Chapter 10 - THE TRUTH BEHIND THE BILL
Emergency lights illuminated the hallway.
Richard ordered everyone into the secure room.
Ethan stayed beside Claire.
"Are you okay?"
Claire nodded.
"I'm more angry than afraid."
Ethan almost smiled.
"That's probably a good thing."
She looked at him.
"You still owe me an apology."
"I know."
"For the restaurant."
"I know."
"For grabbing my wrist."
"I know."
Claire folded her arms.
"Then start."
Ethan looked directly at her.
"I'm sorry."
She waited.
"I was terrified."
"Of what?"
"Of losing everything."
Claire's expression softened slightly.
"You didn't have to make me the enemy."
"I know."
The intercom crackled again.
Marcus spoke.
"You want to know who stole the money?"
Richard stepped toward the microphone.
"Tell me."
"You did."
Richard froze.
"What?"
Marcus laughed.
"Your wife didn't die the way you think."
Ethan stared at his father.
"My mother?"
Richard's face went white.
Marcus continued.
"Evelyn discovered what I was doing."
Claire whispered.
"She knew."
Marcus's voice became colder.
"She tried to expose me."
Richard gripped the desk.
"What happened to her?"
Silence.
Then Marcus answered.
"Ask your son."
Ethan stepped back.
"What?"
Richard turned toward him.
Claire saw confusion in Ethan's eyes.
Marcus continued.
"Your son knows why Evelyn disappeared."
Ethan shook his head.
"I was a child."
"Exactly."
The lights suddenly returned.
The intercom went silent.
On the desk sat a new envelope.
Richard opened it.
Inside was an old photograph.
Ethan recognized it immediately.
He had been eight years old.
Standing beside his mother.
And behind them was Marcus.
But that wasn't the shocking part.
May you like
On the back was a handwritten sentence.
Your mother left because she was protecting Ethan.
