Chapter 7
"What is it?"
Ethan coughed through the smoke.
Daniel didn't answer.
The fire roared louder.
"We have to move!"
Ethan shoved the folder and recorder under his jacket.
They ran into the hallway.
The staircase was blocked by burning debris.
Daniel pointed toward the rear bedroom.
"Balcony!"
They crossed the hall.
Ethan kicked open the balcony doors.
Cold rain hit his face.
The drop was almost fifteen feet.
Below them, Lucy stood near the driveway screaming.
Police cars were arriving.
Fire trucks followed.
"Ethan!" Lucy shouted.
A firefighter saw them.
"Stay there!"
A ladder came up.
Ethan climbed down first.
The moment his shoes touched the grass, Lucy ran into him.
"You idiot!"
She hit his chest.
"You said I had to stay out of danger!"
Ethan wrapped one arm around her.
"I know."
"You went into a burning house!"
"I know."
"That's worse!"
"I know."
She buried her face against him.
For three seconds.
Then she pushed away angrily.
"Don't do that again."
Ethan almost told her he couldn't promise.
Instead he said,
"I'll try."
Daniel climbed down behind him.
A police officer approached.
"Mr. Pierce, was anyone else inside?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"I don't know. We saw someone before the fire started."
The officer radioed the information.
Firefighters surrounded the property.
Ethan looked at the house.
The right side was burning heavily.
But the nursery remained intact for now.
Someone wanted the evidence destroyed.
And had almost succeeded.
Daniel pulled Ethan aside.
"What did you find?"
Ethan stared at him.
"You tell me."
"What?"
"You recognized the photograph."
Daniel looked toward Lucy.
"Not here."
"She stays."
"Ethan."
"She is part of this."
Daniel lowered his voice.
"She's a child."
"She's the child everyone lied about for eleven years."
Daniel had no answer.
Ethan pulled the photograph from his jacket.
It showed his father standing in an office.
Richard Hale beside him.
Daniel beside Richard.
And Victoria in the background.
A date was printed in the corner.
Three days before his father's death.
On the table were financial documents.
One sheet had been circled in red.
Ethan looked closer.
A company name.
Northstar Holdings.
The anonymous message had mentioned shell companies.
"What is Northstar?"
Daniel's face tightened.
"A mistake."
"Whose?"
"Mine."
Ethan went still.
Lucy watched silently.
Daniel looked ten years older under the flashing lights.
"Your father's company was in trouble twelve years ago."
"I know."
"No. You knew part of it."
Daniel rubbed his face.
"We were close to losing everything. Not just the company. The house. Your mother's savings. Employees' pensions."
"And?"
"I borrowed money."
"From Richard."
"No."
Daniel looked ashamed.
"From people Richard knew."
Ethan's stomach tightened.
"What kind of people?"
"The kind you don't borrow from."
"Criminals?"
Daniel didn't answer.
That was enough.
"Northstar was how we moved the money."
"You used Dad's company?"
"I used accounts I controlled."
"Without telling him."
"Yes."
Ethan stepped back.
His entire family history was being rewritten by the minute.
"Did Dad find out?"
"Eventually."
"What did he do?"
"He threatened to report me."
Lucy whispered,
"Did you kill him?"
Daniel recoiled.
"No."
"You had a reason."
"Lucy."
Ethan didn't stop her.
Daniel looked directly at the girl.
"I loved my brother."
"So did Mom."
The words cut.
Daniel looked away.
Ethan pulled out the recorder.
"Do you know what's on this?"
Daniel's face changed again.
"No."
"Liar."
"I don't."
"Then why are you scared?"
"Because your father recorded everything when he got paranoid."
"Paranoid?"
"He thought everyone was against him."
"Maybe because everyone was."
A firefighter approached.
"We found signs of accelerant upstairs and near the rear entrance."
Ethan glanced at Daniel.
"Arson."
The officer nodded.
"We'll need statements from everyone."
"Did you find anyone inside?"
"Not yet."
Ethan looked back at the burning house.
Whoever entered had escaped.
He held the recorder.
There was no way he was listening to it in public.
Then his phone rang.
Hospital.
He answered immediately.
"Mr. Pierce, your daughter asked us to call."
Ethan looked at Lucy.
"My daughter is with me."
There was a pause.
"I'm sorry. I mean Ms. Bennett."
His heart sank.
"Olivia."
"Her condition has worsened again. You should return."
Lucy saw his face.
"Mom?"
Ethan nodded.
They left Daniel with the police.
During the drive, Lucy said nothing.
Her hands were clenched in her lap.
When they reached the hospital, she ran to Olivia's room.
Ethan followed.
Olivia looked barely conscious.
Lucy sat beside her.
"I'm here."
Olivia's eyes opened.
"Baby."
"Don't talk."
Olivia smiled weakly.
"You always tell me what to do."
Lucy broke down.
"Because you don't listen."
Ethan stood near the door.
Olivia saw him.
"Did you find it?"
He nodded.
"The wall."
Her eyes closed in relief.
"Good."
"I found the report and a recorder."
She looked toward Lucy.
"Take care of her."
Ethan stepped closer.
"You're going to tell me how yourself."
Olivia smiled sadly.
"You always were bad at pretending."
"I'm not pretending."
"Ethan."
"No."
His voice cracked.
"You don't get to disappear again."
Tears filled Olivia's eyes.
"I never wanted to."
"Then stay."
Lucy held her mother's hand with both of hers.
"Please, Mom."
The machines continued their steady rhythm.
Olivia looked between them.
"I tried so hard to protect both of you."
Ethan sat beside the bed.
"You did."
"I made mistakes."
"So did I."
"No."
"You don't get all the guilt."
A small laugh escaped her.
Then pain crossed her face.
Lucy panicked.
"Nurse!"
Olivia squeezed her hand.
"Lucy, listen."
"No."
"Listen to me."
The child was sobbing.
Olivia touched her cheek.
"You are the bravest person I know."
"Stop."
"You don't need to be brave tonight."
"Mom."
"You can be angry."
"Stop."
"You can miss me."
"No!"
Ethan turned toward the door.
He couldn't watch.
Then Olivia said,
"Ethan."
He looked back.
"Tell her."
"Tell her what?"
Olivia struggled for breath.
"Every day."
His chest tightened.
"Tell her she's loved."
Ethan nodded.
"I will."
"Promise."
"I promise."
Lucy's entire body shook.
"Mom, please."
The monitor changed.
Nurses rushed in.
Ethan pulled Lucy back.
"No!"
Doctors entered.
"Please step outside."
Lucy fought him.
"No! Mom!"
Ethan held her.
She screamed.
Kicked.
Reached toward Olivia.
Then the door closed.
Ethan sank against the wall with Lucy in his arms.
For twelve minutes, neither moved.
Finally a doctor emerged.
His expression answered before he spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Lucy went completely still.
"No."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"No."
The doctor said more.
Words about resuscitation.
About how hard they tried.
Ethan heard none of it.
Lucy slipped out of his arms.
She walked to the wall.
Then sat on the floor.
No crying.
No screaming.
Nothing.
Ethan sat beside her.
After a long silence, she whispered,
"She waited until I found you."
His throat closed.
Lucy looked at him.
"She knew."
Ethan couldn't answer.
She leaned against his shoulder.
And for the first time in eleven years, Ethan's daughter had no parent left except him.
His phone buzzed.
He wanted to throw it away.
Then he saw the message.
Unknown number.
I'M SORRY ABOUT OLIVIA.
Ethan's blood froze.
May you like
A second message arrived.
NOW LISTEN TO THE RECORDER BEFORE VICTORIA FINDS YOU.
