Chapter 4 - The Town Turns Against Hannah
By morning, Calvin Rusk had moved first.
A video appeared online showing Hannah throwing Travis Boyd at the farmers’ market.
The beginning was missing.
No Mrs. Bell.
No stolen produce.
No shove.
Only Hannah putting Travis on the pavement.
The caption read:
LOCAL WOMAN ATTACKS MAN AS VIOLENCE ESCALATES AROUND MERCER PROJECT.
By noon, regional reporters had arrived.
At one o’clock, Mercer Development’s investors called Ethan.
His attorney, Richard Hale, spoke through the conference room speaker.
“Distance yourself from Hannah Cole immediately.”
“No.”
“Ethan.”
“No.”
“She is becoming a liability.”
“She’s the reason I know the land title may be fraudulent.”
Richard paused.
“You have evidence?”
“Yes.”
“Then send it privately.”
“I will.”
“And stop appearing publicly with her.”
Ethan looked through the diner window.
Across the street, Hannah was surrounded by reporters.
“No.”
He ended the call.
Outside, a reporter shouted, “Hannah, have you assaulted other men?”
Another asked, “Were you threatening contractors connected to Mercer Development?”
Hannah pushed toward her truck.
Then Calvin Rusk appeared.
Perfect suit.
Perfect concern.
“Hannah.”
She stopped.
“Commissioner.”
“I think everyone needs to calm down.”
“Then stop inviting cameras.”
“I didn’t.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Calvin.”
Cameras swung toward them.
Calvin lowered his voice.
“Your mother still lives alone, doesn’t she?”
Hannah’s expression went blank.
“What did you say?”
“I’m saying public conflict can affect families.”
Ethan heard it.
He crossed the street.
“Commissioner.”
Calvin turned.
“Mr. Mercer.”
“You’re done.”
“Excuse me?”
“My company is suspending the Maple Hollow project.”
The reporters exploded with questions.
Calvin’s face drained.
“You can’t do that.”
“I own the company.”
“You’ll lose millions.”
“Probably.”
“Your board will never allow it.”
“My board works for shareholders. I’m the controlling shareholder.”
Calvin stared.
Ethan continued.
“The project remains suspended until every property transfer connected to the site is independently reviewed.”
“You’re making a serious mistake.”
“No. My serious mistake was trusting your office.”
Calvin walked away.
Hannah grabbed Ethan’s arm.
“What did you just do?”
“Suspended construction.”
“Eight million dollars.”
“I heard the number.”
“You’re insane.”
“Occasionally.”
“You can’t burn your company because of me.”
“This isn’t because of you.”
“Then what?”
“Because if the land was stolen, I’m not building on it.”
Hannah stared at him.
“You really mean that.”
“Yes.”
“Rich people don’t usually walk away from money.”
“Neither do poor people.”
She almost laughed.
Then Sheriff Daniel Ross approached.
“Hannah.”
She turned.
His expression stopped her.
“What?”
“Your mother’s house.”
Hannah went pale.
They arrived ten minutes later.
The front door had been forced.
Drawers emptied.
Furniture overturned.
Carol sat on the porch with a deputy.
Hannah ran to her.
“Mom!”
“I’m fine.”
“Were you here?”
“No. Lacey took me to the pharmacy.”
Hannah turned toward Daniel.
“They were looking for the ledger.”
“Probably.”
Her eyes moved to Ethan.
“This is my fault.”
“No,” Ethan said.
“Yes.”
“Hannah—”
“They came because I found it.”
Carol stood.
“No.”
Hannah looked at her mother.
Carol’s voice shook, but she didn’t.
“I listened to your father say that for years.”
“Mom.”
“Every time somebody threatened us, Jack said maybe he should stop.”
Carol stepped closer.
“You know what I told him?”
Hannah’s eyes filled.
“What?”
“That bad men depend on good people blaming themselves.”
Nobody spoke.
Carol touched her daughter’s face.
“Your father wasn’t killed because he kept records.”
She looked toward the destroyed doorway.
“He was killed because someone was afraid of what those records proved.”
Ethan watched Hannah’s fear turn into something harder.
Purpose.
Sheriff Ross’s phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then looked at Ethan.
“What?”
Daniel ended the call.
“State investigators are coming tomorrow morning.”
Hannah exhaled.
Daniel continued.
“But we have another problem.”
“What?”
May you like
“Travis Boyd disappeared.”
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