Chapter 10 - THE BABY IN THE FIRE
Ethan ran toward the burning mansion.
“Ethan, stop!” Sheriff Cole shouted.
But he was already moving.
Flames poured from the basement windows. Smoke rolled across the lawn. The old house groaned as fire climbed through the walls.
“My son is inside!”
Two deputies grabbed Ethan.
He fought them.
“Let me go!”
“Mr. Whitmore, the fire department is coming!”
“MY SON IS IN THERE!”
Mara suddenly pointed toward the eastern wing.
“Wait!”
Everyone turned.
A small figure appeared behind an upstairs window.
Not a person.
A baby.
Ethan's heart stopped.
“How did he get upstairs?”
Mara stared at the house.
“Someone moved him.”
Ethan turned toward Sheriff Cole.
“Where are the other two?”
The sheriff's face went pale.
“Hospital security just called.”
“What?”
“The other two babies are safe.”
Ethan stared at the burning window.
One of his sons was inside.
And someone had deliberately put him there.
He ran.
This time, no one stopped him.
Ethan entered through the side door.
Smoke filled the hallway.
The fire alarm screamed.
He covered his mouth and moved toward the stairs.
“Mason!”
The baby cried again.
Ethan followed the sound.
The second floor was already filling with smoke.
He crawled beneath it.
The nursery door was open.
Empty.
Then he heard the crying from Caroline's old bedroom.
Ethan kicked the door open.
The baby lay inside a wooden cradle.
Beside him stood a man.
Sheriff Cole.
Ethan froze.
The sheriff held the baby.
“Give him to me.”
Cole turned.
“I was getting him out.”
“Then give him to me.”
The sheriff hesitated.
That was enough.
Ethan lunged.
Cole moved backward.
The baby began screaming.
“Don't!”
Ethan stopped.
Cole looked at him.
“You think I'm the enemy.”
“Are you?”
Cole's eyes were tired.
“No.”
“Then give me my son.”
Cole handed over the baby.
Ethan pulled him close.
The baby was coughing.
Ethan turned toward the door.
Behind him, Cole whispered:
“Your wife didn't die in this house.”
Ethan stopped.
“What?”
“She died in the hospital.”
Ethan turned slowly.
Cole continued.
“Someone changed her medical records afterward.”
“Who?”
The sheriff looked toward the burning hallway.
“Your personal physician.”
Ethan's heart dropped.
Dr. Harris.
The man treating his children.
The man who had discovered the poison.
The man who had been inside the hospital.
Ethan suddenly remembered.
Dr. Harris had been the first person to tell him Caroline's death was natural.
He had also been the doctor who had treated the babies.
Ethan's face went cold.
“Where is Dr. Harris?”
Cole looked at him.
“Missing.”
The roof above them cracked.
“Move!” Cole shouted.
They ran.
Seconds later, the ceiling collapsed.
Outside, Ethan handed the baby to his mother.
The old woman held her grandson tightly.
Mara stood beside her.
Then Sheriff Cole emerged.
His face was black with smoke.
Ethan looked at him.
“Tell me everything.”
Cole nodded.
“But first, we need to find Dr. Harris.”
Ethan looked toward the burning mansion.
“And if he has my other two children?”
May you like
Cole's expression hardened.
“Then we find him before he finishes what he started.”
