Chapter 12 - Derek disappears for thirty-six hours
Derek did not flee the country.
That is important.
He drove to South Carolina.
Turned off his regular phone.
Stayed in a motel.
According to his later statement, he panicked.
Police located his vehicle through ordinary methods and attorney contact.
He returned with counsel.
No dramatic highway chase.
No cash bag.
No fake passport.
He declined an interview initially.
Then surrendered devices under warrant.
His attorney said:
“Mr. Mercer disputes any allegation that he forged signatures.”
Notice the phrasing.
Not:
He did not know the deed was false.
Just:
He did not personally forge.
That distinction interested investigators.
Derek admitted:
He formed Blue Heron.
He received the cabin deed from someone he called a “document facilitator.”
He used it to obtain the loan.
He transferred the cabin to his parents.
He knew Elaine was dead.
The obvious question:
How did he believe she had signed?
His answer:
“The document was supposed to memorialize a transfer Tom and Elaine had agreed to years earlier.”
No.
Nothing in our estate records supported that.
He claimed I had repeatedly said:
“Cabin will be Emily’s someday.”
That might be true in casual conversation.
Someday is not:
Create a deed today signed by my dead wife.
May you like
When asked why the document was dated five months earlier, Derek invoked counsel.
End of interview.
