Chapter 6: The Enemy Wearing A Hero’s Face
I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ethan’s face on that screen.
Alive.
Afraid.
Trying to warn me.
By sunrise, the safe house felt less like protection and more like a prison.
I stood by the kitchen window, watching waves crash against the distant shoreline.
“Who is Marcus Vale?””
Hayes was sitting at the table, staring at the memory card.
“You really don’t know?””
“No.””
“He was one of the most respected officers in the military.””
“Was?””
Hayes looked up.
“People like him don’t fall easily.””
I turned around.
“That’s not what I asked.””
Hayes sighed.
“General Vale was Ethan’s superior.””
“Then why would Ethan suspect him?””
“Because Ethan trusted him.””
The answer confused me.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does if you understand Ethan.””
I waited.
Hayes looked at Ghost.
“Ethan didn’t look for enemies. He looked for people he believed in.””
That sounded exactly like him.
Too loyal.
Too willing to believe people were better than they were.
“What happened after Ethan disappeared?””
Hayes was quiet.
“Vale controlled the investigation.””
My stomach tightened.
“You mean he controlled the report.””
“Yes.””
“And nobody questioned it?””
“Some did.””
“What happened?””
Hayes looked away.
“They stopped asking.””
A cold silence followed.
Then Ghost suddenly stood.
His ears pointed toward the hallway.
Hayes noticed immediately.
“What is it?””
The dog moved toward the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I watched him.
“Someone’s here.””
Hayes reached for his weapon.
I froze.
“You carry a gun?””
“I’m a former SEAL.””
“You said you weren’t military anymore.””
“I said I wasn’t active.””
Before I could respond, the lights went out.
The entire house fell dark.
Ghost growled.
Then came the sound.
A window breaking.
Hayes grabbed my arm.
“Down.””
We dropped behind the counter.
A shadow moved across the wall.
Someone entered.
Not one person.
Several.
Hayes looked at me.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
“Madison—”
“I spent seven years being told to stay away from Ethan’s life.””
I grabbed the nearest object I could find.
A metal flashlight.
“Not anymore.””
For the first time, Hayes almost smiled.
“Ethan would have liked that.””
The intruder stepped into the kitchen.
Ghost moved.
Fast.
But before he reached the man, a voice stopped him.
“Rook.””
Everything froze.
My heart stopped.
Because the command wasn’t mine.
Someone else knew it.
Ghost lowered himself instantly.
Hayes stared.
“Who taught you that?””
The figure stepped into the dim light.
A man.
Military haircut.
Dark jacket.
Calm expression.
He looked at Ghost.
Then at me.
“Dr. Madison Cole.””
I tightened my grip on the flashlight.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled slightly.
A smile that made my skin crawl.
“My name is Daniel Reed.””
Hayes’ face changed.
“No.””
The man looked at him.
“Hello, Luke.””
“You’re dead.””
Daniel smiled.
“That seems to happen a lot around Ethan Cross.””
I felt the room tilt.
Another person who was supposed to be dead.
Another impossible survivor.
Daniel stepped closer.
Ghost stayed frozen.
Obeying a command that only Ethan’s closest people should know.
I looked at Hayes.
Then at Daniel.
“What is happening?””
Daniel’s expression became serious.
“Your friend Ethan left something out of his message.””
“What?””
“He didn’t disappear because he discovered a traitor.””
The room went silent.
Daniel looked directly at me.
“He disappeared because he discovered the truth about what happened to him.””
A chill ran down my spine.
“What truth?””
Daniel glanced at Ghost.
Then whispered:
“Ethan Cross was never the target.””
He paused.
“You were.””
Before I could respond, Ghost suddenly broke his command.
The dog turned toward the wall.
And started barking at a hidden compartment behind an old painting.
Daniel’s face changed.
For the first time…
He looked afraid.
May you like
Because whatever was hidden there was something he didn’t expect Ghost to find.
And inside that compartment was the one thing Ethan had risked everything to protect.
