Chapter 8: The Past That Came Before Ethan
Marcus stared at the document.
He read the sentence again.
Then a third time.
“Subject connected to previous disappearance case.””
His eyes moved toward Daniel.
“Her first fiancé?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
Marcus felt something shift inside him.
Not because he believed Daniel.
Because he didn’t know what to believe anymore.
“Explain.””
Daniel leaned against the desk.
“Before Ethan, there was another man.””
“Name?””
“Ryan.””
Marcus looked back at the report.
“What happened to him?””
“He disappeared.””
“When?””
“Five years ago.””
Marcus frowned.
“And Naomi was involved?””
Daniel looked at him.
“That’s what the police wanted to know.””
“Wanted to know?””
“Yes.””
“Was she charged?””
“No.””
“Arrested?””
“No.””
“Then why are you showing me this?””
“Because not everything needs an arrest record to destroy someone’s life.””
Marcus closed the folder.
“I need facts.””
Daniel smiled slightly.
“You’re more like Ethan than I thought.””
“Don’t compare me to him.””
“Why?””
“Because I’m not him.””
Daniel looked at him carefully.
“Maybe that’s what Naomi wants you to believe.””
Marcus ignored the comment.
“Tell me about Ryan.””
Daniel walked toward the window.
“Ryan was different from Ethan.””
“How?””
“He was quiet. Private. But he loved Naomi.””
“And?””
“And then one day he vanished.””
“Just like Ethan?””
Daniel nodded.
“Just like Ethan.””
Marcus felt uncomfortable.
Two men.
Two disappearances.
Both connected to Naomi.
It was hard not to see the pattern.
But something still bothered him.
The way Daniel talked.
Not like someone seeking justice.
Like someone trying to make sure Marcus hated her.
“What happened to Ryan?””
Daniel looked outside.
“The official story was that he left.””
“Did he?””
“No.””
“How do you know?””
“Because he left behind everything.””
“Meaning?””
“His car. His wallet. His clothes.””
Marcus frowned.
“That’s not normal.””
“No.””
“What did Naomi say?””
Daniel turned around.
“She said she didn’t know.””
“Did you believe her?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because the night before Ryan disappeared, Naomi called Ethan.””
Marcus stopped.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“Ethan knew Naomi before Ryan disappeared?””
Daniel nodded.
Marcus stared.
That changed things.
“How long?””
“Almost a year.””
“So Ethan knew about Ryan?””
“Yes.””
“And he still got involved with her?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Because Ethan thought he could understand her.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Understand what?””
Daniel walked back to the table.
“That every person who gets close to Naomi eventually disappears.””
The words were harsh.
Too harsh.
Marcus looked at him.
“You really believe that?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That hesitation mattered.
Because someone who truly believed something didn’t need to hesitate.
Marcus opened the folder again.
“Where did you get this?””
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because this looks like something you wanted me to find.””
“It is.””
“Why?””
“Because Ethan wanted someone to know.””
Marcus looked up.
“Ethan gave this to you?””
Daniel looked away.
“No.””
“Then how?””
“Because after he disappeared, I found it.””
Marcus studied him.
“You searched his things.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to find him.””
“And you found this.””
“Yes.””
“But you didn’t show the police.””
Daniel became quiet.
Another silence.
Another unanswered question.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You keep accusing Naomi of hiding things.””
Daniel looked at him.
“And?””
“But you’re hiding things too.””
For the first time, Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Marcus noticed.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone about this?””
Daniel looked down.
“Because I thought I could fix it myself.””
The answer surprised Marcus.
“You?””
“Yes.””
“You thought you could fix Ethan’s disappearance?””
Daniel nodded.
“And did you?””
“No.””
The honesty caught Marcus off guard.
Daniel looked older suddenly.
Less like an enemy.
More like someone carrying guilt.
“I should have listened to him.””
“Listened to who?””
“Ethan.””
“What did he say?””
Daniel looked at the folder.
“He told me Naomi wasn’t the person everyone thought she was.””
Marcus waited.
“But he also told me something else.””
“What?””
Daniel’s voice became quieter.
“He told me he wasn’t sure if Naomi was the danger.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached into another drawer.
This time, he pulled out a small voice recorder.
He placed it on the desk.
“Listen.””
Marcus pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then Ethan’s voice.
Weak.
Tired.
Afraid.
“Daniel, if you’re hearing this, it means I didn’t make it back.””
Marcus froze.
Daniel watched his reaction.
Ethan continued.
“Don’t trust anyone who tells you this is simple.””
A pause.
“I made mistakes.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
Ethan’s voice continued.
“But Naomi is not the monster everyone thinks she is.””
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel looked surprised.
The recording continued.
“She did something terrible.””
Marcus held his breath.
“But not for the reason people believe.””
The recording ended.
Silence.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“You had this?””
“Yes.””
“For three years?””
“Yes.””
“And you never played it?””
Daniel looked away.
“I wasn’t ready.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not ready?””
Daniel’s face hardened.
“You think I wanted to believe that?””
“Believe what?””
“That maybe I was wrong.””
The answer was quiet.
Marcus understood then.
Daniel wasn’t just angry.
He was afraid.
Afraid that the story he had built his life around wasn’t true.
Before Marcus could ask more, the building lights suddenly went out.
The room went dark.
“What was that?”” Marcus asked.
Daniel immediately moved.
“Someone’s here.””
Marcus heard footsteps.
Slow.
Controlled.
Coming from the hallway.
Daniel reached for the recorder.
“Turn off your phone.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever is here doesn’t want us talking.””
Marcus looked toward the doorway.
A shadow appeared.
Someone was standing there.
Daniel whispered:
“You need to hide.””
Marcus didn’t move.
“No.””
“Marcus.””
“I’m done hiding.””
The person stepped into the room.
A woman.
Not Naomi.
Someone older.
Someone Marcus had never seen before.
She looked directly at him.
Then at Daniel.
“You shouldn’t have shown him that.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“You.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Who are you?””
The woman ignored him.
She walked toward the desk.
“You don’t understand what you just started.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Then explain.””
She looked at him.
And the next words made him realize this was much bigger than Naomi.
Much bigger than Ethan.
Much bigger than a missing person.
“I’m Ryan’s sister.””
Marcus froze.
Daniel looked away.
The woman continued.
“And I’ve spent five years trying to find out what happened to my brother.””
Marcus felt his heart sink.
“Do you know?””
She stared at him.
“Yes.””
“Who did it?””
Her eyes moved toward the folder.
Then back to Marcus.
“I know who made Ryan disappear.””
A pause.
“And it wasn’t Naomi.””
Marcus exhaled.
Then came the question he feared.
“Who was it?””
May you like
The woman’s expression turned cold.
“Ethan.””
