Chapter 3 - THE ATTACK THAT LOOKED NATURAL
Doctors examined Ethan inside the tower’s private medical suite.
His oxygen level slowly returned to normal.
The attack had been more severe than any episode in the previous decade.
Dr. Helen Park inspected the inhaler Lily had given him.
“This canister is nearly empty.”
“It was replaced yesterday,” Ethan said.
“Then someone used it or changed it.”
Rebecca stood near the door.
“The backup inhaler disappeared.”
“The camera failed.”
“Your watch was cut.”
Ethan looked toward Maria and Lily.
The child sat on Maria’s lap eating crackers.
She had saved his life because every adult system designed to protect him had failed.
Dr. Park sent the inhaler for testing.
Ethan asked Maria to remain.
She refused until Rebecca assured her that Denise Crowley had been informed.
The name made Ethan look up.
“Denise is your supervisor?”
“Yes.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Almost two years.”
“You never told me.”
Maria’s expression tightened.
“You never asked who emptied your trash.”
Ethan accepted the criticism.
He lowered his voice.
“Tell me about Ava.”
Maria looked at Lily.
“Not in front of my daughter.”
Rebecca arranged for Calvin to take Lily to a nearby conference room.
Calvin arrived carrying juice and a stack of printer paper.
Lily trusted him.
Before leaving, she gave Mr. Buttons to Ethan.
“You still look scared.”
Ethan held the rabbit awkwardly.
“I will take care of him.”
When the door closed, Maria remained standing.
“Ava did not steal from you.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“The money left my account the night she disappeared.”
“She never received it.”
“My father showed me the transfer.”
“Your father showed you what he wanted you to believe.”
Ethan stood too quickly.
The room tilted.
Dr. Park forced him back into the chair.
Maria continued.
“Ava came home crying.”
“She said Conrad Harrington threatened our mother.”
“He knew my mother had entered the country on an expired visa years earlier.”
“She had legal status by then, but he claimed he could reopen everything.”
“He threatened my scholarship.”
“He threatened our apartment.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because Ava discovered something inside Harrington Industries.”
“What?”
“She would not tell me.”
“She said knowing would put us in danger.”
“Where did she go?”
“She planned to meet you.”
“She wrote a letter.”
Ethan’s voice became almost inaudible.
“I never received one.”
“I know.”
Maria looked away.
“My mother kept it.”
“Why?”
“She was afraid.”
“A Harrington attorney came to our apartment after Ava died.”
The word struck him.
“Died?”
Maria looked at him again.
“You did not know?”
Ethan could not speak.
“Ava was hit by a car four days after she disappeared from your life.”
“The driver was never found.”
Ethan gripped the arms of the chair.
His father had told him Ava moved to Europe.
He had claimed private investigators confirmed it.
For eleven years, Ethan had believed she was alive somewhere, spending stolen money and forgetting him.
Maria’s voice softened.
“My mother found Ava’s letter after the funeral.”
“She wanted to deliver it.”
“Then your father’s lawyer threatened us.”
“Mom hid it.”
“Where is it now?”
“In my apartment.”
Rebecca’s phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
May you like
Then she looked toward Ethan.
“Someone just used Maria’s employee file to access her home address.”
