Chapter 4 - THE INCIDENT FORM ALREADY WRITTEN
Police searched the Carter house shortly after midnight.
In Robert’s leather briefcase, they found an incident report prepared on Halcyon letterhead.
It stated that Hannah had suffered an emotional breakdown after discovering accounting errors she personally caused. According to the document, she attacked Ryan, frightened Eli, and fled with confidential records.
The report was dated the following morning.
Witnesses listed:
Ryan Carter.
Robert Mercer.
Margaret Mercer.
The signature line for Hannah’s supervisor had already been completed.
Robert chaired Halcyon’s board.
The plan was simple.
Use Hannah’s badge to authorize the transfer.
Create a domestic crisis involving her son.
Claim she became unstable when confronted.
Suspend her before she reached the company.
Ryan would retrieve her laptop and phone under the guise of protecting family records.
Robert would control the audit.
Eli changed everything when he recorded them.
Daniel showed the document to Hannah in a hospital consultation room.
“They were going to blame me for the missing money.”
“Yes.”
“And use Eli to prove I was unstable.”
“His injuries may have been intended to support that story.”
Hannah stared at him.
“They hurt him so they could say I did it?”
“We don’t know whether that was the original plan.”
The distinction did not comfort her.
Eli woke near dawn.
His voice was hoarse, and he panicked when a male nurse approached. Hannah climbed beside him on the hospital bed and held him until he recognized the room.
“Mom?”
“I’m here.”
“Did Grandpa take your job?”
“No.”
“Did Ryan delete the watch?”
“No. You saved it.”
Eli’s eyes filled with tears.
“I tried to hide.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
He explained that he came downstairs for water and saw Robert using Hannah’s laptop. Her badge rested on the desk. Ryan stood beside him counting papers from a shopping bag.
Eli activated his watch.
Robert noticed the light.
“He told me to give it to him.”
“What happened?”
“I ran.”
Ryan caught him near the foyer.
Robert ordered him to unlock the watch. Eli refused. Ryan struck him in the stomach and threw him against the floor.
Margaret entered from the kitchen.
“She told them to stop?” Hannah asked.
Eli shook his head.
“She said not on the rug because blood would stain it.”
Hannah closed her eyes.
Eli continued in a whisper.
“Grandpa said they needed your badge back. I put it in my pocket.”
That was why he tore it from Hannah’s coat in the foyer.
He believed Robert might still take it.
“What did Grandpa mean when he said you couldn’t be finance director tomorrow?”
Eli looked toward the door.
“He said the police would think you hurt me.”
“Did he say how?”
“He told Ryan to put your company badge in my hand.”
The purpose became clear.
They intended to make it appear that Hannah returned home, discovered Eli had taken her badge, and assaulted him in anger.
Ryan would claim he intervened.
Robert and Margaret would support him.
The unconscious child would become evidence against his mother.
Daniel obtained emergency warrants for all company devices and financial accounts.
At Halcyon, investigators found that Robert had scheduled a special board meeting for 8:00 the next morning.
Agenda:
Immediate suspension of Hannah Carter for misconduct and financial irregularities.
The board packet included photographs of Eli’s bruises.
Some were taken before Hannah arrived home.
Ryan had photographed the child instead of calling an ambulance.
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One picture accidentally captured the edge of Robert’s shoe beside Eli’s head.
👉 Robert did not merely witness Eli’s assault—he supervised the creation of evidence meant to imprison Hannah.
