Chapter 3: The Doctor Who Knew Too Much
Dr.
Mercer stepped through the doors carrying a black medical bag.
Richard turned the g*n toward him.
“You were supposed to make certain of it,” Richard said.
Mercer looked at Claire through the broken lid.
“You told me she would remain unconscious for twelve hours.”
“You signed the certificate.”
“I signed what you put in front of me.”
Claire gripped Ethan’s wrist through the narrow opening.
“Doctor, get me out of here.”
Richard moved between Mercer and the c0ffin.
“Take one more step and the boy pays for it.”
Ethan’s fingers tightened around the h*mmer.
“You’re afraid of what she’ll say.”
“I raised you,” Richard snapped.
“After everything I gave you, this is how you repay me?”
“You locked my mother in a box.”
Mara Bell, the f*neral director, edged toward a silver preparation cart.
Richard swung the g*n toward her.
“I said nobody moves.”
Mara stopped.
“She cannot breathe properly in there.”
“That is no longer your concern.”
“It became my concern when you brought a living woman into my building.”
A guest near the back whispered into her phone.
Richard heard her and pointed toward the floor.
“Put it down.”
The woman lowered the phone but did not stop the recording.
Ethan saw the red light reflected in the polished leg of a chair.
Claire coughed inside the c0ffin.
“Ethan, listen to me.
There is a release catch near the foot.”
Richard stepped closer.
“Don’t touch it.”
Ethan raised the h*mmer.
“Then you’ll have to stop me.”
“Ethan, no,” Claire said.
“Look at me.
Not at him.”
Mercer slowly placed his medical bag on the floor.
“Richard, let me examine her.”
“You had your chance.”
“If she stops breathing in front of forty witnesses, no document will protect you.”
Richard’s eyes moved toward the guests.
That moment was enough.
Mara shoved the preparation cart with both hands.
It crashed into Richard’s knees, and the g*n slid beneath a row of chairs.
“Now!” she shouted.
Ethan dropped beside the c0ffin and found the metal catch.
Mercer rushed forward, but Richard seized the back of his coat.
“You owe me,” Richard hissed.
Mercer drove his elbow backward and pulled free.
“Not this much.”
The lid opened six inches, then jammed against the damaged wood.
Ethan pushed while Mara pulled.
“Mom, take my hand.”
“I have it,” Claire gasped.
“Don’t let go.”
The lid finally gave way.
Claire sat up, drawing a ragged breath as Ethan wrapped both arms around her.
Richard crawled toward the chairs.
A gray-haired guest planted his shoe over the g*n.
“You’ll have to go through me,” the man said.
Sirens sounded outside.
Richard rose slowly and straightened his jacket.
Claire stared at him.
“You told Ethan I was g*ne.”
“You were leaving me,” Richard replied.
“You were taking what belonged to me.”
“My money never belonged to you.”
Richard gave a thin smile.
“The signed trust papers say otherwise.”
“The blue envelope proves those signatures were false.”
Mara glanced toward the flowers.
Richard followed her eyes.
“Where is it?” he demanded.
Mara said nothing.
The main doors burst open, and two officers entered.
A broad-shouldered detective came behind them.
Richard immediately lifted his empty hands.
“Detective Harlan, thank goodness.
My wife is having another episode.”
Claire’s face went pale.
“You know him?”
Harlan did not answer her.
He walked past the shattered c0ffin and picked up the g*n with a handkerchief.
Richard pointed at Claire.
“She staged all of this because she wants custody of my son and control of the Parker trust.”
“He is not your son,” Claire said.
Harlan turned toward the officers.
“Separate Mrs.
Parker from the boy.”
Ethan clung to Claire.
“No!”
May you like
Richard’s smile returned.
“Officer,” Harlan said, “place Claire Parker under protective restraint.”
