Chapter 7 - THE SECOND BETRAYAL
Ethan confronted Evelyn that afternoon.
“Did you cancel the ambulance?”
“No.”
“Charles says you did.”
“Charles lies.”
“So do you.”
That landed.
Evelyn looked away.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth before I discover it without you.”
She sat down.
“I didn’t cancel the ambulance.”
“Who did?”
“I think Martin did.”
Ethan froze.
“Martin?”
“He was the only other person downstairs.”
“That’s not proof.”
“No.”
“But?”
Evelyn looked toward the window.
“Martin worked for Charles before he worked for us.”
Ethan stared at her.
“For how long?”
“Seven years.”
“You never told me?”
“Your father trusted him.”
“My father trusted Charles.”
Evelyn had no answer.
Ethan found Martin in the garage.
The older man was packing a small bag.
“Going somewhere?”
Martin stopped.
“Sir.”
“Did you cancel the ambulance?”
Martin looked exhausted.
“Yes.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“Why?”
“Because Charles told me to.”
Ethan grabbed the front of Martin’s jacket.
“My wife could have lost our child.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Martin didn’t resist.
“Because Charles has my daughter.”
Ethan released him.
“What?”
“She worked in accounting.”
“Two years ago she found one of his accounts.”
Martin’s eyes filled.
“He threatened her.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Charles has kept her hidden for eight months.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You helped imprison Grace because of this?”
“No.”
Martin shook his head.
“I helped Charles with information.”
“Schedules.”
“Security access.”
“But I never knew he would lock Mrs. Hargrove upstairs.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Martin reached into his bag.
Ethan tensed.
Martin pulled out a phone.
“This is why I stayed.”
He handed it over.
“There are recordings.”
“Of Charles?”
“Yes.”
“Enough to convict him?”
“Enough to make him afraid.”
Ethan opened the files.
One recording was dated four days earlier.
Charles’s voice filled the garage.
“Keep Grace isolated until Monday.”
Another voice answered.
Evelyn.
“And afterward?”
Charles laughed.
“After Ethan signs, I don’t care where she goes.”
Ethan looked at Martin.
“There’s more.”
Martin opened another recording.
This one was from last night.
Charles spoke again.
“If the ambulance comes, stop it.”
“And if Grace gets worse?”
A pause.
Then Charles answered.
“That may solve two problems at once.”
Ethan’s face hardened.
“Where’s your daughter?”
Martin shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Ethan handed the phone back.
“Then we find her.”
Martin stared at him.
“Why would you help me?”
“Because Charles used your daughter the same way he used my wife.”
May you like
Ethan opened the garage door.
“And because this ends now.”
