Chapter 8: The Witness
The man standing behind my mother looked like someone who had spent years carrying a burden.
He was probably in his seventies.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
A worn jacket that looked older than me.
He slowly removed his hat.
“Emily.””
I stepped back.
“How do you know my name?””
My mother answered.
“He knew Ethan.””
The man nodded.
“My name is Thomas Reed.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the way my mother looked at him told me everything.
She trusted him.
And my mother did not trust easily.
“Come inside,” I said.
We sat around the kitchen table.
The same table where my mother had collected forty-dollar payments for months.
The same table where I had accused her of changing.
Now I realized she had been sitting here carrying a secret alone.
Thomas placed his hands together.
“I should have come sooner.””
“Why didn’t you?””
He looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
He looked at my son’s drawings on the refrigerator.
“Of what would happen if the wrong people knew I talked.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Who are these people?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Ethan’s family.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“My ex-boyfriend’s family?””
He nodded.
“They are not the kind of people who forgive betrayal.””
“Betrayal?””
Thomas sighed.
“Ethan discovered what they were doing.””
“What?””
“Money laundering. False accounts. Hidden transactions.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“You’re saying Ethan exposed them?””
Thomas nodded.
“He was going to.””
I looked down.
“And Caleb?””
Thomas’s face softened.
“Ethan loved that boy.””
The words hurt.
Because part of me wanted to be angry.
Part of me wanted to ask why Ethan wasn’t there.
Why he left me.
Why he made me raise Caleb alone.
But another part of me just wanted answers.
“What happened the night he disappeared?””
Thomas looked at my mother.
Then back at me.
“He came to your mother because he knew he was being followed.””
My hands tightened.
“Followed by who?””
Thomas hesitated.
Then said:
“His older brother.””
Silence.
I had never heard Ethan mention having a brother.
“What was his name?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Alexander.””
The name felt heavy.
“What does he want?””
Thomas looked toward the upstairs hallway.
Where Caleb was sleeping.
“That depends.””
“On what?””
“Whether he believes Caleb knows the truth.””
I felt anger rise.
“My son doesn’t know anything.””
“I know.””
“Then why are they interested in him?””
Thomas reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
Not the same one.
Another one.
“This was found with Ethan’s belongings.””
I didn’t take it.
“Why give it to me now?””
“Because I saw the photograph.””
My blood ran cold.
“You know about that?””
Thomas nodded.
“Alexander sent that message.””
I stood.
“Then he’s the one watching us?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Where is Alexander now?””
Thomas looked at him.
“Closer than you think.””
My heart started pounding.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas looked at the window.
Then quietly said:
“He has been watching your family for months.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
Thomas reached into the envelope.
He pulled out a document.
Not readable.
Not something I could understand.
But one name was visible.
Ethan.
And below it was another name.
Caleb.
I looked at Thomas.
“What is this?””
His voice dropped.
“The reason Ethan disappeared.””
The room went silent.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone looked at it.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Then a man’s voice came through.
A voice I had never heard before.
But I knew exactly who it was.
“Emily.””
I froze.
“How do you know my name?””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“Because I knew your son before you did.””
