Chapter 14: The Last Person We Trusted
The name meant nothing to me.
But the fear on Ethan’s face meant everything.
“You said your brother was dead,” I said.
Ethan looked at the floor.
“I thought he was.””
Detective Harris stared at him.
“Start explaining.””
Ethan rubbed his hands together.
“My brother, Adrian, was involved in everything from the beginning.””
My mother shook her head.
“You never told me you had a brother.””
“Because I was ashamed.””
The answer surprised me.
Ethan continued.
“Adrian was the one who introduced Marcus to the people behind the financial scheme.””
My stomach turned.
“So your brother started this?””
“Yes.””
“And you knew?””
“I found out too late.””
I looked at my mother.
“And you ran because you thought Ethan was part of it.””
She nodded.
“I thought everyone was against me.””
She looked at Ethan.
“I was wrong.””
Before anyone could respond, the station lights went out.
The room became dark.
Someone shouted.
A door slammed.
Detective Harris reached for his flashlight.
“Everyone stay where you are.””
A second later, an alarm started.
Red emergency lights flashed.
Then a voice came from the hallway.
“Claire.””
My mother froze.
I knew that voice.
Because I had heard it before.
Not in recordings.
Not in memories.
In real life.
A man stepped into the doorway.
Older.
Calm.
Smiling.
Adrian.
Ethan immediately moved in front of us.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Adrian laughed softly.
“You always were the dramatic one.””
Detective Harris raised his weapon.
“Don’t move.””
Adrian looked at him.
“You really think this ends with Marcus?””
Nobody answered.
Adrian looked at me.
“Lena.””
I felt sick.
“How do you know me?””
He smiled.
“Because I helped create your entire life.””
My mother stepped forward.
“What do you want?””
Adrian looked at her.
“The same thing everyone wanted.””
He pointed at me.
“The truth.””
I laughed.
“The truth?””
I couldn’t stop myself.
“I’ve heard that word all day.””
Adrian smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
He walked closer.
“You think this was about money.””
My mother looked confused.
“You think Marcus wanted your inheritance.””
Adrian shook his head.
“He did.””
Then he looked at me.
“But that wasn’t why I was interested in Lena.””
A cold feeling entered my chest.
“Why?””
Adrian reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small device.
“Because Ethan left something inside her records.””
My mother went pale.
“What?””
Adrian smiled.
“The evidence your grandfather collected.””
Detective Harris looked at Ethan.
“Is that true?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I stared at him.
“You knew?””
Ethan looked devastated.
“I knew your medical records contained information.””
“What information?””
He swallowed.
“The location of the original files.””
My anger exploded.
“So everyone knew something about me except me?””
Nobody spoke.
Adrian smiled.
“Exactly.””
He pressed a button on the device.
A screen appeared.
Old footage.
A hospital room.
My mother.
A newborn baby.
Me.
And beside my crib…
Marcus.
My breath stopped.
Then a voice from the recording played.
Marcus.
“He’ll never know.””
The screen showed him looking directly at the camera.
“If Lena survives, she becomes the key.””
The recording ended.
Adrian looked at me.
“Your entire life was built around one secret.””
My mother whispered:
“What secret?””
Adrian smiled.
Then he said:
“Lena wasn’t just evidence.””
May you like
The station went silent.
“She was the reason the evidence existed.””
