Chapter 2 - The Scream Behind the Paintbrush
The intruder was waiting in my library.
Two guards stood behind him.
He was perhaps sixty.
Gray hair.
Wet coat.
No weapon.
On the table lay six photographs.
All of me.
Entering restaurants.
Leaving meetings.
Standing outside my office.
Daniel closed the door.
“Name.”
The man remained silent.
I sat opposite him.
“Let me explain something. You entered my home without permission.”
“I know.”
“You've been following me.”
“Yes.”
“And somehow you're still breathing.”
He met my eyes.
“Because I wanted you to find me.”
That caught my attention.
“Who are you?”
“Thomas Brennan.”
The name meant nothing.
“What do you want?”
He slid a photograph across the table.
I didn't look down.
“Look.”
“I don't take orders in my own house.”
“You'll want to see this.”
I finally lowered my eyes.
The photograph wasn't surveillance.
It was old.
A woman stood beside a lake holding a baby.
My chest tightened.
I knew the woman.
My mother.
I picked up the photograph.
“Where did you get this?”
Thomas answered quietly.
“Your father.”
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then try again.”
“He gave me something before he died.”
Thomas reached inside his coat.
Daniel immediately moved.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Thomas slowly removed an envelope.
He placed it on the table.
My name was written across the front.
Ethan.
I recognized the handwriting.
My father's.
For a moment, I couldn't move.
Then a tiny voice came from behind the door.
“Mr. Ethan?”
Everyone turned.
The door opened.
Sophia entered.
Maria rushed behind her.
“I am so sorry. She got away from me.”
Sophia walked directly toward me.
“You forgot Noodle.”
She placed the rabbit on my lap.
I stared at her.
“Sophia.”
“Yes?”
“This is an important meeting.”
She nodded seriously.
“Noodle likes meetings.”
Daniel turned away to hide another smile.
Maria picked Sophia up.
“Come on.”
Before they left, Sophia noticed the photograph.
“Who's that?”
“My mother.”
“Where is she?”
The room became still.
I answered quietly.
“She died.”
Sophia looked at me for several seconds.
Then she reached forward and touched my hand.
“Do you miss her?”
No adult in that room would have dared ask.
“Yes.”
Sophia nodded.
“I miss my daddy too.”
Maria stiffened.
“Sophia.”
“What?”
“Come with me.”
They left.
I looked at the closed door.
Then at Thomas.
“What happened to Sophia's father?”
Daniel answered.
“Boss, that's Maria's business.”
“I didn't ask whose business it was.”
Thomas studied me.
“You care about them.”
“No.”
“You didn't hesitate.”
“Don't analyze me.”
He pushed the envelope closer.
“Your father did.”
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Ethan,
If you're reading this, then I failed to tell you something while I was alive.
Power will make men surround you.
Fear will make them obey you.
Money will make them flatter you.
None of those things will make them love you.
I stopped reading.
My jaw tightened.
Thomas watched me.
“He knew what you were becoming.”
“He made me this.”
“He regretted it.”
I looked up sharply.
“You didn't know my father.”
“I knew him for thirty years.”
Daniel shifted.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We have another problem.”
“What now?”
“The security team traced Brennan's vehicle.”
“And?”
“He wasn't alone when he arrived.”
Thomas's face changed.
Daniel continued.
“A second man was seen near the service entrance.”
I stood.
“Where is he?”
“We lost him.”
“Lock down the property.”
Daniel reached for his radio.
Then Maria screamed from upstairs.
“SOPHIA?”
I ran.
Maria stood in the hallway.
Sophia was gone.
The window beside the servants' staircase was open.
Rain blew across the carpet.
On the floor lay Noodle.
And beside the rabbit—
May you like
a muddy footprint.
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