Chapter 10: The Mother on the Form

Megan reached for the kitchen knife. Leah shook her head once, though every nerve in her body had gone sharp. Ethan Hunt stood outside Nora's apartment at two in the morning, saying mother like he had a right to the word. Either he had followed her from L'Etoile, or he had known where Leah Mercer lived before she served him water. Both possibilities were dangerous. Nora looked through the peephole and went pale. "He is alone," she whispered. "Men like that are never alone," Megan said. Leah closed the laptop, slid the flash drive into her sleeve, and opened the door on the chain. Ethan stood in the hallway with no umbrella, rain darkening his coat. He looked less polished under fluorescent light, more human and more dangerous. "How did you find me?" "You used Nora Vale's laundromat address on your L'Etoile employment form." "That file is private." "Nothing at L'Etoile is private." "Then say what you came to say." His gaze dropped to the chain. "Elena Voss had a daughter." Leah's throat closed. Ethan continued, "That daughter disappeared into a legal arrangement attached to Halcyon Medical Holdings. Martha Thorne was involved. Catherine Thorne signed one document. Richard may not have known." "May not?" "I do not sell comfort." "No. You sell companies." Something flickered in his eyes. "And sometimes I dismantle them." Leah almost laughed. "For justice?" "For debt." The word shifted the air. Debt, not profit. Debt had sent Megan to the garage. Debt had put Nora at the grave. Debt had followed Elena Voss through strangers Isabella had never known. Ethan lowered his voice. "If you are who I think you are, you are standing inside a war that began before your birth." "And if I am not?" "Then a waitress has stolen documents powerful people kill for." Megan moved behind Leah. Ethan's eyes cut to the motion, then back. "Costa is accelerating a Halcyon vote," he said. "Martha wants control before the memorial gala because someone triggered an old file." Leah thought of the flash drive opening after two years. "Me." "Possibly." "Why help me?" For the first time, Ethan hesitated. When he spoke again, his voice was different. Softer. Almost younger. "Because Elena sang when she was afraid." Nora made a small sound. Ethan blinked. His face hardened again, as if he had heard himself betray something. He slipped an envelope through the gap in the door. "Be at St. Mercy Hospital tomorrow at eleven. Basement records. Ask for Ward C." "Why?" "Because your birth certificate is not the only document with two names." He turned to leave. Leah opened the envelope. Inside was a photograph of Elena Voss holding a newborn baby. On the back, someone had written: Isabella Rose Voss - do not let the Thornes keep her.