Chapter 2 TWO

There was the look at Linda by Ethan, as if she knew more than she was going to tell. Sophia's smile was all fake and her eyes betrayed there was desperation.

"What do you want?" Ethan barked at Linda right away.

"I want to assist you," Linda said, frowning. "You are not safe, Ethan. You have no idea what is happening."

Sophia moved in and began to speak with a rise in pitch. "Don't listen to her, Ethan. She's upset."

Ethan hovered between the two women, not knowing whom to believe. But Linda's words made sense. Something was wrong.

"I need some answers," Ethan said firmly. "What do you know about me?"

Linda's face was serious. "Let's go elsewhere. Too dangerous here."

As she turned away, a kind of fear struck Sophia's face. Ethan followed Linda. He did not know what to do with her, maybe she was trustworthy or not.

While walking, Ethan sensed an eye that was hidden behind an unclear side. His intuition whispered to him something. "I think we're being watched," he softly told Linda.

Linda's expression became even tighter. "We have to leave here now.

Ethan stayed pace with Linda as she moved down the hospital corridors. They hit a corner, and Linda opened the door to a small office. "In here." She entered and closed the door behind her, standing in front of Ethan. "Sophia is not what she seems," she warned. "She's manipulating you for her own purpose."

Ethan's eyes tightened. "What do you know about her?"

She hesitated and then leaned against her bag, pulling out the folder. "This has information about the family of Sophia and how she is related to them." But please, Ethan, be careful. You are not safe here."

Ethan took the folder, flipping through the pages. The files reported that Sophia's family had ties to a vast business empire. He experienced a hundred things quickly-shock, anger and suspicion.

Suddenly Barbara made a dash for the door as she came up and Linda's eyes rested on the doorknob, furrowing her face. "Someone's coming."

Ethan's heart beat went into a very rapid rhythm. "Who?"

Linda panted nearly under a sigh, "I don't know, but we have to be quiet."

The steps led directly outside. Ethan held his breath, his muscles tight, waiting. There should be a corner any moment now. Quiet would be his death, though.

They vanished. Linda sighed, relieved. "Let's get out of here. We don't want to stay in one place for too long anymore."

Ethan nodded and his mind was fully loaded with questions.

The doorknob turned with a loud, hard sound. Ethan and Linda glanced at each other. He could see his own fear reflected in her eyes. The figure outside tried the knob again, harder. The lock kept the door closed.

A deep voice said something from the hallway. The words couldn't be heard. Then heavy steps walked away. The sound became softer and softer.

Linda breathed out, her body relaxing a little. "That was close," she breathed.

"Who was that?" Ethan breathed, his voice low. "Was it Sophia?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe it is someone who works for her." She pressed her ear against the door to hear. "We need to go. They will be back."

Ethan glared at the folder in his hand. It felt heavy with secrets. "I need to know. Now. What's in this folder? Why is Sophia's family so important?"

Linda pointed to the documents. "Look at the names. Her father, her uncles. They're a very powerful company. A business empire."

"I see the names," Ethan frowned. "But what is this all about me? Why am I at risk?"

"Because you know things, Ethan. Things you don't even recall knowing."

"What does that mean? What don't I remember?"

Linda spoke with a low, insistent tone. "Before you were in the accident, you were researching their company. You were asking questions. You discovered something they do not wish to be known."

"What accident?" Ethan interjected, his head starting to pound. "I do not remember any accident."

"That's the thing!" Linda said, her eyes wide with fear. "They did something to you, Ethan. They made you forget. Sophia is here to watch over you. To see that you never remember."

Ethan's head reeled. It was more than he could process. "That's crazy. How do you know all this?"

"Because you were my partner," Linda spoke softly. "We constructed this case together. When you 'accidented' yourself, I knew it was staged. I've been in seclusion, waiting for the right moment to speak with you."

Ethan's mind reeled. He tried to remember a recollection, any recollection, of working alongside Linda. There was nothing. A void. "I don't recall you," he snarled, his tone gruff.

"I know you don't. But you have to believe me. That guy who just stood at the door. if he is what I think he is, then he is very dangerous. His name is Marcus. He works for Sophia's dad. He handles their problems."

"And I'm a problem?" Ethan asked.

"Yes," Linda said bluntly.

Then another noise. A muffled beep, and the rough-sounding voice on a walkie-talkie down the hallway. ".check south offices. He's got to be around here somewhere."

Linda's body went cold. "That's security. Marcus must have summoned them. We are out of time."

"What do we do?" Ethan asked, his senses reeling.

"We go," said Linda. "There is a service elevator down the next hall. It will take us down to the loading dock. I have a car picked up and waiting nearby."

"And then?"

"Then I take you where it is safe. Where we can talk and I can show you that what I'm saying is true. But we have to leave now."

Ethan looked from Linda's entreating face to the folder in his hand. He did not know whether he could trust her. But he knew that he could no longer trust Sophia. The footsteps outside had decided for him.

"Okay," he announced, making a decision. "Let's go."

What else did Linda know?

Who was behind the footsteps?

After Linda led Ethan out of that office one way or another, Ethan was prepared to face whatever lay ahead.