Chapter 8: The Witness Who Came Back From the Dead
The person across the street didn’t run.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Most people who were caught spying disappeared.
They looked away.
They panicked.
They pretended they weren’t watching.
This person did none of those things.
They stood beneath the gray afternoon sky, completely still, staring directly at me through the café window.
Almost like they wanted me to recognize them.
Victoria followed my gaze.
Her face changed instantly.
Not confusion.
Not curiosity.
Fear.
“You know them,” I said.
She didn’t answer.
“Victoria.””
Her eyes stayed fixed on the person outside.
“That’s impossible.””
The words came out as a whisper.
I felt my pulse increase.
“Who is it?””
She slowly shook her head.
“No.””
“That isn’t an answer.””
Victoria stood so quickly her chair scraped against the floor.
People nearby looked over.
She didn’t care.
“We need to leave.””
I grabbed her arm.
“Not until you tell me who that is.””
Her eyes met mine.
For the first time since I met her, there was no arrogance.
No superiority.
Just genuine fear.
“That person is dead.””
The sentence chilled me.
I looked back through the window.
The figure was still there.
Still watching.
“Apparently not.””
Victoria’s breathing became uneven.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She lowered her voice.
“That person was at your father’s funeral.””
My stomach tightened.
The same funeral.
The same day that kept appearing in every secret.
The same day everyone seemed determined to hide.
“Who?””
Victoria swallowed.
“Ethan Cross.””
The name meant nothing at first.
Then it hit me.
Cross.
Daniel Cross.
I looked back at the figure.
A man.
Older.
Gray hair.
A scar near his left eyebrow.
My mind searched through memories.
I had been seven years younger.
Grieving.
Surrounded by people.
I remembered Daniel.
I remembered Marcus.
I remembered my father’s employees.
But Ethan…
No.
I didn’t remember him.
“How is he connected to Daniel?””
Victoria looked at me.
“Because he’s Daniel’s older brother.””
My chest tightened.
“Daniel told me he was alone.””
“He lied.””
Everyone lied.
That was becoming the only thing I could trust.
I looked outside again.
The man was gone.
Only an empty sidewalk remained.
“Where did he go?””
Victoria grabbed her bag.
“We leave now.””
Twenty minutes later, we were inside my car.
Victoria sat in the passenger seat, unusually quiet.
I drove through the city without speaking.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re going to explain.””
She stared out the window.
“I don’t know everything.””
“Start with what you know.””
She sighed.
“My father worked with Ethan Cross years ago.””
“On what?””
“I don’t know.””
“Victoria.””
She looked at me.
“I’m serious.””
The frustration in her voice surprised me.
“For years, my father kept old files locked away. Things he never discussed. People he never mentioned.””
“Like Ethan.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because whenever someone asked about him, my father became angry.””
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
“What happened to Ethan?””
Victoria looked down.
“He disappeared shortly after your father died.””
“And everyone thought he was dead?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because my father said he was.””
A cold silence filled the car.
I remembered the funeral.
The people crying.
The speeches.
The promises.
Everyone standing around pretending they understood what happened.
Meanwhile, someone was hiding the truth.
“Why was Ethan listed as a private witness at my father’s funeral?””
Victoria looked at me.
“You saw that?””
“Yes.””
She looked away.
“I don’t know.””
“That’s not good enough.””
“I know.””
Her voice became softer.
“You think my family is the only one hiding things.””
I didn’t respond.
Because she was right.
My own company was full of secrets.
My own trusted people had lied.
When we arrived at Bennett Group, Marcus was waiting in the lobby.
The moment he saw Victoria, his expression changed.
“You brought her here?””
I looked at him.
“She knows things.””
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“Does she?””
Victoria crossed her arms.
“You’re the last person who should ask.””
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
Interesting.
They knew each other better than they admitted.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.””
Both became quiet.
“I’m tired of everyone speaking in half-truths.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You knew about Ethan Cross.””
His face changed.
Just slightly.
But I saw it.
“Where did you hear that name?””
“That’s not the question.””
Marcus looked at Victoria.
Then back at me.
“Evelyn…”
“No.””
I walked toward him.
“Tell me.””
He was silent.
Then he said:
“Yes.””
The answer landed heavily.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
“I didn’t know if it mattered.””
I stared at him.
“Someone connected to my father’s death disappeared. You didn’t think that mattered?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
He looked exhausted.
“Ethan Cross was your father’s closest friend before me.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t my father ever mention him?””
“Because something happened between them.””
“What?””
Marcus looked toward the windows.
“Your father discovered Ethan had been secretly working with Ashford Holdings.””
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
“That’s impossible.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Is it?””
“My uncle wouldn’t—”
“Ethan wasn’t your uncle.””
Victoria stopped.
The color drained from her face.
“What did you say?””
Marcus looked at her.
“You thought your father was hiding an old friend.””
Silence.
“He was hiding his own brother.””
Victoria stared.
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“No, that’s not true.””
Marcus continued.
“Ethan Cross is Richard Ashford’s older brother.””
The room went silent.
Everything connected.
The Ashfords.
The Cross family.
My father.
The hidden files.
The funeral.
I felt like I was looking at a puzzle where every piece had been in front of me the entire time.
Victoria stepped back.
“My father never told me.””
“Because he didn’t want you to know.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked at me.
“Because Ethan knew the truth.””
“About my father?””
“Yes.””
“About the murder?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
That night, I returned to my father’s office.
I needed the truth.
Not from Marcus.
Not from Victoria.
Not from anyone who had spent years protecting secrets.
I opened the black box again.
This time, I looked deeper.
Under the documents was a small recorder.
Old.
Almost forgotten.
My father’s initials were carved into the side.
I pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then my father’s voice.
My heart stopped.
“Evelyn…”
I closed my eyes.
Hearing him again after twelve years felt impossible.
“If you are hearing this, then I’m gone.””
My throat tightened.
“I’m sorry.””
A pause.
“I wanted to tell you everything myself.””
The recording continued.
“But I failed.””
I sat down.
My father’s voice became quieter.
“The person who betrayed me is not who you think.””
I looked at the documents.
Marcus.
Ashford.
Ethan.
Everyone.
“Marcus will appear guilty.””
I froze.
“He will have evidence against him. People will point at him.””
My breathing stopped.
“But Marcus is not my enemy.””
I covered my mouth.
The recording continued.
“The person responsible is someone closer.””
A long pause.
Then my father said the words that made my blood run cold.
“Someone who has been protecting my company since before you were born.””
The recording clicked.
Static.
Then one final sentence.
“The person you trust most is the person you should fear.””
The recorder stopped.
I sat there in silence.
Then my phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered immediately.
“What happened?””
His voice was urgent.
“Evelyn, you need to leave the building.””
“Why?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because I found out who was inside your father’s office the night he died.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
Marcus’s voice dropped.
“Your father’s own daughter.””
I froze.
“What?””
The silence lasted three seconds.
Then Marcus whispered:
“Evelyn… the security footage shows someone entering the office that night.””
My hands went cold.
“Who?””
May you like
His answer came slowly.
“Someone using your identity.””
