Chapter 6: The Witness Nobody Believed
Daniel Voss walked farther into the house.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Like he owned the place.
Ethan hated that.
“Why are you here?””
Voss looked at Baxter.
“I came for the only witness left.””
The dog growled.
Ethan moved slightly in front of him.
“You’re not touching him.””
Voss smiled faintly.
“That’s exactly what your father said.””
The words struck Ethan.
“You knew my father.””
“I worked with him for twelve years.””
“Worked with him?””
Voss walked toward the dining room.
“I helped build Cole Meridian into what it became.””
“And then tried to take it.””
Voss shrugged.
“Business is complicated.””
“No. Betrayal is simple.””
A small smile disappeared from Voss’s face.
“Your father taught you that.””
Nora stepped forward.
“You lied to me.””
Voss looked at her.
“You made a mistake.””
“I trusted you.””
“No.””
His voice became colder.
“You followed instructions.””
Ethan looked at Nora.
“You worked for him?””
Nora closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The confession landed harder than the others.
Voss continued.
“She was supposed to monitor you.””
Ethan stared.
“For how long?””
“From the beginning.””
Nora whispered, “That isn’t true.””
Voss looked amused.
“Isn’t it?””
Ethan felt sick.
Every memory with Nora suddenly carried a question.
Every conversation.
Every coincidence.
Every moment she seemed to appear at exactly the right time.
“You knew everything about my father.””
“I knew enough.””
“And Baxter?””
Voss looked at the dog.
“That animal ruined years of work.””
Baxter barked.
Voss flinched.
Only slightly.
But Ethan saw it.
“You’re afraid of him.””
“No.””
“You are.””
Voss looked away.
“He remembers.””
The room became quiet.
Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Monroe stepped forward.
“Daniel, stop.””
Voss ignored her.
“The night William Cole collapsed, Baxter was there.””
Ethan’s heart raced.
“What did he see?””
Voss smiled.
“That’s the problem.””
He reached into his coat.
Monroe raised her weapon.
“Don’t.””
Voss stopped.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.””
Ethan almost laughed.
Again.
Instead, Voss removed a photograph.
He placed it on the table.
It showed Baxter sitting beneath William’s desk.
And standing behind him was a person.
The image was blurry.
But the person was holding a small bottle.
Ethan picked it up.
“Who is this?””
Voss looked at Nora.
“Your wife knows.””
Nora stepped back.
“No.””
Ethan turned.
“Nora?””
She stared at the photograph.
Her eyes filled with fear.
“I thought…”
“What?””
“I thought they deleted it.””
The room froze.
“You’ve seen this picture?””
Nora whispered.
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“From the night your father collapsed.””
Ethan felt betrayed all over again.
“You were there?””
“No.””
“Then how?””
Nora looked at Baxter.
The dog stared back.
“I found Baxter after it happened.””
Ethan frowned.
“What?””
“He wasn’t in the garage.””
Silence.
“He was hiding.””
“Where?””
Nora swallowed.
“In my car.””
Ethan stepped back.
“My father’s dog was in your car?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he followed me.””
“Why would he follow you?””
Nora looked at the photograph.
Then quietly said:
“Because he knew I was the only person who could help him.””
Nobody spoke.
Even Voss looked surprised.
Ethan stared at his wife.
“You’re saying Baxter trusted you?””
“I’m saying he was trying to lead me somewhere.””
“Where?””
Nora looked toward the basement door.
“The place where I found the first evidence.””
Ethan followed her gaze.
“What evidence?””
Nora’s voice dropped.
“The proof that your father didn’t just discover who was poisoning him.””
She paused.
“He discovered who was helping them.””
Baxter suddenly ran toward the basement door.
He scratched once.
Twice.
Then barked.
Ethan looked at everyone.
At Nora.
At Monroe.
At Voss.
Then he slowly reached for the basement handle.
May you like
Because whatever Baxter had been trying to show them for the past year…
was hidden underneath their own house.
