Chapter 7 - The Brother Who Sacrificed His Name
For six years, Ethan Jenkins had allowed his family to believe he was dead.
Now Jonathan Pierce was telling me he'd done it to protect me.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to cry.
Mostly, I wanted someone to stop deciding what I deserved to know.
"Tell me everything," I said.
Jonathan sat down slowly.
"Six years ago, Ethan found evidence linking Croft, Whitmore, and several banking executives to fraudulent acquisitions."
Arthur remained silent.
Jonathan continued.
"He copied the original transaction records. Before he could turn them over, someone discovered what he'd done."
"Richard?"
"Richard was involved. But he wasn't acting alone."
I looked at the photograph.
Ethan stood beside the two businessmen.
His expression was unreadable.
"Why would he pose with them?"
Jonathan hesitated.
"Because he agreed to work inside their operation."
I stared.
"Undercover?"
"Not officially. He made arrangements through an attorney and later provided information to investigators."
My stomach tightened.
"That was incredibly dangerous."
Jonathan nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why did everyone think he died?"
"He believed the people controlling Blackbird were preparing to harm his family."
I looked away.
For years, I'd blamed myself for not answering Ethan's final phone call.
It happened the night before the robbery.
I was studying for an examination.
He called twice.
I ignored both calls.
The next morning, he was gone.
Now I understood why he'd been desperate to reach me.
I covered my face.
Arthur moved closer.
"Khloe—"
"Don't."
He stopped.
I looked toward Jonathan.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
His expression changed.
"Because Ethan returned this morning."
My heart pounded.
"Where is he?"
Jonathan looked toward the hallway.
"He wanted to see you."
I stood.
"Then where is he?"
Jonathan swallowed.
"He left when he learned Croft was dining with Arthur tonight."
I stared.
"Why?"
"Because he believed Croft was planning something desperate."
My blood ran cold.
The dinner.
Caroline.
Daniel's disappearance.
The photograph.
It had all been connected.
Then Jonathan's phone vibrated.
He read a message.
His face went pale.
"What?" I demanded.
He looked toward me.
"Daniel Hayes has been located."
Relief surged through me.
"Is he alive?"
"Yes."
Caroline would finally have an answer.
But Jonathan wasn't finished.
"He wasn't being held inside a warehouse."
I frowned.
"Then where?"
Jonathan's voice dropped.
"At a private apartment owned by Ethan."
I stared.
"My brother?"
He nodded.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph of Daniel sitting beside Ethan.
Neither looked restrained.
Neither looked injured.
And Daniel was smiling.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Had Caroline's husband been hiding voluntarily?
Had Ethan been working with him?
Then Jonathan whispered the final revelation.
"Daniel Hayes isn't Caroline's real husband."
I stared.
"What?"
Jonathan swallowed.
"According to the records Ethan recovered, Daniel has been using a false identity for eleven years."
His real name was Daniel Whitmore.
May you like
Charles Whitmore's son.
The heir to the man who helped create Blackbird.
