Chapter 18 The Price of the Truth
Audrey stared at the message until the words blurred.
She slowly lowered her phone.
Ethan noticed.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
His expression changed.
“Audrey.”
She looked at him.
“I said nothing.”
“You're lying.”
The accusation was quiet.
Not angry.
That made it worse.
Audrey glanced at Nathan, who was still on the floor with Caleb pressing a folded piece of cloth against his wound.
They needed help.
They needed answers.
And somehow, they had less time than ever.
“I received another message,” Audrey said.
Ethan held out his hand.
“Let me see.”
She hesitated.
He noticed.
“That's the problem, isn't it?”
“What?”
“You're starting to think keeping things from me will protect me.”
Audrey flinched.
He was right.
She handed him the phone.
He read the message.
His face became unreadable.
“They want the drive.”
“Yes.”
“And they want you at the Calloway tower.”
“Yes.”
“Alone.”
“Yes.”
“You're not going.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
“They threatened you.”
“They've threatened everyone.”
“And what if they know something about 2:17 that could destroy you?”
Ethan looked at her.
“Then I deserve to know.”
Audrey shook her head.
“Not if it puts you in danger.”
He stepped closer.
“You spent years believing I didn't care enough to fight for our marriage.”
“I know.”
“Don't make the same mistake now.”
She looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“I care enough to stand beside you when the truth becomes ugly.”
His voice dropped.
“But I can't stand beside you if you shut me out.”
Audrey looked away.
“I don't know how to trust you yet.”
“I know.”
“And I don't know whether what we had was ever truly ours.”
His expression tightened.
“I know.”
“But I want to find out.”
Ethan's eyes met hers.
“So do I.”
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Audrey reached for his hand.
His fingers closed around hers.
The gesture was small.
Careful.
Neither of them pretended it fixed everything.
But neither pulled away.
Behind them, Nathan groaned.
Caleb looked up.
“He needs a hospital.”
Ethan nodded.
“Martin is outside.”
Caleb shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard's men will be watching every hospital.”
Nathan forced himself upright.
“Don't take me there.”
Ethan frowned.
“You've been shot.”
“I know.”
“You need medical attention.”
Nathan looked at Audrey.
“There is another place.”
“Where?”
“An old clinic beneath the eastern district.”
Caleb nodded.
“I know it.”
Ethan looked at Audrey.
“Get him there.”
Nathan caught Ethan's arm.
“You stay with her.”
Ethan looked down at him.
Nathan's eyes were serious.
“Whatever happens next, don't let Richard separate you.”
Ethan nodded.
“I won't.”
Nathan released him.
Caleb helped him stand.
Before leaving, Nathan looked at Audrey.
“Whatever you find on that drive, don't trust the first version.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means someone has altered the evidence.”
“Who?”
Nathan looked toward Evelyn.
“She knows.”
Audrey turned.
Evelyn stood near the altar.
“Is that true?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.”
“What was changed?”
“Richard removed one name.”
“Whose?”
Evelyn's eyes moved to Ethan.
“Yours.”
Ethan went still.
Audrey frowned.
“Why would Richard remove Ethan's name?”
Evelyn answered quietly.
“Because Ethan wasn't his partner.”
“What was he?”
“A witness.”
The Calloway Tower
The tower rose above the city like a dark blade against the evening sky.
Audrey stood across the street.
Rain had begun again.
She watched the illuminated windows.
Somewhere inside was the answer to the question that had followed her since childhood.
What happened at 2:17?
Ethan stood beside her.
“You're sure?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“That isn't reassuring.”
“It wasn't meant to be.”
For the first time that night, Audrey almost smiled.
Then her phone vibrated.
Two minutes.
Ethan read the message over her shoulder.
“Where is the entrance?”
“Private elevator.”
“Then that's where we'll go.”
“You're not supposed to be with me.”
“Neither are you.”
She gave him a look.
“I thought you trusted me.”
“I do.”
“Then why are you following me?”
“Because I trust you to make brave decisions.”
He paused.
“I don't trust the people you're walking into.”
They crossed the street.
The lobby was almost empty.
A security guard looked up.
His eyes moved from Audrey to Ethan.
“Mrs. Calloway?”
Audrey nodded.
“The private elevator is ready.”
She frowned.
“How did you know I was coming?”
The guard smiled.
“Mr. Calloway told us.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Which Mr. Calloway?”
The guard hesitated.
“Mr. Richard Calloway.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Where is he?”
“Top floor.”
The elevator doors opened.
Audrey entered.
Ethan followed.
The doors closed.
The elevator began to rise.
Neither spoke.
The numbers climbed.
Thirty.
Forty.
Fifty.
Then sixty.
Audrey looked at Ethan.
“There are only fifty-eight floors.”
He looked at the display.
The elevator continued upward.
Sixty-one.
Sixty-two.
Sixty-three.
Ethan's expression changed.
“This building has a hidden level.”
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
Darkness waited beyond them.
A single light came on.
Then another.
A corridor appeared.
Audrey stepped out.
Ethan followed.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Welcome home, Audrey.”
She stopped.
It wasn't Richard's voice.
It was a woman's.
Audrey knew it immediately.
Elise.
“Where is Richard?” she asked.
“He isn't here.”
“Then who invited me?”
A pause.
“Someone who has been waiting for you.”
A door opened at the end of the corridor.
Audrey walked toward it.
Ethan caught her wrist.
“Together.”
She nodded.
They entered.
The room was enormous.
One wall was covered with photographs.
Audrey stopped.
Photographs of herself.
As a child.
At school.
At university.
At her first music performance.
On her wedding day.
With Ethan.
Her breath caught.
“How long?”
Ethan stared at the photographs.
“They've been watching you for years.”
Audrey moved closer.
Then she saw something that made her blood run cold.
A photograph of her and Ethan on their wedding day.
Taken from outside the church.
Neither of them had known anyone was watching.
Written beneath it were four words:
Marriage successfully completed.
Audrey felt sick.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“This wasn't a coincidence.”
“No.”
“It was a project.”
Audrey turned.
“What?”
He pointed toward the photographs.
“Someone planned our marriage.”
A screen switched on.
A video began playing.
Richard appeared.
He looked younger.
Beside him stood James.
And between them was a woman Audrey had never seen before.
Richard spoke.
“Phase one is complete.”
James answered.
“The boy knows nothing.”
Richard smiled.
“He doesn't need to.”
Audrey's stomach twisted.
Then the woman turned toward the camera.
Audrey froze.
She recognized her.
It was the woman from the photograph with Rachel.
But she was younger.
Much younger.
And standing beside her was Nathan.
The video continued.
The woman said,
“Once Ethan marries Audrey, the trust becomes accessible.”
James looked uneasy.
“And if they fall in love?”
Richard laughed.
“Then we will use that too.”
Ethan's face became pale.
Audrey reached for his hand.
He didn't move.
The recording continued.
The woman leaned closer.
“There's one risk.”
“What?” Richard asked.
“The girl may eventually learn why her mother died.”
Richard's expression darkened.
“Then we make sure she never remembers.”
The screen went black.
Audrey couldn't breathe.
Ethan whispered,
“They erased your memories.”
She turned toward him.
“I remember the fire.”
“That's what they wanted you to remember.”
A second screen illuminated.
A document appeared.
At the bottom was Richard's signature.
Next to it was another name.
Ethan Calloway.
Audrey stared.
Her heart sank.
“No.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“I didn't sign that.”
The signature looked identical to his.
But Audrey knew him.
She knew his handwriting.
Something was wrong.
Then a voice came from behind them.
“You're finally asking the right question.”
They turned.
Nathan stood in the doorway.
He was pale but upright.
Caleb stood behind him.
Audrey stared.
“How did you get here?”
Nathan gave a tired smile.
“Your security system is older than I am.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You followed us.”
“Yes.”
“You were supposed to be at the clinic.”
“I left.”
“You could have died.”
Nathan's expression hardened.
“I've survived worse.”
He walked toward the screen.
“That signature isn't Ethan's.”
Audrey looked at him.
“I know.”
Nathan nodded.
“Because Richard had it copied.”
“Why?”
“Because he needed Ethan to appear guilty.”
Ethan frowned.
“Of what?”
Nathan looked at him.
“Your mother's death.”
Silence.
Ethan's face went blank.
“What?”
Nathan pointed at the screen.
“The real record was altered.”
“By whom?”
Nathan looked at Audrey.
“Your grandmother.”
Evelyn's voice came from the hallway.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
She entered the room.
“I altered it.”
Audrey stared.
“Why?”
Evelyn looked at Ethan.
“Because Richard wanted to make you believe Ethan was responsible.”
Ethan's face hardened.
“You let me carry that guilt?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Audrey closed her eyes.
Again.
That word.
Protect.
Always protection.
Always lies.
Always another sacrifice.
She opened her eyes.
“No more.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“What?”
“No more secrets.”
Audrey picked up the black drive.
“You wanted this?”
Evelyn nodded.
Audrey held it out.
“Then tell me the entire truth.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“About what?”
Audrey's voice was steady.
“About 2:17.”
Evelyn went silent.
Audrey continued.
“Who was in that room?”
Evelyn looked at Ethan.
Then Nathan.
Then Caleb.
Finally, she looked at Audrey.
“Your mother.”
A pause.
“Me.”
Another pause.
“Richard.”
Audrey's heart hammered.
“Who else?”
Evelyn whispered,
“You.”
Audrey froze.
“I was there?”
“Yes.”
“You said I was six.”
“You were.”
“What did I see?”
Evelyn's voice broke.
“You saw your mother dying.”
Audrey staggered backward.
Ethan caught her.
Her mind filled with fragments.
A white hospital room.
A red alarm light.
Her mother's hand.
Someone shouting.
A clock.
2:17.
Then a man's voice.
Don't let her see.
Audrey opened her eyes.
“I remember.”
Ethan held her steady.
“What?”
She looked at him.
“I remember who was standing beside my mother.”
“Who?”
Audrey turned toward Evelyn.
Her grandmother was crying.
Audrey whispered,
“It was you.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.”
“But you weren't alone.”
Evelyn's face changed.
Audrey suddenly remembered another figure.
A man standing behind the curtain.
Not Richard.
Not James.
Not Caleb.
Someone younger.
Someone she had seen only once.
Someone who had been holding a syringe.
Audrey's breath caught.
“Nathan.”
Nathan looked at her.
“I wasn't the one who hurt her.”
“I know.”
“Then what do you remember?”
Audrey's eyes widened.
“You weren't holding the syringe.”
Nathan shook his head.
“No.”
She looked at Ethan.
Then toward the screen.
The memory finally became clear.
Another man had been standing behind Nathan.
A boy she barely recognized.
But she knew the face.
She had seen it in the family photographs.
Ethan's older cousin.
Marcus Calloway.
The man everyone said had died years before.
Audrey whispered,
“Marcus was there.”
Nathan's face went pale.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Then the room's door locked automatically.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Excellent.”
Audrey looked up.
The same voice that had summoned her.
The same voice that had staged Rachel's photograph.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Marcus Calloway.
Alive.
He smiled.
“You finally remembered me.”