Chapter 4 - The Video From 1998
We watched the first video in Victor's armored SUV because he did not trust the mansion's electronics.
That alone told me how bad this was.
Ethan sat beside me in the back seat.
He had not said a word to his mother since we left the dining room.
Victor inserted the card into an isolated laptop.
A grainy video appeared.
Date: December 21, 1998.
A laboratory.
A young woman in a white coat stood in front of the camera.
She was terrified.
"My name is Rachel Quinn," she said. "If something happens to me, the trial results were changed."
Victor stopped the video.
"Rachel was the employee who died."
Ethan stared at the screen.
Victor pressed PLAY.
Rachel continued.
"Four patients experienced cardiac failure. Two died. The company removed them from the report."
My stomach tightened.
Then a man entered the frame.
Younger.
Dark hair.
Ethan's face.
Daniel Cole.
Ethan's father.
Rachel said, "He knows."
Daniel looked directly into the camera.
"I know."
Then a woman's voice came from offscreen.
"Turn that off."
Margaret.
Young, but unmistakable.
The picture jerked.
Rachel whispered, "She knows too."
Then the video ended.
Ethan covered his mouth.
Victor opened another file.
Security footage.
Margaret entering the lab ten minutes later with a man I recognized from Christmas dinner.
Charles.
Her brother.
Ethan stared.
"My uncle?"
Victor nodded.
The footage had no sound.
But it showed an argument.
Rachel tried to leave.
Charles blocked the door.
Daniel stepped between them.
Then the video cut out.
The next file was an audio recording.
Daniel's voice.
"If they find me, they'll make Ethan pay for it."
A second male voice said, "Then leave."
Victor's voice.
Younger.
Daniel asked, "What about Rachel?"
Victor was silent.
Then: "I'll protect her."
The recording ended.
Victor closed his eyes.
"I failed."
Ethan looked at him.
"She died."
"Yes."
"How?"
"Officially, a single-car crash."
I felt cold.
Another car accident.
Just like the lie about Daniel.
Just like—
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed our townhouse.
Taken from across the street.
Then a message.
CLAIRE, YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED QUIET.
Ethan saw it.
"What the hell?"
A second message arrived.
THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING.
Then a third.
A live photo.
Our bedroom window.
Taken less than a minute ago.
Victor grabbed his phone.
"We're moving."
I whispered, "Someone is inside our house."
Victor looked at the driver.
"Go."
The SUV accelerated.
Ethan reached for my hand.
This time I took it.
Then his phone rang.
Caller ID:
MOM.
He answered.
Margaret was crying.
"Ethan, don't go home."
His face hardened.
"Why?"
A pause.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Because I think Charles is already there.
