Chapter 4 - THE NAME DANIEL RECOGNIZED Daniel drove Ethan to a small house outside the city.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ethan noticed immediately.
“You live alone?”
“Yes.”
“Family?”
Daniel looked ahead.
“Not anymore.”
Ethan didn't ask.
Inside, Daniel locked the door.
Then another lock.
Then a third.
Ethan watched him.
“You've done this before.”
Daniel turned.
“Done what?”
“Prepared for someone to break in.”
Daniel said nothing.
He walked to the kitchen.
Ethan followed.
Daniel opened a cabinet and pulled out a first-aid kit.
“Take off your jacket.”
“I can do it.”
“Then do it.”
Ethan slowly removed the jacket.
A dark bruise covered his side.
Daniel winced.
“Hospital.”
“No.”
“Fine.”
He handed Ethan an ice pack.
Then he noticed something beneath Ethan's shirt.
A tattoo.
Three small numbers.
9-1-7.
Daniel froze.
“Where did you get that?”
Ethan looked down.
“This?”
“Yes.”
“My mother gave it to me.”
“When?”
“When I was ten.”
“What does it mean?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel stepped backward.
Ethan noticed.
“You know something.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“You do.”
“No.”
“Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?”
Daniel stared at the tattoo.
Because he had.
Years ago.
A classified investigation.
A missing witness.
A woman named Claire Cole.
And a file number.
Daniel walked to the window.
Ethan followed.
“You knew my mother.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Not personally.”
“But you knew about her.”
Daniel turned.
“I worked for the federal government.”
Ethan's face changed.
“What agency?”
“I can't tell you.”
“You already told me enough.”
Daniel sighed.
“Your mother wasn't just a missing woman.”
“Then what was she?”
Daniel looked toward the darkness outside.
“A whistleblower.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Against who?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he asked:
“Where did you get the money?”
Ethan pointed toward the envelope.
“It was delivered to my apartment.”
“By whom?”
“A man.”
“Name?”
“I don't know.”
“What did he look like?”
Ethan thought.
“Gray coat. Black gloves.”
Daniel's expression tightened.
“Anything else?”
“He had a scar.”
“Where?”
“Across his throat.”
Daniel stepped back.
“No.”
“What?”
Daniel whispered:
“That man died eight years ago.”
Silence filled the room.
Then the lights went out.
Ethan froze.
Daniel reached for him.
“Don't move.”
A sound came from outside.
Three soft knocks.
Daniel stared at the front door.
Three knocks again.
Ethan whispered:
“Who is that?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
And the voice that came through the door proved it.
“Daniel.”
May you like
A pause.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
Related Stories
