Chapter 2: The Voice in the Hallway
Claire stared at Ethan, waiting for him to laugh.
He did not.
Daniel stepped out of the bathroom, still wearing his dress shirt from the wedding.
“What did he say?”
Claire hesitated.
“He said Lily spoke to him last night.”
Daniel’s expression changed immediately.
Ethan’s mother had been declared dead after her car plunged into a river. Her body had never been recovered, but investigators had found her coat, blood inside the vehicle, and enough evidence to rule out survival.
Daniel sat beside Ethan.
“Buddy, did you dream about your mom?”
Ethan shook his head.
“She was outside my room.”
Claire felt a chill move across her shoulders.
“What did she look like?”
“She had her yellow coat.”
Daniel looked at Claire.
Lily had been wearing a yellow coat the night she disappeared.
That detail had never been discussed around Ethan.
“What did she say?” Daniel asked carefully.
Ethan squeezed the plastic ring in his hand.
“She said, ‘Ask Claire. She’ll keep you safe.’”
The hotel room fell silent.
Daniel tried to smile.
“Maybe you remembered something from before the accident.”
“No.”
Ethan’s voice was small but certain.
“She was crying.”
Claire pulled him closer.
“Did she come inside?”
“No. A man made her leave.”
Daniel stood.
“What man?”
Ethan pointed toward the hallway.
“The man with the silver watch.”
Daniel opened the door.
The corridor was empty.
Only a room-service cart stood beneath the dim lights.
Then Claire noticed something on the carpet.
A small yellow thread.
It was caught against the bottom of Ethan’s door.
Daniel picked it up slowly.
Claire looked at Ethan.
“Did your mom leave anything else?”
May you like
Ethan pointed toward the ring pillow on the chair.
“There’s a secret inside.”
