Chapter 11 - Hidden Scars
While the detectives spoke with the paramedics, the nurse carefully helped Ethan adjust his position.
As she lifted the back of his shirt to examine the reopened surgical wound, several older scars became visible across his shoulders.
Long.
Thin.
Perfectly parallel.
They were far older than his recent surgery.
The nurse frowned.
"These aren't medical."
Ethan quickly lowered his shirt.
"They're old."
"How old?"
"A long time."
The mother noticed them too.
She looked away, ashamed that she had once believed the tattoos were the most remarkable thing about him.
The nurse spoke softly.
"Were you in an accident?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
"Then what happened?"
Silence.
No one pressed him.
Finally, Detective Harris asked gently,
"Do these scars have anything to do with your family?"
Ethan stared at the floor.
"My father."
Nobody interrupted.
"He drank."
"When I was little..."
"He believed fear made children stronger."
The little girl sitting beside her mother quietly reached for her younger brother's hand.
Ethan continued in the same calm voice.
"If Maya cried during chemotherapy..."
"He punished me."
The words stunned everyone.
"He blamed me because I couldn't protect her."
The mother covered her mouth.
The elderly gentleman from Riverside Bridge lowered his head.
"My father said pain was useful."
"He said if I learned to survive it..."
"I'd never fear anything."
Ethan smiled sadly.
"He was wrong."
"What do you fear now?" Detective Collins asked.
Without hesitation, Ethan answered,
"Losing Maya."
Nothing else.
Not the pain.
Not the surgery.
Not the investigation.
Only his little sister.
The answer lingered inside the bus long after he finished speaking.
The nurse quietly wiped tears from her eyes.
Even Detective Harris needed a moment before speaking again.
Then Collins received a message through his radio.
His expression immediately changed.
"Harris..."
"What?"
"They found security footage."
"The cameras weren't completely disabled."
Everyone looked toward him.
"They recovered exactly twenty-three seconds."
"Can you see the suspect?"
Collins nodded slowly.
"We can."
"But..."
He looked at Ethan.
May you like
"...the suspect wasn't a stranger."
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