Chapter 17 - THE RECORDING FROM ELEVEN YEARS AGO
Raymond Price’s files contained one audio recording that investigators had initially dismissed as damaged.
A forensic technician restored it.
Walter listened from Mara’s office.
Grant Mercer’s younger voice filled the room.
He was speaking with someone about Walter’s property, the limestone deposit and a previous attempt to buy the land.
The second voice belonged to Margaret Hayes, Walter’s late wife.
“You approached my son because his business was vulnerable,” Margaret said in the recording. “Stay away from him.”
Mercer laughed.
“Evan will come to me eventually. Men who are afraid of failing always do.”
“If you threaten my family, I will take everything I have to the police.”
“You have no proof.”
“I’m making proof now.”
The recording ended with a door slamming.
Walter covered his mouth.
Margaret had known about Mercer years before her death. She had apparently given Raymond copies of financial documents, beginning the investigation that later collapsed.
Mara searched through her mother’s storage boxes and found a journal hidden behind old tax returns.
Margaret had documented Mercer’s early attempts to pressure farmers into selling mineral rights. She had also written about Evan’s obsession with proving himself.
One entry stopped Walter.
Evan does not need another lesson about winning. He needs permission to fail while he still knows how to come home.
Walter handed the journal to his son.
Evan read the sentence and sat down on the basement steps.
“I spent my whole life thinking she was proud of the company.”
“She was,” Walter said.
“Then why didn’t she tell me this?”
“Maybe she thought there would be time.”
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Evan pressed the page against his chest.
For the first time, Walter placed a hand on his shoulder without hesitation.
