The House of Marcellinus

Arc 1: Trickster - 7 Finale

Their eyes were on her again, but that was ok this time. This was going to end with her in the clear. She was sure of that.

"Maxwell, how many times have you been paid? Including the last stolen check." Alexia asked.

"If I had gotten that one, it would have been three– ah!" He answered, and looked to the screen, seeing where she was going with this.

There were four entries under Maxwell's name, starting from the current month and going back to the first of three months ago, probably the very date he was hired.

"The first paycheck... I never got it."

Merrick smiled at Maxwell in a strange, half-cocked way that didn't match his stern personality and said, "That can't be right, I must have printed and delivered it. The computer automatically brings up whoever is due to be paid, so I couldn't have missed it."

He looked at Markus and continued, "I can only guess that the same person who stole your latest paycheck took this one too."

"And if I got away clean with that, why would I then-"

"Shut up for once, Markus. I've got this." said Alexia. It felt good to be the one cutting him off. She didn't want them getting side tracked into an argument. She reasoned that must have been Markus's plan this whole time, to muddy the waters and treat the whole issue like a debate. He could win debates, but that wouldn't prove anything.

He didn't argue with her, but just bowed and motioned to her to continue.

"What we can agree on is that Maxwell's check was stolen, and by the same person that took Mary's check. Jeorge, can you see if those were cashed, and bring up an image from when the bank scanned them? Start with Maxwell's check."

Jeorge navigated a few screens to bring up a low quality black and white scan, but it was clear enough to see what mattered. The payer name, date and amount had been computer printed on the check, but the 'PAY TO THE ORDER OF:' section was hand-written and said: 'Kenneth Mercantile & Supply'. It was signed 'Merrick Evans' in a slanted, looping script.

"Look at the amount," said Markus, "It's $1874.25. That's the same as Maxwell's monthly pay."

"This is just a mix-up! We buy many of our office supplies from Kenneth Mercantile. I... must have typed the wrong check number into the payroll system." Answered Merrick.

He was trying to project an air of cool confidence, but his face was pale and his hands shook. He thrust them into his pockets.

"There's no way." said Markus, "It matches Maxwell's missing check to the cent– wait, where have I heard that before?" He turned to Maxwell.

"The video game." answered Maxwell, "The amount missing from my latest check also matched to the cent."

Merrick frowned at them both. "Of course it does! You just returned the change after you bought it. "

"And if I were willing to steal from a servant, why wouldn't I just raid Alexia's sock drawer? More importantly, let's take a look at Mary's missing check!"

Jeorge brought up that one next, and it was the same story. Payer, date and amount were printed, but payee was hand-written and made out to 'Kenneth Mercantile & Supply' again. And again, it matched the missing amount to the cent.

"Rule of threes. Once is an accident, twice a coincidence, but three times is a pattern." Said Markus.

Merrick slumped forward, catching himself with his hands on the table, where he leaned.

"Markus... Markus set me up! He already admitted to hacking the system to put Alexia in, so we know he can do it."

Alexia once again held up the sticky slip of paper with 'Meredith Cranwell' printed on it.

"The checks were printed with the correct names, this is the proof of that. You put these strips of paper over the names so you could peel them off and write in the name of a business you could use to launder the money. You print the checks Merrick. Only you could have done it. And you told the new-hires they were paid in arrears so they wouldn't be expecting a check anyways."

Merrick released a sigh, then stood back up and smiled. Alexia had read several crime novels before, and was familiar with the old cliche about the perp taking a drag from a cigarette before they sigh dramatically and finally confess. She thought now that maybe there was a grain of truth behind it. Merrick looked relieved- almost relaxed. He was about to crack.

"I guess I should have flushed it down the toilet. I suppose I got lazy."
"Oh my God, he just confessed, didn't he?" Whispered Elise.

Merrick's face drew taut with anger again and he grit his teeth.

"You think this is bad? What do you think this whole damn Marcellinus family has been doing! I've been here for a long time... a very long time. I used to dread the days when Chairman Medici's henchmen would show up for a meeting with Lord Lucius. A few days later, I'd be reading the names of one of his enemies in the paper and trying to forget the things I had overheard. Things changed after Lady Marcellinus came. She put a stop to it. At least while she was alive."

Merrick looked at Markus.

"You look so much like her, you know. I had hoped that one day you would take over the family and carry on in her memory.... But then...."

"But then I picked up a slum girl and you assumed the worst about me." Markus finished for him. The confident, charming smile he always wore was gone. He looked hurt– actually hurt and not faking it this time.

"Well, you had been building a reputation for yourself! So I thought, 'I can't blame him, that's just the way the rotten world works!' The strong eat the weak. So why shouldn't I take a few nibbles too?"

Merrick glanced towards Alexia, then looked into Markus's eyes.

"But you really... you didn't...?"

Markus leaned across the table and stared straight back into Merrick's eyes.

"I swear on my mother's memory that I never put a hand on her. I wanted to help. That's why..."

Merrick nodded, then addressed the room:

"So I framed the young master. I was bitter over the hopes I had placed on him. I apologize to all of you for my conduct and my lies. And for my harsh words to you, young lady."

He addressed the last to Alexia, then he turned to Jeorge.

"Jeorge, I'll cooperate in returning everything. Obviously I stole from more than just Maxwell and Mary. Now, would you accompany me to see Lord Marcellinus? I would like to confess my crimes."

As Jeorge and Merrick moved towards the door, Markus stepped forward and bumped into Merrick with his shoulder, blocking his path. Markus leaned close and whispered:

"As one liar and thief to another, take my advice– don't give up until the bitter end. Tell that last lie to my father and things might just work out for you."