Chapter 22 - The Memory Ethan Tried to Forget
That evening, Ethan was finally admitted back into the hospital under police protection.
Two officers remained outside his room while nurses changed his bandages and repaired his damaged brace.
Dr. Lewis entered after the examination.
"You were lucky."
"I don't feel lucky."
"You survived."
She pulled a chair beside his bed.
"Detective Harris told me about the photograph."
Ethan remained silent.
Then he spoke.
"I remembered something."
Dr. Lewis waited.
"When I was nine..."
"My mother woke me in the middle of the night."
"What happened?"
"She told me not to make a sound."
His breathing slowed as the memory became clearer.
"She carried Maya."
"I carried a small backpack."
"We left through the back door."
He closed his eyes.
"There was a black car parked outside."
"Was someone inside?"
"I couldn't see."
"But my mother became frightened."
"What did she do?"
"She turned around."
"And?"
"We hid inside an abandoned greenhouse."
He rubbed his forehead.
"I remember hearing voices."
"Two men arguing."
"What were they saying?"
"I couldn't understand most of it."
"Only one sentence."
Dr. Lewis leaned forward.
"What sentence?"
Ethan answered almost in a whisper.
"'The child is worth more alive.'"
The doctor felt a chill.
"Which child?"
"I don't know."
"I always assumed they meant me."
A knock interrupted them.
Detective Harris entered carrying another evidence folder.
"I'm afraid we now believe they weren't talking about you."
Ethan looked up.
May you like
"They were talking about Maya."
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