Chapter 8 - the sister erased from the family)
Her name was Evelyn Vale.
Vivienne spoke it as though opening a grave.
Curtis searched the clinic while Jonathan helped Ethan sit upright.
Maya remained near Vivienne.
"You have a sister?"
"Had."
"You said you haven't seen her in thirty-two years."
"Because she was supposed to be dead."
Jonathan looked over.
"What?"
Vivienne closed her eyes.
"My parents told everyone Evelyn drowned in France when we were twenty-eight."
Jonathan stared at her.
"You never told me."
"There was nothing to tell. I attended her funeral."
"Was there a body?"
"No."
Maya looked at the screen again.
The woman resembled Vivienne enough to fool Ethan while he was ill.
"Why would your parents fake her death?"
Vivienne answered slowly.
"Evelyn was brilliant. More brilliant than any Ashcroft who came before or after her."
"You were born Ashcroft?"
"Yes. Your grandfather married into my family and took control of the company with me."
Jonathan frowned.
Vivienne continued.
"Evelyn believed the company should remain scientific. My father wanted pharmaceutical contracts, military research, international trials."
Maya remembered one word.
"Halcyon."
Vivienne looked at her.
"Where did you hear that?"
"My mother's recording."
Vivienne's expression changed.
"What did Anna say?"
"Only the name."
Vivienne sat down.
"Halcyon was Evelyn's project."
Jonathan looked at her.
"What was it?"
"Originally, neurological research."
"Originally?"
Vivienne's hands tightened.
"Then my father realized it could be worth billions."
Maya felt cold.
"What happened to Evelyn?"
"She tried to stop him."
"Then she died."
"That is what I believed."
Ethan leaned forward.
His face remained pale.
"Why would she poison me?"
Vivienne looked at him.
"I don't know."
Curtis returned.
"Building is clear."
Jonathan stood.
"Miles?"
"Gone. Mercer too."
Curtis held up a phone.
"But they left this."
The device displayed a countdown.
Twenty-eight minutes.
Beneath it was a live video feed.
The ballroom.
Maya recognized the guests still inside Ashcroft Manor.
Jonathan stared.
"What happens when that reaches zero?"
Curtis touched the screen.
A message appeared.
BRING THE LEDGER TO THE GLASSHOUSE.
Vivienne whispered, "The greenhouse."
Jonathan looked at her.
"You said it was demolished."
"The original structure was."
"What is the glasshouse?"
Vivienne answered, "A private conservatory on the eastern edge of the estate."
Ethan tried to stand.
Jonathan stopped him.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Dad."
"No."
Maya looked at the countdown.
Twenty-six minutes.
"What do they have in the ballroom?"
Curtis called the security team.
No answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Jonathan's phone rang.
Miles Hargrove.
He answered.
"Let them go."
Miles laughed.
"Still giving orders."
"What do you want?"
"You know what I want."
"The ledger."
"And Miss Reed."
Maya stepped closer.
Jonathan shook his head.
Miles continued.
"Your guests are beginning to feel unwell."
Jonathan froze.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing irreversible."
Vivienne grabbed the phone.
"Miles."
Silence.
Then Miles said, "Vivienne."
"Where is Evelyn?"
A pause.
Miles chuckled.
"So you finally saw her."
Vivienne's face hardened.
"Where is my sister?"
"Closer than you think."
"You used her."
"She would disagree."
Vivienne whispered, "She hates the Ashcrofts."
"She has reasons."
Jonathan took the phone.
"If anyone in that ballroom is harmed."
Miles interrupted.
"Twenty-four minutes."
The call ended.
Curtis checked the live feed.
Guests were sitting down.
Several appeared dizzy.
Maya suddenly understood.
"The ventilation."
Jonathan looked at her.
"What?"
"The ballroom windows don't open."
Curtis swore.
"If something is being circulated through the climate system."
Jonathan called the maintenance supervisor.
No answer.
Curtis contacted police tactical officers now approaching the estate and ordered immediate evacuation of the ballroom.
The live feed flickered.
Then showed guards attempting to open the ballroom doors.
They would not move.
"Electronic locks," Curtis said.
Jonathan looked at the countdown.
Twenty-two minutes.
Maya grabbed the black ledger.
"We go."
Jonathan shook his head.
"Maya."
"People are trapped."
"You're not trading yourself."
"I'm not asking permission."
Vivienne stood.
"Neither am I."
Ethan grabbed Maya's sleeve.
"Wait."
She looked at him.
He reached into his stained shirt pocket.
His hand trembled as he removed a tiny memory card.
Maya frowned.
"What's that?"
"I took it from Mercer's computer before he strapped me down."
Jonathan stared at his son.
"You stole data while being kidnapped?"
Ethan managed a weak smile.
"I was bored."
Maya took the card.
"What is it?"
"I don't know."
Curtis checked the countdown.
Nineteen minutes.
Maya put the card in her apron pocket.
Jonathan stared at her.
"You stay beside me."
"I can take care of myself."
"That wasn't a request."
Despite everything, Maya almost laughed.
They left the abandoned clinic.
Behind them, Ethan called out.
"Maya."
She turned.
His expression had become serious.
"If Evelyn looks exactly like Vivienne from a distance, don't trust the dress."
Maya nodded.
Ethan continued.
"Trust the glass."
Maya stopped.
Those were Anna's words.
"Why did you say that?"
Ethan looked confused.
"Say what?"
"Trust the glass."
"I don't know."
He rubbed his forehead.
"It just came into my head."
Maya stared at him.
May you like
Something had been placed in Ethan's mind long before tonight.
And she was beginning to suspect his poisoning was only one part of it.
