CHAPTER EIGHT: THE TRAP CLOSES
795 Words
Ethan barely slept. The photograph of his apartment sat open on his phone screen, someone had taken it recently, very recently, the message was clear.
They knew where he lived, they knew where he worked and they knew he was asking questions.
The next morning, Ethan left his apartment earlier than usual. He deliberately changed routes several times.Twice, he entered crowded subway stations and exited through different entrances.Three times, he looked over his shoulder.
At first, he saw nothing.Then he noticed the man, with a dark jacket, black baseball cap, standing across the street, watching.
The moment Ethan looked directly at him, the man turned away.Ethan's stomach tightened, the trap was closing.
Meanwhile, back in Willow Creek, Olivia could no longer ignore her suspicions. Ever since discovering the confidential folder in her father's office, questions had consumed her.
Who had been following Ethan?Why were there photographs of him? And what exactly were her father and Victor Sterling hiding?
Late that evening, Olivia quietly entered her father's study.The house was silent.Her parents were attending a charity event across town.This was her chance.
She moved quickly to the desk.The black folder was gone.Her heart sank.But then she noticed something else, a locked drawer.One she had never seen her father use before.
As she examined it, she heard footsteps.She immediately stepped away.The door opened. Daniel Sterling stood there.
Olivia froze.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel looked equally surprised. "I could ask you the same thing." For several tense seconds, neither spoke. Then Daniel's eyes shifted toward the desk. Understanding flashed across his face. "You're looking for answers too, aren't you?"
Olivia stared at him.
Too?
Daniel slowly closed the door behind him. For the first time, she wondered if Daniel might not be her enemy after all.
In New York, Ethan decided to investigate Bennett Global Investments on his own.The more he learned, the less sense things made.The company appeared legitimate.
Successful.Respected.
Yet strange stories followed it everywhere.Former employees who disappeared, projects that were suddenly abandoned, records that seemed incomplete.
It was as if someone had carefully erased pieces of the truth. That afternoon, Ethan returned to the coffee shop where the waitress had warned him.He found her working behind the counter.When she saw him, her expression immediately changed.
"You came back."
"I need answers."
The waitress looked around nervously. Then lowered her voice."My name is Sarah."
"Ethan."
"I know."
The response caught him off guard.
"You know me?"Sarah nodded. "More people know about you than you realize."A chill ran down Ethan's spine."What does that mean?"
Sarah hesitated. Then leaned closer. "William Bennett isn't who he pretends to be." Ethan's pulse quickened."What do you know?"Before Sarah could answer, the bell above the café door rang.
Both turned.A tall man entered, wearing a dark suit, expressionless face.Sarah immediately went pale.
"Ethan," she whispered.
"What?"
"You need to leave."
"Why?"
Her voice trembled. "Because he's one of them." Ethan didn't wait. He stood and headed for the back exit. But the moment he stepped outside, another man blocked his path.Then a third appeared from the alley.His heart began pounding.
Three men, one exit, no escape, the men advanced slowly.
Not rushing, not speaking, as though they already knew how this would end.Ethan turned and ran.The city exploded around him.Car horns, shouting, footsteps.The men chased him through crowded sidewalks and narrow streets.He jumped over a trash bin, crossed a busy intersection, nearly got hit by a taxi, still they followed.
Closer, closer, closer.
His lungs burned, his legs screamed.Then suddenly, a van pulled up beside him.The side door slid open.A voice shouted:"Get in!"Ethan didn't recognize the driver, but he recognized one thing. If he stayed outside, he was caught, without thinking, he jumped inside.
The door slammed shut, the van accelerated away, the men disappeared behind them.
For several moments, Ethan struggled to catch his breath.Then he looked at the driver, and froze. The man behind the wheel was holding an old photograph.A photograph of Ethan, taken years ago.
In Willow Creek, the driver glanced at him through the mirror.
"Relax, Ethan.""Who are you?"The man smiled slightly."My name isn't important.""Then why are you helping me?"
The driver's smile faded. "Because your father died trying to uncover the same secret."The world seemed to stop. Ethan stared at him.Unable to breathe, unable to think. "My father?" The driver nodded. "There's a lot you don't know."Ethan's heart hammered in his chest, his father had died when he was young.
Everyone said it had been an accident.A tragedy, nothing more.
But now...For the first time in his life...He was being told it might have been something else.The driver tightened his grip on the steering wheel.Then spoke words that changed everything."The truth about Willow Creek didn't start with you, Ethan.
"It started with your father."
- Writer
