Chapter 7 - Northbridge Warehouse was dark.The building had been closed for eleven years.
Ethan parked three blocks away.
He told Lily to stay inside the car.
Then he entered alone.
The warehouse smelled of dust and oil.
His footsteps echoed through the empty space.
He found the room from the photograph.
Empty.
Except for a chair.
And a cassette recorder.
He pressed play.
Sarah's voice filled the room.
“Ethan, if you made it here, you're probably wondering why Lily matters.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Daniel believed the evidence could destroy Marcus.”
“He was right.”
“But there was one problem.”
“Marcus never kept the most important evidence on paper.”
“He kept it inside people's memories.”
Ethan frowned.
Then Sarah continued.
“Eleven years ago, Lily was three.”
“She saw something.”
Ethan's body went rigid.
“No.”
Sarah continued.
“She saw Marcus kill Daniel.”
Ethan staggered backward.
The tape played on.
“She didn't understand what she saw.”
“But she remembered the room.”
“The window.”
“The clock.”
“The sound of the gun.”
“Daniel knew she was the only witness.”
“That was why he stayed alive.”
“He wanted to protect her.”
Ethan's hands shook.
The tape ended.
Then another recording started automatically.
Daniel's voice.
“If Lily ever remembers everything, Marcus will fall.”
The warehouse door slammed shut.
Ethan spun around.
Marcus stood on the other side of the room.
Two armed men beside him.
“You finally figured it out.”
Ethan's eyes hardened.
“Where is Sarah?”
Marcus smiled.
“Safe.”
“Let her go.”
“You're in no position to negotiate.”
“I have the evidence.”
Marcus's smile disappeared.
“Where?”
Ethan said nothing.
Marcus stepped closer.
“The girl remembered the night.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You killed Daniel.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Daniel was going to destroy everyone.”
“You killed my father.”
“Your father chose his side.”
“And Sarah?”
“Sarah made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“She trusted you.”
Silence.
Marcus nodded toward the door.
“Bring Lily here.”
Ethan refused.
Marcus raised his gun.
Then something crashed through the window above them.
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Ethan dropped to the floor.
Someone grabbed his arm.
He expected an attacker.
Instead, a voice whispered:
“Get up.”
Ethan froze.
The voice was familiar.
Daniel Carter.
“Your father couldn't save me,” Daniel whispered.
“But you can save my daughter.”
Ethan stared at the man standing in the darkness.
Older.
Scarred.
Alive.
Daniel looked at him.
May you like
“Run.”
And for the first time in eleven years, Ethan Mercer stood face-to-face with the man the world believed was dead.
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