Chapter 11 - Claire's ConfessionClaire had been hiding for five years.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she believed every person she loved would die if she returned.
But watching Ethan search for Sophie changed something inside her.
She couldn't disappear again.
She called him.
“Ethan.”
He answered instantly.
“Where are you?”
“Listen carefully.”
“Tell me where Sophie is.”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
She took a breath.
“There is something you need to know.”
“What?”
“The night of the crash, Sophie was in the car.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“She saw everything.”
“What did she see?”
“Daniel Vale.”
“Your father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Marcus.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
Claire continued.
“Marcus was working with Daniel. They intercepted us because I had copied the records.”
“You said you were driving alone.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought protecting Sophie meant making everyone believe she was never there.”
Ethan's voice cracked.
“What happened?”
“Marcus forced the car off the road.”
“The crash killed you?”
“No.”
“I crawled out.”
“You left Sophie?”
“I had no choice.”
Claire began crying.
“I thought he would kill her.”
“But he didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Sophie remembered the blue room.”
“What blue room?”
Claire hesitated.
“The room where Daniel kept the records.”
Ethan looked at the old cassette.
“That's why everyone wants her.”
Claire said nothing.
Then Ethan asked the question he had been terrified to ask.
“Why did you stay away?”
Claire whispered:
“Because I believed your father was still alive.”
Ethan froze.
“He was.”
“And he made a deal with Marcus.”
Ethan felt sick.
“What deal?”
“Your father offered Sophie in exchange for your life.”
Ethan stared at the wall.
“No.”
“He thought Marcus would spare you.”
“But he didn't.”
“No.”
“Where is my father now?”
Claire hesitated.
“Dead.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
Ethan gripped the phone.
“Who killed him?”
Claire whispered:
“Sophie.”
The line went silent.
Ethan stopped breathing.
“What?”
Claire cried.
“Not intentionally.”
“What happened?”
“She saw him during an argument. He was holding the blue key.”
“What did she do?”
“She pushed him.”
“He died?”
“He fell.”
Ethan shook his head.
“She was seven.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Marcus would have used it against her.”
Ethan looked at Natalie.
Natalie was crying.
Suddenly they heard a sound behind them.
Sophie.
Standing in the doorway.
Her face was pale.
“Daddy?”
Ethan turned.
“What are you doing here?”
Sophie looked at Claire on the phone.
Then whispered:
“Mommy.”
Claire heard her.
Her breath caught.
“Sophie?”
The child stepped closer.
“Mommy, I remember.”
Claire began sobbing.
“What do you remember?”
Sophie stared into the darkness behind Ethan.
“A man.”
“Who?”
“He had Daddy's watch.”
Ethan froze.
His father had worn the same watch every day.
Sophie continued.
“He pushed Mommy.”
Ethan's eyes widened.
Then Sophie pointed at Marcus.
Who had entered the room without making a sound.
“But Mommy said it wasn't him.”
Marcus smiled.
“No.”
He held up his wrist.
May you like
Wearing Daniel Mercer's watch.
And Sophie screamed.
