CHAPTER 12: ETHAN’S CONFESSION
Ethan asked Amelia for ten minutes.
She gave him five.
They met in a hospital consultation room with Mara standing outside.
Ethan looked as though he had not slept in days.
“I didn’t know the elevator would stop.”
Amelia said nothing.
“I met Claire because she had the original Whitmore Mill report.”
“You also slept with her.”
“Yes.”
The honesty came too late to feel meaningful.
“Why did she have the report?”
“Her brother was investigating illegal chemical storage at the mill.”
“Owned by her family?”
“Partly.”
Ethan looked at the floor.
“Julian discovered someone was storing industrial accelerants beneath the building. He threatened to expose it.”
“And the building burned.”
“Yes.”
“What did your father do?”
“He ordered us to wait outside.”
“Why?”
“He said the building was unstable.”
“But you entered.”
“Thomas Reed went first. I followed him.”
Ethan’s voice became unsteady.
“We found Julian already dead. Thomas went deeper into the building. I found a woman near a service exit.”
“My mother.”
“I didn’t know her name.”
“Was she alive?”
“Yes.”
Amelia gripped the table.
“What happened?”
“My father came over the radio. He ordered me to leave immediately.”
“And you obeyed.”
“The ceiling was collapsing.”
“You left my mother.”
“I went back.”
“When?”
“After the collapse.”
“Did you find her?”
“No.”
Amelia looked at him with the same empty expression she had worn inside the elevator.
“Eight years later, you did it again.”
Ethan’s face broke.
“Amelia…”
“You saw a woman who needed help, and someone else called your name.”
“I was twenty-seven.”
“You were thirty-five in the hotel.”
He reached into his pocket and placed the wedding ring on the table.
“I know I don’t deserve another chance.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I need to protect you and Theo.”
“From Claire?”
Ethan shook his head.
“Claire is dangerous, but she isn’t the person controlling this.”
“Who is?”
Before he could answer, the fire alarm sounded.
Ethan immediately stood.
Amelia did not move.
There was no smoke.
Only a recorded voice repeating:
EVACUATE THE BUILDING.
Ethan looked through the glass door.
A man wearing a hospital uniform stood at the far end of the hallway.
May you like
The man raised one hand.
He was holding Theo’s medical bracelet.
