Chapter 8 - The Truth About That Morning
Rain continued beating against the windows.
The ambulance crew had stabilized Ethan enough that moving him immediately was no longer dangerous.
One paramedic contacted the hospital.
His expression changed halfway through the call.
"What?"
The others looked toward him.
He covered the receiver.
"They're asking if Ethan is conscious."
"He is."
"They want to speak with him."
The paramedic handed over the phone.
A tired female voice answered almost instantly.
"Ethan?"
He smiled weakly.
"Hi, Doctor Lewis."
"You frightened everyone."
"I'm sorry."
"You disappeared before dawn."
"I know."
"You left your medication."
"I know."
"You also left this."
She paused.
"Maya's drawing."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"I forgot."
The passengers watched silently.
Dr. Lewis continued.
"She's been asking for you every twenty minutes."
"I was coming back."
"We know."
"But there has been another problem."
Ethan's expression changed.
"What happened?"
"We found evidence that someone entered your rehabilitation room last night."
The bus became quiet again.
"They accessed your medical equipment."
The paramedic looked at the damaged brace.
"We suspected that."
Dr. Lewis continued.
"Security cameras failed for eleven minutes."
"Do they know who?"
"Not yet."
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"It wasn't an accident."
"No."
The doctor sounded certain.
"It wasn't."
The mother looked nervously toward the broken brace lying beside the seat.
"Someone wanted him hurt?"
The nurse answered quietly.
"Or unable to walk."
The little girl squeezed Ethan's hand.
"Who would do that?"
Ethan looked at the ceiling.
"I wish I knew."
Just then another passenger stepped forward.
A middle-aged woman wearing a supermarket uniform.
"I saw something."
Every head turned toward her.
"This morning."
May you like
She looked directly at Ethan.
"I think someone was following you."
