CHAPTER 3 – The Name That Should Have Stayed Buried
Margaret's fingers trembled so violently that the old identification card nearly slipped from her hands.
The photograph matched the young man standing before her.
But the name beneath it was impossible.
Ethan Cross.
Five years earlier, every television station in the country had shown his face.
Newspapers had called him the thief who vanished with twenty million dollars.
The police claimed he had died in a warehouse explosion before they could arrest him.
The case had been closed.
Or so everyone believed.
Margaret stared at him, unable to speak.
"You... you're supposed to be dead."
Ethan slowly lowered his eyes.
"I know."
The silence between them felt heavier than the storm raging outside.
"I never stole that money," he finally whispered.
"No criminal says they're guilty."
"I wouldn't expect you to believe me."
Margaret took a cautious step backward.
"If you're innocent... then why are armed men hunting you?"
Ethan looked toward the front door where broken wood still littered the floor.
"They're not hunting me anymore."
His voice grew colder.
"They're hunting anyone who can expose the truth."
Before Margaret could ask another question, a loud crack echoed from outside.
A bullet shattered the living room window.
Glass exploded across the floor.
"Get down!" Ethan shouted.
He threw himself over Margaret just as another shot pierced the curtains.
Someone outside screamed.
"Finish the job!"
Three dark figures rushed toward the apartment building.
Ethan grabbed Margaret's arm.
"We have less than thirty seconds."
"What are you talking about?"
"They know I'm here."
"But why would they kill me?"
Ethan looked directly into her eyes.
"Because they think you have something."
"I don't have anything!"
"You do."
He pointed toward an old wooden cabinet that had stood untouched for decades.
"The answer has been inside your apartment longer than you realize."
Margaret frowned.
"What answer?"
Ethan slowly walked toward the cabinet.
From the top shelf, he removed an old family photo frame.
Behind it...
A tiny steel key was taped to the back.
Margaret gasped.
"I've never seen that before..."
Ethan's expression changed.
"They were right."
"It really is here."
Before he could explain further—
The apartment lights suddenly went out.
Complete darkness swallowed the room.
Then a calm voice echoed from the hallway.
"I knew you would eventually come back for the key, Ethan."
Margaret froze.
May you like
Ethan whispered only two words.
"Run. Now."
