Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Knew My Secret Number

The hospital entered lockdown before sunrise.

I had never seen doctors move so quickly.

Rosie was transferred to pediatric intensive care.

She had severe dehydration, high fever, and respiratory complications.

The doctors stabilized her.

She was alive.

That was all I needed to hear.

Rosalie refused to leave her.

She sat outside the pediatric unit wrapped in three blankets, staring at the glass doors.

I sat beside her.

"She'll be okay."

She looked at me.

"You promise?"

"I don't make promises I can't keep."

She considered that.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

Across the hallway, Marcus stood with two men.

Derek was in a private security room.

He hadn't tried to leave again.

He knew better.

The moment the doctors confirmed Rosie was stable, I went to him.

He sat handcuffed to a metal chair.

His coat was gone.

His hair was still wet.

"Where is Lena?"

He looked up.

"You really don't know."

"Know what?"

"The truth about her."

I leaned forward.

"I have been asking myself that question since midnight."

Derek smiled.

"You think you're protecting those girls."

"I am."

"No."

His smile disappeared.

"You're protecting yourself."

I said nothing.

"Your brother knew Lena."

My pulse changed.

"Explain."

"Daniel Cole was investigating something."

"What?"

Derek looked toward the door.

"Not here."

I nodded to Marcus.

He left the room.

Derek lowered his voice.

"Your brother wasn't killed by accident."

I stared.

"I know."

"He was killed because he found the books."

"What books?"

"The Mercer ledgers."

I frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Derek shook his head.

"You've spent eleven years building an empire and never found the thing that was right under your nose."

I stood.

"I don't have patience for riddles."

"I know."

He smiled.

"That's what makes you dangerous."

I stepped closer.

"Where is Lena?"

"She ran."

"From you?"

"From everyone."

"Why?"

"Because someone found out she still had the evidence."

"What evidence?"

Derek looked at me.

"Enough to put half of St. Louis behind bars."

I stared at him.

"Who?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he said:

"Ask her daughter."

I left.

Rosalie was still sitting by the pediatric ward.

I crouched beside her.

"Your mother knew my brother."

She became very still.

"Daniel?"

I nodded.

"Do you know who Daniel Cole was?"

She shook her head.

"Mama had his picture."

"Where?"

"At home."

"What home?"

She hesitated.

"I don't know."

"You've moved around?"

She nodded.

"A lot."

"Why?"

"Because Derek said we had to."

"Did your mother ever tell you why?"

"No."

She looked toward the ICU.

"Mama said moving was safer."

I sat beside her.

"Rosalie."

"Yes?"

"Did you see your mother before she disappeared?"

She nodded.

"What did she say?"

The girl closed her eyes.

"She said I had to remember three things."

"What things?"

"Your name."

"Ethan Cole."

"Yes."

"Second?"

"Don't let Derek take Rosie."

"And the third?"

She looked at me.

"Never trust the man who wears the red watch."

I frowned.

"What red watch?"

She pointed toward the hallway.

A man stood near the elevators.

Dark suit.

Red-faced watchband.

I knew him.

Martin Vale.

One of the most respected attorneys in the city.

And one of the men who had attended Daniel's funeral.

He saw me looking.

Then disappeared into the elevator.

I stood immediately.

Marcus moved toward me.

"Follow him."

We reached the elevator too late.

The numbers were descending.

"Garage."

Marcus ran.

I followed.

We found Martin's car leaving through the south gate.

I memorized the plate.

"Track it."

Marcus nodded.

Then the hospital lights flickered again.

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered.

Silence.

Then Lena's voice.

"Ethan."

I froze.

"Lena?"

"You found them."

"Where are you?"

"I can't tell you."

"Are you hurt?"

A pause.

"Not yet."

My jaw tightened.

"Who is after you?"

"Everyone who thinks I still have the ledger."

"Where is it?"

"Safe."

"With who?"

Another pause.

"Your brother."

My blood ran cold.

"Daniel is dead."

"I know."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I mean the ledger was hidden in the one place he knew you would never look."

"Where?"

She whispered:

"Home."

The call ended.

I immediately called the family estate.

No one answered.

I stared at the phone.

Daniel had grown up there.

I had inherited it after his death.

I had searched every inch of that house.

Or believed I had.

Lena knew something I didn't.

I returned to Rosalie.

"Do you know where your mother is?"

She shook her head.

"Can you help me find her?"

The girl looked at me.

"Will you protect Rosie?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Mama said you would."

"Why did she trust me?"

Rosalie thought.

"Because Daniel told her to."

My throat tightened.

"She knew my brother?"

"She loved him."

The world seemed to stop.

"Loved him how?"

Rosalie looked away.

"Mama said he saved her."

I stood very still.

Derek had said Daniel had been investigating something.

Lena had hidden evidence.

And now her daughter was telling me my dead brother had once saved her.

There was more to Daniel's death than I had ever known.

And somehow, Lena had spent years protecting the truth.

Not from me.

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