Chapter 18 - The NamesThomas was arrested.
The evidence spread across the country.
News channels ran the story nonstop.
The Parker family became the center of the biggest corruption investigation in decades.
But Ethan couldn't celebrate.
Because Thomas had been right about one thing.
The names were real.
And many were still free.
Judges resigned.
Executives disappeared.
Politicians fled.
Police commanders were arrested.
Entire corporations collapsed.
The archive became the most dangerous collection of evidence in the country.
Ethan stayed in a secure location with Claire, Daniel, and Adam.
For the first time, all four could sit together.
No lies.
No fake funerals.
No secret rooms.
But Ethan still felt like something was missing.
One night, he asked Claire:
“What happened to Sarah?”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“She tried to protect you.”
“From Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“How did she die?”
Claire looked away.
“Car accident.”
Daniel interrupted.
“It wasn't an accident.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
Daniel reached for his phone.
He showed Ethan an old report.
The brakes had been tampered with.
Sarah had been murdered.
Ethan stared at the page.
“Who did it?”
Daniel answered:
“We don't know.”
Adam entered.
“You do.”
Ethan looked at him.
Adam held an old notebook.
“I found this in the laboratory.”
Inside were pages written by Sarah.
The final page contained three words.
HE WASN'T ALONE.
Ethan's heart pounded.
“Who wasn't alone?”
Adam pointed toward a name.
Thomas Parker.
Then another.
Daniel Parker.
Ethan stared.
His father.
“What does this mean?”
Daniel went pale.
“I can explain.”
Ethan stood.
“No.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I had a deal with Thomas.”
Claire stared.
“What deal?”
Daniel whispered:
“I was supposed to give him Ethan.”
Silence.
Adam backed away.
Ethan couldn't breathe.
“When?”
“After Sarah died.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas threatened Claire.”
Claire shook her head.
“You promised me you wouldn't.”
“I changed my mind.”
“But you planned it.”
Daniel's face collapsed.
“I thought I could outsmart him.”
Ethan felt betrayed.
Again.
Another layer.
Another lie.
Then the secure phone rang.
Ruiz answered.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
She listened.
Then looked at Ethan.
“Thomas escaped.”
Nobody moved.
“How?”
Ruiz swallowed.
“During transport.”
Ethan stared.
“Who helped him?”
Ruiz's voice was barely audible.
“We don't know.”
She paused.
“But the vehicle was opened from the inside.”
Ethan looked at Daniel.
Daniel whispered:
“They said they were coming.”
“Who?”
Daniel's eyes filled with fear.
May you like
“The people behind Morrow.”
Then every window in the house shattered at once.
