Chapter 5: The Detective’s Secret
“He wasn’t supposed to find that.””
The sentence hung in the room.
Ethan stared at Detective Rachel Monroe.
The two officers behind her shifted uncomfortably.
Nora looked between them, confused.
“Find what?”” she asked.
Monroe didn’t answer.
Her eyes remained locked on the bottle in Ethan’s hand.
“Give that to me.””
Ethan stepped back.
“No.””
“Mr. Cole, you don’t understand what you’re holding.””
“That’s becoming a familiar sentence tonight.””
Baxter stood beside him, watching Monroe without blinking.
The detective slowly raised both hands.
“I’m not here to hurt you.””
Ethan looked toward the broken tea cup still visible through the hallway.
“Funny. Everyone who says that tonight seems to know more than they’re telling me.””
Monroe’s jaw tightened.
She glanced at the officers.
“Leave the room.””
One officer frowned.
“Detective?””
“I said leave.””
The officers exchanged a look but stepped outside.
The moment the door closed, Ethan spoke.
“Start talking.””
Monroe took a slow breath.
“Your father wasn’t just investigating his illness.””
“He was investigating who caused it.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You suspected?””
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“My father died. Dr. Halpern disappeared.
Someone tried to drug me tonight. And you’re telling me you only suspected?””
Monroe looked down.
“I was trying to build a case.””
“For nine months?””
“Yes.””
“While my father’s killer was still walking around?””
Her expression changed.
“I never said your father was killed.””
Ethan froze.
“What?””
Monroe looked at Nora.
Then at Baxter.
“Your father’s death certificate was altered.””
The room went silent.
Ethan felt the floor beneath him become strangely unreal.
“My father died in a hospital.””
“No.””
Monroe shook her head.
“Your father was moved to the hospital after he was already unconscious. Someone wanted a medical explanation ready before anyone asked questions.””
Nora covered her mouth.
Ethan stared.
“Who?””
“That’s what I’ve been trying to find out.””
“You had access to the investigation.””
“Yes.””
“Then why hide this from me?””
“Because everyone close to you was compromised.””
Ethan looked at Nora.
She lowered her eyes.
The answer hurt more than he expected.
Monroe noticed.
“She wasn’t the only one.””
“What does that mean?””
Before Monroe could respond, Baxter suddenly ran toward Ethan’s office.
He returned with the tablet in his mouth.
He dropped it at Ethan’s feet.
The screen was still showing William Cole.
Monroe saw the video.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get that?””
Ethan picked up the tablet.
“My father left it.””
Monroe stepped closer.
“Play the rest.””
Ethan pressed the screen.
William’s voice filled the room.
“If you are seeing this, then the people who tried to control my company have failed.””
A pause.
“My son needs to know the truth about Baxter.””
The dog lifted his head.
William continued.
“Baxter was trained to recognize chemical changes in human behavior and environment. He was never just a pet.””
Ethan stared.
The memories suddenly rearranged themselves.
Baxter refusing certain rooms.
Baxter growling at certain people.
Baxter sitting beside his father every night.
“He was my father’s warning system.””
Nora whispered.
William continued.
“I discovered someone had been using my medication to slowly damage my health. Baxter noticed the scent difference before any human could.””
Ethan looked at his dog.
Baxter watched the screen.
“He tried to warn everyone.””
William’s voice became quieter.
“But nobody listened.””
The video paused.
A notification appeared.
FILE ERROR.
Ethan tapped the screen.
Nothing.
“The rest is corrupted.””
Monroe stared at the tablet.
“Not corrupted.””
“What?””
“Removed.””
“By who?””
She looked toward the hallway.
Everyone became still.
A faint buzzing sound came from outside.
Ethan recognized it.
A phone vibrating.
Monroe moved toward the front door.
“Everyone stay here.””
Ethan followed.
Outside, near the entrance, was a black phone lying on the floor.
No one claimed it.
Monroe picked it up.
The screen was already unlocked.
One message appeared.
*YOU FAILED AGAIN.*
Monroe’s face changed.
Ethan noticed.
“Who sent that?””
She didn’t answer.
Another message appeared.
*THE DOG KNOWS TOO MUCH.*
Baxter growled.
Ethan looked at Monroe.
“Who is texting you?””
Monroe slowly lowered the phone.
“My partner.””
“Your partner?””
“Yes.””
“Who is your partner?””
She hesitated.
Then the front door opened.
A man stepped inside wearing a dark coat.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
Monroe immediately reached for her weapon.
“Don’t move.””
The man smiled.
“Rachel.””
Ethan looked at Monroe.
She looked terrified.
Not angry.
Not surprised.
Terrified.
The man glanced at Baxter.
Then at Ethan.
“I see the dog finally chose his owner.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
The man’s smile faded.
“My name is Daniel Voss.””
Monroe’s grip tightened.
Ethan recognized the name.
Everyone in the business world knew Daniel Voss.
Former executive.
Corporate strategist.
And the man who had attempted to buy Cole Meridian three times before William’s death.
Voss looked directly at Ethan.
“Your father made one mistake.””
“What?””
“He trusted the wrong people.””
His eyes moved to Nora.
May you like
Then Monroe.
“And unfortunately for you, so did you.””
