nearby. Your property is one of the last privately held parcels in that area.””
I remembered Robert spending hours reviewing architectural drawings.
He'd called the property his retirement project.
Daniel continued.
“Your husband received an unsolicited offer several years ago. He refused it.””
“How much?””
“Four million dollars.””
I almost dropped my coffee.
“And he refused?””
“He believed the land would be worth considerably more in the future.””
I looked at the documents.
“Does Brooke's father know we own it?””
“He certainly appears to suspect it.””
A knock interrupted us.
Daniel's assistant opened the door.
“Mr. Mercer, Ethan Collins is here. He says it's urgent.””
I looked toward Daniel.
My son walked in thirty seconds later.
He was still wearing yesterday's suit, though his tie was missing and his hair looked uncombed.
“Mom.””
He stopped when he saw the folder.
“What's all this?””
“Your father's property documents,” Daniel answered.
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“Can we talk privately?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I'm afraid this concerns company property. I'll remain.””
Ethan pulled out a chair.
“Mom, Brooke's father is furious.””
“I'm sure he is.””
“He says the financing could fall apart if you don't cooperate.””
“Then perhaps you shouldn't have claimed to own something you don't own.””
Ethan rubbed his face.
“Mom, I made a mistake.””
“A mistake is forgetting someone's birthday. Signing a false ownership declaration is something else.””
His jaw tightened.
“Brooke said the agreement was basically a formality.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Did you read the agreement before signing the lender's documents?””
Ethan looked away.
“No.””
“Did you disclose that the property was owned by Collins Holdings?””
“Not clearly.””
Daniel removed a printed document from his folder.
“Your lender's preliminary file suggests you represented yourself as the legal owner.””
Ethan stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
“The lender's attorney contacted us.””
I looked at my son.
“Why didn't you tell me about this before Christmas?””
He lowered his voice.
“Because Brooke said you'd overreact.””
I almost laughed.
My daughter-in-law had rejected seven hours of my cooking because it didn't match her aesthetic.
Now she was apparently involved in a financial arrangement using property that belonged to me.
“Ethan, what did you use the loan for?””
He swallowed.
“Business expansion.””
“What business?””
He looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Brooke's father has been developing a private investment project. We were supposed to contribute the financing.””
“How much?””
“Three million dollars.””
I sat perfectly still.
Three million dollars.
“And you planned to secure that money against a house you don't own?””
Ethan nodded.
Daniel closed the folder.
“There's another issue.””
He looked directly at my son.
“The lender has informed us that the proposed transaction includes a second collateral document connected to Collins Holdings.””
I frowned.
“What second document?””
Daniel turned toward Ethan.
“Would you like to explain it, or should I?””
May you like
Ethan's face went pale.
And for the first time since I'd walked into the office, he looked genuinely afraid.
