Chapter 7 - The Man Who KnewEthan drove to the cemetery before midnight.
Sophie remained with Mrs. Dalton in a secure location.
Ethan walked among the graves until he reached his father's.
Daniel Mercer.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then footsteps sounded behind him.
An elderly man emerged from the fog.
“Your father knew.”
Ethan turned.
“Knew what?”
“The Vales.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Arthur Kane.”
Arthur handed Ethan a small envelope.
“Your father gave this to me eleven years ago.”
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
His father stood beside Daniel Vale.
Both men looked terrified.
On the back was a date.
THREE DAYS BEFORE DANIEL VALE'S DEATH.
Arthur spoke.
“Your father discovered that Daniel was preparing to expose his own family.”
“What did they do?”
“They threatened him.”
“And my father?”
“They threatened you.”
Ethan stared.
“Why didn't my father tell me?”
“He planned to.”
Arthur's expression darkened.
“Then he died.”
A car approached the cemetery.
Arthur stepped backward.
“You need to leave.”
“Who?”
“The people who have been cleaning this mess for decades.”
Ethan grabbed his arm.
“Where is Claire?”
Arthur looked at him.
“Closer than you think.”
A gunshot cracked through the night.
Arthur fell.
Ethan caught him.
“Arthur!”
Blood spread across his coat.
With shaking hands, Arthur grabbed Ethan's wrist.
“Your father didn't die naturally.”
Ethan froze.
“He was murdered.”
Arthur's eyes closed.
He was still alive.
But barely.
Another gunshot hit the stone beside Ethan.
He ran.
He reached the car.
And saw someone sitting in the passenger seat.
Natalie.
She held her hands up.
“Drive.”
Ethan slammed the door.
“You shot him?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“Marcus.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Why are you helping me?”
Natalie looked out the window.
“Because I was never supposed to love you.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“What?”
Natalie swallowed.
“I was assigned to enter your life.”
“For what?”
“To find the box.”
“And after?”
“To make Sophie disappear.”
Ethan nearly crashed the car.
Natalie continued.
“That was the plan.”
“Whose plan?”
“My father's.”
“Daniel?”
Natalie nodded.
“But after I met Sophie, I couldn't do it.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Why did you break the music box?”
Natalie looked at him.
“Because I knew the moment Sophie showed you the box, you would discover everything.”
“You hurt her.”
“I know.”
“And locked her in a bathroom.”
“I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Natalie’s eyes filled with tears.
“Of them.”
She handed Ethan a phone.
A recording was already open.
Daniel Vale's voice played.
“Remember the girl comes first. If Ethan refuses, eliminate Claire's daughter.”
The recording ended.
Ethan stared at Natalie.
Then he noticed something.
The recording had been dated six years ago.
Before Natalie met him.
He whispered:
“This isn't about the music box.”
Natalie shook her head.
“No.”
“Then what is it about?”
May you like
She looked at him.
“The night Claire disappeared.”
