Chapter 2 - THE MAN STANDING BESIDE HIS FATHER
“DON'T LET HIM NEAR MY SON.”
Caroline Calloway's voice cut through the hallway outside her husband's private office.
Marcus turned toward the sound.
For nine months, he had believed his wife had been hundreds of miles away when their son nearly died.
Now ten-year-old Ethan was sitting beside him, holding a photograph that proved otherwise.
And downstairs, the woman Marcus had once trusted more than anyone was being escorted toward the service entrance.
“Bring Caroline here,” Marcus ordered.
His security director, Helena Price, hesitated.
“Your sister says Mrs. Calloway isn't emotionally stable enough to see Ethan.”
Marcus looked at the tablet.
Three words remained on the screen.
AUNT DIANA KNOWS.
“I'm not asking my sister.”
Two minutes later, Caroline entered the office.
She wore a charcoal coat over a simple cream dress. Her dark hair was loosely pinned, and there were shadows beneath her eyes.
She looked nothing like the woman Marcus remembered from their wedding photographs.
But when she saw Ethan, her entire expression changed.
“Baby?”
Ethan's fingers moved rapidly.
MOM.
Caroline covered her mouth.
Then she knelt beside his wheelchair.
“I've missed you so much.”
Marcus watched his son reach for her hand.
For months, Ethan had withdrawn whenever someone mentioned his mother.
Marcus had interpreted that as anger.
Now he wondered whether his son had simply been afraid nobody would believe him.
“Caroline,” Marcus said quietly. “Were you in the car that day?”
She turned toward him.
“Yes.”
The answer struck harder than any accusation.
“You told me you were in Chicago.”
“I was supposed to be.”
“Why did you lie?”
Caroline's eyes filled.
“Because someone convinced you I was the reason Ethan got hurt.”
Marcus opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Caroline looked at Rebecca.
“Has he told you about the black SUV?”
Rebecca nodded.
“He's been trying.”
Caroline turned back to Marcus.
“Nine months ago, I discovered something in the shipping company's financial records. Money that belonged to injured dockworkers had been disappearing.”
Marcus frowned.
“What money?”
“The Pier Nine compensation fund.”
His expression hardened.
That fund had been established after an industrial accident injured eighteen workers.
His late father had promised their families lifelong support.
Marcus believed every payment had been made.
Caroline continued.
“I collected copies of the records. I was taking Ethan to my sister's home on Whidbey Island while I figured out who was involved.”
“Without telling me?”
“I was going to tell you when we reached the ferry.”
“Why not before?”
“Because your sister already knew I was asking questions.”
Marcus looked toward the office doors.
“Diana?”
Caroline nodded.
“She came to me the night before. She said I was about to destroy everything your father built.”
Ethan began typing.
Rebecca moved closer to help steady his tablet.
The message appeared.
MOM HAD BLUE BAG.
Caroline stared at the screen.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Marcus looked at her.
“What blue bag?”
“A canvas document bag. I had the original payment schedules inside.”
“Where is it?”
“It disappeared after the accident.”
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Then tell me exactly what happened.”
Caroline took a trembling breath.
“We stopped at a gas station outside Seattle. I stepped out to meet someone who had information about those payments. Ethan and our driver, Tom Velez, were supposed to continue toward the ferry terminal. I would follow them.”
She looked at Ethan.
“I watched them leave.”
Ethan typed again.
BLACK CAR FOLLOWED.
Caroline nodded.
“I saw it pulling away.”
Marcus turned the photograph toward her.
“The man in the orange construction jacket was Peter Collins.”
Caroline leaned closer.
Then her eyes moved toward another photograph displayed on Marcus's computer.
It had been taken earlier that evening during the birthday celebration.
Marcus stood beside several of his senior executives.
His oldest friend and chief financial officer, Daniel Rourke, stood immediately to his right.
Caroline went completely still.
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“Look at Daniel's wrist.”
Marcus enlarged the photograph.
Daniel wore a silver watch with a dark-blue face.
A thin crack ran across the glass.
“I've seen that watch before,” Caroline whispered.
Marcus stared at her.
“Where?”
She shook her head.
“I thought I imagined it. I was so frightened that day.”
Ethan suddenly began making distressed sounds.
Rebecca placed a reassuring hand beside his.
“It's okay, Ethan. Take your time.”
The boy typed slowly.
BLUE WATCH MAN.
Marcus bent closer.
“Daniel?”
Ethan nodded.
Marcus felt something cold settle in his chest.
Daniel Rourke had been his closest friend since they were sixteen.
He had stood beside Marcus at his father's funeral.
He had visited Ethan in the hospital.
He had even helped arrange the rehabilitation equipment that allowed the boy to communicate.
“Buddy,” Marcus said, “are you telling me Daniel was there?”
Ethan nodded again.
Then he typed another sentence.
HE BROKE HIS WATCH.
Caroline grabbed the edge of the desk.
Marcus turned toward Helena.
“Find Daniel. Quietly.”
But Ethan wasn't finished.
His fingers moved with sudden determination.
HE TOOK MOM'S BLUE BAG.
Marcus looked at his wife.
Caroline was shaking.
“How could he know what was inside?” she whispered.
Before Marcus could answer, Helena examined the live security monitor.
Daniel Rourke had left the ballroom.
He was walking toward the private family wing.
And in his hand was a small black case labeled with Ethan's medical equipment number.
Helena's expression changed.
“Boss, that case contains the backup drive for your son's communication tablet.”
Marcus stood.
“Stop him.”
On the monitor, Daniel paused outside the equipment room.
May you like
Then he looked directly into the security camera.
And smiled.
