CHAPTER 5: WHAT ETHAN HEARD

Noah waited until Mara left before approaching Ethan.

Claire had already been escorted from the hospital.

Ethan stood beside a window, staring at Amelia’s wedding ring.

Noah had finally given it to him.

Ethan turned it slowly between his fingers.

“She said I left her.”

“You did.”

“I carried the person closest to the door.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Ethan looked up.

Noah’s voice remained controlled.

“Claire was against the back wall. Amelia was beside the entrance.”

Ethan said nothing.

“I watched you enter,” Noah continued. “You stepped over Amelia’s feet to reach Claire.”

“She called my name.”

“So did your wife.”

“I was focused on the rescue.”

“You were focused on Claire.”

Ethan closed his fist around the ring.

“You have no idea what happened.”

“I know what I heard.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

“What did you hear?”

Noah looked toward the empty hallway.

“Five minutes before the elevator opened, the paramedic told you there were two women inside.”

“I remember.”

“He said one appeared pregnant and was no longer responding.”

Ethan’s face lost color.

Noah continued.

“You asked which woman was wearing a red dress.”

Claire had worn red.

Amelia had worn beige.

“You knew exactly who you wanted us to pull out first.”

“I was trying to identify Claire.”

“You didn’t ask what Amelia was wearing.”

Ethan turned away.

Noah stepped closer.

“Why did you believe Claire was in greater danger?”

Ethan stared through the window.

“I received a call.”

“From inside the elevator?”

“Yes.”

“Who called you?”

Ethan did not answer immediately.

Then he whispered:

“Claire.”

Noah’s expression changed.

“There was no signal inside that elevator.”

“I know.”

“Then how did she call you?”

Ethan looked down at the ring.

“The call came from her number.”

“What did she say?”

Ethan’s voice became almost inaudible.

“She said Amelia had stopped breathing.”

Noah’s blood ran cold.

Because Amelia had never stopped breathing.

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Someone had lied to Ethan.

And somehow, that person had managed to place a call from an elevator with no phone signal.