Chapter 3: The Man Ethan Never Knew
# THE MAN BEHIND THE BATHROOM DOOR
## Chapter 3: The Man Ethan Never Knew
The morning after Ethan Harrison discovered the truth...
The Beverly Hills mansion looked exactly the same.
That was the strangest part.
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The marble floors still reflected the sunlight.
The expensive artwork still hung perfectly on the walls.
The designer furniture was still arranged exactly where Emily had chosen it.
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From the outside...
Nothing had changed.
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But Ethan knew better.
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A beautiful house could still hide ugly secrets.
A perfect marriage could still be a carefully designed illusion.
And the person sleeping beside you...
Could be the person you knew the least.
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Ethan stood inside his home office.
The same room where he had closed million-dollar deals.
The same room where he had planned the future of his company.
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Now...
It had become an investigation room.
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On his desk were three things.
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A photograph of Emily.
A file about Daniel Brooks.
And a printed report showing unauthorized access to Harrison Capital accounts.
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Ethan stared at them.
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For years, he believed his biggest challenge was building his empire.
He was wrong.
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The biggest challenge was discovering whether the people closest to him were destroying it.
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His phone rang.
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It was his private investigator.
Marcus Reed.
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A former FBI financial crimes investigator.
One of the few people Ethan trusted.
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"Ethan."
Marcus's voice was serious.
"You were right to be suspicious."
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Ethan leaned forward.
"What did you find?"
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A pause.
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"Daniel Brooks isn't who he claims to be."
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Ethan looked at the documents.
"Explain."
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"Officially, he's a financial consultant."
Marcus said.
"But his background is complicated."
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"How complicated?"
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"Three companies."
"Four different names."
"And several connections to wealthy families before disappearing."
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Ethan frowned.
"Disappearing?"
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"Yes."
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Marcus continued.
"Every time Daniel became involved with a wealthy family..."
"Something financially unusual happened."
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Ethan felt his jaw tighten.
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"What kind of unusual?"
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"Large transfers."
"Private investments."
"Assets moved away."
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A silence followed.
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Then Marcus said:
"Ethan..."
"I think Daniel wasn't targeting your wife."
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Ethan looked at the photo of Emily.
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"Then who was he targeting?"
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Marcus answered:
"You."
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The word stayed in Ethan's mind.
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Not Emily.
Not their marriage.
Him.
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### Three Months Earlier
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Daniel Brooks first appeared in Emily's life at a charity event.
At least...
That was the story Emily told.
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She said he was introduced through friends.
A professional connection.
Nothing more.
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But Ethan learned the truth was different.
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Daniel had studied Emily before they met.
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Her interests.
Her lifestyle.
Her marriage.
Her husband's company.
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Everything.
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He didn't randomly meet Emily.
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He selected her.
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Ethan looked at the information.
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"Why?"
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Marcus replied:
"That's what we need to find out."
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### Meanwhile...
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Inside the Harrison mansion...
Emily stood in front of the bedroom mirror.
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She looked perfect.
As always.
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Perfect hair.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect clothing.
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But her eyes told another story.
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She looked exhausted.
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Daniel stood behind her.
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The confidence he showed yesterday was gone.
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"You need to calm down."
He said.
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Emily turned around.
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"Calm down?"
Her voice was low.
"You almost got caught."
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Daniel sighed.
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"But I didn't."
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Emily stared at him.
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"Do you understand what happens if Ethan finds out everything?"
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Daniel's expression changed.
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"He won't."
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"How can you be sure?"
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Daniel smiled slightly.
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"Because Ethan believes he knows you."
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Emily looked away.
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That sentence hurt.
Because it was true.
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Ethan had always trusted her.
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Too much.
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But Daniel didn't see the sadness in her eyes.
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He only saw the opportunity.
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"We're almost finished."
Daniel said.
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Emily became still.
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"Almost."
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The word frightened her.
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Because she knew what "finished" meant.
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She knew the plan had gone too far.
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### Later That Day
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Ethan arrived at Harrison Capital earlier than expected.
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His employees immediately noticed something different.
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Usually...
Ethan walked through the office with confidence.
Today...
He was quiet.
Focused.
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He entered his private conference room.
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Waiting inside was Marcus.
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A folder sat on the table.
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"I found something."
Marcus said.
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Ethan opened it.
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Inside were financial records.
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His own company records.
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His eyes moved across the pages.
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Then stopped.
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A transfer.
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Five million dollars.
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Moved from a private investment account.
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Destination:
A company called...
**Brooks Strategic Holdings.**
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Ethan looked up.
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"Daniel."
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Marcus nodded.
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"But that's not the worst part."
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He opened another document.
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A photograph.
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Ethan stared.
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It was Daniel.
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Standing with another person.
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A woman.
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Ethan recognized her.
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Emily.
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But the photo was not recent.
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It was taken...
Two years ago.
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Before Ethan ever knew Daniel existed.
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Ethan felt something break inside.
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Because it meant one thing.
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Emily had known Daniel much longer than she admitted.
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### That Evening
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Ethan returned home.
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Emily greeted him normally.
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A kiss.
A smile.
A question about his day.
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The same performance.
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But this time...
Ethan saw through it.
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"I missed you."
Emily said.
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Ethan smiled.
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"I missed you too."
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The lie felt strange coming from his own mouth.
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Dinner was quiet.
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Then Ethan asked casually:
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"Do you remember when you first met Daniel Brooks?"
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The fork in Emily's hand stopped.
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Only for a second.
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But Ethan saw it.
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"Daniel?"
She asked.
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"Yes."
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She smiled.
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"Why?"
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"Just curious."
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Emily looked down.
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"At a charity event."
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The same answer.
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The same lie.
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Ethan nodded.
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Then he asked:
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"Was it two years ago?"
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Silence.
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A very small silence.
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But enough.
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Emily looked at him.
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"Why would you ask that?"
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Ethan leaned back.
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Because now he knew.
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She was afraid.
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"I found an old photograph."
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Emily's face changed.
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"What photograph?"
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Ethan watched her carefully.
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"One of you and Daniel."
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The room became completely silent.
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Emily's expression collapsed.
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For the first time...
She had no perfect answer.
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"No..."
She whispered.
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Ethan's voice remained calm.
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"You lied to me."
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Emily looked away.
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"I can explain."
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"Then explain."
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She opened her mouth.
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Nothing came out.
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Because there was no explanation that could fix the truth.
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Suddenly...
A noise came from upstairs.
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A door closing.
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Ethan looked toward the staircase.
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Emily froze.
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Because someone else was inside the mansion.
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But Daniel wasn't supposed to be there.
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Ethan slowly stood.
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"Who is upstairs?"
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Emily didn't answer.
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And that silence told him everything.
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He walked toward the stairs.
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Step by step.
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Then he heard it.
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A man's voice.
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But not Daniel's.
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An older man's voice.
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"Ethan..."
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He stopped.
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Because the voice knew his name.
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The stranger stepped into view.
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A man in his sixties.
Holding an old leather briefcase.
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Ethan recognized him immediately.
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His father-in-law.
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Emily's father.
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Richard Sullivan.
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But Richard had been dead for eight years.
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Ethan stared.
Unable to speak.
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The old man looked at Emily.
Then at Ethan.
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And said:
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"I know who Daniel Brooks really is."
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The mansion fell silent.
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Because Ethan finally realized...
Daniel Brooks was only one piece of a much larger game.
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And someone had been moving the pieces long before Ethan ever opened that bathroom door.
**CUT TO BLACK**
