Chapter 2 - The Name in the EnvelopeThe hospital locked Claire's room down like a prison.
Two police officers guarded the hallway.
Detective Ruiz sat outside the door.
Nobody was allowed in without her permission.
At least, that was what she told Ethan.
But Ethan had already learned something important.
Adults said one thing when they wanted children to feel safe.
The truth usually lived somewhere underneath it.
He sat beside his mother's bed while nurses checked her pulse and blood pressure.
Claire had bruises around both wrists.
A red mark circled her throat.
Her lips were cracked.
She looked exhausted.
But alive.
Ethan couldn't stop staring at her.
“You're really here.”
Claire smiled weakly.
“I am.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“I heard you.”
Her smile disappeared.
“The knocks?”
He nodded.
Claire looked at the door.
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I need to know who still has access to me.”
“You can't trust the police?”
“I trust Detective Ruiz.”
Claire paused.
“But I don't trust the people who control the police.”
Ethan didn't understand.
Ruiz entered the room.
She carried a folder.
“Your mother is right about one thing.”
Claire stiffened.
Ruiz placed the folder on the table.
“This is bigger than Richard Parker.”
Ethan sat upright.
“What is Morrow?”
The room went silent.
Claire closed her eyes.
Ruiz turned toward her.
“You put that name in the envelope?”
Claire nodded.
“You expected Ethan to find it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't know if I would survive.”
Ruiz opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank records.
Property deeds.
Shipping manifests.
A list of names.
Ethan didn't understand most of it.
But one photograph caught his attention.
It showed Richard standing beside a man in a gray suit.
The gray-haired man smiled for the camera.
Ethan had never seen him before.
“That's Morrow,” Claire said.
“Who is he?”
Claire looked at Ruiz.
“Victor Morrow owns half the city without appearing to own anything.”
Ruiz corrected her.
“He owns far more than half.”
Ethan stared at the picture.
Morrow's eyes were cold.
Not angry.
Not cruel.
Simply patient.
Like a man who had never needed to raise his voice because everyone eventually did what he wanted.
“He was Richard's business partner?”
“No.”
Claire's voice was low.
“Richard was his employee.”
That sentence changed everything.
Ethan remembered Richard's expensive cars.
The new house.
The vacations.
The endless business dinners.
He had always assumed Richard was successful.
“What did he do?”
Claire looked at him.
“Money.”
Ruiz continued.
“Fake companies. Shell corporations. Construction contracts. Political donations. Real estate transfers.”
“And murder,” Claire added.
Ethan swallowed.
“You're saying Richard works for a murderer?”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm saying Richard helped them make people disappear.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Ruiz's phone rang.
She stepped outside.
Claire stared at Ethan.
“You did something very brave today.”
“I broke your coffin.”
Claire laughed quietly.
“You saved my life.”
A loud crash came from the hallway.
Ruiz shouted.
The officers drew their weapons.
Ethan stood.
The door burst open.
A nurse stumbled inside.
“Detective!”
“What happened?”
“The man in the stairwell…”
Ruiz went pale.
“What man?”
“He asked for Claire Parker.”
Ruiz stepped forward.
“Where is he?”
The nurse pointed toward the elevator.
“He's coming up.”
Ruiz locked the door.
“Everyone stay back.”
Ethan moved beside his mother.
The elevator bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then the hallway went silent.
Claire grabbed Ethan's hand.
Another sound came.
Three soft knocks.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Ethan's blood turned cold.
May you like
Someone was knocking on the hospital room door.
Exactly three times.
