Chapter 9 - THE NAME ETHAN NEVER TOLD ME
I confronted Ethan before leaving for Geneva.
No lawyers.
No Sophia.
Just us.
“Who is the name?”
He looked tired.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
I held up the photograph.
“Don’t.”
His face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Henry.”
He looked away.
“So you do know.”
“Claire.”
“Name.”
Silence.
I stepped closer.
“Ethan, this is the last time I ask you as your wife.”
His eyes lifted.
Something broke in them.
“Marcus Vale.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
“Sophia’s uncle.”
My stomach tightened.
“Her mother’s brother?”
“Yes.”
“What does he have to do with my father?”
“He handled Northstar security.”
“For Bennett?”
“For both families.”
“What happened?”
Ethan swallowed.
“He disappeared after Geneva.”
“Dead?”
“No one knows.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Marcus was my father’s closest friend.”
Of course.
“And?”
“My father told me if Northstar ever resurfaced, Marcus would come back.”
My skin went cold.
“Come back for what?”
“The controlling option.”
I stared.
“Is he dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“How dangerous?”
Ethan laughed without humor.
“The kind of man my father feared.”
That was enough.
We went to Geneva.
Henry Bennett regained consciousness six hours later.
Sophia sat beside him.
I remained near the window.
He looked at me.
“Jonathan’s daughter.”
Not Claire.
Not Mrs. Walker.
Jonathan’s daughter.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
His eyes filled.
“Too much.”
I waited.
He looked at Sophia.
“Leave.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“I don’t want you hearing this.”
“Then you should have told me years ago.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
He turned back to me.
“Marcus Vale killed your father.”
Silence.
My chest tightened.
“Proof.”
Henry almost smiled.
“Also like Jonathan.”
He pointed toward the package police had delivered.
Inside:
A hotel access log.
Security footage stills.
Payment transfers.
Marcus Vale entering my father’s suite.
Thirty-eight minutes before he collapsed.
I stared.
“Why?”
“Northstar.”
“More specifically.”
“Jonathan discovered Marcus had been selling access to shipping routes.”
“To who?”
“Private arms brokers.”
My stomach turned.
“Dad was going to expose him.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know?”
Henry closed his eyes.
“After.”
“You covered it up.”
“Yes.”
Sophia started crying.
“Dad.”
“I was afraid Bennett would collapse.”
I laughed bitterly.
“So you protected the company.”
“Yes.”
“Did you help kill him?”
“No.”
I searched his face.
For once, I believed him.
“Where is Marcus?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Henry looked at Ethan.
“He might.”
We turned.
Ethan went pale.
“What?”
Henry continued.
“Michael left you Marcus’s contact protocol.”
Ethan stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I burned it.”
Henry’s expression changed.
“What?”
“My father left a code book. I destroyed it after Lily was born.”
My heart tightened.
One good choice.
Late.
But real.
Henry looked frightened.
“Then Marcus knows you defected.”
Ethan frowned.
“So?”
“So he’ll come for you.”
My stomach dropped.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca.
Her voice was frantic.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“Your mother’s house.”
My blood froze.
“What happened?”
“Security was breached.”
“Lily?”
“She’s safe.”
I exhaled.
“Your mother is safe too.”
“Then what?”
Rebecca continued.
“Someone entered your father’s old study.”
My chest tightened.
“What did they take?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why break in?”
“They left something.”
A black envelope.
Inside was one line.
CLAIRE QUINN, FINISH WHAT YOUR FATHER STARTED.
May you like
Signed:
MARCUS VALE.
