Chapter 5 - THE HOUSE IN THE DARK Daniel moved Ethan toward the back hallway.
“Quiet.”
The voice outside came again.
“Daniel Mercer. Open the door.”
Ethan whispered:
“How does he know your name?”
Daniel didn't answer.
He pushed Ethan into a small storage room.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Stay.”
Daniel closed the door.
Ethan heard footsteps.
A lock turning.
Then silence.
A gunshot shattered the night.
Ethan flinched.
Daniel shouted.
“Run!”
Ethan burst from the room.
The front window exploded inward.
A bullet struck the wall.
Daniel grabbed Ethan and dragged him through the back door.
They ran into the rain.
A second shot cracked behind them.
They reached the truck.
Daniel threw Ethan inside.
Then drove.
No headlights.
Only darkness.
“Are you okay?” Daniel asked.
“I think so.”
“Good.”
Ethan looked behind them.
A vehicle emerged from the trees.
“They're following us.”
“I know.”
Daniel accelerated.
The road twisted through the forest.
Ethan looked at Daniel.
“You said you don't know my mother.”
“I said I didn't know her personally.”
“That's not the same thing.”
Daniel remained silent.
“You were assigned to her case.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She disappeared before we could protect her.”
“From who?”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“The organization she exposed.”
“What organization?”
“Argent.”
Ethan frowned.
“What's Argent?”
Daniel looked at him.
“A private security contractor.”
“That's all?”
“No.”
Daniel's voice became quieter.
“They don't officially exist anymore.”
Ethan looked back.
“Then why are they hunting me?”
“Because your mother kept something.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Ethan's face went pale.
“The list.”
Daniel nodded.
“The ledger contains payments, names, dates, and operations.”
“Operations?”
“People who were made to disappear.”
Ethan's breathing became shallow.
“My mother was helping them?”
“No.”
Daniel looked at him.
“She was exposing them.”
The pursuing vehicle came closer.
Daniel turned sharply onto a dirt road.
The truck bounced violently.
Ethan grabbed the dashboard.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere they won't look.”
“Where?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into the glove compartment.
He pulled out an old photograph.
A woman stood beside him.
Claire Cole.
Ethan stared.
“You said you didn't know her.”
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
“I lied.”
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