Chapter 9 - COLE MERCER RUNS
Cole Mercer disappeared.
Not internationally.
He drove three states away.
Used cash.
Stayed in motels.
That looked guilty.
Then he called a lawyer and surrendered.
Smart enough eventually.
Cole admitted building the hook.
He claimed Darren told him it was for controlled cargo-transfer testing on private property.
Then Tyler said Cole personally showed him how to arm it on public roads.
Conflict.
Who was lying?
Investigators found a video on Tyler’s phone.
Cole:
“Keep it under forty-five. You don’t want the load whipping.”
That sounded like road use.
Then:
“Hit release before the strap takes full tension.”
There.
Cole knew.
Did he know the bridge route?
Messages showed Darren sent location that morning.
Cole replied:
That bridge is a bad place for this.
Darren:
It’s the only window.
Cole:
Your call.
Not innocence.
Knowledge.
Then another:
May you like
If it goes wrong, I was never there.
That line ended his defense.
