Chapter 6 - The Man Who Betrayed Ethan's Father
John Wells did not deny it.
He simply closed the office door.
"You should have let this die."
Ethan stared at him.
"My mother knew."
"Your mother suspected."
"Daniel recorded everything."
John sighed.
"You don't understand the scale."
"Then explain it."
Wells sat behind his desk.
"Richard Cole wasn't the beginning."
"Who was?"
"Your father."
Ethan's face hardened.
"My father didn't steal."
"No."
Wells looked at him.
"He built the legal structure that made the first investment possible."
"Investment?"
"A housing redevelopment project."
"Which became Maple Street."
"And then other properties."
Ethan felt sick.
"What happened?"
"The project needed capital. Your father brought in investors."
"Who?"
"Richard Cole."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your father died believing the project would help people."
"He was lied to."
"Yes."
"And you knew."
"Eventually."
"When?"
"Two years later."
"And you did nothing."
Wells looked down.
"By then I was involved."
Ethan's voice went flat.
"How involved?"
"Financially."
"How much?"
"Enough."
"Enough to hurt people?"
Wells didn't answer.
Ethan pulled out his phone.
"You've been recorded."
Wells smiled sadly.
"You're bluffing."
"I don't need to."
He placed the recording device on the table.
Wells stared at it.
Then the truth came out.
"The charity was the perfect funnel."
Ethan listened.
"Small donations moved through the school."
"Why?"
"Because nobody audits small expenses closely."
"And the processing fees?"
"Fake."
"And the families?"
"Pressure."
"Why?"
"To create turnover in the housing properties."
Ethan felt his stomach turn.
"The school was being used to identify tenants."
"Yes."
"And Grace?"
Wells looked at him.
"Grace's family was different."
"Why?"
"Because her father found out."
"Daniel knew."
"He had proof."
"Which is why you forged his name."
Wells nodded.
Ethan looked at the man who had worked beside his father for twenty-two years.
"You helped kill him."
Wells snapped his head up.
"I didn't kill him."
"You knew he was in danger."
"I warned Cole."
"You warned him."
Wells looked away.
"Daniel wouldn't stop."
"So Cole arranged the accident."
Wells said nothing.
Silence.
Ethan's voice trembled.
"That's a yes."
"No."
"A lie."
"I didn't arrange it."
"But you knew."
Wells closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Ethan stood.
"You will testify."
Wells looked at him.
"And if I don't?"
"Then I give everything to federal prosecutors."
"What about your father's name?"
"My father's name doesn't matter."
Wells stared.
Ethan's voice broke.
"What matters is that Daniel is dead."
That afternoon, federal agents arrested Thomas Price.
Margaret Price fled.
Richard Cole disappeared.
And John Wells entered witness protection negotiations.
Amanda watched the news from her apartment.
Grace sat beside her.
"Is the bad man going to jail?"
Amanda looked at Ethan.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"If the evidence holds."
Grace thought about it.
"Then can we have Christmas again?"
Ethan smiled.
"Yes."
But the case wasn't over.
Because Richard Cole still had something.
Money.
And people with money could run.
Two days later, Amanda received a text from an unknown number.
Bring the blue box.
Or your daughter disappears.
Her phone fell from her hand.
Ethan saw the message.
His expression changed instantly.
"Grace."
They searched the apartment.
She was gone.
The babysitter was unconscious in the hallway.
A back window stood open.
Ethan ran.
For the first time in his adult life, he forgot caution.
Forgot legal procedure.
Forgot everything except the face of a little girl who had once said Santa forgot about me.
His security team tracked the vehicle.
Black SUV.
Heading east.
Toward the old warehouse district.
Ethan got there in twelve minutes.
He found Grace inside a storage room.
She was frightened.
But unharmed.
A man stood behind her.
Scar across his left cheek.
Uncle Danny.
Except he wasn't Amanda's brother.
He was an employee of Richard Cole.
The man raised his hands.
"Easy."
Ethan moved forward.
"Let her go."
"I don't want her."
"Then why take her?"
"Because Cole wants the box."
"The box is already in federal evidence."
The man's face fell.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
Ethan stepped closer.
"You're disposable."
The man froze.
"That's what he does."
He looked at Grace.
Then back at Ethan.
"He'll kill all of us."
Ethan offered him one thing.
Protection.
The man dropped his weapon.
"Take the girl."
Grace ran.
Ethan caught her.
She buried her face in his coat.
He held her carefully.
"I've got you."
Behind them, the man whispered.
"Cole is going after Amanda."
Ethan looked up.
"Where?"
"Maple Street."
May you like
His blood turned cold.
They had three minutes.
