Chapter 14 — The Man in the Dark

“Lena Carter.”

Lena's fingers tightened around Adrian's.

The footsteps stopped.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then the emergency lights flickered on, bathing the hallway in a dim red glow.

A man stood at the far end.

He was dressed in a dark jacket, his face partly hidden beneath a cap.

Adrian immediately stepped in front of Lena.

“Who are you?”

The man smiled.

“You really don't remember me?”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“I don't have time for games.”

The man slowly lifted his hands.

“I'm not here to hurt her.”

“Then leave.”

His smile disappeared.

“I came because she deserves the truth.”

Lena moved around Adrian.

“What truth?”

Adrian caught her wrist.

“Lena, don't.”

The stranger looked directly at her.

“Your mother lied about why your father disappeared.”

Lena froze.

“What do you know about him?”

“More than you think.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Tell us.”

The man glanced at him.

“Your father wasn't running from the police.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“He was running from someone.”

“Who?”

The man looked at Lena.

“Your father's employer.”

Adrian's face changed.

“My father?”

“No.”

The man shook his head.

“Your father was the one hunting him.”

Lena felt confused.

“You're saying my father was running from Adrian's father?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because Michael Carter had evidence.”

Adrian's eyes sharpened.

“What evidence?”

“Records. Names. Payments. Everything your father tried to bury.”

Lena swallowed.

“Then where is he?”

The stranger hesitated.

“Alive.”

Her heart stopped.

“Alive?”

Adrian looked at her.

The man nodded.

“He disappeared because he was forced to.”

“Where is he now?”

“I don't know.”

Lena's hope fell almost as quickly as it came.

“You don't know?”

“But I know someone who does.”

“Who?”

The man looked toward the hospital room.

“Your mother.”

Lena immediately turned.

Adrian stopped her.

“Wait.”

A loud crash came from inside the room.

Lena's eyes widened.

“Mom!”

She ran.

Adrian followed.

The door was open.

The bed was empty.

The monitor was still beeping.

Daniel stood frozen beside the window.

“Where is she?” Lena cried.

He turned toward them.

“She was here a minute ago.”

Lena rushed to the bed.

Her mother's blanket was on the floor.

The IV line had been disconnected.

And on the pillow was a folded piece of paper.

Lena picked it up with trembling fingers.

Her name was written on the front.

LENA.

She opened it.

Only one sentence was written inside.

If you want to see your mother alive again, come to the old Blackwood estate. Come alone.

Lena's hands began to shake.

Adrian took the note from her.

“No.”

Lena looked at him.

“I have to go.”

“It's a trap.”

“It's my mother.”

“And that's exactly why they chose her.”

She stared at him.

“What if they hurt her?”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“They won't.”

“You don't know that.”

“I know I'm not letting you walk into that place alone.”

The stranger suddenly spoke from behind them.

“You shouldn't go at all.”

Lena turned.

He was already walking toward the exit.

“Wait!”

He stopped.

“Who are you?”

The man looked over his shoulder.

“My name is Ethan Cole.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“You worked for my father.”

Ethan smiled bitterly.

“Once.”

Then he disappeared into the stairwell.

Lena looked at Adrian.

“You know him?”

Adrian stared at the empty doorway.

“Yes.”

“Who is he?”

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on the darkness.

“He was one of my father's most trusted men.”

Lena's stomach dropped.

“Then why did he help us?”

Adrian finally looked at her.

“Because he was also there the night my mother died.”

Silence filled the room.

Lena looked down at the note again.

The old Blackwood estate.

Her mother.

Ethan.

Her father.

Everything seemed connected.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He answered.

His face went pale.

“What?”

He listened for several seconds.

Then his eyes met Lena's.

“It's the police.”

“What happened?”

Adrian slowly lowered the phone.

“They found a body.”

Lena's heart stopped.

“Whose?”

Adrian stared at the note in her hand.

“Your mother's car was found abandoned outside the old Blackwood estate.”

He paused.

“And there's blood inside.”