Chapter 2: The Call He Was Not Supposed to Make
Ethan's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Silence.
Then a voice — low, careful, familiar.
"Ethan.
I heard there was some trouble at Richard's tonight.
Are you all right?"
Arthur Vale.
Ethan's hand tightened around the phone.
"How did you know we were here?"
A pause.
"Richard called me.
Before the agents arrived."
Maya watched Ethan's face change.
"What exactly did he tell you?"
"Only that someone had been asking questions.
That things had gotten complicated." Another pause.
"Come to my office tomorrow morning.
We'll sort this out together."
Ethan said nothing.
"Ethan.
I've known you since you were seven years old.
Whatever you think you've found, let me help you understand it."
Maya stepped closer and mouthed one word.
*Speaker.*
Ethan shook his head slightly.
But his jaw was tight.
"I'll be in touch," he said, and ended the call.
The room was silent.
Daniel spoke first.
"He called Richard before the arrest."
"Yes."
"Which means Richard warned him."
Ethan stared at the phone in his hand.
Maya thought about Catherine's letter.
*Someone Thomas trusted.
Someone Richard was protecting.*
She thought about Samuel Grant's note.
*The person she needs to fear is not Richard Sinclair.*
She looked at Ethan.
"Your godfather helped raise you after your father d*ed."
"Yes."
"And your father d*ed in a car crash."
Ethan didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
May you like
What Maya discovered next changed everything she thought she knew about her mother's story.
Click the link below to read the full story — the truth is darker than anyone in that room was ready for.
