Chapter 8 - THE HOUSE OF LIES
Ethan returned to the ranch with Mara before dawn.
Neither of them spoke during the drive.
The mansion looked different now.
The same walls.
The same windows.
The same polished floors.
But Ethan could no longer see a home.
He saw secrets.
Hidden cameras.
Locked rooms.
People watching.
People lying.
Mara stood in the foyer.
“I shouldn't be here.”
Ethan closed the door behind them.
“You're safer here than outside.”
She looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
It was the first honest answer he had given her.
Mara looked toward the staircase.
“Your wife knew my father.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“You trusted Caleb.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
Ethan stared toward the hall.
“Now I don't trust anyone.”
Mara lowered her eyes.
“Not even me?”
Ethan looked at her.
“I don't know you.”
“But you brought me here.”
“Because you saved my children.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“But it's enough for now.”
They began searching the house.
The nursery.
Caroline's office.
The basement.
Nothing.
Then Mara stopped in front of a portrait.
Caroline.
Smiling.
Mara stared at it.
“Something is wrong.”
Ethan turned.
“What?”
“Your wife.”
“What about her?”
“She was afraid in the photograph.”
Ethan looked at the portrait.
He had never noticed.
Caroline's smile was perfect.
But her eyes were not.
Mara touched the frame.
“This was painted from a photograph.”
“Yes.”
“Who painted it?”
Ethan frowned.
“I don't know.”
Mara looked behind it.
There was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a small envelope.
Ethan opened it.
A key fell into his hand.
And a note.
The truth is beneath the house.
Ethan stared at the words.
Mara whispered:
“Basement.”
They went downstairs.
The basement had been renovated years earlier.
Wine storage.
Security equipment.
Old family records.
Ethan searched the walls.
Nothing.
Then Mara noticed a loose brick.
She pulled it out.
Behind it was a narrow passage.
Ethan's pulse quickened.
They entered.
The passage led to a hidden room beneath the mansion.
Inside were boxes.
Photographs.
Files.
And a large wall covered with names.
Ethan stepped closer.
His father's name was at the top.
Below it were dozens of others.
One name had been crossed out.
THOMAS BENNETT.
Another.
CAROLINE WHITMORE.
Mara covered her mouth.
Ethan stared at the wall.
Then he saw his own name.
It had been circled.
Underneath was a date.
FINAL TRANSFER — DECEMBER 18.
Ethan looked at Mara.
“What is December 18?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
He checked the calendar.
December 18 was three days away.
His phone rang.
Sheriff Cole.
Ethan answered.
“We found something in the hospital.”
“What?”
“The babies were poisoned with a compound that has been used before.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Your wife's medical records.”
Ethan's grip tightened.
“What?”
“Caroline had traces of the same compound in her system.”
The room went silent.
Mara stared at him.
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
His wife had been poisoned.
The triplets had been poisoned.
And someone had planned something for December 18.
Then the lights went out.
Mara grabbed Ethan's arm.
A sound came from the passage.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside the house.
Ethan pulled Mara behind the wall.
A figure entered the hidden room.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
Victor Hale.
But Victor Hale was dead.
The man looked older.
Thinner.
But it was him.
Mara stared.
Ethan whispered:
“That's impossible.”
The man walked toward the files.
He picked up the photograph of Caroline.
Then he turned.
“Hello, Ethan.”
Ethan stepped out.
“Victor.”
The man smiled.
“Your father always said you were slow.”
Ethan's fists clenched.
“You're dead.”
“No.”
Victor glanced at Mara.
“But I understand why you thought I was.”
Mara stepped forward.
“You killed my father.”
Victor's expression changed.
“Yes.”
Ethan froze.
Victor continued.
“Thomas Bennett discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
Victor smiled.
“Your father was never the mastermind.”
Ethan stared.
“Then who was?”
Victor looked at him.
“Your mother.”
Ethan went completely still.
His mother had died when he was ten.
Victor walked closer.
“She built the entire system.”
Mara whispered:
“Why?”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“To control the Whitmore fortune.”
Then a gunshot exploded.
Victor fell.
Ethan grabbed Mara.
A second shot shattered the wall.
Someone was shooting from the passage.
Ethan pulled Mara toward the exit.
Behind them, Victor lay bleeding.
May you like
And as Ethan ran, he heard Victor whisper:
“Your mother is still alive.”
