Chapter 10: The Person Wearing Ethan’s Jacket
The figure outside the basement window didn’t move.
Nobody breathed.
Nobody spoke.
Diane stared at the screen with tears running down her face.
“That’s not him.””
Her voice was barely audible.
Ray looked at her.
“You’re sure?””
She nodded slowly.
“I know my son.””
The person on the camera feed stood outside our house wearing Ethan’s old jacket.
Holding Ethan’s phone.
But everything else was wrong.
The way he stood.
The way he watched.
The way he wanted us to see him.
Marcus walked closer to the screen.
“We need to leave.””
Ray looked at him.
“You knew this could happen?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Ray stepped forward.
“You knew someone was watching the house.””
“I suspected.””
“You suspected?””
Marcus looked angry.
“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.””
Ray pointed at the screen.
“Then explain.””
Marcus looked at Diane.
“Ethan didn’t disappear because he wanted to.””
Diane wiped her tears.
“Then why?””
“Because someone close to him found out about the evidence.””
“Who?””
Marcus hesitated.
“The person who helped him.””
The voice from the speakers interrupted.
“You’re wasting time.””
Everyone turned.
The hidden speaker crackled.
The unknown person continued.
“Diane, you were always too emotional.””
Her face changed.
Because she recognized the voice.
“No.””
Ray looked at her.
“Who is it?””
She stepped backward.
“No…”
Marcus stared at the speaker.
“You know who this is?””
Diane covered her mouth.
“It can’t be.””
The voice laughed softly.
“You really thought Ethan left you a message because he trusted you?””
The words hurt her.
Ray moved closer.
“Diane.””
She whispered:
“Someone from Ethan’s company.””
“Who?””
She looked at the screen.
“His supervisor.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because he died.””
The room went silent.
Ray stared at him.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at the camera.
“David Cross.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But Diane looked terrified.
“He was the one who recruited Ethan.””
The voice laughed again.
“Good. You remember.””
Diane stepped toward the speaker.
“David, where is my son?””
A pause.
Then:
“You still don’t understand.””
The camera feed changed.
Now it showed a dark room.
A chair.
A table.
And someone sitting there.
The image was blurry.
But the person was moving.
Diane grabbed the screen.
“Ethan?””
Marcus looked closer.
“No.””
The person lifted his head.
It wasn’t Ethan.
It was an older man.
Tired.
Weak.
And terrified.
Ray frowned.
“Who is that?””
Marcus whispered:
“I don’t know.””
The voice returned.
“That is the person who kept Ethan alive.””
Diane shook her head.
“What does that mean?””
“You wanted answers.””
The screen flickered.
“Now you get them.””
The video showed documents.
Files.
Names.
Transactions.
Then one photo appeared.
A young Ethan.
Standing beside Marcus.
And another person.
Diane looked at Marcus.
“You knew.””
Marcus looked away.
“I knew Ethan had help.””
“You never told me.””
“Because he made me promise.””
The voice interrupted.
“Promises are why people get hurt.””
The screen went black.
Then the basement lights shut off.
Everything became dark.
I heard movement.
A door opening upstairs.
Ray grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.””
Marcus whispered:
“He’s here.””
The footsteps moved slowly above us.
One step.
Then another.
Diane looked toward the stairs.
And whispered:
“I know that walk.””
The person reached the top of the basement stairs.
A shadow appeared.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
“Mom.””
May you like
Diane collapsed.
Because the voice was Ethan’s.
