Chapter 7: The Night Ethan Disappeared
Marcus read the message again.
Ask Ethan what he did last Tuesday.
He looked at the photograph.
Ethan was standing outside the family home, wearing the same gray jacket he had worn during dinner.
The picture had been taken recently.
Someone was watching his son.
"Call him," Marcus said.
Daniel immediately dialed Ethan's number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then went to voicemail.
Daniel tried again.
Nothing.
Marcus grabbed his own phone.
"Ethan, pick up.""
No answer.
He called a third time.
This time, the phone was switched off.
Marcus turned toward Peter.
"How long have you known someone was watching my son?""
Peter looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't know anyone was following Ethan.""
"Then who took this photograph?""
"I don't know.""
Marcus slammed his phone against the table.
"Everybody in this room keeps telling me what they don't know!""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Marcus, calm down.""
He turned toward her.
"Don't tell me to calm down.""
"I'm trying to help.""
"You've been helping my brother for eighteen months!""
"I know.""
"You helped him steal from me.""
"I know.""
"You knew my daughter was alive and said nothing!""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"I know.""
Marcus pointed toward the door.
"Then tell me something useful for once.""
Vanessa looked at the photograph again.
"Last Tuesday, Ethan wasn't at home.""
Marcus froze.
"What?""
She swallowed.
"I saw him leave around nine.""
Peter looked up.
"Where did he go?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"To meet someone.""
"Who?""
"Rebecca.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Are you certain?""
Vanessa nodded.
"I followed him for a few blocks. He went to a coffee shop near the old train station.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know what they discussed.""
Peter pulled out his phone.
"Did you see anyone else?""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"Laura was there.""
Marcus frowned.
"Laura Bennett?""
"Yes.""
The woman who had entered Claire's bedroom.
The woman who had been searching for the missing documents.
The woman Vanessa had called her friend.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"We're going to that coffee shop.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We need to involve the police.""
"We will. But first, I want to know why my son met the woman who helped hide his sister.""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"Marcus, there's something else.""
He looked down at her hand.
She released him.
"At the coffee shop, Ethan gave Rebecca an envelope.""
"What was inside?""
"I couldn't see.""
"Did Rebecca give him anything?""
Vanessa nodded.
"A photograph.""
"Of whom?""
"Of a little girl.""
Marcus frowned.
"Oliver is a boy.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"It wasn't Oliver.""
She looked directly at him.
"It was you.""
The coffee shop had closed for the evening, but the owner agreed to let them review the security footage after Daniel showed his identification.
The manager led them into a small office.
"Camera three covers the front entrance," he explained.
"Camera five covers the seating area.""
Peter stood beside the monitor.
"Go to last Tuesday. Nine fifteen.""
The footage appeared.
Ethan entered first.
He looked around before choosing a table near the window.
Ten minutes later, a woman walked inside.
Rebecca.
She wore a dark coat and carried a small handbag.
They spoke briefly.
Then Rebecca placed a photograph on the table.
Ethan picked it up.
Marcus leaned closer.
His son looked shocked.
He turned the photograph over.
Then he said something the camera couldn't capture.
Rebecca shook her head.
Ethan pushed the photograph back.
A few seconds later, he removed an envelope from his jacket.
He handed it to her.
Rebecca opened it.
Her expression changed.
She immediately stood.
Then she leaned toward Ethan and said something.
Ethan shook his head.
Rebecca slapped the table.
The manager paused the footage.
"Do you recognize what happened next?""
Marcus pointed at the screen.
"Play it.""
The video continued.
Rebecca walked out.
Ethan remained seated.
He took out his phone and made a call.
Then he buried his face in his hands.
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
He had never seen his son look so defeated.
"What was in the envelope?"" Daniel asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Peter examined the footage.
"Zoom in.""
The manager enlarged the image.
Ethan had placed the envelope on the table for several seconds.
The camera caught a glimpse of the first page.
There was a hospital logo.
A date.
And a name.
*ETHAN HALE.*
Marcus stared.
"What's that?""
Daniel's face changed.
"Medical records.""
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus turned toward her.
"Why would my son give Rebecca his medical records?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Peter replayed the footage.
This time, he noticed something else.
A second person had been sitting behind Ethan.
A man in a baseball cap.
The same man from the coffee shop photograph.
Peter pointed at the screen.
"That's him.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Who is he?""
Peter's voice dropped.
"Robert's driver.""
The manager zoomed in.
The man stood.
He walked toward the counter.
Then he placed something inside Ethan's jacket while passing behind him.
Marcus felt sick.
"What did he put there?""
Peter shook his head.
"I don't know.""
The manager switched to another camera.
The footage showed the man leaving.
Ethan remained seated for another twelve minutes.
Then he stood, picked up his jacket, and walked out.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"We need the police.""
Marcus nodded.
"Now.""
Twenty minutes later, two detectives arrived.
One was a woman in her forties named Detective Harper. The other was a younger officer who carried a tablet.
They watched the footage twice.
Detective Harper turned toward Marcus.
"Mr. Hale, does your son have a history of criminal activity?""
"No.""
"Any known disputes with Rebecca Bennett?""
"Not that I know of.""
She looked at the medical records on the screen.
"Do you know why he would give her hospital documents?""
Marcus shook his head.
The detective made a note.
"Has Ethan been diagnosed with any medical condition?""
Marcus hesitated.
"No.""
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"He had a heart condition when he was a child.""
Marcus turned.
"What?""
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
"Claire told me.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Ethan had a minor heart procedure when he was six. He's been healthy ever since.""
Detective Harper looked at her.
"Do you have any reason to believe his condition has returned?""
"No.""
"Then why mention it?""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"Because Robert has been talking about it.""
Marcus stared.
"What?""
She swallowed.
"He said Ethan had a medical history that could be used against him.""
Detective Harper's expression hardened.
"Used against him how?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she looked at Marcus.
"Robert wanted to prove Ethan was unstable.""
The detective wrote something down.
"Mr. Hale, we need to speak with your son immediately.""
Marcus called Ethan again.
Still no answer.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message.
I'm safe. Don't look for me.
Marcus's heart dropped.
He typed quickly.
Where are you?
The response came almost immediately.
I need to finish something Mom started.
Marcus called.
This time, Ethan answered.
"Ethan!""
"Hey, Dad.""
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"That's not an answer.""
A brief silence.
Then Ethan said, "I'm sorry.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Why did you meet Rebecca?""
"Because she contacted me.""
"What did you give her?""
"Something she wanted.""
"What?""
"Mom's hospital records.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Why?""
Ethan took a breath.
"Because they prove something.""
"What?""
"That I wasn't the only child Claire gave birth to.""
Marcus went completely still.
"What are you talking about?""
Ethan continued.
"Mom had twins.""
The room fell silent.
Marcus felt the floor move beneath him.
"Twins?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because the second baby wasn't registered under your name.""
Marcus's throat tightened.
"Who was the second baby?""
Ethan hesitated.
Then he said:
"Me.""
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
Ethan's voice broke.
"Dad, I'm not Claire's biological son.""
Marcus couldn't speak.
He stood in the middle of the coffee shop office, holding the phone against his ear.
Ethan continued.
"Mom told me when I was seventeen. She made me promise not to tell you.""
Marcus shook his head.
"No.""
"I'm sorry.""
"No, Ethan. Stop.""
"She said she had no choice.""
Marcus looked at the photographs on the monitor.
The hospital records.
The envelope.
The woman who had disappeared.
His entire family seemed to be changing shape in front of him.
"Who are your biological parents?""
Ethan was quiet.
Then he answered.
"Rebecca and Robert.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe.
The two people who had been manipulating his family were Ethan's biological parents.
And Claire had raised their son as her own.
"Why?"" Marcus whispered.
"Because Rebecca couldn't raise me. Robert didn't want another child. Mom agreed to adopt me privately.""
Marcus leaned against the wall.
"Does Sophie know?""
"I don't think so.""
"Where is Rebecca now?""
"I don't know.""
"Ethan, come home.""
"I can't.""
"Please.""
"I need to find Sophie first.""
Marcus's voice broke.
"You're my son.""
"I know.""
"No matter whose blood you have, you're my son.""
Ethan went silent.
Then he whispered:
"That's why I have to finish this.""
The call ended.
Marcus stared at the phone.
Detective Harper approached.
"Mr. Hale, what happened?""
He looked at her.
"My son is missing.""
She immediately reached for her radio.
But before she could speak, Peter walked toward them.
"I know where he went.""
Marcus turned.
"Where?""
Peter looked at the photograph of Rebecca.
"To the place Claire used to take Sophie.""
He pointed to a small handwritten address on the back.
"An old house by the lake.""
Detective Harper looked at him.
"How do you know?""
Peter swallowed.
"Because I was there when Rebecca brought the children together for the first time.""
Marcus stared.
"What children?""
Peter's voice dropped.
"Ethan and Sophie.""
May you like
Then he added:
"And there was a third child.""
