Chapter 4 - THE DEAD MAN CALLING
Cole answered it.
No greeting.
No warning.
He simply pressed the speaker button.
A man breathed on the other end.
Cole said one word.
“Daniel.”
Silence.
Then the voice laughed.
“You always were stubborn.”
Cole’s face hardened.
Maya could see anger fighting disbelief.
“You’re alive.”
“So are you.”
“Where are you?”
“You know I can’t answer that.”
“You betrayed me.”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice became colder.
“I survived you.”
Cole glanced at Ethan.
“You’re working with Victor Hale.”
“I work for whoever keeps me alive.”
Maya stepped closer to the phone.
“What do you want with the girls?”
Silence.
“Daniel?”
“Is that Maya?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For what happens next.”
The line disconnected.
Cole immediately handed the phone to the technician.
“Trace it.”
“Already trying.”
Ethan stood.
“We have to leave.”
Cole shoved him down.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“They know where the girls are.”
“This house is surrounded.”
“That won’t matter.”
Maya looked at Ethan.
“Why?”
Ethan stared toward the windows.
“Because Victor doesn’t attack from outside.”
A crash exploded upstairs.
Maya screamed.
“Dad!”
She ran.
Cole shouted after her.
Maya took the stairs two at a time.
Her father appeared at the top.
“Stay back!”
“Where are they?”
“With me.”
The girls emerged behind him.
Both were terrified but unharmed.
Another crash came from the bedroom.
Cole arrived with two officers.
They entered.
The window had shattered.
A black object lay on the carpet.
Cole approached carefully.
It wasn’t a weapon.
It was another recorder.
Red tape had been wrapped around it.
A number was written across the tape.
Maya’s father stared at it.
“What the hell does that mean?”
Ethan answered from the staircase.
“It means Victor knows we opened 42.”
Cole turned.
“And?”
Ethan looked at Maya.
“He’s moved to the next file.”
Maya felt the older girl grab her hand.
“What is 43?”
Ethan’s eyes filled with something Maya had never seen before.
Shame.
“Your father.”
Maya turned toward him.
Her father’s face hardened.
“What about me?”
May you like
Ethan lowered his voice.
“File 43 is the reason Maya’s mother died.”
