an industrial manufacturing plant.”
“A doctor works maintenance?”
“Apparently.”
“And Mia?”
Lauren paused.
“His daughter.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
Of course.
The little girl clutching the rabbit.
The child who had said her father promised never to do this again.
“Get me discharged.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Lauren.”
“You had cardiac arrest less than twelve hours ago.”
“I need to see him.”
“No. You need a cardiologist.”
“I need both.”
—
Three days later, Ethan returned home with Mia.
The furnace was still grinding.
There were two envelopes in the mailbox.
One electric bill.
One school notice.
Normal life.
Beautifully, brutally normal.
Mia dropped her backpack by the door.
“Can we make grilled cheese?”
“Homework first.”
“Grandma said homework after food makes your brain work
better.”
“Grandma is a criminal influence.”
Mia smiled.
Ethan smiled back.
Then someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Ethan looked toward the door.
Nobody visited without calling.
He opened it.
And every trace of warmth disappeared from his face.
Victoria Hale stood on his porch.
No business suit this time.
Dark coat.
Simple clothes.
No entourage except a black sedan parked down the street.
She looked smaller than she had on the airplane.
Human.
Vulnerable.
Ethan stared at her.
“You.”
Victoria nodded.
“Me.”
“How did you find my house?”
“I have resources.”
“That’s supposed to make this better?”
“No.”
“Then leave.”
He started closing the door.
“Ethan, I know.”
His hand stopped.
Silence.
Mia called from the kitchen.
“Dad?”
“Stay inside, sweetheart.”
Victoria lowered her voice.
“I know about your wife.”
Ethan’s face became stone.
“Leave.”
“I know about the transport.”
“Leave.”
“And I know my signature is on the order that buried your testimony.”
The words struck harder than she expected.
Ethan stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him.
“You don’t get to say her name.”
“I didn’t.”
“You don’t get to stand at my house.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know that you saved my life after my company helped destroy yours.”
