Chapter 10 - The Shot in the Dark
Ethan hit the floor as glass rained across the room.
"Robert!"
His uncle groaned beside the table, clutching his shoulder.
Another shot tore through the wall.
Then the woods erupted with shouting.
"Police! Drop the weapon!"
Ethan crawled toward the canvas bag and dragged it behind an iron stove. Robert was bleeding, but conscious.
"Recorder," Robert gasped. "Don't lose it."
Outside, two more shots cracked through the night.
Then silence.
Long, terrible silence.
Brooks entered with her weapon drawn.
"Ethan?"
"Here! Robert's hit."
Paramedics rushed in.
The shooter had fled on foot, leaving behind a hunting rifle registered to a shell company connected to Hale Development.
Margaret's company.
At the hospital, Robert went into surgery.
Ethan sat in a plastic chair with the recorder in an evidence bag on his lap until Brooks took it for processing.
"You heard him," Ethan said. "He admitted Mom chased Noah."
"I heard it. The wire captured everything."
"Then arrest her."
"For what we can prove, not what we suspect."
Ethan stood. "She attacked Claire. She covered up Noah's death. Someone just tried to kill Robert."
Brooks did not raise her voice.
"And if I arrest Margaret for murder tonight without enough evidence, her lawyer tears the case apart tomorrow. I want her charged once. Correctly."
Ethan hated the logic because he knew she was right.
At 1:16 a.m., Claire called.
"Ethan, there's a woman outside the hotel room."
He froze.
"Where's the officer?"
"He went downstairs because someone reported a fight in the lobby."
Ethan started walking.
"Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone."
A soft knock sounded through Claire's phone.
Then a woman's voice.
"Claire? My name is Rachel Dunn. I was Noah's girlfriend. Please. Margaret knows where you are."
Claire whispered, "How did you find me?"
May you like
Rachel answered through the door.
"Because Margaret sent me."
